Astha was sitting outside her back against the basket ball pole kavya played around her with nany. She watched but didn't join, she could walk now,her body nearly back to normal but she was not in the mood. Her head ached slightly from not sleeping yesterday, she had stayed awake,same like shlok, both had pretended to sleep but during last month so many things had happened that everyone was tense.

She stared at her hands, throughout her life, she had rarely seen ayi or baba disagree over anything and when it happened one of them backed out giving other's wishes more importance. But Baba and ayi had a fight,a big one and it had been over her. Baba had gotten to know that ayi had given her room to kavya and someone had told him that it had been done without astha's permission. Ayi had said that at that moment it had seem right thing to do but baba didn't care.And now a one week later, they were both not talking with each other.

Astha had been gone for her weekly check up with shlok and varad was at office,only sojal was at home and she had told everything to astha, varad and shlok.

Shlok and varad had tried to talk with them but they were not listening. They had pinned hopes on ataya ji and called her,she had came and talked with baba and ayi. Ayi had said sorry to baba but baba was still angry.

She wrapped her arms around her, if baba was so angry over the issue of a room,how angry he will be if he ever got to know the whole truth? shlok was right, the family will break and she could not bear it,its been only a week and everything felt wrong. she had delayed speaking with baba,not knowing where her own life at the moment but now ayi's happiness was at stake.

As she tried to get up, a male hand came into her view,she ignored it but varad still helped her get up. She didn't say anything to him. Her decision final,she nodded at him in silent thanks and slowly went inside and then upstairs towards NA's study.

varad watched her go as sojal bent and kissed kavya on cheek. she instructed the maid to change kavya's clothes and get her ready for dinner.

varad went in with sojal to their room, once inside varad went and laid down on bed,''sojal don't you think astha has changed?''

Sojal took of her earrings and selected a different pair to wear,''different? how?''

Varad stared at ceiling,''she has become...quiet.''

Sojal,''She became quiet long time ago, you were busy fighting with her to notice it.''

she turned and met varad's gaze,'''It happens, girls change after marriage,she just became more mature.''

varad stared at bed sheet lost in thought.

...

Astha knocked at the NA's study door and entered,NA was reading something, he looked up at astha, a smile spread on his face but still there was tension in the way he sat,he looked old astha thought with a pang in her heart.

Astha,''baba i didn't disturb you, I can come later.''

NA shook his head and pointed toward the chair,''come and sit.''

Astha walked to the chair and sat down, her strides were slow, she still could not walk very fast.

NA,''You are okay, do you feel any breathlessness?''

Astha gave him a warm smile''Baba i met with you half an hour ago, you asked the same thing, I am perfectly fine,don't worry.''

NA smiled too,''Your baba is getting old,forgetting things''he said as he looked at his fingers.

Astha knew he remembered perfectly but he worried over her too much.

Astha held her both hands tightly in her lap and said,''baba you love me right?''

NA didn't say anything as there was no answer needed, she was as sure of him as she was of herself.

Astha,'' baba if you love believe me, I am not sad about the room''she was telling him truth,she was no longer sad about it, she had put the loss somewhere with the rest of things she had faced over last 2 years,'' I have a room, I share with Shlok like all husband and wife do, ayi was right I should not have left my room with shlok on small fights. Please, baba don't be angry at ayi.''

NA stared at her,''You are his wife later, you are my daughter first and your ayi should have felt same.''

Astha blinked back her tears,'' I know baba, I am your daughter first, and I will always remain your daughter first but I am ayi's daughter too and doesn't everyone says mom's know better?she was just trying to help me in her way''

NA nodded,''I will speak with her.''

Astha stared at her hands, now was the difficult part,''Baba, i also wanted your permission.''

NA,''permission?''

Astha,''I want to go back to Delhi with shlok, he is travelling too much but its still not enough, he needs to be there .''

NA,''He can stay there and then come over here for weekends, I was going to suggest to him to permanently shift back to Pune.''

Astha,''If it worked, he wouldn't have left Pune in first place. I know baba you are worried for me but I am fine now and I have to go back with him.''

NA,''Astha look at me''

Astha looked up used her whole willpower to not cry.

NA,''if this is what you really want.'' he was silent for few moments and then said,''If shlok can't shift ,i will shift to Delhi.''

Astha stared at him in shock, his whole community was in Pune, his institute had branches in whole country but head quarters were in Pune,''baba..'' asha didn't know what to say.

NA,''Varad is responsible, kavya has grown up, its time varad and sojal took their responsibilities, sojal is very active, she has helped me in some projects over time. i am sure,she can handle Pune branch. After all some day she has to do it.''

Astha nodded,there was nothing left for her to say. She had wanted to go away from varad, she was not angry at him but when he behaved like things were the way, they were before,she could not handle it. May be with time,she could forgive what happened but somewhere in her mind she will always remember how he didn't even gave her the chance to listen to her side of story.

...

Shlok watched her pack the bag from his reclining position on bed,'' You can call a maid to help you.''

Astha shook her head,''there are just few clothes. i will pack them myself.''

Shlok picked up the money on dresser,''these are yours, you haven't used any of it,its just been piling in the drawer.''

Astha,''i will put it in later.''

Shlok got up and picked her hand back and placed money in it and put it back on bed. Astha's hand stilled for a moment but then she ignored and zipped her suitcase.

Shlok stared at her,''baba is talking with ayi again.''

Astha didn't say anything, she put the bags against the wall.

Shlok,'' did you convince baba?''

Astha opened her hairs and combed them,''yes, I did''

Shlok's gaze was fixed on her hairs,'' Thank you.''

Astha's hand stilled for a moment,she could feel his hungry gaze it was so intense like he was touching her,''she is my ayi too.'' she again brushed her hairs.

Shlok got up and said,'' she is. I will be back in a while,going to chat with bro before our flight.''

Astha watched him go from the corner of her eyes, she hadn't missed his gazes lingering on her but she could not let him touch her, she was simply not ready.

She now knew, some of her depression had been due to the tablets she had been taking but she could not move over it. He had left her that day and now when he had forgiven her for her mistake,she probably should do the same but she couldn't.

She sat down on the bed.she and shlok were going today, baba will come over next weekend, there were too many things to wind up for him to leave and shlok had insisted on going this week as he had something important. so, ayi was coming with them.

she stared on floor, what should I do? ayi will notice if she stayed in separate bedroom and how long will shlok will be able to stop himself from touching her if they shared the same bed?she also needed a job,she could not do event management as was clear from last time. may be she should try to become a teacher as she planned.

she knew things will be different with ayi around but she did not want to become totally dependent on them again.

She opened her laptop,opened the job page she had bookmarked earlier and scrolled down the jobs listed, requirements were 2 yrs experience, 5 yrs,15 yrs experience...and so on,she never could understand these advertisers,did they never thought about the fresh beginners.

She closed her laptop, and put it away, then started braiding her hairs.