Chapter 9

Devakshi FF: Reaching Out

Part 7

Sonakshi looked back at Neha and said, "Are you sure yahi aapkey bhai hai?" She desperately wished for this to be untrue. Neha laughed and said, "Yeh kaisa sawaal hai Dr. Bose? Of course I'm sure yahi mere bhai hai." Before Sonakshi could reply Dev butted in saying, " Mujhey nahin lagta Dr. Bose yeh baat jaanke zyada khush hui? Aur ghabraiye mat, main bhi zyada khush nahin hua iss baat se" he finished giving Sonakshi that patent impassive expression but his eyes were observant and sharp, as always.

Neha and Ranveer, both looked utterly confused as to what was happening. Neha decided to get into that later, and said, " Dr. Bose, Ranveer ke barey me hi maine aapko subah bataya tha. Aap unka case handle karengi naah?" Sonakshi was ready to reply to that but once again Dev spoke up, "Are you sure Neha ki yahi ek Doctor thi jo Ranveer ko treat kar sakti hai?" Sonakshi furrowed her brows, "Aap mere abilities to question kar rahey hai Mr. Dixit?" Dev turned to her and said, " Main aapne best friend ko best help dena chahta hoon. I'm merely making sure ko woh ussey mile." Sonakshi was boiling with anger now, " Dekhiye, aapko koi haq nahin banta ki aap mere professional abilities pe sawaal uthaye. When I take the responsibility of a patient, main make sure karti hoon ki who bilkul theek hoke hi mera saath chhorey."

Dev narrowed his eyes, " Ab yeh toh kaam hone ke baad hi pata chalega naah. Abhi inn baton ka kya faida?" Sonakshi really wished she could carry out her dream wish on Dev right now. She had a glass of water in her hand and Dev was in one of his most expensive suits. It would just take her a minute to do it. But she knew her patient was before her and that would not create a very good impression to a person who had come expecting help from her. So she tried calming herself and didn't reply to Dev's sentence because she knew very well that he was trying to instigate her on purpose so that he would have a perfect excuse to take Mr. Shekhawat to another doctor, when she exploded.

Neha glared at Dev listening to what he told Sonakshi. She grew even more confused at the thought that her brother was behaving rudely with a person whom he had just met. This had never happened before. And moreover she was a woman. Dev was a perfect gentleman with every woman he met. Why was he behaving like this with Dr. Bose? But at the moment she needed to control the situation. She nudged Ranveer with her elbow who looked equally apprehensive and at a loss of words. At Neha's gesture he quickly nodded and then turned to Dev and whispered, " Kya kar raha hai Dev. Chup kar. Nahin toh mere haath se itna achha opportunity chala jayega. She's the best. Kya problem hai tujhey? Just keep quiet!" Dev turned to Ranveer and tried to protest, "Par mujhey janney toh de who best hai ki-" "Ki kuch nahin" Ranveer said interrupting him. "Mujhey baat karne de aab." Dev wasn't happy about it, but he didn't want to hurt Ranveer so he kept quiet.

Ranveer turned to Sonakshi, " Dekhiye Dr. Bose, aap mere dost ki batoon ka bura mat maniye. Woh kuch zyada hi protective hai. Aap please apna mind change mat kijiye." Sonakshi smiled a little, " Arey nahin Mr. Shekhawat. I'm not going to change my mind." She looked at Dev and said, "Chahey koi bhi aakey mujhey kuch bhi kahey," She turned back to Ranveer, " Main apna promise nahin todti. I will definitely help you. Aur jahan tak aapkey friend ka sawaal hai, aapko tension lene ki zaroorat nahin, humara jhagda toh roz ka hai. Yeh treatment ke beech nahin ayega." She said this looking pointedly at Dev conveying her message. Dev sighed unhappily but nodded, " Haan Ranveer. Yeh tumharey treatment ke beech nahin ayega, I promise." Ranveer and Neha were once again at a loss. This time Neha couldn't keep quiet anymore, " Roz ka jhagda matlab?" She asked directing her question at Dev.

