Chapter 14

Gayatri

@Gayu_K

Chapter Thirteen

Sona was engrossed in her work when she heard the doorbell ring...thinking it might be Dev who might have wound up his work soon  to be with Ansh she opened the door without peeping into the eye-hole...shocked would be an understatement to her current state...she stood there, eyes widened with fright as she looked onto the person at her doorstep...almost six-and-a-half years had passed since this man had moved out of their lives, leaving them all devastated...how hard Dev had tried to track him down to get his signatures on the divorce papers...but alas as their bad-luck could have it he had just disappeared into the oblivion as Dev and Sona tried all the possible means to get a grip on their slipping life...and now when things had finally fallen into place, another 4 months down the line and she would be walking down the aisle with her Dev, this man had all the audacity to return back into their lives without even dropping a slightest hint...Ritwick Sen...the man who had promised to help her overcome all her grudges from her previous affair...the man who had driven her away from the wedding venue to hand her over to the love of her life Dev...was the sole cause of their dual lives...they were forced to go against their families, against their ethics and values just because of this one man who was standing at her door-step today all smiles as if nothing had happened...what was it that had got him back to their lives uninvited?

"hii Sonakshi kaisi ho?...aise kya ghoor rahi ho?...pehchana ya nahin mujhe?...Ritwick Sen...you remember me right?... itne saaloan baad mile hain to kya ab andar bhi nahin bulaogi?"...he waved his palm infront of her face trying to grab her attention as she was too shocked to react in any manner...finally gaining her composure she managed to invite him inside ...a lump getting accumulated in her throat thinking about the consequences of his sudden visit, that too after almost 7 long years...getting inside he settled down while looking around the place as Sona fetched him a glass of water ...placing the tray down infront of him she settled down ...determined to find out the reason for his sudden appearance in their smoothly running lives..."Ritwick tum yahaan achanak aise?...nahin matlab I'm happy to see you after so many years  but aise achanak yahaan kaise aana hua?...sab theek hai na...tumhare gharwale, tumhara kaam?"...she tried her best to beat around the bush without giving him direct hints that she was indeed disturbed by his visit...but at the same time she had to find out why he had come back into their lives...but her attempts failed as Ritwick didn't seemed to be interested to divulge any details, thus raising her suspicion.

"Sona kitne sawaal karti ho yaar tum...waise Dev kahaan hai...mujhe usse baat karni hai...please use call karke bula lo"...Sona's heart was now thumping at jet speed...why did he wish to meet Dev...what was it that he wanted to ask Dev...did he wish to tell him that he had changed his decision about moving away from their lives...had he come to demand her back?...questions clouded in her mind as she asked him..."Dev se kya baat karni hai tumhe?...mera matlab hai ki aisi kya baat hai jo sirf Dev ke saamne hi karni hai aur mujhe tum bata bhi nahin rahe ho...kuch serious hua hai kya"...Ritwick just held his straight face look intact as he replied..."bina wajah tension lene ki aadat gayi nahin abhi tak tumhari...Dev ko bulao to sahi...koi baat tumhare peet peeche nahin hogi...jo hoga tumhare saamne hoga"......as much as she tried to keep herself calm, the indirect reply from Ritwick increased her palpitations...she picked up the phone with shivering hands to call up Dev...Dev who had just finished the meeting was about to leave the office as his phone rang...checking the caller id he got a little tensed as he saw Sona's number flashing...'kahin Ansh ki tabiyat aur jyaada toh nahin bigad gayi?'...picking up the call hurriedly he spoke..."hello Sona, Ansh theek to hai na?...mera kaam bas ho gaya hai...main nikal hi raha hun...bass jaldhi pohunchne ki koshish karta hoon"...he was cut in-between by a scared Sona..."Dev, Ansh thik hai, actually woh tum ghar aajao...koi aaya hai tumse milne"...Dev was confused as to who had turned up to see them, as he knew nobody actually knew them in Mumbai..."mujhse milne?...yahaan kaun aa sakta hai mujhse milne?...hardly koi pehchanta hai humein iss shehar mein"..."Dev tum bass jaldi aa jao...tumhare ghar pohunchte baat karte hai, please jaldi aana"...Sona cut the call hurriedly as Dev made a dash to his car as he headed home.

