FF: War Path (Aslok fight it out) - Page 38

Just to clarify a few things. Astha is intentionally trying to strike Shlok while he's down. She goes to the best mechanism she knows, Swati. Also, she is jealous of Swati because she imagines that Shlok is always thinking of her. Swati is the dead girlfriend she can never compete with and she sees that Shlok is still in love with her (while he used Astha like a pawn). So, Astha is very bitter in her retaliation.

Ayi makes it look like she's putting Shlok's lunch responsibilities on to Astha in front of NA. But really, she's packing lunch for Astha. She said in a note inside the tiffin that it was for Shlok and Astha and she would NOT make lunch for Shlok everyday as he did not eat home cooked food for lunch. So who does? Astha. Ayi saw her carrying around lunch boxes before. So she basically said indirectly that she will be sending lunch for Astha under the cover of sending Shlok's lunch in front of NA. Astha understood this tough love, that's why she said it was a weird way of caring.

Now for chapter 9. Prepare for a shock.

Chapter 9:

Astha clicked her phone off and wiped off a tear. For a second, it felt like he was breaking his heart over the phone. No, how could that happen when he doesn't even feel attracted to you? Stupid, you are just making up things to believe the best of him.

Manglesh: Ae Astha, idhar aa, idhar.

Astha pulled herself together: Yes, sir?

Manglesh: Baat karli na, Shlok Sir se? He's okay with it?

Astha: Yes sir, it's not a problem.

Manglesh: Ok, ok, toh chalo. Yeh main hall hai. Isse hume gotese sajana hai.

Astha, confused: Goetese?

Mangla: Deva! Client's orders. Don't question it. Angrezi me kya kehte hai usse...?

"Pom poms."

They all turned around to the the most handsome man any of them had ever laid eyes on.

Wow, the Arnav Singh Raizada himself, Astha thought in wonder. This was her first experience seeing royalty. Technically he was the Princess' husband only, but he was also a local zamindar in his own right. He was absolutely flawless.

Mr. Raizada: My wife loves pom poms, so that will have to be the decor. In every color and in every size. And stars. I want stars on the ceiling. Make it look like the night sky. This is our first anniversary, so I want everything to be perfect for her.

Manglesh walked over to introduce himself and his crew: Sure sir, sure. Nice to meet you in person sir. This is my wife, Mangla, co-owner and this is Astha Kirloskar, your events manager.

He extended his hand and shook hers in that super business-like manner: Nice to meet you, Miss Kirloskar.

He was so in charge. He spoke with such...grandeur.

Astha smiled: Same here, sir. I promise, I will make sure your party is just how you imagined it to be and more.

Mr. Raizada: Good. Sheesh Mahal is at your disposal. My brother has made sure there are no guests staying in the hotel for the next month. So you have free reign to make this a fairy tale palace.

Astha: This is your family home, is it not Mr. Raizada?

He nodded: It was. Now home is where Khushi lives. This works as a hotel most of the year. We live up at Awad Palace with our families.

Astha: We could have decorated Awad Palace too sir, we have the man power.

Mr. Raizada: Oh, it's not our company's capacity I doubt Miss Kirloskar. It's my wife, you see, she is of the inquisitive bend - to say the least. I want this to be a surprise for her. She thinks I have forgotten our upcoming anniversary (he smiled).

It did Astha good to see a man so besotted with his wife. The Princess Awad was so lucky to have him. Not all women had the good fortune, she thought sadly. Sheesh Mahal was a hotel, she wasn't exactly lying over the phone, Astha reasoned. She just omitted some details. She checked again to see that her mangal sutra was safely put in the inside pocket of her bag.

Mr. Raizada: Thank you all for making the time to fit my schedule. You will be my guests tonight. Just ask the Sheesh Mahal staff for anything you need. Now, if you will come with me, I will show you all the rooms and how I expect them to turn out in a month's time. I want no compromises on the quality just because there is little time.

They followed him across the hall into the lawns.

(Note: Surprise! Arnav and family here are from my previous two part story series Avenging Angel. You will see why they are royalty and why Khushi is referred to as the Princess Awad here. The links are in green in my main index: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53254539)

Shlok sat in the dark corner of his room. She was with this other man right now. Revulsion poisoned his body the more he thought about it. He looked around the room. Astha has left the new set of green bangles he got her in enamel and silver on the dressing table. Her mangal sutra was missing, but he had no doubt that she had probably scattered that somewhere in the mess of a room she left behind.

He needed a drink.

Shlok went all the way to the minibar and stopped short. Astha's words came back to bite him. "Be a man."

Ayi saw him walking out near 11 pm, looking very distraught. Astha was still not home, she worried. Good though that her absence did have some effect on Shlok.

In the morning...

Astha spotted Shlok and his car near the entrance. She quickly bid Manglesh and Mangla goodbye before making her way there.

