AaShlok SS - 'Love and Lies' (pt 13,14 on pg 35) - Page 14

"why are we here?"

Aastha shook her head, "why does anyone come for shopping?"

Squeezing her hand closer, he asked, "why are we, in men's store?"

"when you can choose my outfits, why can't I buy for you"

"really?"

"really!"

He smirked at her saying, "what do you know about my clothing?"

She replied, "come, I'll show what I know", in a cranky tone.

"I wonder what makes you keen over such things" he asked on their way back to home.

"You don't know, It's something, I'm really, this was the first time, I'm gifting a shirt to anyone" she said softly, looking into at him.

"not even to your father?", he asked, without turning his gaze off the road.

"no Shlok,I always wanted my husband to be the first one"

"oh, is that why, u'd given only after' our marriage" He added a chuckle, trying to be funny.

She took a while to get his point. Peering through the glass, she wiped the tear escaped from her eyes before he noticed.

Few months after,

When Shlok returned home at 8 pm, he found Aastha lying on the bed.

"Aastha!" his single jerk made her rose at once. "Don't you feel well?" he asked, checking her forehead to see if she had a temperature. "No, Shlok, I'm just tired" Aastha said, opening her eyes slightly.

"why are you so tired?"

"Shlok, I didn't have a proper wink in last week, was completely busy with our magazine anniversary function" She wanted to say more about the celebrations.

"had dinner?" He'd cut in; She shook her head in a no and answered, "was waiting for you"

"You really look very pale n sick? Is everything really okay" Shlok again enquired at the dining table. "Any surprises?" he questioned again.

She blushed looking at him, "may not be this early", she said clasping her hands under her chin.

"Still, get checked tomm. Make an appointment..."

"huh, will go while going to office "

He observed her stirring the soup continually and asked, with a mild voice, "Aastha, do you still wish to work?"

"why?"

"you work, neither for money nor to pass your time. It's never essential for us" She made no reply. He asked, "do you feel low to depend on me?"

She gaped into his eyes but remained silent, thinking... if one starts depending on others, their entire life will be dependent.

"shall see", she replied and slowly moved from there.

She can simply say yes' or no' to him. What she cannot ignore is, Shlok being aware of all her tries to work for it, since from her intern days and still asking to give up. But, as she expected, he apologized the next morning and asked her to do whatever she likes, confusing her more!

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Aastha scanned through her clothing trying to decide what to wear for Jyothi's Godh Barai ceremony at her sasural. She pulled out three sarees and was weighing each one. Shlok took them along with her in his arms saying, "You look good in this bright colored one, but I don't want everyone's eyes over you..." Casting the rest on the bed, he draped the one he picked on her and turned her against the mirror, "this ivory suits your complexion than that pink" he whispered in her ears and left answering the call he received.

Watching her intensely for few minutes, he took the eyeliner from her hands, "see, this irregular smearing, thicker here and thin to the way to the outer eye corner... Makes your eyes look so close, spoiling the beauty of your wide eyes" He traced and retraced, making it even all along.

He turned her towards him, "pink gloss matched with your original lip color, so..." he wiped off using a tissue and applied a light orange shade to her lips.

"And, this floral studs makes your round face look even more puffy. Keep these danglers. Same with this necklace, it's broadening your face... see!" He took a v shaped jewelry set and wrapped round her neck.

Switching her gaze from mirror to him, she looked on admiringly. "I'm not only good at relishing beauty, I can analyze also" Shlok said, smiling at her. "But, one thing is missing" he added.

"what"

"Uhu, nothing", saying this he drew her closer and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Next part, scroll down

Aastha was hurriedly flipping the papers across her desk. A part of her is nervous and excited as she was going to interview the new emerging player, Varun Sehgal. Indians go crazy over cricket and a notch high for handsome cricketers. A brilliant knock in his maiden test made him a star overnight. She had read the recent article on him, titled, "An all rounder to save India at overseas!" She felt no exaggeration in it.

