Astha went in with soft steps. Shlok was in bed. He stuck to his side of the bed with his hand over his eyes. His shoes were near the bed and he had flung his jacket on the couch. She went and set them right. The room was silent and was softly lit with yellow light. A slight breeze came through the french door.
Astha went near Shlok. She sat by the bed, next to his lying form. "Shlok" Her voice was soft and low. Shlok didn't react. His eyes were still closed. "Am sorry. I shouldn't have spoken in haste." She placed her tiny hands on his arms.
Shlok just clenched his hands and didn't want to come down. He was tempted to say it was okay but another part of him refused to acklowedge her apology. How dare she speak about his Baba like that? What did she know about him? His fury held him back from compromising with her.
Astha was dejected. She didn't know how to pacify Shlok. To an extent she could understand his anger. If someone came and told her that her father was abusive she too would get angry. But how will she make him understand. Something was going on in this house.
Astha got up just as the power went off. With an impatient click of her tongue, she got up and pulled the draw open. She took the match box and lit the candle. The candle stand was on the dresser. She carefully took the candle and placed it on the dresser besides the bed. Shlok turned his face and saw her place the candle.
As she turned around, her pallu flew due to the breeze coming through the french door. It caught fire from the candle flame. The chiffon sari quickly caught fire. Shlok shot up from the bed in a split second.
"Astha!" He quickly pulled off the sari from her body followed by his shocked exclamation. Another second and her body would have been burnt. Astha was too terrorized to even scream. She was trembling from head to toe. She couldn't think of her plight had Shlok not come to her rescue. Shlok immediately put the thick blanket over
her burning sari and shut the fire. She just gave an empty stare. Shlok pulled her into a tight hug. "Astha, are you alright?" He sounded frantic. She nodded blankly. Shlok realized she was still in shock. He went to shut the french door and then got her a glass of water. He gently made her drink the liquid.
Astha slowly came to reality. "Shlok" Her voice shook and sounded tearful. He took her in her arms and rubbed her back in slow movements. "It's ok. Nothing happened. Am here Astha, don't worry." His voice sounded soothing to her ears. She shuddered and hid her head in his chest.
He continued to rub her back and make soothing sounds. Her trembling came down and finally stopped. A different warmth spread through her body. She suddenly realized her sari wasn't there and she was hugging Shlok from head to toe.
Astha made a soft protest and started wriggling out of his hold. He held her fast. His own fear and paranoia went up when he realized what almost happened. He thanked God nothing happened to Astha. He realized how silly their fight was in comparison to the near loss of a life.
Astha almost felt his sombre mood and lifted her face up. "Shlok?" She questioned the sudden change in him. He rubbed his thumb against her full, lower lip. "I can't live if something happens to you." Her breath quickened and her lips parted due to his thumb.
She felt his lips on her briefly before she parted her mouth to encourage him. Her hands went around his neck of their own accord and she went on tip toes. Shlok held her by the waist. His hands were caressing her bare skin even while kissing her like there was no tomorrow. The fear acted as an aphrodisiac for both of them. Astha clutched his hair and titled her face to give him better access.
He broke the kiss to start his downward journey in her scented skin. He took her hands from his neck and kept them on his shirt, silently urging her to remove the buttons. Her pulse was throbbing, and her hands trembled in part fear and part need. She felt a slight hesitation when she felt his hands go to the hook in the back of her blouse.
The lights suddenly came back almost making their eyes glare in the sudden light. Astha was attacked by nerves and shyness. She moved away from him and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her cheeks turned red while Shlok just watched her. He was reluctant to let her go but he didn't want to push her; especially not after her trauma.
He was still disheveled and his hair was mussed. His shirt was also partly open. Her lips were swollen and her hair was also equally messed up. Yet she looked so beautiful, as if she had just made love. He had stamped her his. He felt pride and desire in equal amount.
Shlok realized Astha was shy in front of him when she turned away. He took a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her. Astha quietly went to the wardrobe to get her nightdress out. Within a few hours lots had happened. She felt completely drained and just wanted to cuddle next to her Shlok.
And they did just that; cuddle and sleep together in the huge comfortable bed.
Anupamaa
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