Astha, Shlok, Varad, and her in laws did go to Sojal's house to see him after his discharge. Sojal and her mother welcomed all of them. Sojal's mother was overwhelmed by all the help they had got from the Agnihotris. She thanked them profusely, especially Niranjan for immediately asking Shlok and Varad to take over.
Niranjan brushed off her thanks saying it was his duty towards his friend. He proceeded to go meet his friend and talk to him. Anjali too went in but she came out within a few minutes. Niranjan spoke a little more and came out after a while. The others were sitting in the living room and Sojal was offering tea to all of them.
The moment Niranjan came, the ladies stood up and Niranjan sat next to Varad. He spoke to Sojal's mother "Nitin (Sojal's father) is worried about Sojal. He wants to get her married before his health fails. i have told him he is going to be alright but he refuses to listen to me."
Sojal's mother spoke. "I too felt we should get her married. She is an only child. We want her to be happy. We just need a good man to be our son in law. We have no other conditions. Our child should always be happy." She was looking at Sojal while she finished.
Sojal lowered her eyes in panic. She had not seen this coming and she was most definitely not ready to get married to anyone else other than Varad. It was either him or no one. Sojal looked up to see Astha gesturing. She mouthed "what?" Astha stood up and asked Sojal to lead her to the washroom. They both went in.
On entering a bedroom Astha stopped Sojal from leaving. "I came in only to speak to you in private Sojal. Why are you hesitating? Tell everyone about Varad bhai."
Sojal was shocked to hear this. "But Astha, he is not ready to commit and he is still living in the past."
Astha clicked her tongue in impatience. "He will never be ready unless he is pushed and you will never get another opportunity like this, with both sets of parents. Now come on. Just come out clean and put the ball in bhai's court."
"Do you really think this will work? And what if he doesn't like me after marriage? What then?"
"He will like you Sojal. How can he not? You're smart, beautiful, kind, well read. What's there to not like? And do you know how worried he was for you when your father was admitted? Varad bhai will never come forward on his own Sojal. He thinks he deserves to be alone for the supposed sin he committed. Load of crap if you ask me. Both the brothers are the same. They are in a misguided world. You need to take charge else nothing will ever happen."
Sojal saw some truth in Astha's words and decided to go for it. She hugged Astha for her support and together they came back. They saw Niranjan giving some reference of a prospective groom to Sojal's mother.
Before anyone could say anything, Sojal said she wanted to say something. All of them looked at her at once. "I want to marry Varad. I love him. It's him or nobody. I am very clear about it." She immediately left to her room after delivering her speech.
Varad and his parents were shocked while Astha was smiled inwardly. Shlok knew Astha had something to do with it. He had his suspicions when Astha led Sojal inside. That little dynamite sure knew some underhand ways to get Sojal and Varad together.
Varad was visibly uncomfortable and he got up looking at his parents. "Ayi, Baba, I don't know what is going on here. I am not sure how she got into this idea. I think it is better I leave now." He thanked Sojal's mother for the tea and left outside.
Niranjan had a thoughtful look. He said he will speak to Nitin regarding this later. All of them left after Varad. After going home Astha dragged Shlok to Varad's room. "Come on. we have to make him agree."
"But Astha. This is something personal. How can we...?"
"Oh just shut up. I know you and your brother. Two sides of the same coin. You all need to be pushed. Otherwise you yourselves will never see love."
Shlok stopped moving "What?" He had a comically shocked look at his wife's statement.
"Of course. Do you think you would have acted on your own had I not gone to my mother's? Never. At least not in this century." Astha rolled her eyes. Shlok raised his eyebrows at this new, fully charged Astha.
He shook his head and gave a small chuckle. "Now I am wondering what I have got into. Who is the husband between us?" She too giggled at his question and they continued to Varad's room.
Varad saw them coming in. He had been on a conference call that just ended as the two of them came in. Shlok spoke first. "Bhai, what have you decided?"
"Regarding what?" Varad pretended to fidget his phone.
