FF: War Path (Aslok fight it out)

First Previous

Page

Next Last

Frequent Posters

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Rocker

+ 8

Posted: 12 years ago

#401

Originally posted by: Sofna
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*

One outburst would definitely not be enough. Astha is very upset by the betrayal, so she's acting her age. But, her hunches are always correct. She did consider over the phone that he was breaking his heart over what she said about her business trip. This line that touched you, showed the reader that it really did affect him very deeply.

Quote

jeenia123

@jeenia123

Rocker

+ 3

Posted: 12 years ago

#402

Read two chapters now... you are going to end it?
anyways very nice chapter and moved more close to heart on seeing our own ASR...
loved the chapters... hope everything will be fine in next one...

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

Anjali

@AnjuRish

Sparkler

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

#403

salute astha...for walking out ...but u should have cleared it out that ASr is just a client

Quote

RaatkiRani

@RaatkiRani

Explorer

Posted: 12 years ago

#404

nooo don't end it so soonnn

its tooo sooonnn. NOOO

you can drag it on for a while longer - you musttt

please please, pretty please

Quote

poptart09

@poptart09

Beginner

Posted: 11 years ago

#405

I am so glad I stumbled on your post... Just finished reading the entire story (between assignments and other work)... It's been worth every minute :D
Personally, I'm a HUGE Jane Austen fan too, and loved how you included bits and parts of her into your story :)
And you use pics!! ^_^ We're NEVER old for illustrations are we?!? xD
Also I cannot tell you how much I adore you for bringing in ASR :D
I'm kinda glad you're wrapping it up, and I mean that as a compliment... I can't handle the suspense from your fic AND the serial xD

Quote

Soujanya

@Vsoujanya

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 11 years ago

#406

i just read all the chapters, and I must say you are truly gifted in writing! I enjoyed each chapter, and the fact that you provide explanations about the plot and the characters is just phenomenal. 👏I love this story❤️, its so good, you know how you can imagine it happening in your head. When one can do that you know its a good story. I hope you don't end it so soon. I would love to read more of this, by the way I wish you were on the CV's team to make this happen on the show😊. It would be a treat to watch. I really hope Ashtha is this feisty in the show as well, and hope she not another passive, tearful bahu. 😕

Quote

k12345

@k12345

Inactive

Posted: 11 years ago

#407

Very interesting. Could not stop reading the whole think in one go.

Quote

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Rocker

+ 8

Posted: 11 years ago

#408

First of all, I would like to say thank you to all the readers who wrote to me. New readers too. It seems like people enjoyed catching up with the chapters. I would have individually replied to you all, but those comments are hard to track in a thread. So, this is my wholehearted thank you for all of you 🤗. I read your comments more than once and was really touched. It is always good to know what parts worked for the reader and what did not. The reason writers demand comments is not for compliments, but to see how the story is going. FF writing it very different from other writing, here, the audience reaction is very important. Also, thank you all for sticking around, liking and commenting to keep this FF alive for this long. The readership has dropped a little.

By the way, the IPK characters you see here go through a lot in my Avenging Angel series, so if it is confusing, I suggest you read Book 1 and 2, each have a couple of chapters. They are quite fun for the IPK fan because my Khushi is very feisty. It is my personal favorite actually, of all my writings. There are new characters like the Nawab and Imad who are both really HOT! 😳

Link to my full index (Avenging Angel series in green): https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2793444/mbs-spicy-fics-all-arhi-stories-ipkknd

* Astha's mangal sutra and bangles did not break. Only the clasp of the mangal sutra needs to break for it to come off. Also the new bangles Shlok got her were unbreakable, silver with green enamel. He was concerned about her safety after what happened on suhaag raat, so he didn't get her glass ones.

Chapter 10:

Anjali walked into Shlok's room with trepidation about what state she might find him in. Last night, he had locked himself in his bedroom and refused to come out, eat, or even speak to his Dad when Niranjan came home.

She found him sleeping with Astha's mangal sutra and bangles on the floor. The messy bed was left empty, as if he was expecting her.

Now Anjali understood how their living arrangements were. Her poor boy had to sleep on the floor the whole time.

Anjali brushed her fingers through his hair, careful not to wake him up. When he squinted, she quickly got up and busied herself with tidying his room. No sooner had she lifted a pillow from the bed, Shlok jumped up.

Shlok: Stop! Leave it as it is!

Anjali: I am just cleaning up this mess.

Shlok fumed: I said, leave it!!! No one is allowed to touch anything in this room.

Anjali pursed her lips: You are better off bringing her back with an apology.

Shlok stared at his ayi's keen observation: She's not coming back. She has moved on.

