Chapter 14

Devakshi FF: Small Moments

Part 14

Sonakshi staggered back and collapsed on the bed with the newspaper still in her hands.

She couldn't believe it. Somewhere deep within, she knew that someday she would have to face something of this sort. She knew that falling in love with Dev was going to cause a lot of problems. She knew that the results would be disastrous. But what could she do? Knowing everything did not make it hurt any less. She was already deeply in love with no way out.

As a tear silently rolled down her cheek she wondered what had happened. Yes, she shouldn't have been so invested, but she wasn't the only one to blame. Dev had equal share in this blame game. "Yeh sab Mr. Obhodro ki galti hai" she whispered to herself. "Jab Natasha se hi shaadi karni thi toh mere saath who sab kyun...?" She wondered in sorrow as her body wracked with sobs. "Kyun who mere paas ayein? Kyun itney achhey baney? Kyun mere dil me jagah banai...kyun?" She kept asking herself. But she didn't have an answer to any of them because it was too late and each and everything that Dev did had worked and now Sonakshi would suffer.

As Sonakshi gave into her sorrow and curled up keeping her head on her knees and cried her heart out, the newspaper slipped and fell to the ground. On the other hand everyone wondered why Sonakshi was taking so long to freshen up. Dinner was waiting and they were all hungry. Ritwik jumped up from his chair and said "Aunty aap khana lagao, main Sona ko lekar aata hoon." When Asha and the rest of them agreed, Ritwik made his way upto Sonakshi's room. Knocking on the door swiftly he said "Sona! Kya kar rahi ho? So gayi kya? Khana khaney chalo! Sabko badi bhook lagi hai!"

When he didn't get any answer, he pushed the door open to find Sonakshi in her sorrowful state. Immediately Ritwik jumped into action. "Sona? Kya hua? Tum itna ro kyun rahi ho?" He said making his way to her. "Sab khatam ho gaya Ritwik. Sab." Furrowing his brows in confusion he asked urgently, "Kya khatam ho gaya?" He said taking a seat beside her and holding on of her hands in his. "Dev mujhsey duur chaley gayein" she told him in between violent sobs. Ritwik didn't know why she said that and waited for her to continue. But as he shifted his position to sit properly and console Sonakshi hi leg hot something on the floor. Looking down to check what it was, his confusion slowly cleared. There lay the newspaper with the headlines screaming out why Sonakshi was in this state of despair.

Picking it up ritwik scanned through the article. As he quietly went through it Sonakshi softly said "Parso unki shaadi hai Ritwik. Jabki kal unhoney..."and she gave into another round of sobs. Hearing this Ritwik's head snapped up. "kal kya Sonakshi? Kya hua tha kal?" He asked her. "Unhoney tumhey kal Kushal se bachaya tha naah?" Sonakshi nodded and then said "Par phir..." And stopped once again. "Phir kya Sona? Kuch hua tha kya kal tum dono ke beech?" Ritwik asked her urgently. He wanted her to share. He wanted to comfort her because he hated seeing her in this state and at this moment he felt like strangling Dev Dixit.

When he had met Dev that day, he was sure that Dev felt something for his best friend too and this newspaper article had baffled Ritwik as much as Sonakshi. He didn't know what had happened and therefore he needed to know it, so that he could at least do something to lessen her pain. At that moment Elena came in to look what was taking these to so long and was stunned to find Sonakshi in this state. "Sona! Kya hua tujhey? Ritwik yeh aise ro kyun rahi hai? Ki holo Sona? (what happened sona)" Ritwik did not reply verbally but just silently handed the newspaper over to Elena and her eyes widened in surprise and she slowly realised the situation. She went ahead and sat on the other side of Sonakshi and kept a hand on her shoulder.

The comforting touch of her sister made Sona let go of the small bit of restraint she had in herself and she put her arms around Elena and let the dam of tears flow. Ritwik and Elena sat their helplessly while she cried. They knew she had to get it out before she could talk to them. So they waited. Once Sonakshi got a grip on herself she sat back on her bed and wiped her eyes. Ritwik took this opportunity. "Sona, ab bolo kal Kushal se bachneye ke baad kya hua tha tumharey aur Dev ke beech?" Sonakshi looked at Ritwik and said "Woh mujhey room tak chorneye aye the aur mera bohot dhyaan bhi rakha tha. Aur..." She paused. Elena and Ritwik looked at her expectantly. "Aur shayad who mujhseye I love you bhi kehney waaley the" She whispered softly, but loud enough for them to hear her. While Elena gasped Ritwik said, "Tumhey aisa kyun laga?"