"Regarding Sojal. What else!" Astha took the phone from him and stood before Shlok. Shlok pulled Astha back. "Slow down" he muttered under his breath.
"Astha, now you also know whatever happened with me. How can I forget Shilpa? My child? I don't want to go through all that again. Never." He turned back. Astha looked at Shlok.
Shlok stepped forward. He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "But bhai, you were the one who told me that we should look forward and not in the past."
"That was different Shlok!"
"How? I too had Swati and I too went through a lot. But it was you who gave me the confidence that I can find love once again and you are right bhai. I just want you to be as happy as I am."
"But..."
"But nothing." Again Astha interrupted. "How can it not apply to you bhai? And didn't you think about Sojal for a minute? She loves you bhai and for a long time she has been in love."
"I am not responsible for her feelings. I never encouraged her." Varad was almost irritated now.
"You were in some way or the other bhai. No, don't get defensive. Both Shlok and I want you to be truly happy. Yes, something unpleasant happened and you had to go through it. But that does not mean you don't deserve a second chance in life, in love. Don't you want a loving wife, a little son or a daughter some day?" Varad's heart strings tugged at the image Astha was creating. He was hesitant to get Sojal into this mess of a family.
Shlok accurately deduced his brother's expression. "Bhai, if you are thinking about Baba and Mrs Agnihotri, then you were the one who asked me to get out and have a life. Now I am telling you the same thing. Go out and get a life of your own bhai. You don't deserve this pitiable existence."
Varad just ran his hand through his hair. He faced both of them and said "Okay, I will think about this. But I need sometime." Astha ran and gave him a hug. "I knew it!" she shrieked. "I knew you will accept."
"I never said I will." A baffled Varad answered.
"But I am sure you will. The answer will be yes for sure." She waved to him with a smile and hopped out of the room. Varad looked at his brother. A slow smile tugged at Varad's face. "Bhai, I really pity you if this is how you have to take decisions with your wife." Both of them laughed and shared a brief hug before Shlok went back to his own room.
He saw Astha humming a song and taking out some clothes from her wardrobe. He hugged her from behind "Now whose life are you planning to meddle with next?" He finished with a laugh into her hair.
Astha turned around and caught his arms. "Me? What did I do?" Her eyes were innocent yet she had a twinkle. "I knew you were trouble the minute I set my eyes on you. No wonder I was afraid to get married." He smirked at his now menacing looking wife.
"Really? It was I who took pity on you and got married." She finished with a smug smile which gave away to a yelp when he carried her to the bed. "Leave me shlok. I need to pack for our trip." she was backing away even as she spoke.
Shlok just pulled her and trapped her beneath him. "What about a preview before we leave?" His husky voice reached her ears. Her heartbeats drummed loud at his proximity and their position. She knew the time had come for them to be a husband and wife in the true sense. His wooing, or loving, or whatever one called it, had succeeded very well. Astha had fallen for him completely and irrevocably.
They were fully clothed, lying on top of each other and Shlok was kissing her softly at first and then with increased ardor. He kissed her from her lips downwards, pulling her pallu off her body. His lips trailed all the way down to her exposed midriff. Astha closed her eyes in abandonment and arched up at his seduction.
Her hands were busy taking off his shirt from his pant. She roamed her hands on his muscular back under his shirt. Shlok's tongue swept her navel while his hands were trying to remove her buttons. Alarm bells started ringing in Astha's head. Weren't they supposed to do something? Go somewhere?
She managed to drag his name out of her lips. "Shlok please. We need to leave."
"No let's stay and finish this." His voice was rough and he was completely lost.
"Shlok!" This time she shook him out of his ardor. Shlok rolled from her with a groan and landed on the bed, facing down. His breathing finally calmed down after a while. By then she had fixed her sari and her face with a trembling hand. Astha's color was still high and she anticipated the trip with excitement and a little fear. She awaited that instance when she would become his bride in the complete sense.
Part 26
Anupamaa
50