She stopped near the passenger door. His eyes were red as if he hadn't slept all night. He sat like a stone, facing ahead.

Astha warily: How did you know I will be back this morning?

Shlok did not look at her: I didn't.

He opened the passenger door.

Astha was feeling a little intimidated by his cold behavior. But she took a deep breath, got in the car and tried to play it cool.

Astha: You were just going to stay here until I came back?

Shlok sounded rather hollow: We will go home and I will tell anyone who asks that I took you out. Don't contradict me.

Astha shrugged: Suit yourself.

The pain cut sharply into him. She did not suffer any guilt for her actions. Her total nonchalance hurt him more than the knowledge that she was stepping out of her marriage within weeks of their wedding.

He saw that she yawned.

Astha tried hard to keep down her enthusiasm. She wanted to tell him all about her trip, how she saw Arnav Singh Raizada and how she was organizing her biggest event yet. But he was in no mood for obvious reasons. You wanted this misunderstanding Astha, you wanted to see if he would suffer. Don't regret this now. She couldn't make out however, if his ego was hurt or if he actually was emotionally affected. He betrayed nothing more than anger.

Shlok sarcastically: Sleep deprived?

Astha shook her head: Don't ask, there were so many demands...(she stopped herself).

Shlok's grip tightened around his steering wheel: I don't want the sordid details.

They kept quiet the rest of the way.

She did not go to the office that day, but rather decided to catch up on sleep as he walked out. Shlok could not concentrate on anything on his desk. His Astha had openly made a fool of him. His skin burned at the thought that she could stab him like this. Her words came back to haunt him.

"Remember our suhaag raat, darling?"

Of course, she was paying him back. He had done something equally terrible that night. He understood that, but even he could not imagine her going that far just to get back at him.

"That means I haven't met my first love yet! I am yet to meet him!"

It must have been real for her then. She wouldn't just stay with a man to pay back another one who did not matter to her anymore. It must be love.

God, what a fool I have been to think that we were making some progress this past week. No, she was only making herself comfortable in his house temporarily. She did not intend to spend her life with him. And why should she? In her view, she was married to a man who never loved her and said that he never would.

He had to be fool enough to say that he only loved Swati. Why should she want to stay in this marriage? It was only fair that she found someone else, someone who could love her as purely as she was capable of loving.

Shlok hardened himself against that impending truth.

He came back late from the office to avoid more interaction with Astha. He could not bear to see love for another man in her eyes. Love for him left those big hazel eyes on her wedding day, but at least it was not filled with love for another. These past weeks Shlok had deluded himself into thinking he could slowly make that place for himself in her heart and in her eyes again. He had to admit it to himself now. He did hope for forgiveness.

When he came into his bedroom, she saw Astha on the phone in the balcony. Talking to his new man, no doubt, Shlok thought.

She did not see him.

Shlok stepped closer to the balcony. Mind you, he was just changing out of his suit. He was not there out of any curiosity.

Astha: Arre nehi yaar Gauri! I barely got enough sleep. There was so much to do, but the hotel was amazing.

Astha: Bohot demanding hai. But wow, you should have seen him. He's so handsome! Gorgeous, just gorgeous. Movie star jaisa dikhta hai. And baat bhi kaise karta hai!!! A real life gentleman. So grand and all!

Shlok felt sick for eavesdropping now. He still could not step away. He wanted to hear the whole of it now. Prepare for the worst and steel himself against such outbursts from her.

Astha snapped: Shaadi hi hui hai bass, andhi nehi ho gayi hu mai! Chal thik hai, I will take you along next time and introduce you. Baad mei baat karte hai.

She ended the call and turned to walk in.

Astha startled: God! You scared me.

She looked at him again. His face was set like concrete, but his eyes were deep pools of emotion.

He heard, said a small voice in her head.

Astha turned beet red.

Shlok saw her blush.

He said in an impassive voice: If this guy turns out to be that first love you are looking for...let me know. I...will not stand in your way.

He walked out of the room before she had a chance to reply.

Did this go too far now? Astha wondered. There was no undoing it. And why should she bend herself backwards to explain herself, Astha reasoned. She had hardly done anything wrong. Besides, he deserved no explanation when he openly said he only loved Swati.

A week went by with Shlok hardly saying anything to her. He avoided her as much as possible and barely ever looked at her. She also stubbornly kept her cool and stayed busy with her Lucknow project. The silence became so suffocating that outsiders started to notice.

Jyoti said to Astha one day: I know it is none of my business, but I want to tell you Astha, communication is very important in a marriage.

Astha: You should tell that to your brother.

Jyoti: I will, in good time. I will say it to you too, because it always takes two. And he's already a quiet one. I gather it might be up to you to do the chattering.