She had the memories of watching live cricket, a few local n test matches in stadiums along with Shlok. The last time when she had seen him in a Ranji match( Ranjhi trophy is an Indian regional match) an year ago, he was almost selected for the Indian team. Disastrously, his horrific injuries during a practice session had prematurely ended his international career. She liked his persistence, determination and the struggle he put till date, to come into limelight again, overcoming all the troubles.

Thinking Shlok will be thrilled to know this, she gathered his info, as much she could within her time. He giving interview exclusively for her magazine amidst of his fully reserved schedule or she appointed for this, though not her job and having so many experts above to her, did crossed her mind sometimes.

She walked into the building, up to his office. His secretary (she thought), greeted him and led her into a enormous hall, with palls around. The door was open and there was no one inside. She was lost in the wonderful Beethoven music playing since the moment she walked in.

Pulling the drapes aside, she moved ahead. She couldn't believe what she was seeing... beautiful large portraits, fixed to the wall around... all hers, in various poses. Some standing, some seated, few smiling, few while lost in thoughts... close ups, long shots. She was marveled by its splendor which was trapping her senses.

And while she was staring at them, anxiously and abstrusely, she heard a voice

"Hello" he said smilingly at her. Walking towards her, he spoke again, "hello"

When she was about to speak, he gestured her not to, and said "June 17^th, 2013, 5pm, --- Stadium. I saw you and loved you, since then"

She felt as though she couldn't breathe. She was staring at him like an..

"if I heard the same earlier, I used to laugh, tease ,mock at them, before to my own experience. Don't judge or doubt, what kind of love is this, loving a girl... seen at a distance, only once. Even i was new to this, and I couldn't just escape those feelings. But, sadly, I can't show you my love, but can go to any extent to prove the intensity n purity in my love. You don't have any idea, Aastha, how hard it was to control my thumping heart till now, from the day I saw you again. I want our first meet' to be memorable, to treasure lifelong. And this is how I can, to convey my love beyond words in acts "

She was not in a condition to realize or react. She looked at him after gaining her courage, his passionate smile never seemed to leave his face. He went on, "The moment I gazed into your eyes, I knew I was falling for you. By the time I realized that it was not some romantic attraction or any teenage infatuation, you vanished. I have tried for you in all the means I can, but couldn't. Frustrated, disappointed when I went to bed, that night you were in my dreams. When I'm desperately searching for you, you... yourself came to me, for my autograph. As I was left with no other hopes, I began to believe in it. Like my prayers answered, I was selected for the national team. And my fate was cruel to me, ruined my life. But, there is nothing love cannot achieve in this world. My love for you had overcome every obstacle, every injury, and every defeat. It's like a strong power.. triggering me, motivating me, encouraging. And my dream is not a dream anymore, and here I am, before you, before the world. Now, I do want my love to be recognized prior to my talent"

"if you believe that artists and athletes needs inspiration, then you are incontestably my inspiration Aastha, I .." He turned to her, but found nowhere in the room. He doesn't even know when she left.

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Her inner soul mirrored her faults. Not even a single sign to indicate her marital status, no sindoor on her forehand, no mangalsutra around her neck, no toe rings in her feet. None would think she is married, unless she tells herself. She had no heart on such rituals, besides, Shlok never asked nor insisted. Shlok... She grabbed the purse she threw on the bed and dialed to him. After two rings, he disconnected with a message, "in meeting! Will call when found time". She looked at the calendar, it may take 4 more days for Shlok to return from States. This is the very first, staying apart from him for these many days. Soon tears formed in her eyes, which flowed and overflowed.

Note: Sorry for not mentioning earlier, my Aastha was not Aastha kiloskar, she was Aastha unnis! I wrote the above chaps, without much thinking, do ignore mistakes. Ok, this is all for this year, will update the next parts in the upcoming year. Till then, Happy Christmas n Happy new year guys😃😃

Part 9(A, B)