Anjali: People don't move on overnight.

Shlok did not say anything about Astha's night out.

Shlok, quietly: She was going to walk out on me sooner or later.

Astha's home...

Kalindi fed Astha with her own hand as Astha flavored her food with some generous drops of her salty tears.

Baba wondered: I cannot believe Shlok could have planned all this, he seemed so genuine where he came to visit us. We were actually relieved to see how well he treated you.

Ajju, worried: Why didn't you tell us before? You should have walked out sooner, Astha. You know this is always your home.

Astha: I wanted to marry him despite all your cautions. I wanted to live by my mistakes and...not disappoint you.

Kalindi kissed her head: You never have to live by your mistakes. We all make mistakes. Baba, Ajju, and I are very proud of you for standing up to him.

Astha, tearfully: But...what what will people say?

Kalindi: Itni bari nehi hogayi hai tu ke tu yeh saab sooch ne lagegi! You don't have to worry about gossips.

Astha cried: I really did love him, but he just wanted to manipulate me like his father manipulates people.

Ajju hugged her: Oh, meri bacchi. Kids grow into their parents. And we didn't like his parents to begin with. No doubt he will slowly become more and more like his father.

Agnihotri Institute...

Shlok closed himself in his office and hid away all day. He could feel nothing but regret for what he said to her last night. Why did she have to say all those thinks about his father? It was probably nothing more than a misunderstanding. Property sales were always messy.

He also could not stop thinking about Astha's "gentleman," who apparently talked as well as he looked. Astha and Shlok both knew, he was no gentleman. He was too rough around the edges to ever be mistaken for a gentleman. Shlok had no doubt that he was more likely to be mistaken for a wild bear than a gentleman.

He sighed. There was once a time, not too far back, when she liked his roughness. Clearly, her preferences had changed after she saw how rough.

As night wore on, Shlok resisted the urge to call her and plead with her to come back home. To say that he will try harder and that he was sorry for everything. But he stopped himself. Instead, he found more work to keep him from going home.

10 pm...

Shlok was dreading going back to his empty bedroom. He would rather have that hateful minx bug him all night than not have her there at all. Shlok could not bring himself to sleep on her bed either. It was too much to know she lay there breaking her heart these past weeks because of him.

It was good that she moved on. How long can anyone suffocate with him anyway? Swati left him, and now Astha. Nothing was new. He squeezed the life out of people. He was unworthy of their devotion.

1 am...

He finally decided to go home.

His room was left as he wished. Messy, with the last remnants of Astha here and there. It was deafeningly quiet.

The pillow had a soft dent in it still. It still smelled like her. Shlok found her perfume was still on the dressing table. She must have missed it. He was thankful she did. Shlok sprayed some on his pillow and lay down on the floor to ease his loneliness.

Get used to it. That perfume will eventually run out and it will just be you in this stark white room. All alone.

The next morning, Shlok gave in and called Astha's house.

Kalindi picked up.

Shlok hesitated: This is Shlok. I wanted to...talk to Astha. (Pause) Please.

Kalindi, incensed: Sharm nehi ayi tumhe yaha call karne me? What was lacking in our love for you that you had to do this to us?

Shlok, ashamed: Please, I just want to talk to her.

Kalindi: After all she has been through, why would she want to talk to you?

Shlok: I don't know what she told you...but...

Kalindi: But, what? She told us everything. And you can forget about her. Don't try to get in touch with her again!

She banged the phone down.

He carried on with his hollow existence while his family silently gave him curious looks. Thankfully they left him alone, save for Jyoti. She came into his room one day and held his hand as they sat down on the divan.

Jyoti looked around the room. He still insisted on keeping everything in the room just as it was. Astha's blanket lay crumpled on the bed and the pillows were scattered. The dressing table had a few things and the new suitcases with her wedding gifts lay on one side of the room. Things were starting to collect dust. He wouldn't even let anyone clean his room.

Jyoti: Life cannot go on like this, bhai.

Shlok: It has to.

Jyoti: Why don't you call her? I am sure if you start the conversation...

Shlok: Her mother warned me, not to call her again.

Jyoti: I called her the other day and her Ajju said she was busy with work. She wouldn't tell me anything except that she was away on a trip. Maybe you can call in a few days, when she's back.

To her surprise, her brother's eyes watered. He got up and walked away to hide his reaction.

Shlok, softly: Business trip.

Jyoti, confused: Yes. But I am sure, once she has time to think...Look bhai, I came to tell you something more important. I overheard some things you were arguing about and I just want to ask that you don't misunderstand her too much. What she said about Baba is not entirely...false.