Sonakshi looked down at her hands. "Issey pehley bhi Dev aur main kaafi saarey aise situations me padhey hai jahan...jahan mujhey laga he he feels the same way for me. Kyunki..." She took a deep breathe, "Kyunki tour me jaaney ke pehley waaley din we almost kissed" she said in a rush. This time both Elena and Ritwik's jaws touched the floor. They were shocked, happy ,sad and confused. Just like Sonakshi. They knew that if things like these had happened then Dev reciprocated Sonakshi's feelings but why this marriage with Natasha then? "Agar aisa baat hai Sona, toh who achanak Natasha se shaadi kyun karengey?" Elena asked. "Mujhey nahin pata Elena. Shayad meri hi galti thi. Natasha unki Fiance pehley hi thi. I shouldn't have read so much into it. Shayad who kuch aur kehney waaley the. Shayad maine hi zyada soch liya" she tried reasoning with herself. Elena refused to agree "Toh tu uss almost kiss ko kya kahegi Sona? Who bhi teri hi galti thi kya?" She said angrily. "Main Dev ko chorungi nahin, aise kaise who Natasha se shaadi kar lengey?" She stood up abruptly boiling with anger.

Ritwik immediately calmed Elena. "Nahin Elena. Kuch toh hua hai. Kyunki jis din main Dev se mila tha, I was sure ki he had feelings for Sonakshi." Hearing this Sonakshi threw a cushion at Ritwik in anger, "Toh kyun who mujhey itna dard de rahey hai?" She said as more tears rolled down. Catching the cushion before it hit his face, Ritwik went and sat down beside her, "Wohi toh humein pata lagana hai Sonakshi." Sonakshi stared at him. "Kal jab tum office jaogi, tumhey yahi pata lagana hai aur main tumharey saath chalunga." Sonakshi sat up wiping her tears, "Woh kaise hoga Ritwik?" "Kaise hoga matlab? Tum unsey directly poochogi Sona. You are not his plaything. Tumharey feelings ko lekar who nahin khel saktey. So tum unseye poochogi aur tab tak main Natasha ko unkey cabin me jaaney se rokunga, okay?"  While Sonakshi listened to all this quietly Elena piped up, "Main bhi chalungi aap dono ke saath." While Ritwik agreed Sonakshi still hadn't said a word.

"Sonakshi? Tum karogi naah?" Elena asked her sister softly. Looking at Elena Sonakshi gave a small nod. "Haan Ele. Main karoongi. I want to know ki who kyun aisi harkatein kar rahey hai. He has no right to hurt me like this. Isiliye main zaroor poochongi" she said firmly making both Ritwik and Elena smile at their strong sister. They knew she could do it and they loved her for being strong in such a difficult situation. Remembering that they still hadn't has dinner, Elena and Ritwik coaxed Sonakshi to come down with them and after a while she agreed. As they approached the dining table Sonakshi overheard the conversation between Bijoy, Asha and daadi, while Saurabh just sat and listened.

"Shona ko Dev babu bohot pasand hai Bijoy, kyun nahin karna chahtey tum unkeye family se baat?" She asked trying to reason with her husband. "Asha, Shona jab mujhseye khud aakar kahegi, tabhi karunga main baat. Dev achha ladka hai, par main Shona se pehley sunna chahta hoon. Buss." He argued right back. "Par Bijoy.." Asha tried again but was interrupted by him. "Nahin Asha. Yahi Final hai. Saurabh, jab tak who teeno neechey ayein, tum mujhey newspaper lakey do, subah padhney ka time hi nahin mila, ab Padh leta hoon" he said silencing Asha's please to discuss the matter. "Uski koi zaroorat nahin hai baba" Sonakshi said walking up to the table with the newspaper in her hand. She had brought it down to throw it out but hearing her father handed it to him and took a seat at the dining table while Ritwik and Elena followed with grave faces.

