Short Story: Innocent Love...Part-1 to Part-6 - Page 63

Part-4

Chutki, please listen to me... Varad stopped her on the way

No bhai, he did wrong with me... Astha spoke crying and wiping her tears...i will never forgive him...

Ok baba, do as you want but take it... Varad handed over a folded paper to her...Astha looked at him with questioning eyes...

Shlok left it for you...Varad handed her and went away leaving from there... Astha looked at the paper and moved back to shlok's room...crying, she looked at the paper and sat on shlok's bed...and slowly opened the letter...and started reading it...

"Asthu...i know you are angry with me as I told you so big lie...

But what could I do sweetie? I could not see you while leaving...i can't bear a single tear in your eye...how I could see you crying for me...Please... Please forgive me...

I know, I am begging one impossible thing, Ok... Open my Almirah..."

Humm...Astha was socked reading this line...she went to Almirah and opened it... a big teddy was placed there with a big Sorry written on it...seeing a tear rolled over her face...she wiped it and shut the door in anger starting reading letter again...

"Liked it?

No? I knew, you will not forgive me so easily...today I can't talk to you as I will be on the way but after reaching, you will be the first one, whom I will call..

And remember, its not only you who are alone...am I also alone there without you...

Moreover it was your wish for me to go...

Ok, have to go now...with one more request... SORRY..."

Astha read the letter again and again and tears rolling over her cheeks...

The day and night went so slow for Astha, almost all the day crying looking at her pics with Shlok...all Anjali, kalindi and Varad tried to bring he rout for some game, TV...but nothing worked...just in one day, she was looking so much changed...

It was evening of next day, when her laptop beeped...she refreshed it, it was Shlok online...Astha immediately turned her face away seeing Shlok on screen...

Still angry with me? He spoke politely...Astha didn't turn her face but simply nodded from back in yes...

I am sorry sweetie... please talk to me...I am already alone here, how will I survive here if you will not talk to me even...he pleaded...

No, never, why did you lie to me? She spoke angrily...

I could not see you leaving there. Because...anyway, leave it...he paused...Ok, I know, you will not ask but I am telling, we had reached safely, Dad dropped me to my hostel, its good, students from many other countries are also here...will go to my new school after some time...

Astha was listening but didn't respond...

You know one good thing...no uniform here...that will be great na?

So you will get new friends too...Astha spoke slowly...

Shlok paused for a moment listening her mumbling...

No one can take your place in my life Astha...Shlok sighed...

A tear rolled over her cheek listening...she picked her hand to wipe it...

Shlok knew she is crying, he wanted to change her mood... He thought for a minute and spoke... Listen Astha, if you not talk to me now, I will come back by next flight...

What? Astha was shocked...

Yes, you had forced me na, if in India, I will have to forget you...Now, I give you one condition, talk to me properly or I am coming back... Why should I lose from both sides? Away from you and even then you are angry...

But you know how much I hate lies and how many times I had told you, once you tell a big lie I will never see your face...

Ok baba, keep your words, don't want to see my face but at least talk to me na... Shlok smiled listening her...

Next day, it was early in the morning, when Astha came downstairs...good morning Mom..she hugged Kalindi...

Kalindi was surprised...you got so early in the morning? Everything fine?

Ya, everything is fine mom... ok, I am getting ready for school saying, she ran to her room...actually she could not sleep properly for whole night just thinking about when will Shlok call back...

She got ready and had breakfast much before time today, otherwise, Shlok used to stand in the hall shouting for her to get ready...when her laptop beeped...she immediately opened it and turned back...

Hey.. Morni... Shlok stopped midway with shock as he saw her back...you are ready for school? At seven in the morning? OMG...am I dreaming...he spoke naughtily, otherwise I had to shout to wake you up...

Shut up...she spoke without seeing him..

Acha asthu , ab to gussa chodo, meri taraf dekho na...see I am wearing new T...we had purchased...

Humm...she twisted her face...and started making her bed...

Ok listen, I got some new friends, we had a lot fun here today in school...I am sending you pics on whats app...check your mobile...

When her mobile too beeped, she checked the pics and a smile appeared on her face seeing shlok...

Nice na? Boy in sky shirt is Aryan...from US...in black is Rahul from India and girl in pink is Swati...she is from Delhi itself...nice girl... Hena?

To use baat karo na. why are you calling me? Astha was feeling jealous on listening good for another girl...

Jealous? Shlok smiled...

Astha went and stood near mirror combing her hair...why would I be jealous, even when I am not talking to you... its you who are calling me...do whatever you want...

Ok baba, but had you been to home yesterday? Varad bhai was telling, Mom is quite upset... Please see her...and here kalindi chachi is also upset...now its your responsibility to take care of all of them asthu...k...I have to leave...bye..,see you... Saying Shlok disconnected...

Today a smile appeared on Astha's face instead of tears...when she remembered Shlok's words for Anjali, she immediately ran to Anjali's house...went there and hugged Anjali from back...

Astha... Everything fine my baby? Are you ok? Anjali caressed her face...

Yes chachi...everything fine.

Shook called? Anjali asked...

Yes, but I didn't talk to him...Astha twisted her face...

Anjali smiled on listening...she held Astha's hand and made her sit on a bench near by ...sit here mera bacha...

But shloku told me, you are upset... Astha asked carefully...

Are not you upset your best friend leave? Anjali smiled... That made me upset too..my son also left na?

Ya, mom is sad too missing shloku...kal se panch baar call kar chuki hain use...khana mila, school gye...and so so so... Astha smiled...

Next day again she received call from Shlok...and he told her every major and minor activity of the day... Astha didn't look at screen even once , just sometimes, she replied, when necessary...sometime, Shlok could listen her smile, sometimes could feel anger but he knew...no matter how angry she is, she will accept his call at first beep...

Time was passing like this, when days changed to months to years... Varad had also joined his father's business... Astha used to take care of both the families...

Shlok had promised to come every six months but seven years had passed like this...from schooling to UG college ...but he didn't come once to India...Anjali, Niranjan had been going every year to meet him...

But for Astha... It was still wait in her life, but now she had started talking to him properly still not looking at him...not even his pics at home...