Shlok turned around: What are you trying to say?

Jyoti hesitated: Only that I have been staying here a while and my eyes are more open now that I have seen abuse. You know I was married young, I was blind to these things before too, but now...living under the same roof with Baba again...

Shlok: Baba is not an abuser.

Jyoti gulped away her disagreement: I don't have proof, but I sense tensions in this house I was blind to as a kid. I am not saying he's an abuser...I am not, but...only, just don't break up with Astha over Baba.

Shlok shook his head and smiled sadly: I did not break up with her over Baba, Jyoti. She wanted out long before any of this. But that was also my fault. I never made her happy to begin with. We were broken from the start.

Jyoti pleaded with him: But you two have promise like Abhay and I never had. Even a blind person can see this, bhai! Please...mend it.

Shlok sat down and took his little sister's hand again, trying to make her understand.

Shlok: She can do much better, bacchi. She doesn't need to compromise and make it work with a man who never deserved her in the first place.

Lucknow...

Astha showed Mr. Raizada and his Lebanese brother-in-law around the preparations for the big day. This was a family of lookers, no doubt about it.

Raizada, she had already seen. Now sheer beauty of Imad Faisal rang hollow for her. Actually, every experience rang hollow for her these days. It had nothing to do with them and everything to do with her.

The same was not the case for Gauri though. She was nervous in the presence of these two men, like any normal girl would be. Astha recruited Gauri as staff now that so many people were needed for an event of this scale. She had after all promised her friend and she kept her promise despite everything that happened since.

Anjali's new husband, Imad

Imad pulled Arnav aside: Don't you think it is all a little...well, dark?

Arnav: Ya. It looks good to my eyes, but this won't do for Khushi.

Imad: I am afraid your event manager has rather morbid taste.

Arnav and Imad looked around at the tiny woman garbed all in black from head to toe. Her dark look was only outdone by her morose face.

Arnav: Sad little thing, isn't she?

Gauri: Kya yaar, apna luck hi kharab hai!

Astha: Kyu?

Gauri: Dono hi shaadi shuda hai. They couldn't be more perfect if you picked them out of a fancy catalog. But what's the point? All the good ones are taken.

Astha sighed: Tu bhi na.

Gauri: Saach hi toh hai! Pehle toh tu le gayi Shlok ko (Astha's face fell)...sorry yaar, meh bhi joking karte karte. Sorry!

Astha shooed Gauri's concern away: Don't worry.

Gauri: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good.

Astha: What?

Gauri: They don't look thrilled.

Astha, determined: I will fix it. We cannot loose this project.

Astha approached the two men in Armani suits: We are happy to accommodate any suggestions you have Mr. Raizada.

Arnav: We need more color, Ms. Kirloskar. Don't worry, you are doing a great job. Frankly, I like the black and blue color scheme, you have done your research well. But my wife is more of a seven colors of the rainbow type of person (he smiled). I am trying to do this party according to her tastes, not mine.

Imad said encouragingly: And metallic accents too. Go crazy with colors, Miss Kirloskar. My little sister-in-law will have no complaints.

Astha nodded: It will be done.

Imad: Alas, we have to be gone, but my wife will help you out with Darya...I mean, Khushi's likes and dislikes. Here she is now.

Gauri stared as a glittering woman in a sari walked by her. She walked with a slight limp. It really added to her allure, surprisingly enough.

Imad Faisal put his arm around her as she came up.

Imad: This is my Angel-y. She will help you and your staff out with the decor choices, Ms. Kirloskar.

She giggled as Astha was reminded again of Shlok, thanks to her name.

Mr. Raizada was looking adoringly at his sister and brother-in-law.

Anjali tapped Imad affectionately: It's Anjali, actually. Anjali Raizada Faisal. You can call me Anjali. Isn't this fun!? (She said conspiratorially to everyone). We are so going to shock her!

Imad Faisal kissed his wife's hand and held it to his chest.

Great, another happily married couple drunk with love. They popped up around her everywhere these days. Members of the staff, clients, and even Manglesh Sir and Mangla Maam when they thought no one was looking. Everyone was happy, except for Shlok and Astha Agnihotri.

Angel-y enthusiastically shook hands with Astha and Gauri. She was so warm and down-to-earth that even Gauri found it hard to begrudge her a fine specimen of a man like Imad Faisal.

As the two men left, Astha quickly stepped in to make herself busy with her events preparation with the Princess Awad's sister-in-law.

Agnihotri Institute...

The peon came in with a mail man carrying a large envelope.

Peon: Sir, the mailman said this package was registered and he would only deliver it to you in person.

Shlok: It's okay.