The moment the newspaper landed on the paper everyone's eyes zeroed in on the headlines. Asha was the first to react "Yeh kya hai?!" She said alarmed. "Jo hai wahi likha hai ma" Sonakshi replied calmly. "Aur baba aapko kisisey koi baat karney ki zaroorat nahin" she declared and silently started eating. While Bijoy wanted to say something, Ritwik and Elena silenced him with looks. Everyone at the table understood Sonakshi's reluctance to discuss anything and left her alone and tried to shift the focus. After eating half heartedly, Sonakshi retired to her room and tried to sleep.

But everytime she closed her eyes all she could see was Dev and Natasha's face on the newspaper. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to forget but the tears still came. She tossed and turned but couldn't sleep. After a while she heard her room door open and realised that Asha had come to check on her. Her mother always understood her the best. But she didn't want her to worry so she pretended to sleep. She felt her mother pat her head lovingly and whisper "Sorry Shona. Kaash main teri help kar pati beta. Par dil tutna ek aisi cheez hai jo agar tum na chaho toh who kabhi theek nahin ho sakta, koi lakh koshish kyun na karein" Sonakshi was grateful to have a mother like Asha and so pretended to sink in her touch and sleep. After a while Asha left and Sonakshi opened her eyes and lay awake. Suddenly she sat up realising something. There was something important that she needed to do.

As dawn rolled in, she slowly sat up and looked out the window. The time to confront Dev had come and she was ready. She was ready by eight and was pacing her room, waiting for Ritwik and Elena to get ready too. Making her way down the stairs she went and sat down on the sofa. She was apprehensive as how things would go about. She hoped and prayed that this was a mistake. That whatever Dev had done till now was true. That he did feel something for her. As she kept repeating these things in her mind Elena and Ritwik joined her. "Chalo Sona. Let's do this." Sonakshi nodded but didn't say anything. She didn't take her scooty this time. They all piled into Ritwik's car and headed off to Ishwari communications.  As the car rolled into the parking lot of the building, Sonakshi wrung her hands together. She would be facing Dev for the first time after that night. So many things had changed.

As she stepped out from the car she thought, "Kahan main unsey poochna chahti thi ki who uss raat mujhey kya kehney waaley the aur ab toh unki shaadi hone waali hai" she said dejectedly. "Chalo Sona" Elena urged her sister. Sona agreed reluctantly and stepped into the building. The moment she stepped inside the receptionist chirped, "Dr. Bose! Welcome back, kaisi ho aap?" Sonakshi gave her a small smile and said, "Theek hoon. Mr. Dixit aa gayein?" "Yes ma'am, aa gayein! Aur aaj toh saarey office me ladoo bat rahey hai. Sir ki shaadi hai naah kal" she continued happily. Hearing it from someone else made Sonakshi feel like someone had stabbed her.

Taking a sharp breath in she said "H-haan." With that she made her way towards the elevator quickly dodging anyone that came her way. Ritwik and Elena dutifully followed behind her. As they got out from the elevator on Sonakshi's floor, she was bombarded by a big hug from Riya who came flying towards her. "Sona Di! Aap theek ho naah?"she asked with extreme concern. She knew Sonakshi must have seen the news by now and felt terrible.

Sonakshi realized that Riya had figured out everything. The hug conveyed to her that Riya knew what she felt and she was happy that Riya cared so much. So she answered truthfully, "Theek ho jaungi Riya" she said with a sad smile. Suddenly Tina materialised into the scene and said "Hello Dr. Bose she said quietly. Aap kaisi hai?" She asked quietly. Sonakshi nodded still smiling that sad smile. So she had found two new friends here and she was extremely grateful. "meri aajki meeting planned hai, Tina?" Sonakshi asked her making her way into her cabin, while Elena, Tina, Riya and Ritwik followed.