But Sonakshi was the once who answered it. " Yaad hai Dr. Neha, kal subah main bohot pareshaan thi, mere landlord ko lekar?" Neha nodded. " Woh landlord yahi hai, aapkey bhai." Neha's mouth dropped open, " Toh aap mere bhai ke penthouse ki tenant hai?" Sonakshi laughed lightly, "Unfortunately." Though this should have come as an annoyance to Dev because she basically insulted him saying that she was unfortunate to have him as her landlord, he wasn't the least bit bothered about it. Instead he was enraptured by Sonakshi's laugh. That was the only thing in his focus at the moment. He hadn't heard her laugh. Because well, he hadn't really given her an opportunity to laugh as they were too busy fighting everytime they as much as set eyes on each other. But he had to admit, her laugh was beautiful. And he wished he could here more of it.

Sonakshi had started to talk to Ranveer about something, while Neha had been observing Dev. She was sure something was very wrong with her brother. One minute he was biting Dr. Bose's head off, the next moment he was staring at her as if she was the only thing he could see. "Mujhey Riya se baat karni hi padegi" Neha mused quietly. She walked over to her brother and cleared her throat. Dev jumped slightly at the sound and turned to see Neha beside him. " Kya hua?" He asked puzzled. Neha looked at Sonakshi and then at Dev, "Chakkar kya hai bhai?" Dev looked even more confused, " Kiska chakkar?" Neha rolled her eyes, " Aapka Aur Dr. Bose ka!" Dev glared at Neha, " Chup kar Neha. Kya bol rahi hai." Neha smiled, "Kuch toh chakkar pakka hai." Dev didn't look at Neha but quietly said, "Iss barey me humlog baadme baat karengey." Satisfied with that Neha went back and stood with Ranveer and Sonakshi.

Right then Sonakshi said, " Achha toh abhi main chalti hoon. Kal hospital bhi jana hai. Aap shaam ko around 8 bajey penthouse aa jana, we'll start our sessions. Kalka session light hoga." Ranveer nodded gratefully. " Ji bilkul. I'll be there." Hearing their conversation he asked Sonakshi, " Aap ghar pe session lengi?" Sonakshi nodded cautiously,  "Haan. Hospital me schedule jam packed hai isiliye. Kyun aapko koi problem hai?" Dev tried not to smile and said, " Aapko humesha yeh kyun lagta hai ki I'll have a problem?" Sonakshi just kept giving him suspicious looks. Deciding to put her out of her misery he said, " Main isiliye pooch raha tha kyunki if you conduct sessions at home, main study clear kar dunga, aap dono wahan baith sakte ho. I know inn sessions me privacy chahiye hoti hai isiliye." Sonakshi for once, looked surprised, in a good way. She was glad to see this side of her landlord. The caring side. He did really love his friend to be so protective and caring.

As Sonakshi pondered over Dev, the person in question spoke up, " Ab chalein? Ya aapko saari raat yahin rukna hai? Humey jaatey jaatey Neha aur Ranveer ko drop bhi karna hai." Sonakshi nodded and then the four of them left in Dev's car. By the time Dev and Sonakshi stepped into the penthouse, the clock had struck 12. Sonakshi yawned as she kept they keys in the bowl placed on top of the shoebox. "Ek party attend karkey hi itni tiredness, Dr. Bose?" Dev teased Sonakshi. But she was too tired to fight back so she simply said, " Mujhey aisi parties ki aadat nahin hai naah. I was always the person jo roz raat 10 bajey so jaati hai aur jaagti bhi toh kaam ki wajah se." Dev had started walking towards the staircase after his comment but her reply made him stop. He turned to Sonakshi. That was the first time she had told him something about her and that to normally. He stared at Sonakshi for a minute and said, "I think yeh first aisi baat hogi jo hum dono ki milti hai."

Sonakshi had regretted saying those things the moment it left her mouth. She had expected Dev to taunt her about it. But hearing his reply she was surprised once again. She was slowly getting a glimpse of another side to Devrath Dixit. A side which surprisingly, she liked. As she saw him go up to his floor, she thought, " Mr. Dixit itne bhi bure insaan nahin hai." But once again she caught herself, " Sona! Kya soch rahi hai. You need sleep!" And frowned and walked to her room.

