This is the Concluding Part to the OS : KNOWING THE TRUTH...
WILL SHE EVER FORGIVE ME??
Aastha came running into her bedroom, flung her phone on the bed and locked herself into the bathroom. She splashed the cold water on her face. The water washed away her tears and the beads of sweat on her forehead. She was trying to control her sobs. She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths. She knew Shlok would be there any moment. She wiped her face dry and looked at herself into the mirror above the wash basin to ensure that she looked normal. But as soon as she saw herself in the mirror, tears dwelled in her eyes. She tried to but she couldn't control them. She splashed more water on her face hoping to wash away that dreadful scene in her mind... the dreadful scene she witnessed once again about half a minute ago... the horrifying scene of Niranjan beating Anjali ruthlessly. Aastha just wanted to wipe it out of her mind. She couldn't breathe properly.
The sound of footsteps made her alert. She knew Shlok was back. She washed her face and came out wiping it. Shlok and Aastha looked at each other and smiled. Shlok found something missing in Aastha's smile. He noticed her red and swollen eyes and sensed that something was wrong.
"Aastha, are you alright? Why are your eyes red? And swollen?" he asked.
"Because of the soap!!" she replied spontaneously. "I had irritation in my eyes because of the soap and I rubbed my eyes. That's why they are red...!!" she explained in a breath.
Shlok wasn't really satisfied with the explanation, but he ignored. Aastha sat in front of the dressing table to remove her ear-rings and other jewellery before sleeping. Shlok, while cleaning the bed, was complaining to Aastha about his new "personal assistant" Mrs. D'mello whom Aastha had appointed. He was telling how irritating the lady was. And when he looked at Aastha, he noticed that she was not listening to him. She was lost in her own thoughts. "Should I tell everything to Shlok? Is this the right time to tell him the truth? Will he believe me? Yes, he will! He has to... because now I have got the..."
Her thoughts were interrupted when Shlok called out to her. "Aastha?!! What are you thinking about?!" he asked. "Oh my God!! Are you in love with someone else?!!" he asked acting shocked and worried. "I am right here with you, but you are ignoring me!! Instead of thinking about me, you are thinking about someone else!!!" he said dramatically.
Aastha laughed at his drama. "No Patidev!! How can I think about anyone else when you are with me?!" said Aastha.
"What?!!" exclaimed Shlok. "That means you think about someone else when I am away?!" he said with fake anger and shock.
Aastha giggled. "No... I think only about you...!! Always...!" she said.
Aastha stood up as he came close and stood behind her. She could see the glint of naughtiness in his eyes through the mirror. He hugged her from behind, his hands across her belly. He rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered in her ears, "Why?" Aastha gasped as she felt his warm breath over her ears and her body shivered. She closed her eyes placing a hand on his and another on his cheek. "Because I love you...!" she whispered. He smiled looking at her in the mirror. Moving aside her hair, he kissed her on the neck sending another shiver across her body, and whispered in her ear, "You do?!!" She was breathing heavily. She just turned and hugged him tightly. Shlok smiled as her kissed on the top of her head. "I love you too!!" he said. They stood there in each other's embrace for a couple of moments. Suddenly Shlok felt Aastha's warm tears wetting his shirt. Hardly did he know the reason behind those tears.
"Arey, what happened?! Ohho!! Why are you girls so emotional?!! Achha baba, I wont say 'I Love You' again, okay?!" he teased her.
She quickly wiped her tears saying, "No no!! I want you to say it!!" she said instantly. Shlok just stared naughtily at her raising his brows and she looked away blushing.
"So what was I saying?! Ah yes! Mrs. D'mello... Oh!! I can't tolerate her any more!!" said Shlok. Aastha giggled as she took out the blankets from the cupboard. Shlok continued, "Now I am going to call her grant her leave for a couple of days atleast!! But I don't have her number... I am sure you must have it!" he said.
Aastha nodded. "Hmmm..." she said, "it's there in the contacts on my phone...!!" she said.
Shlok picked up her phone lying on the bed to get Mrs. D'mello's number. Before Aastha could realise it and before she could snatch the phone from his hand, "What the hell is this?!!" he exclaimed looking into the screen in disbelief. Aastha skipped a beat as she stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. She remembered she had recorded Niranjan scolding and beating up Anjali, on her phone. And when Niranjan suspected someone standing outside the door, she ran from there straight to her bedroom and flung the phone on the bed without turning off the camera. And now Shlok had seen the video. He was shocked. He just couldn't believe it. Aastha was scared.