Sona waited with baited breath as Dev reached home...on entering the apartment he signaled Sona with this eyes to find out who it was...Sona just turned her head in the direction where Ritwick was sitting...Dev was scared to see him in person suddenly after so many years...the fear of losing Sona had suddenly clouded his mind...Sona and Ansh had become the reason of his existence and this time he was sure he wouldn't be able to survive without anyone of them...Sona patted his shoulder to bring him out of his reverie as she understood his troubled look...how he just wished this man would just disappear from their lives at that very moment...but he knew his wishes were not going to be true so soon...he prepared himself for the worst... he had to sort this out...there was no point in running away from the reality...this time he didn't want to be the one pleading...he wanted to be the demanding one but at the same time he had to maintain his calm as Ritwick still had rights over Sona legally...trying his best to seem friendly he gave a sly smile to Ritwick as he signaled Sona to sit beside him as they waited for Ritwick to strike a conversation..."Kunal Rastogi ko jaante ho tum?"...Ritwick asked Dev with an almost blank expression...Dev had so many things running in his mind at the moment that he couldn't make a head or tail out of it..."Kunal Rastogi?...nahin kaun hai yeh?...main nahin jaanta hoon ise"...Dev clarified..."oh common Dev, tum apni hi sister Riya ke hone waali pati ko nahin jaante?...tumhe main paagal dikhayi deta hoon ya bewakoof?"

Dev was getting too many shocks together that he couldn't decipher which one was more fatal...his sister Riya was getting married and he was not even aware of it...of-course Ritwick was right...nobody will believe him...he suddenly recollected his mother wanted to tell him something last time when he was home...but he had conveniently ignored her...maybe she wanted to give him this very piece of information...he was so lost in thoughts that he almost jerked off when Ritwick started speaking again..."accha woh sab chodo, tum dono mujhe yeh batao ki tum dono ne apni shaadi ki baat ghar pe kyun nahin batayi hai...I mean thik hai ki tum dono alag rehna chahte ho par atleast ghar pe inform to kar dete...aise chori chupe rehna ka kya fayda?...jab pyaar kiya to darna kya?...easy way out would be ki tum dono yeh baat ghar pe batake apni family se alag rehna ka decision lete"...Dev and Sona looked at each other, a question in their mind...why on earth was Ritwick questioning them about their decision to stay away from their families...wait he didn't seem to be aware of their current relationship status...did he even remember the legal proceedings they had carried out to register their marriage two days prior to the actual ceremony...it certainly didn't seem so...Sona looked at Dev, a questioning look in her eyes whether they should confide in Ritwick about their intended disguise...Dev squeezed Sona's hand as he assured her everything will be just fine..."woh Ritwick actually hum dono tumhe pichle 6 saaloan se dhoond rahe hai...humein bhi tumse bohot jaroori baat karni hai...actually there are a few things which you should be knowing...sabse pehli baat yeh hai ki humne...I mean maine aur Sona ne abhi tak shaadi nahin ki hai"...before Dev could complete his sentence Ritwick jumped to conclusion..."kya?...are you guys mad?...matlab abhi bhi tum dono apne rishte ko lekar sure nahin ho kya?...tum log bina shaadi ke reh rahe ho ek saath woh bhi pichle 6 saaloan se ...common guys yeh sab  humare culture mein thodi na hota hai...aakhir aisi kya wajah hai ki tum dono shaadi ka decision abhi tak nahin le paa rahe ho?"..."humari iss halat ki wajah tum ho, tumhari wajah se jee rahe hai hum yeh dohri jindagi"...Sona who was quiet all this while suddenly retorted back as now it was her relation with Dev that was being questioned...Dev immediately calmed her down as he realized messing up with Ritwick could add more to their woes..."main jimmedar hoon? Par kaise? I mean main to tum dono ke raaste se kab ka hatt gaya tha ...to phir tum dono mujhe kaise dosh de sakte ho?"...Ritwick was certainly pained by Sona's allegations.