By and by Astha came to know about the land deal that was bothering her father. She finally got it out of Ajju in one of her trips home and learned why they have all been so stressed lately. NA was creating immense pressure by indirectly talking about Astha's marriage to Shlok. She assured her family not to worry, it mattered more to her that her father did not compromise his values.

She came back home and questioned Ayi first about it in secret. She admitted to knowing about it, but said she was powerless to help. Things would happen as NA wants it to happen.

Ayi: I cannot help you. It is out of my hands. He always gets his way.

Astha angrily: Well, not anymore. It takes every bit of my will power to see how masochistically he runs this household and not say anything. But if he hurts my family, I will not keep quiet.

Ayi angrily: You will not upset the balance of this house any more than you already have.

Astha: Don't worry, I won't create trouble for you. I will speak to your son and he will pay.

Ayi, defensively: Shlok does not seem to know any of this!

Astha: Yet, you cannot confirm that with confidence. He might as well know. And if he did, daddy's boy never contradicts him.

Ayi: My son may have many flaws. but dishonesty is not one of them.

Astha: Your son deceived me into marrying him! That's as much proof as I need about his dishonesty.

She left.

Shlok looked up and saw Astha lock the room behind her.

Astha: I demand answers!

Shlok sarcastically: And so you caged yourself in with me? Ever heard of a rabbit taking a lion on?

Astha, fiercely: Yes. I have had enough of you and your father's games Shlok Agnihotri. Today, I will finish this or die trying.

Shlok: What the hell are you talking about?

Ayi paced her room. All her life, she had protected her children from her husband. She could give any sacrifice to see NA satisfied so that no harm came to Shlok, but she could not force another girl to make the same choices. As a woman, she could not expect another girl to lay down her life like she had. Least of all Astha who had already shown her courage in facing down such problems. But her poor Shlok...she could hear them shouting incoherently at each other. They were in the room, barely understandable.

Shlok shouted: You dare you accuse MY FATHER!?

Astha: Oh SHUT UP, you ruined my life for your father. You think I give a damn about what he meansfor you? I have come to know his true colors. My Baba will NOT sign those papers just to save this sham of a marriage. Go tell your father that he can do whatever he wants. Those papers are not getting signed.

Shlok: You have lost it. He has been nothing but kind to you and you accuse him of THIS! I told you Day 1, your fight is with me, don't bring my family into this!

Astha: Oh God, phir wahi nonsense. I am not picking on your father. He is corrupt and an abuser. You are so stupid with your blinders on that you cannot even see that he has been abusing our mother for a lifetime. You do not see her bruises nor her silent calls for help. You did not even see it for your sister until I TOLD you. And you call yourself a son.

Shlok stared in shock: I won't hear your made-up defenses for that woman!

Astha: That WOMAN is your mother. She gave birth to you. Why do you think that they will try to hurt you? Your father is behind all this!

Shlok: THAT IS ENOUGH. I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH. YOU WILL NO LONGER STAND IN MY HOUSE AND ABUSE MY FATHER. God knows what your father had told you, but they are all lies.

Astha sputtered: My Baba does not lie! He's a man with morals!

Shlok smirked: No doubt the same morals he instilled in his daughter, who thinks breaking her marriage vows is no big deal.

Astha cracked a slap on him: Don't you DARE! Saaf saaf kaho ke tum nehi chahte ke mein yaha raho. Mein chali jaungi. My parents have not sold me off. I will be always welcome back there. But you will NOT question their upbringing! You are not exactly standing on a moral pedestal either; you deceived me into this sham of a marriage and now your father is using it to blackmail my family!!! I WON'T HAVE IT!!!

Shlok shouted: Well then, YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE THIS SHAM OF A MARRIAGE, I WILL NOT STOP YOU. GET OUT!!!

This words echoed in the whole house as she startled.

Astha, stone-faced: Fine. We are done.

Astha tore her mangal sutra and threw it on his feet. Pulled off the bangles and threw them at him.

He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

There was no going back now. Astha, who had never unpacked to share his closet space, walked out with only what she brought with her.

Jyoti and Sojal tried to stop her as Ayi looked on in silence. Varad stopped his daughter from crying and running after Astha as she stormed across the main gate.

Shlok quietly watched from upstairs.

So Astha's naive attempt to make Shlok jealous backfired on her. Next one will probably be the last chapter. Hint: more ASR.

Chapter 10: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/95093482

He said in an impassive voice: If this guy turns out to be that first love you are looking for...let me know. I...will not stand in your way.

@red 🥺 when he said tht!

He is too upset over Astha to register what she is saying...But would one outburst be enough to convince Shlok tht his father is in the wrong?

He was in character when he refused to believe anything against his baba...Astha was furious..her j trick backfired...which added more furor to her emotions!

*Aaagh I hvnn't read last chapter.hw did i miss it?...off to read*