Riya had spotted Ritwik immediately but refrained from reacting as talking to Sonakshi was more important then. But now she turned to him and gave him a shy smile which Ritwik returned. As they stepped into Sonakshi's cabin together their hands brushed against each other. Riya's cheeks heated up immediately and she quickly escaped and went and stood beside Sonakshi, while Ritwik just stared at her dreamily. Tina replied to Sonakshi by saying, "Haan Dr. Bose. But aapka schedule abhi Dev sir ke paas hai as he is checking it. Main le aati hoon." Sonakshi immediately stopped her, "koi zaroorat nahin. Mujhey unseye baat karni hai, so I'll get it myself. Buss tum yeh batao ki Natasha ma'am andar hai kya?" When Tina responded with a no she said "Okay. Main aati hoon phir." As she left her cabin, she heard Riya say, "Don't worry di, Aap bhaiyya se karlo baat. Natasha ayi, toh hum ussey rok lengey."

Sonakshi, Elena and Ritwik were stunned to realise that Tina and Riya were on their side and would do anything to help them. Nodding her head Sonakshi went straight to Dev's cabin and knocked. This was it. It was now or never. She heard Dev respond with a "Come in"and took a deep breath.

Twisting the handle  of the door she stepped into his office and was instantly reminded of her first time there. That entire conversation right from the coffee spitting to the teasing at the end, flashed by her eyes until it focused on Dev who was sitting at his desk, checking through her schedule. It seemed like Dev had not expected her to be here because the moment he looked up he jumped up from his seat. "Son-Dr. Bose! Aap yahan?" Sonakshi on the other hand was extremely calm. "Main yahan kaam karti hoon Mr. Dixit. Yahan toh aana hi tha. Aur rahi baat aapki cabin me kya kar rahi hoon, toh I've come to collect my schedule." Dev stepped forward, "yeh raha aapka schedule." Sonakshi gripped it in her hands and turned around to leave. She couldn't do this. But Dev called out, "Dr. Bose, aap theek hai naah?"

Hearing that same question again, something in her snapped. She turned back to face Dev and said with anger, "Jab aap mujhey uss neye office me akeley chhor ke yahan Delhi aa gayein tab nahin aayi aapko iss question ki yaad? Main theek hoon ya nahin issey aapko clearly koi farak nahin padta. SO please refrain from showing false sympathy, Mr. Dixit" She finished with a huff making Dev flinch. He took another step forward. He hated seeing Sonakshi in this state. He wanted to throw his arms around her and hug her tight but he couldn't do that.

"Dr. Bose.." He tried again. "Dekhiye Mr. Dixit. Aap wahin ruk jaiye." She said picking up a hand in the air and then giving up on the tough facade she just softly said "Kya yeh sab sach hai? Kya aap sachmeye kal Shaadi karneye waaley hain?" Dev want to say so many things but he just stuck to a quiet, "haan." When she heard him agree to it, that small hope somewhere just disappeared. She reached out to hold the chair beside her as the agreement was like a slap on her face. "Toh kya woh saarey pal jo humnein saath bitaye the who jhoot the?" Turning around towards his desk and giving his back to Sonakshi he said, "Dr. Bose, main aapka Boss hoon. Hum dono apney boundaries wahin ta rakhey toh achha hoga." Sonakshi's eyes just about popped open.

She couldn't see Dev's face, but it seemed like an entirely different person was talking to her. Picking up a invitation card lying on his table, he turned back towards Sonakshi. Walking up to her he extended the card to her. "Kal shaam ko hai. Aap ayengi toh achha lagega" he told her with an expressionless face. It seemed like everything he did was robotic. Sonakshi did not have any strength left in her to protest or retort. She just looked at him one last time to search for the emotions she wanted to see.

Finding none she sighed and said, "Sorry Mr. Dixit but I don't think main aa paungi." She then proceeded to bring out a paper from her purse and handed it to Dev. "yeh kya hai Dr. Bose?" Dev enquired confused. "Yeh meri resignation hai Mr. Dixit. Mujhey kahin aur job mil gayi hai, which is more convenient for me. Aur jahan tak iss job ki baat hai, I have found a perfect replacement for myself and Tina ko sarey details dekar jaaungi main." Before Dev could react, she opened the door and stepped out of the cabin. Dev immediately followed her out. Sonakshi went straight to Ritwik and Elena who had been waiting for her near the elevator. Dev called out "Dr. Bose!" Sonakshi abruptly whirled around saying, "Goodbye Mr. Dix- Dev. All the best for your future life" and with that she stepped into the elevator with Ritwik and Elena and she was gone.

And there was nothing Dev could do to stop her.