The rest of the night, until they fell asleep, Dev and Sonakshi, thought about how they were getting small glimpses into each other's inner personality and tried to analyze it in their own way. But they still had a long way to go in figuring each other out.

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Dev and Sonakshi didn't see each other until the next evening. Dev had left for work even before Sonakshi was up. But she realized that only when she saw his keys gone from the bowl when she came out to make breakfast. As she sat eating, she found a note on the table addressed to her. She opened it and read,

Dear Dr. Bose,

Aaj bhi aapney mere liye breakfast nahin banaya. Isey kya main gussey ki outcome sochoon ya aapki laziness? Waise agar aapko iske badle me mere haathon ka bana breakfast chahiye tha toh pehley bolti, rakhkhey jata. Koi baat nahin, next time pakka.

Have a nice day.

From

Devrath Dixit.

Sonakshi gripped her spoon tighter. Whatever she thought about last night, she took it all back! He could never be nice! He would always be the most annoying person. "Unki himmat toh dekho" she hissed.  "Khudko khana banana aata hai, tabhi mujhey pareshaan karte rehte hai. So mujhey bekaar me hi bura lagta tha ki he didn't get his breakfast!" She said while stomping in anger to the wash basin. Her anger took greater time to wither away. It was only when she saw her first patient for the day, that she managed to forget about Dev for the time being.

Dev on the other hand, hadn't been able to stop thinking about Sonakshi. Hence he had left for work as early as possible, to keep his mind off her. But it didn't seem like fate wanted that. Because as the clock struck 9 AM, Neha and Riya barged into his room saying, " Kya chal raha hai bhai?" Tina was behind them trying not to laugh and she tried even harder when she saw Dev's expression. It was something between irritation and fear. Irritation because he was being interrupted. Tina also knew why there was fear. Because Dev's sisters were the most inquisitive people in the whole wide world and when they wanted to know something, they would get it out of the person by hook or by crook.

Dev ignored Riya and Neha and said, " Tina, tumney inhey andaar kyun aaney diya?" Tina giggled, " Sorry Sir, yeh maan hi nahin rahey the!" Riya sat in front of Dev's desk pulling down Neha on the chair beside her, "Tina kaise rokti? Aakhir hum uske Boss ke sisters hai. Family ko koi nahin rok sakta, samjhey Mr. Businessman?" Dev glared at his sisters," Kya kaam hai?" It was Neha's turn now, " Accha Tina, ek baat batao, yeh Dr. Bose bhaiyya ke penthouse me kitney din pehley shift hui?" Tina tried not to laugh again and said, " Yahi koi one week pehley." Riya and Neha looked at each other, " One week, hmmm. Aur buss one week main hi aapney ussey dushmani mol liya?" Riya asked putting her elbows on Dev's desk.  Dev shut his laptop and looked at his sisters seriously, " Seedha seedha bolo, kya janney ayi ho tum dono?"

Neha smiled, " Kuch nahin bhai. Hum toh buss yeh keh rahey the ki ek week me aap kisise itna ghul mil rahey ho, ki you fight with that person at every point. Aisa kya baat hai?" Dev sighed and sat back, " koi baat nahin hai. Buss, Dr. Bose is very irritating. Har baar wahi jhagra karne me majboor karti hai mujhey." Tina decided to escape the room as she couldn't hold her laughter in anymore. Riya nodded, " Jahan tak mujhey yaad hai aap wahi Devrath Dixit ho naah jo logo se irritate hokar unsey baat karna hi band kar dete hai? Toh aap Dr. Bose se baat kyun karte ho?"

Dev squinted, " Kyun na karoon? Tenant hai woh mere ghar me. Aise kaise baatein band kar doon?" Riya and Neha gaped at Dev. What was he saying? Neha nudged Riya and the both of them looked at each other. Riya turned to Dev and said, " Okay then. Hum chalte hai. Baad me miltey hai. Kal ghar pe dinner hai, Mama maami ke saath. Time pe aa jana aap." With that they were gone as fast as they came. Dev sat confused, " Par yeh dono aye kyun the?"