The mailman took his signature and left after delivering the package.

Shlok looked at the address label and froze.

"Astha Kirloskar"

Peon: Coffe lau, saab?

Shlok's voice was hoarse: No, thanks. Tum jao.

He locked his office door and rushed into his private meeting room. There he opened the envelope with shaking hands. He did not need to read the whole document to know what it was.

Divorce papers.

Shlok could not believe Astha could be so cruel. Just like that. Impersonally. In a cold, white envelope, she sent him his life's decision.

Lucknow...

Arnav warned NK: You said you are going to keep it zipped and not tell your little best friend!

NK whined: I know, I promise I will!

Akash rolled his eyes.

Imad who was feeding Anisha (Anjali's daughter with Shyam) her bottle: Then, why did you have to drop all those hints over dinner?

Nawab: Relax everyone, relax.

Arnav: But Cachu, he came this close to telling Khushi everything!

Nawab sighed: I am afraid, she already doubts you guys are up to something. All these secret meetings are making her feel left out. She was going to notice sooner or later. I am going to go and keep her company, Nanne beta, come with me. And you three, stop hanging around conspiring all the time. Darya (Khushi) suspected you guys first.

Khushi's chachu, the Nawab of Awad. Imagine a little older.

Arnav shook his head: NK gets away with everything.

Akash: Special treatment.

Imad: You are still making all the calls right, Arnav?

Arnav: Ya, just a few left. I will do it now.

Imad sighed: Well, good night then. I have to go put my little princess to sleep. And we are going to read the Pwincess and the Pea again tonight, aren't we? Yes, we are!

He left, talking baby-talk to Anisha as Arnav watched. His niece was the luckiest daughter in the whole world. Imad had taken to fatherhood like a duck to water, too well in fact, Di was always chiding him for spoiling Anisha too much.

Akash left too.

Arnav picked up the phone and dialed Shlok.

Shlok, voice hoarse: Arnav!? Long time, man.

Arnav: Two years to be exact. How are you?

Shlok was silent.

Arnav: Everything okay?

Shlok: Ah, yes...yes. How are things with you?

Arnav: Well...I got married for one.

Shlok: You and me both.

Arnav in surprise: No way! Congratulations!

Shlok: I am afraid, I don't deserve it. Forget about me. Congratulations on your marriage. I am really sorry yaar, I was away from the country then. Aa na saka.

Arnav: Well, that's why I called. You missed me wedding, but you cannot miss my first anniversary. I am throwing my girl a surprise party. For guests it is one day, but for family it carries on a little longer. So you are coming over as family.

Shlok: Yaar...I really don't think...

Arnav interrupted him: No excuses! Last year you were already in Germany, so I forgave you. But you are one of my closest friends, I don't want to hear any excuses. You have to come, stay with us and meet my Khushi.

Shlok: But...

Arnav: No buts! It's final. Bring you wife too, we will make a merry party. It will be grand celebration. All of Khushi's family is here and my Di and her husband are also here. Di really wants to see you again, she's leaving for the UK soon. Come. It's been ages.

Shlok thought hard about his dilemma. On the one hand, he just wanted the earth to crack open and eat him up. He was in no mood to attend Arnav's anniversary. But then, there was the duty of a friend. He decided to talk to Jyoti.

Jyoti: You should go. It will be a break from all of this. It will give you time to reflect and think about what to do about your life next. Besides, Astha is already away. It's not like you can ask her now about the divorce papers.

Shlok: You did not tell anyone else about it, did you?

Jyoti: No. I won't until you give me leave to. But I think Ayi knows something is up. Go, Arnav bhai has always been there for you when you needed him. Now he wants you to be there for his happiness. It's your duty.

Shlok thought back to the time when Swati died.

Shlok: He has indeed. I owe this to him.

Astha's home...

Kalindi worried: We did right na, Ajju? She's already so upset. Should we have let her go to Lucknow for so many days? What if she gets depressed?

Ajju: Don't worry so much. Gauri is there with her na? She has accompanied her for every trip. It is good if she keeps busy. Otherwise she will get more depressed about Shlok.

Baba: I cannot believe Shlok did not even call in all these days.

Kalindi: He did. I told him not to get in touch anymore.

Baba: But Kalindi, if there is to be a divorce, they have to at least meet once to talk things over.

Ajju: As far as I am concerned, there is no point. Did you see Shlok's parents try at all? No. If they actually wanted this marriage to be a success, they would have tried to make matters okay between those two again.

Kalindi: That's right. And, it is not worth saving either. The boy does not even love her! He told her himself. Parents cannot force a compromise. Astha has taken her decision. We are just going to have to see that she does this with a cool head, rather than in anger.

