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Part 25
Shlok was working in his office room that also doubled up as his library when Astha returned. He noticed she was looking even prettier with her hair layered and side bangs by the front. Shlok looked up for a brief second as she peeked and immediately went back to his laptop.
"Nice. This suits you. And thank god you didn't shorten your length." He murmured.
Astha looked on, clueless as to what she should reply. But she just wanted to spite him and said "Maybe I should have chopped it off and gone for a pixie cut." He laughed, the rich sound emanating around the room. She got goosebumps just listening to his genuine mirth. It was not something she got to see and hear often.
"And I would have missed those long, beautiful tresses on my bed." He came back with a silky retort. Astha blushed and looked away in confusion. He always managed to do this. She would try to win over an argument while he would just spin an alternate universe her way.
"Why aren't you in office?" She changed the subject completely, unwilling to fall for his sexual traps.
"I too wanted to stay at home today, just as you." He lazily drawled, eyeing her in amusement. It was as if he could read her discomfort when he was too forthright with her. And it pleased him that he could still unsettle her, despite their argument in the morning.
"Shall we eat?" He was actually asking her instead of ordering, which was a good change.
"I am not that hungry." Astha didn't feel like sitting through an entire meal with him just then. Her nerves were raw, yet she was fighting their ever present attraction like mad. Astha didn't want to give in so easily this time. She needed some time and space to sort things out in her head.
Shlok's gaze narrowed at her reply. Predictable, she thought to herself. "You will eat. With me, and now." He got up, his movements sure and graceful. Shlok took her by her arm to the table that had already been set. Astha silently asked the query.
"I ordered for both of us when you started from the salon. And it arrived just two minutes before you did." What? But how did he know when she started?
"How did you know when I started back?" Her voice was awed with his impeccable timing.
"I always have protection for you. I know where you are what you do always." His voice was quiet though it was definitely not reassuring.
Whoa! "So you mean to say you're stalking me?" Her voice was almost incredulous with the heights he would go for keeping her under his control. She prayed that it wasn't true and he had just been joking. But somehow she thought that wasn't the case really.
"Don't be so dramatic Astha. I unfortunately have to work for a living. So no, I am not stalking you. But my security men are protecting you always. They keep me informed, as they should. He drily said these words, as if this was his last concern. And he deliberately stressed on the word protection. As if that would make it any better.
If possible, Astha turned even more mad at his words. And her face completely reflected her helpless fury. Shlok frowned seeing her expression. He wordlessly turned to sit and start serving on both the plates.
She too sat down and started eating. She realized she was ravenous as soon as she started eating. Within no time her plate was empty, to Shlok's pleasure. He gave a satisfied smile at her and both of them got up to wash and clear up. Astha didn't speak a word through this time. Shlok had tried involving her in various conversations, she replied mostly in monosyllables.
When they both came to the living room, Shlok held her wrist and engulfed her from behind. Astha immediately stiffened. Shlok got irritated at her repeated resistance and turned her around in a single movement.
"What do you want more Astha? I let you be, I gave you some space. But I clearly told you how things stand in the morning. What more do you expect? And how long are you going to stay like this?" He was hurling one question after another at her.
Astha looked at him blankly, as if confused by too many questions being bombarded at her. "Why is everything with you so physical Shlok? The minute I don't let you touch me I am sulking? And I need to change? Why does everything boil down to sex? Why?" She was seriously bewildered about the absolute control he wanted over her body apart from her mind too.
"Because that's the only way I know." His quiet answer pole axed her into shocked silence. In that instant she saw a very emotionally crippled man, trying to fix everything with sex. And that roused her pity and tenderness for him in abundance. She felt so bad for her sad, struggling fifty.
Astha didn't know whether to laugh or cry at both their plight. She sighed and finally went into his arms. Astha laid her head on his chest and was content to stay there for a few minutes. He let her be and finally said "Thank you." In the same quiet voice.
Astha raised a very worried glance at him. "This doesn't mean I am completely happy or I have forgotten everything. She touched you and I can't. I can never forgive or forget that." Astha's eyes had the same hurtful expression she had in the morning.
Shlok led her to her room in silence. The curtains were drawn, and the room was faintly bathed in muted light. He closed the door shut behind him and started unbuttoning his shirt. Astha's heart beat increased and she stared at him with an awed expression. His beautiful physique never failed to raise her temperature.
He shrugged his shirt, and pulled his belt out. And then he went to her cupboard and took out a dark lipstick. Astha stared at his actions with a frown. What was he trying to achieve? Shlok joined her and took her hand. He sat down on the bed, and pulled her near him.
Shlok gave the lipstick in her hand. She stared at that object and back at his face. Slowly he lay down and brought her on top of him. She straddled him, her legs on either side of him. He brought her hand with the lipstick and drew a pattern in his wide chest. She finally began to understand he was marking his territory. Where she could touch him and where she couldn't.
Astha's throat clogged with emotional tears. She was touched that Shlok was ready to take this leap of faith with her. She knew it mattered a lot to him to give this sort of control to another person. And Astha definitely didn't want to abuse that trust. She carefully drew as he led the way.
"This is it Astha. Inside the boundary don't touch and outside you can." Shlok sounded just like the small emotional boy he would have been back then. Swallowing her tears, Astha gave him the first smile for the day. She gently put the lipstick away and kissed outside the boundary softly.
Shlok stiffened for a moment and then relaxed when she came up. He was relieved to see her smile again and come back to him.
"So the next time we..you know...can I touch you? Only outside?"
Shlok didn't answer for a moment. Finally he said "Yes". His eyes looked away from hers as he continued "Your touch means so much more Astha. That's why I am scared." His admission shocked her senseless. She was moved even more now. Astha vowed to keep her fifty happy. She just lay down next to him, awed by the power she apparently had over him.
After a few minutes of relative silence, Shlok got up. It was half past three. "Astha, we need to go out today evening. Be ready by six." He was putting on his shirt, with the lipstick mark and all, as he was speaking.
"Where?" Astha was still lying down on the bed.
"My parent's house. I want you to meet Ayi." Astha was shocked yet again at his sudden decision. Before she could ask him more, his phone rang, and he strode out as he attended the business call.
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