Chapter 7

DEVAKSHI FF: REACHING OUT

Part 5

Sonakshi couldn't believe her luck.

Out of all the people in this whole wide world, that man had to be Devrath Dixit. Her landlord. But then she wasn't surprised. Her luck was terrible. These things were not new to her. And once again, her luck had pushed her into an extremely annoying situation. As she yelled at her luck in her mind, Tina said, "Achha Sir, Dr. Bose, main chalti hoon. Aap log baatein kijiye." With that Tina conveniently escaped having no idea about the situation she was leaving these two people in.

Sonakshi internally screamed at Tina to stay a bit longer, but outside she didn't say a word. Even though Tina had left five minutes ago, neither Dev nor Sonakshi moved from their places. They were both looking at each other but there was pin drop silence. Every second Sonakshi's apprehension increased slightly and at one point she thought that she would explode out of tension. Not being able to take it anymore she began, "Dekhiye Mr. Dixit-" But Dev didn't let her finish what she was saying. He took a step forward towards Sonakshi, with that same calculative look in his eye and Sonakshi immediately snapped her mouth shut. "Toh aap hai Dr. Bose." Dev spoke in that same calm, ice-cold tone she had heard him use at the restaurant.

Sonakshi wanted to make a run for the door but she would never let him realise that. She squared her shoulders and said, "Haan. I am Dr. Sonakshi Bose. Nice to meet you" and she extended her hand for him to shake it. If somebody saw Sonakshi at this moment they would think that she was extremely confident and not the least bit intimidated by the man in front of her. But only the people who knew her like the back of their hand would figure out that it took her a lot of courage to do what she was doing then. Dev look at her hand once and then looked back up at her face. Then slowly took her hand and shook it. But his grip on her hand was firm. Like steel. Sonakshi knew there was no escape now.

Continuing to grip her hand he said, " Is this a habit of yours? Ki aap kisiko pehli baar milke hi unsey jagdha karte hai? By assuming things?" Though Dev's face was impassive Sonakshi knew that it was a taunt thrown at her. And rightly so. She shouldn't have reacted like that. So she took a deep breath and said, "Dekhiye, I'm sorry. Uss din jo hua, ussey bhool jaiye." Dev loosened his grip on her hand and said, "Yeh bhi aapki habit hi hogi, kyunki kisisey bhi milkey uspar chillane ke baad apko apologise toh karna ho hota hoga, hai naah?" Sonakshi's anger flared, "Mr. Dixit, mujhsey ekbaar galti hui hai. Ussey aap kaise judge kar saktey hai ki meri personality kaisi hai?" Dev took a step back and picked up a file that he had left on the table. "Theek waise hi jaise aapney mere barey me assume kiya tha Dr. Bose." Sonakshi gaped at him. This man was something else.

Sonakshi always had this idea that because she was a psychiatrist, she always had a upper hand when she met people. She could read them, quite easily. So she always knew how to behave with them. But here, that was not the case at all. This man had come right up and caught her off guard. Everytime she met him, her analysis would be proven wrong. That had never happened before and it irked her greatly. Two encounters and she knew that Mr. Devrath Dixit was an entirely new ballgame altogether. And for once, she didn't know how to play it.

As Dev made his way towards the staircase he told Sonakshi, "Main subah jaldi office jata hoon and raat ko der se aata hoon." Stopping in front of the staircase he turned to Sonakshi and said, "Beheter yahi hoga ki aap apney life me busy rahey and main apney. I don't like disturbances." Sonakshi furrowed her brows in irritation and said, "Mujhey bhi aapke kaam me dhakal dene ka koi shauk nahin hai. It's better that we stay out of each other's way." Dev narrowed his eyes, "Exactly. Mujhey khushi hui ki aapko baat ek baar me hi samajh me aa gayi. Nahin toh pata nahin iske baarey me bhi aap kya kya soch leti aur phir chillati." Sonakshi had this immense urge to pick up the vase nearest to her and throw it at Dev. But she took a deep breath and calmed herself, while Dev observed her. Then he turned around and climbed up the stairs. Halfway up he stopped again and said, "Aur haan Dr. Bose!"

Sonakshi was going to her room, but stopped and looked back at him. Happy that he had her attention he said, with the same impassive face, "Dinner aur breakfast ke liye thank you. Agar iske baad bhi mann karey you can continue cooking for me." With that he climbed up the remaining steps and went into his room leaving Sonakshi wide eyed gaping  and clean bowled once again.