"Shlok... Err.. Actually... I... I was going to tell you everything...but..." and before she could speak further, Shlok held her wrist tightly and pulled her out of the room. "Shlok..." she said almost crying... "Please listen to me... Believe me Shlok... it is true!!" Tears streamed down her cheeks. He was pulling her, walking ahead with long strides and she was scurrying behind him to match with his pace. "Shlok!" she was crying, "Believe me please... I didn't mean to hurt you...! Please, don't misunderstand me...!" Shlok was not at all ready to listen to her. Aastha was trying to get her hand out of his strong grip. "Shlok please... If you find that I am wrong, you can do anything with me... Throw me out of this house... Do whatever you want, I will listen to you... I will agree to whatever you say... But right now, you must listen to me... Shlo..." and she suddenly stopped speaking as she realised that they were heading to Niranjan and Anjali's bedroom.
Shlok stopped in front of the room, breathing heavily in anger. More than anger, it was disbelief. He was about to push open the door when he heard something from inside. Shlok and Aastha stood there absolutely silent. And they could hear Niranjan scolding and beating Anjali. Shlok looked at Aastha in disbelief. He couldn't believe what Niranjan was speaking about Jyoti and Abhay. He couldn't believe Niranjan was forcing Anjali to make Jyoti take back the complaint against Abhay. He couldn't believe that Niranjan was telling Anjali to make Aastha understand that she should stay in her limits. He just couldn't believe that his Baba, whom he had always believed in more than anyone else, was actually such a cheap man. Shlok stood there in shock as a tear escapes his eye. Aastha moved to him placing her hand on his shoulder. He just walked away. Aastha couldn't understand. Why didn't he go in and stop Niranjan?!! Why was he not taking any action?! Aastha couldn't tolerate the injustice to Anjali any more. She wished to barge into the room and stop Niranjan. But she wanted Shlok to do it. She was disappointed with Shlok walking away. She went to him to question his action. There was no chance that he shouldn't believe it. He had himself seen the video which clearly showed Niranjan beating Anjali like anything. And now Shlok had heard everything with his own ears.
Aastha saw Shlok speaking on the phone. She walked to him in anger and said, "Whom are you talking to? Your Aai is being thrashed by Baba and you are standing here doing nothing?!! She is your Aai Shlok!! Do you still believe in your Baba?! Even after seeing and hearing everything?!! All this is going on for years Shlok!! It is not Aai, but Baba responsible for everything!! Have you not realised it yet?!! How can you..."
Shlok broke in, "Call Dada and Kaka right now!"
"What?!" asked Aastha.
"Just GO and bring them here, RIGHT NOW!!" said Shlok.
Aastha could see the fire in Shlok's eyes. She knew he was doing something right. She ran away to get Varad and Vinayak. Sojal too came with them. They were confused at this sudden gathering outside Niranjan and Anjali's bedroom. Shlok suddenly pushed open the door and everyone was shocked to their core to witness the horrifying scene before them. Niranjan was shocked to see everyone staring at him in disbelief. The stick dropped down from his hand. Aastha ran towards Anjali to comfort her and assure her that she was safe now.
"Baba?!!" exclaimed Varad surprised to see all this.
Niranjan tried to defend himself. He knew though no one else, but Shlok would believe him. "Shlok, mere bachche... you know your Baba can not..."
"Stop it Baba!!" barked Shlok. "You have lost all the rights to speak anything in defence!!"
Anjali had hugged Aastha and was crying her heart out.
"What are you saying Shlok?! I am YOUR Baba... You can't..."
"Baba please...!! Oh! I mean, Mr. Agnihotri...!! I am sorry to say, but I have lost my father today!!"
Niranjan couldn't believe his ears. He felt as if this was the end of the world. His bachcha was saying this...! Shlok felt like taking the stick and beating Niranjan to death!! But he controlled himself. Everyone was astonished, still trying to accept the reality.
"We had never expected this from you Baba...!!" said Varad clenching his jaws. "I feel ashamed to be your son!!"
Niranjan became numb on hearing all this. Now there was no way he could defend himself. Vinayak was glad that the truth was finally out. Just then Police arrived.
"Inspector Sahab, arrest this man!!" said Shlok with all his anger. Everyone was surprised to see the police.
NOW Aastha understood that Shlok was talking to the police on phone when she had gone to talk to him. The Police took Niranjan away and all his pleas were ignored. Hearing all the chaos, Kavya and Jyoti too came there.
Jyoti too was shocked to know the truth, to know that her Aai was not a bad person, to know that her Aai had suffered much more than her. Jyoti just went ahead and hugged Anjali.
Shlok stood in a corner still trying to believe that all this was not a dream. He was too shocked to even cry. Aastha walked to him and held his arm placing her head on his shoulder. He was silent.
Sojal went ahead and caressed Anjali. Kavya was sad seeing Anjali and everyone crying. She went ahead and wiped Anjali's tears with her tiny hands. Anjali hugged Kavya with all her warmth and cried. Varad and Vinayak assured Anjali that now there was nothing to worry. Anjali just hoped that this was not a dream.
Aastha rubbed Shlok's back. "Shlok, won't you talk to Aai?" she asked.