Dev decided to take charge of the situation and inform Ritwick about all the happenings of the past years...he told Ritwick about how they had realized after he left that he and Sona were legally married as per the records...that they had tried their level best to get through to him but hadn't succeeded ...in the end they had come up with this solution as they couldn't give up on each other...at the end of their conversation Ritwick was certainly feeling guilty as he had caused them so much of pain unknowingly..."I'm really sorry guys ki meri wajah se tum dono ko itna kuch sehna pada...I swear agar mujhe pata hota ki baat itni badi hai to main kabka tum dono se milne aata...par abhi bhi der nahin hui hai...woh kehte hai na der aaye durust aaye...jo mujhe 6 saal pehle karna chahiye tha woh main ab karunga...Sona ko iss anchahe bandhan se azaad ...Dev jitni jaldi ho sake tum divorce papers ready karwao...I don't mind extending my stay for a few more days ...par iss baar koi kaam adhura chodke nahin jaunga" ...Dev quickly informed his lawyers and got the divorce formalities completed  on fast track...within 2 days his lawyers got all the papers ready and also arranged for a special  hearing date at the family court...it was not an easy procedure as the judge insisted that they stay together under one roof for at-least 6 months before re-applying for the divorce...he wanted them to re-consider their decision just like he persuaded the other divorce seeking couples to do...it took lot of convincing from the lawyers before the judge finally granted them divorce ignoring the 6 month waiting period...getting out of the court room Sona ran upto Dev and hugged him tightly as finally she was free from the cage she had been un-knowingly trapped herself in for the past 6 years...both Dev and Sona couldn't thank Ritwick enough for the his favor which was instrumental yet again to unite these two love birds...at the first instance they were scared thinking he might cause them further trouble, separate them yet again for his own benefit...but here he had turned into their knight in shining armor...contented all 3 of them left for their apartment...while Dev insisted they go out for dinner, Sona insisted that she would cook some delicacies at home ...finally giving in to Sona's demands they helped her prepare some lip smacking dinner...as they got seated at the dining table, Ritwick again started the conversation he had left incomplete..."Dev yeh problem to sort ho gayi hai...par ek aur problem hai jo abhi bhi kayam hai, aur who isse bhi badi hai...tumhare gharwaloan ko pata chal gaya hai ki tumne kisise shaadi kar li hai aur tum yahaan Mumbai mein unn sab se chup ke reh rahe ho...woh actually Kunal ne unhe sab kuch bata diya hai...Neha ke husband Ranveer milne aaye the mujhe pichle hafte office mein...pata nahin usne kaise mujhe dhoond nikala par who mujhse isiliye milna chahta tha kyunki use doubt tha ki tumhari shaadi jisse hui hai ho na ho who Sona hi hai...infact jab maine use bataya ki maine khud Sona ko tumhare hawale kiya tha tab uska shaq yakeen mein badal gaya...usine mujhe insist kiya ki main tum logon se milu aur tumhe inform kar doon...so that you guys be a little careful, phir humne Tina se tumhara address liya ...tumhari P.A. to badi wafaadar nikli...humein address dene ko ready hi nahin thi...phir jab Ranveer ne use poori baat samjhayi tab jaake who maani hai...phir main yahaan aa gaya"...amongst this entire conversation Dev could decipher how had Kunal come across their truth...when he was not aware of his existence then how was it that a complete stranger had invaded their disguised world..."par iss Kunal ko humara sach maloom chala kaise?...I mean ki hum to use kabhi nahin mile to use yeh sab kisne bataya"...Dev couldn't recollect where he had met Kunal..."Ranveer  keh raha tha ki usne tumhari wife ko I mean Sona ko kisi accident se bachaya tha...woh kahin sadak par kisi gaadi ke neeche aane waali thi aur Kunal ne use bachaya tabhi tumse mulaquat hui uski aur tumhine use bataya ki Sona tumhari patni hai ...kuch hua tha kya Sona ke saath"...Sona suddenly got reminded about her almost accident scenario and quipped..."Dev yeh wahi hai jisne pichle hafte mujhe wahaan hospital ke bahar bachaya tha...aapko yaad hai woh humse kaafi saare sawaal pooch raha tha...wahi hai Dev pakka"...Dev couldn't agree any less with her...he was now scared as his mother might try to create problems for them...but soon he was relieved with the next piece of information he received from Ritwick..."Dev relax...tumhare gharwaloan ko sirf yeh pata hai ki tumhari shaadi ho chuki hai...unhe yeh nahin pata hai ki tumhari shaadi Sona se hui hai...I would advise you ki tum dono jald se jald shaadi kar lo aur phir khud jaake apne gharwaloan ko bata do...please try to get out of this mess you have created"...with this he got busy to having his dinner when suddenly he recollected something else..."ek second guys... Ranveer ne yeh bhi kahaan tha ki tumhara ek beta bhi hai, jisse milne ka bahaana banakar tum dono wahaan se nikal gaye the...kya tum dono ka I mean...sachmein tum dono ka koi baccha hai kya?"..."Ritwick actually yeh bhi bohot lambi kahaani hai...pata hai pichle 6 saaloan mein na humari life kisi bollywood movie se kam nahin rahi hai...actually mein tumhe batane hi waali thi Ansh ke baarein mein"......Sona filled him about all the information related to Ansh...whom she had send off with her colleague Ashana the same day when Ritwick had arrived at Mumbai...Ashana had promised to look after a sick Ansh till the time the mess in Dev and Sona's lives was sorted out while they paid regular visits to her place to ensure their child was doing well...Ritwick was glad that despite of having so many issues in their own lives they had still managed to bring up an orphan with so much of love and care...he felt lucky to have these two in his life as his pals.