Later that night Sonakshi vented her anger when Asha called her before bed. As she finished narrating the incident, making Asha smile, Sonakshi said, "pata nahin woh aadmi apne aap ko samajhta kya hai. Just because woh itney badey businessman hai, woh kisisey kuch bhi keh sakte hai? Mr. Obhodro kahinkey." Asha laughed ta that making Sonakshi even more angry, "Aap hass rahi hai? Kal tak toh meri beti theek toh hogi ki baat kar rahi thi. Aur aab yeh sunkey aap hass rahi hai?" Asha calmed her daughter. "Arey Shona Shant ho jao. Main isiliye hass rahi hoon kyunki aisa pehli baar hua hai ki koi tumhey itna gussa dila sakta hai. Kyunki meri Shona toh woh hai jo kisi bure aadmi se bhi milti hai toh kehti hai ki koi aadmi bura nahin hota, usey koi situation bura banata hai. Bure situation ko hata diya jaye, toh achha aadmi hi reh jata hai. Yeh wahi Shona hai naah?"

Sonakshi took a deep breath and said, "Haan ma, main wahi hoon. Aur maine kab kahan ki woh bure aadmi hai? Woh buss bohot he arrogant aur annoying aadmi hai. Isiliye main unsey duur rahungi." Asha smiled again, "Yeh hui naah baat. Ab jakey so jao, kal hospital jana hai naah?" Sonakshi smiled. Her mother always knew how to calm her. "Haan Ma. Goodnight. Elena ko bhi bol dena" Sonakshi hung up and went to bed. But it was much later that she fell asleep, because those calculating brown orbs wouldn't let her sleep easily, much to her annoyance. Dev on the other hand stayed awake till much later. He sat on the couch in his room working. But his mind was somewhere else. It was on that fiery young lady staying in his penthouse. He had never met a woman like her before. Strong, courageous and outspoken. Nobody had dared to challenge him time and again, in the way she did.

Though he would never outwardly show it, he enjoyed talking to her and bringing out reactions from her. He never had this kind of interaction with anyone before. It was like he had met his equal. But he wouldn't indulge in it more than necessary. He was an extremely closed off man. So it was best that he kept to himself and didn't bother her, or let her bother him. He decided to stay as far away from her as possible. He didn't have time for these, even if it was enjoyable.

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Sonakshi had woken up early like the day before and was in the kitchen by 6:30. She didn't want to see Mr. Dixit. She knew he woke up late, so she decided to leave before he woke up. But Sonakshi had based this idea on the incidents of the previous morning. She had no idea that Dev had taken a day off yesterday. So she made herself some breakfast. When she poured her breakfast on a plate she remembered how Mr. Dixit had asked her to continue cooking for him. As she sat eating she mused, "Main kyun banau? Main unki maid thodi hoon? Main toh gratitude ki wajah se bana rahi thi. Apna khana khud banaye woh." She said as she finished her breakfast and washed her plate.

"Toh maine kab kahan ki aap meri maid hai? Aisa toh mujhey yaad nahin?" Sonakshi screamed in fright and turned around. Seated in the seat where Sonakshi had been sitting just a while ago was Dev, looking at her, his face still expressionless, giving her no hint about what he was thinking right now. "Where are your manners Mr. Dixit? Aise koi kisiko darata hai kya?" Sonakshi asked angrily, but didn't move from where she was standing. Dev pressed his palms together and put it under his chin. "Ghar toh mera hai naah? Main jahan chahoon wahin baith sakta hoon." That urge to hit him with something returned once again to Sonakshi but she controlled it. Taking a deep breath she asked, "Par ab yeh maine rent pe liya hai. So all of this temporarily belongs to me. Par baat yeh nahin hai. Aap yahan kya kar rahey hai?"

Dev continued to observe Sonakshi and said, "Aapko kya lagta hai? Main kya kar raha hoon yahan, itni subah, dressed in a suit?" Sonakshi took another breath. "Office ja rahey hai." Dev nodded his head, "Correct answer Dr. Bose. Aap kaafi intelligent hai." If looks could kill Dev was sure he would be lying dead right now. He ignored her glare and said, "Waise aap abhi ja rahi hai? Mujhey breakfast diye bina?" Sonakshi picked up her bag and keys and turned to Dev, "Mr. Dixit, aap koi doodh peete bachhey toh nahin hai. Apna breakfast kudh bana lijiye." With that she held her head high and walked out the door. Sonakshi :1 Mr. Dixit : 0