He looked at her. "What will I say to her?" he asked.
"Just go and meet her... words will automatically come to you...! And as you say, it is not always necessary to express everything in words...!" she said.
She accompanied Shlok to Anjali. Sojal and Jyoti moved aside as Shlok came and sat down on his knees in front of Anjali. He was looking down in shame. Afterall, Mrs. Agnihotri was not that bad... Afterall, Mrs. Agnihotri was his Aai...! Shlok looked at her as Anjali stared back at him with wet eyes. Both didn't know how to react and what to say. Shlok's eyes watered. "Aai...!" he said and both broke down embracing each other. No one had ever seen Shlok cry so much.
Everyone was glad to see how things changed, everyone was satisfied now.
After a few minutes, Varad came forward and made Shlok leave Anjali and stand up. He took Shlok out of the room. Vinayak too walked out with them. Sojal took Kavya to their room. Jyoti and Aastha made Anjali sit on the bed comfortably.
"Aai, now everything is fine!! Everything is perfect! You are free Aai...!!" said Aastha happily. Anjali hugged Aastha. Aastha caressed her. "Don't worry Aai... I will stay with you tonight" said Aastha.
"Aastha, I am there with Aai... Don't worry about her. You need to be wih Shlok now... He needs you!" said Jyoti.
Aastha looked at Shlok who stood outside the room without any word. She nodded to agree with Jyoti. Aastha left the room wishing Anjali and Jyoti 'Good Night'.
Aastha was sitting on the bed leaning back. Shlok lay across on the bed with his head on Aastha's lap. Both were at a loss of words. They were silent. Aastha was staring at the wall in front and Shlok at the ceiling. Aastha felt Shlok's body shiver. She looked at him. He was still in shock. He was guilty that he treated his Aai so badly. Aastha weaved her fingers through his hair as her eyes filled with tears seeing his condition. Shlok was still staring at the ceiling. Tears flowed down his eyes.
"Everytime..." said Shlok, "Everytime I was wrong!! I was wrong in judging people so close to me... I could never recognize people... never!" he sobbed. Aastha gently rubbed his chest as he spoke, "I was wrong about Swati... I was wrong about YOU!! I never was able to understand Aai... And I was so wrong about, about..." he paused to breathe, "Baba..." Tears streaming down his eyes. He was still staring at the ceiling. "Am I so bad? Do I deserve to be loved? Am I so..."
"Shhh...!!" Aastha stopped him from speaking further. "Enough Shlok... It was not you... It were the times...! The bad days are gone now! Everything will be fine!" said Aastha caressing him.
"Why do you love me so much?! Why? Even after I gave you so much pain, even after I destroyed your life, even after I broke your heart, even after I treated you in the worst ways one ever can, even after I..."
"Shlok... All that is past now! Whatever happened till now doesn't matter as long as the present and the future is beautiful" said Aastha. "And you have made my life beautiful Shlok, and I am sure you will make Aai's beautiful too...!!" she smiled.
Her smile was making him feel more guilty. More tears flowed down his cheeks as he said, "Don't love me so much Aastha... I would die of the guilt of not living upto your expectations...!! I would die of the guilt of not giving you the love you deserved... the guilt of being such a..."
Aastha placed her palm on his mouth. "I have got much much more than I had expected Shlok...!! And you know what, you are the best and the most loving husband ever!!" she said.
Both laughed as tears filled their eyes. Shlok looked into Aastha's eyes as he held her hand in both his hands.
"I love you Aastha... I love you very much!" he said.
Aastha nodded wih a smile saying, "I know that Patidev!!"
Shlok further said, "I am sorry for all the pain, for all the tears I gave you... I am really sorry!"
"You don't have to be..." whispered Aastha.
"Aastha, I don't fear to lose you now... Because I know you understand me very well, and you will forgive me... I know that you will never go away from me... I know it!!" Aastha smiled in agreement. "But Aai...?!" said Shlok, "What all I have said to her, how many times I have insulted her... I have been so cruel to her..." he sobbed as he recalled everything. He looked at Aastha with his head still on her lap. Aastha could feel his pain, his guilt. "Will she ever forgive me?" he was crying. He sobbed and continued, "Tell me Aastha, will she ever forgive me?!"
Aastha moved her hand over his forehead. She smiled and said, "She has already forgiven you Shlok!! She forgave your every bitter word the moment you called her 'Aai'...!!" Shlok felt so relieved after hearing that. "And you know what?" continued Aastha, "No mother can ever remain upset with her child for long...!!"
Shlok kept looking at her for a moment and then hugged her tightly, his arms around her waist and his head into her belly. Aastha too held him tightly as he lay on her lap. Aastha's words had relieved all his burden. He could now sleep peacefully in the most protective and the most comfortable sheath of his dear wife's love and belief.
Hope you all enjoyed reading it!!
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