Part 10
As usual Astha and Shlok had their dinner together. She went up after completing the household chores. Shlok was still working in his laptop. He didn't look up even after she came in. Why? Why did this man have to marry me? Instead he could have just tied the mangalsutra around a mannequin. At least it would have stayed in place and he could daily ignore it while coming in and going out. Humphh!!!
Astha showered and came out in her nightdress. She noticed Shlok had shut down his laptop and was now reading. His reading glasses perched on his nose. He looked quite serious. What would it take to rattle this man? She was contemplating on this when she noticed a cockroach near the bed.
"Shlok!! Aa..." she screamed at the top of her voice. Shlok ran up to her.
"What happened? Astha?"
She ran to him and hugged him tight. Her face burrowed into his chest.
"What happened Astha?" This time his voice was firm and he gently shook her.
Her scared eyes looked up at him. "Cock..cockroach" Her voice sounded almost teary.
"What? W*F! You raised hell for a bloody cockroach? Are you mad?" He sounded angry and his eyes clearly reflected his irritation. For a moment he was terrified that something had happened. Phew! This girl was going to be the death of him.
"I am scared Shlok!' she looked and sounded young. At that moment he felt she was 12 rather than 21. He released his pent up breath.
"Shlok, its still there." Astha clutched him harder. She moved closer to him to inch away from the bedside. To Shlok's relief, the cockroach went out by the french door.
"Astha, it has gone. Come on now." Astha slowly opened her eyes. She realized she was hugging Shlok. They were brushing from head to toe. Astha looked up at Shlok. He also stared back at her. Both of them were unable to look away from each other's eyes.
Varad knocked the door. "Shlok is everything okay? What was that sound?"
Astha immediately moved away. She blushed and looked away from Shlok in confusion. What happened to me? I felt as if someone let a thousand butterflies in me. I have never felt this way before.
Shlok walked slowly to the door and opened it. "Nothing bhai. There was a cockroach in the room and Astha got scared." Varad gave a small laugh and went back shaking his head.
Shlok turned back and closed the door behind him. He noticed Astha still refused to look at him. She was unusually tongue tied. Usually she would hum a song or curse him under her breath. But now she quietly went to bed with wide eyes and a throbbing pulse.
Shlok too went to the couch and lay down. He was aware of every movement Astha made, even in the darkness. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He still felt Astha in his arms long after she moved away. The image of her soft, pink lips kept running through his mind. What would it taste like? Shit! What was he thinking? Shlok just covered his eyes with the blanket and tried to sleep.
Astha had never felt any male this close. She felt a whole set of new emotions run through her. That Shlok was her husband only added to the mystery. How would it be if he was genuinely nice to her and loved her she thought. Astha chastised herself for these useless thoughts and turned to the side to sleep.
Astha got up when sunshine poured through the french doors. She quietly went about her shower without disturbing Shlok. Usually she would wantedly make noise to disturb her husband but today she didn't want to wake him up. She was not ready to face him. Her heart was still confused by last night's thoughts. Strangely Shlok woke up despite the quietness.
He saw Astha come out of the shower and stand before the mirror. She seemed to be lost in thoughts. Astha was putting on her bangles, earrings, and finally her tikka. She then proceeded to bring her long lustrous hair to the front. Shlok was awestruck at all that she was doing. He just watched her from the couch without moving a muscle.
Astha was now struggling to tie the dori. She was repeatedly trying to tie it but remained unsuccessful. Finally he got up and went besides her. His footsteps were soft and she was unaware of his movements. He gently stilled her hands and tied it himself.
Astha's eyes flew open in shock. She stared straight ahead in the mirror at Shlok. Astha didn't know whether she was dreaming. Her mouth let out short gasps of air. Her whole face was flushed. Before her body could betray her, she quickly moved away from Shlok and went downstairs to begin her work.
Edited by ipkkndfollower - 11 years ago
Shiv Shakti
50