Sonakshi literally growled as she took the elevator down to the garage and walked to her scooty. "Top Busimessman kya ban gaye, apne aap ko sabka boss samjhtey hai. Dikha diya maine bhi." She sat on her scooty and inserted the key. Right then she saw Dev walking past her scooty to his car which was parked behind the scooty. She took a deep breath again. She didn't want to speak to him again. But her hopes were all in vain. Dev let his car roll forward and stop beside Sonakshi, "Main aapko Hospital chhor sakta hoon. Apke scooty se zyada jaldi hi pohunchengey" Sonakshi didn't look at him. But she confidently replied, "Aapko uski chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahin. Now if you excuse me mujhey late ho rahi hai." Saying that she turned the key and tried to start the scooty so that she could zoom past him and teach him a lesson for demeaning her Swiggy. But to her absolute horror Swiggy refused to start. She tried again and again. But the scooty refused to budge. Dev never showed any expression on his face, but Sonakshi knew he must be internally enjoying her distress. "Mujhey lagta hai ki aapko mera offer le lena chahiye tha. But aisa nahin hua." Sonakshi glared at Dev. "Toh main chalta hoon. Have a good day Dr. Bose" with that Dev zoomed past her leaving Sonakshi in a cloud of dust. Dev : 1 Sonakshi : 1

With all the anger building up inside her, she twisted the key and finally Swiggy started. "Tum do minute pehley start nahin ho sakte the? Naak katwa diya na mera." When she reached the Hospital she was in a sullen state and all throughout the day, that mood persisted. Though she talked to her patients normally, she snapped at everyone else. Once as she was standing outside her cabin scolding a nurse for not getting the right pills, Dr. Neha saw her. "Dr. Sonakshi? Aap theek toh hai naah? Aaj bade gusse me lag rahi hai aap." Sonakshi tried to smile. " Haan theek hoon main. Buss subah ek bewakoof se bhid gayi. Usi ki irritation hai." Dr. Neha laughed. "Aisa kaunsa bewakoof tha ki aap abhi bhi gusse me hai?" Sonakshi thought about Mr. Dixit. "Hai ek, Mr. Obhodro." Dr. Neha looked confused. "Mr. Kya?" Sonakshi giggled. "Arey matlab Mr. Rude. Obhodro rude ka bengali word hai." Neha also laughed. "I hope yeh Mr. Obhodro aapko aur pareshaan na karey. Achha ab main chalti hoon."

Sonakshi waved at Dr. Neha and then decided to go have lunch. But the one day she decided to go to the cafeteria, she found it locked. She saw Bhola Bhaiyya passing by and said, "Bhola Bhaiyya, cafeteria Band kyun hai?" Bhola Bhaiyya smiled at her and said, "Aaj Friday hai na Doctor Didi. Aaj band hota hai." Sonakshi was frustrated. Everything was going wrong today. She sighed and thanked Bhola Bhaiyya nd made her way to the parking lot. Starting her Scooty she drove to "Ahar". On the first day she hadn't noticed its name. But she had seen in on the second day. Sonakshi parked Swiggy and prayed, "Hey Bhagwaan, please Mr. Dixit ko yahan mat lana. Main chali jaun, tab lana. Please." With that she entered the restaurant and went straight to the counter. Rakesh saw her and immediately smiled, " Good afternoon Madam. Aaj bhi aap wahin order lengi?" Sonakshi smiled a little and said, "Haan. Par aaj pack kardo. Mujhey thoda jaldi hai." Rakesh nodded and said, "Abhi laya madam."

Sonakshi kept praying all throughout the time she stood waiting for her order to be packed. The moment she got her parcel and paid the money she sighed in relief. Now she could go back to her cabin and eat in peace. As she turned around to go out the door she ran straight into someone. The person steadied her and said, "Aap theek hai naah?" Sonakshi looked up and found a sweet looking girl looking at her. She smiled and said, "Sorry maine aapko atey huye nahin dekha isiliye takra gayi." Sonakshi realised that she was the same girl whose picture Rakesh had shown her. "Koi baat nahin. Main bhi jaldi main thi." She smiled again and asked, "Hi I am Riya Dixit, iss restaurant ki owner." Sonakshi shook her hand smiling. "Haan pata hai. Rakesh ne bataya aapkey barey meye. Everybody respects you a lot. Aur aapke yahan ka khana toh bohot hi achha hai." Riya laughed and said, "Shukriya...oh apka naam?" To that Sonakshi siad, "Dr. Sonakshi Bose. Goenka hospital me Doctor hoon."