Baba: What if he does love her? He's not expressive, Kalindi. Maybe while they were together, he fell in...

Kalindi scoffed: Love? How is that even possible when he kicked her out like that just for making a criticism about Niranjanji? No, she took the right decision.

Lucknow...

Astha did last minute checks with all the departments.

Astha: Catering?

Gauri: Check.

Astha: Jalebis?

Gauri: Double check.

Astha: Security?

Security head: Check.

Astha: Flowers?

Someone from staff: Check.

Astha: Pom poms?

Staff: All up.

Astha: Stars?

Staff: Check.

Astha: And the extras as party favors?

Staff: Yes, maam.

Astha: Okay, am I missing something? Oh yes, entertainment?

Gauri: Check!

Astha sighed: Right then, off too business all of you. We have 6 hours before the party starts.

Gauri pulled Astha back: Sun. You will change right? It is a party, yeh kaale kapre peheke nehi ja sakti tu.

Astha: We are staff. We need to blend into the background.

Gauri, sadly: But that is not the reason you wear it.

Astha looked away.

Gauri: Your client likes colors, so all the staff is wearing colors. You have to also, as the leader. You always look like you are in mourning.

Astha looked steadily at her friend: I am in mourning.

Shlok drove into Awad Palace, putting his best face on. He had to be happy for his friend, even if happiness did not come naturally to him. Truth is, he was happy his friend had found happiness at last. Shlok was not going to ruin Arnav's special day with his sadness. This was the first time in his life he had seen Arnav so happy.

Arnav came out and greeted him.

Shlok: I came early as you wished.

Arnav: That's because you have to pretend like this is just a friendly visit or else Khushi will find out. I called you early because you have a lot of catch up to do. My family is three-fold now and I have to introduce you to them all before the party. There's Khushi's adopted family, the Guptas, and her birth family, the Awads. Come. Di is waiting. Wait...where's your wife? Sorry, I am just hyper because of all the preparations. Hiding things from Khushi is a job in itself.

Shlok: She's not coming. It's a long story.

Arnav looked at him curiously: Not too serious, I hope.

Shlok: I broke her heart already, I am no good at this, Arnav.

Arnav: This...meaning...love.

Shlok nodded: I am afraid, I hurt her beyond repair.

Arnav: I know that feeling. Nearly ruined my own chances with Khushi. Actually, not nearly. I burned it down. But she still took pity on me and took me back because she had the strength to love me beyond all odds. Women have that strength, Shlok, that we men don't have. You just have to try. Don't give up until it is really all over.

Shlok: And when do you know it is all over?

Arnav raised his eyebrows: You don't! That's why you have to keep trying. It doesn't come naturally to you, I know. Trust me, I am the same. But that's what you have to do if you want to win her back.

After meeting Di, Arnav introduced Shlok to his ginormous family as his Harvard pal. Shlok greeted them all with his best cheer. There was middle-class and royalty, Hindu and Muslim, Lebanese and Persian, and then, there was Khushi.

She was a fireball. A bouncing, fleeting, fireball. She got familiar within seconds and let him know all that Arnav has told her about Shlok. Then, while having snacks, she had an argument with him about the merits of jalebis over vanilla ice-cream.

Shlok did not have to wonder for long as to why she had his friend by the little finger. If he did not have Astha populating his head, Shlok feared he would get mesmerized too. Now, he was just charmed. Khushi was a delight.

He told her that his friend was very lucky.

Khushi: Tell that to your friend. You heard that Arnavji? (Arnav looked in their direction) You are lucky! Just look at him ignoring us! Always on that blue-tooth. Who are you talking to?

Arnav: One sec. The jalebis, don't forget.

Astha: Yes, sir. Everything is ready. Some of your guests have started to arrive already, actually.

Arnav: Be there soon. Bye.

Khushi whispered to Shlok as Arnav came over: Stupid Laad Governor, he forgot our first anniversary today. Did you know?

Shlok mocked surprise: That is terrible.

Khushi made a face: Humph. He will pay.

So like Astha's warning, he thought. God, he missed her so much.

Ok, so you guys got your wish. This is not ending today. I know there was a lot of IPK 1 and new characters. It might be a little boring to people who don't know, but I promise, this is pretty fun for the Avenging Angel readers. So this one is for them. But I hope everyone enjoyed a mix of IPK and EBP. Please let me know what you thought of this one. The next one is the party, where Shlok and Astha will meet. 😉 It's going to be charged! Somethings from the preview are left for the next chappie.

Chapter 11:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/95438037

Edited by Marybarton - 11 years ago