As soon as the next day dawned Ritwick was ready to make a move wishing Dev and Sona all the best for their future life...Dev and Sona insisted he should stay with them for some more days, but Ritwick had to return to Kolkatta as he had abruptly taken leave from his office to come down to Mumbai and he had to join back as soon as possible...promising to visit them sometime later after they got married he left for his town...Dev quickly got Ansh back home as he was missing him immensely...since Ansh had recovered now Dev concluded that they should get married as soon as possible to avoid any further inconvenience from his family members...Sona called up her parents and informed them about the current situation...they were relieved that finally things were falling into place and their daughter could at last live an honored life with her legally wedded husband...they along with Saurab and daadi flew down to Mumbai immediately...what followed was a close knit ceremony at their rented apartment in which Dev and Sona got married with the blessings of Sona's family members...how Dev wished his family too could witness this phase of his life but they themselves had forced him to keep them away from his life and his decisions.

A day before they left for Delhi after their week-long stay at Dev's place Bijoy finally spoke to Dev apologizing to him for his past behavior..."Dev beta mujhe maaf kardo...maine humesha tumhe aur tumhare iraadon ko galat samjha...mujhe humesha laga ki tum meri beti ka sirf istemaal kar rahe ho aur jab tumhara dil bhar jayega us se to tum use chod doge...jab maine tumhe Sona ki maang mein sindoor bharte dekha uss din...use mangalsutra pehnate hue dekha to ehsaas hua ki main kitna galat tha tumhe samajhne mein...tumne humesha Sona ko khush rakhne ki koshish ki...woh shayad kabhi maa nahin ba payegi yeh jaante hue bhi tumne uska saath diya...uske jindagi ke khalipan ko door karne keliye tumne Ansh ko uski jholi mein daal diya...tumne use kabhi fertility treatment karwane keliye force nahin kiya par sirf uski iccha ka maan rakhne keliye tumne uska har mod par saath diya...mujhe aaj itni jyaada sharmindagi mehsoos ho rahi hai ki main tumse nazrein bhi nahin mila paa raha hoon"...Dev stopped him midway from completing his talk...assuring him that he was not angry with him he said... "baba...please aap yeh sab kyun keh rahe hai...infact mujhe aapko thank you kehna chahiye ki meri itni galtiyon ke bawajood aapne apni Sona ko mere saath rehne diya...I'm really grateful to you ki aapne mujhe Sona ki jindagi ka hissa banne ka mauka diya".

As Sonakshi's parents left for Delhi Dev was finally glad that he and Sona were all alone now ...the newly wedded couple had surely missed spending some cozy moments with each other in the presence of so many people in their home...now since they were alone in their lovely abode he quickly got into their room and decorated it with scented candles and Sona's favorite flowers all set to spend a romantic night with his love...locking the room he went to buy their favorite champagne as Sona had gone to the clinic to extend her ongoing leave for some more days...it was quite late when Dev arrived home...finding the room door open he realized that Sona was already home ...he got into the room and saw Sona standing at the window lost in her thoughts...he quietly tip-toed and hugged her from behind scarring her almost...holding her tightly by her slender waist he dug his nose into her hair as he nuzzled into her nape...he was about to take things further as Sona stopped him by a strong pull on his shirt...puzzled he looked at her as she turned her head to a sleeping Ansh..."Dev woh main yeh saari decorations dekhkar samajh gayi thi...use bagal waale kamre mein sulane jaa rahi thi...par woh jidd kar raha tha ki use humare saath sona hai...maine thoda daant diya to gusse mein aakar poore kamre mein water colors phaila diye hain...abhi main bohot thak gayi hoon so maine socha ki kal subah saaf kar loongi uska kamra...aur yeh mahashay ro rokar yahi so gaye...gusse mein bilkul tumpe gaya hai...impossible"..."shhh...tumhe mujhe reasons dene ki jaroorat nahin hai...hum dono aik saath hai yehi mere liye kaafi hai...baaki sab to kabhi bhi ho sakta hai...koi compulsion thodi na hai ki aaj ...abhi karna hai aur aise hi karna hai...waise tumhari itni himmat ki tumne mere Ansh ko daanta woh bhi sirf isiliye ki usne humare saath sone ki jidd ki thi...iss galti ki sazaa to tumhe milni chahiye"...before Sona could apologize for scolding Ansh, Dev captured her lips with hers and kissed her longingly...he bit her lower lip mercilessly as if punishing her for her behavior as she was no less and fiercely attacked his upper lip...sucking onto each other's petals they kissed continuously without breaking up for air until Dev's phone rang forcing them to move apart...Tina had called Dev to inform him about the latest development regarding his deal with an American company...Dev ended the call with a tensed look on his face as he informed Sona that he might have to leave for a one month long business collaboration...he tried his best persuading Sona that she and Ansh should also accompany him ...but that would mean Sona resigning from her job as they wouldn't give her a month long leave...she somehow convinced him to go all alone while she would stay back with Ansh here and take care of him...Dev even thought of cancelling his trip but only to be reprimanded by Sona...finally giving in he packed his things and left for his trip with a long face...only to be pecked by Sona and Ansh consecutively on his trimmed cheeks, as a boost for staying away from them for an entire month.