 

"Dr. Sonakshi Bose? Aap bhai ke tenant hai?" Sonakshi looked surprised. "Aapko Mr. Dixit ne bataya?" Riya laughed. "Bhai? Who toh khud ke barey me hi nahin batate, aapke barey me kya batayengey. Mujhey Tina ne bataya." Sonakshi replied with an, "Oh" That was possible. Mr. Dixit talking about her was as absurd as snowfall in June. Riya realised that Sonakshi was getting late and said, "Aapk late ho rahi hongi. Hum baad me baat karengey. Ab toh aap regular hai yahan ki." Sonakshi agreed to that and said, "Aapse milke bohot achha laga. Bye." With that she walked out of the restaurant and walked to her scooty. Sitting on it as she was about to start it she heard someone behind her say, "iss baar dhakka de doon? Shayad ek baar me start ho jaye?"

Her luck never could help her, could it? Because there, leaning on his car was Mr. Dixit, looking right at her. Sonakshi opted to keep quiet and go. She prayed for the Scooty to start properly. But once again, it disobeyed her. Why was the world being so cruel to her? "Main help karoon?" He said walking up to her. "Koi zaroorat nahin. Swiggy ko main theek kar doongi." She sent absentmindedly trying to start the scooty as soon as possible. "Swiggy?" Mr. Dixit stared confused. Sonakshi realised her mistake and kicked herself internally. She sighed and said, "Haan. Maine apney Scooty ko naam diya. Iska bhi mazak uraiye aap." Dev didn't express anything once again. He just asked, "Swiggy kyun?" Sonakshi glared at him and said, "Who main aapko nahin bataungi." The scooty started just then and Sonakshi rode away from Dev, without a backward glance as he looked on. Sonakshi : 2 Dev: 1

Unknown to both of them, from the window of the shop, Riya saw the whole exchange and dialed a number on her phone. The she smiled and said, "Waah Tina. Bilkul sixer mara hai tumney. Gaari chal padi hai."

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The rest of the day flew by for both Sonakshi and Dev. Both were busy with work but that didn't mean that they didn't visit each other's thoughts. In fact It seemed like, that is all the thought about and both of them concluded that they couldn't stand each other. Tina had been observing Dev all day and she was surprised to see him standing at the balcony thinking about something at least twice in the whole day. Dev never left his work. He never took breaks. So imagine Tina's surprise on seeing him in the balcony attached to his cabin. She smiled realising that the ball was most definitely rolling, just as Riya had said.

That night both of them returned home late thinking that it would be wiser to do so as it would reduce the possibility of facing each other. Sonakshi had worked continuously to keep the thoughts at bay and when she grew tired, she decided to go home. Before she left, Neha invited her to party where other top doctors and some eminent personalities would be present. The party was in the evening tomorrow. Sonakshi had initially wanted to refuse, but when she realised that it would be a very good experience for her, talking to other Doctors, she agreed. She reached the apartment building and took the elevator up.

Dev walked into the apartment building and saw that the elevators were not free. He didn't want to wait for them to come back down so he took the stairs. As Sonakshi got down on her floor she walked to the penthouse and opened the door. She realised that Mr. Dixit wasn't home yet, so she decided to quickly change and go to bed to avoid meeting him.  She had already had dinner at work. As she was about to turn around and close the door, a hand shot out and stopped her from the other side, " Yeh kya Dr. Bose. Aap mere hi ghar me mujhey hi aney nahin de rahi?" Dev pushed open the door, stepped in and closed it. Sonakshi sighed. "Phir aa gaye yeh," She thought.

"Maine aapko nahin dekha." Sonakshi told him matter-of-factly. Dev didn't say anything to that and made his way towards the staircase. Sonakshi suddenly said, "Kal aapney kahan tha ki humey ek dusrey ke rastey me nahin ana chahiye. Aap yeh bhool gaye the kya?" Hearing that Dev turned around and looked at Sonakshi. His calculative, observant, mysterious gaze was back. Sonakshi was intimidated, but she had to ask him. Staying around him was disturbing her balance and she hated that. But Dev said nothing. After looking at her a while he turned back and headed up the stairs. Sonakshi hissed lowly, "Mr. Obhodro."

But Dev always liked to have the last word. Standing beside the railing he looked down and told Sonakshi, " Raste me toh aap aa rahi hai Dr. Bose. Kyunki yeh toh mera hi rasta hai. Toh I suggest you change your route." With that he was gone.  Dev: 2 Sonakshi : 2

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That night Sonakshi dreamt of throwing a bucket of water over Dev and his expensive suit and only then could she sleep peacefully. But the man staying above her just thought of how weird it was of him to break rules. He had never done that before. So why now?

"Main pagal toh nahin ho raha?"

He had to talk to his sisters or Tina about this.

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Note: Ahar- Name of riya's restuarant. Ahar means food. (It's both a hindi word and a bengali word.)

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Next Update: As usual, Sunday!

Have a nice week everyone!

Love

Mishti