Outside Riya and Neha walked up to Tina, " Bhai toh badal gaye Tina!" Neha said giggling. Tina smiled, " Kahan tha maine. Jabse Dr. Bose se mile hai, Sir badal rahey hai. In fact ajkal who saal bhar ki baatein ek din me karte hai." Riya put her hand on top of Tina's, " Thank you Tina. Tumne bohot achha kaam kiya hai. Shayad Ranveer ko theek karte karte, woh bhai ko bhi theek kar de." Neha nodded, " I hope so too. Uss incident ke baad Andar se unhey jhodney ka potential toh mujhey buss Dr. Bose me hi dikh raha hai. I hope sab theek ho." Tina assured them,  "Sab theek hoga. Bharosa rakhiye."

Satisfied with that, both sisters left the building with hope bubbling inside them.

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Before Sonakshi knew it, it was time for her to go back home so that she could reach before Ranveer came. She finished her rounds and packed her bag. On the way out she called a nurse and asked her to increase the dose of the sleeping pills for Mr. Shukla. He had faced some problems in sleeping for the past few days and according to her, the lack of sleep increased his problems. So he needed proper sleep to function normally. She made her way to the parking lot and started Swiggy. She didn't want to be late to her first session with Ranveer. But she didn't want to face Mr. Dixit either. But did not mean that her urge to see him once throughout the day, had disappeared. In fact it had come to her more times that she wanted to admit.

Though he always irritated the daylights out of her, she hoped, almost yearned for a glimpse of the man and she couldn't explain why that happened. She didn't want to explain it either. Lost in thought she stepped into the penthouse and went to her room. She freshened up and collected everything she would need for the session. She then came to the drawing room and sat down on the couch. She sifted through Ranveer's previous medical reports and the symptoms of depression he was experiencing.

After a few minutes she heard keys jingling in the lock. She sat up straight. Mr. Dixit was back. She involuntarily straightened her kurti and consciously brushed her hand through her hair. But once she did it, she felt extremely stupid for doing it, but she couldn't explain why she even did it in the first place. She turned her head towards the door to see him step into the house and keep his keys on the bowl. Then he looked up to meet her eyes, " Hello Dr. Bose. Ranveer ata hi hoga." Sonakshi felt weird meeting his eyes. So she looked away and said nothing. Dev walked towards the staircase and said, " Study theek kar deta hoon main, woh aye toh aap dono upar aa jana." Sonakshi still kept mum but nodded her head in answer.

Dev eyed her carefully and said, " Aap theek hain?" Sonakshi looked up at him but didn't meet his eyes, " Haan. Theek hoon main." Dev decided not to bother her anymore and said, " Theek hai" and bounded up the stairs. Within minutes the doorbell rang and Sonakshi ushered Ranveer in. "Good Evening Mr. Shekhawat. Are you ready?" Ranveer smiled a little, " As ready as I'll ever be, Dr. Bose." Sonakshi smiled at his honesty and led him to the study upstairs. But it seemed as if, Ranveer led her to the study because he knew this floor better than Sonakshi. In fact this was the first time Sonakshi had come up to the second floor.

Dev's study was very neat and cozy. It had a pair of couches in the corner that seemed perfect for the sessions. The rest of the room was filled with bookshelves and file shelves and it also had a table with chairs in another corner, which Sonakshi assumed, was where Dev did his work. Sonakshi led Ranveer to the couch and they sat facing each other. Sonakshi opened her pad and clicked her pen, "So Mr. Shekhawat, aapkey intro se start karte hai. Aapkey baarey me bataiye, what you do, bachpan kaisa tha, dost kitne hai, etc. Etc." Ranveer looked confused, " Aap mere problem ke baarey me nahin janna chahti?" Sonakshi laughed, " Woh toh baad me ayega. Aapko janey bina main aapkey problem ko jaankar kya karungi? Hai naah?" Ranveer seemed to relax. He took an instant liking towards Sonakshi. He sensed it would be easy to talk to her. Her calmness was something that calmed and relaxed him as well.

But before he could start, Dev interrupted him, " Aap apna kaam theek se toh kar rahi hai naah Dr. Bose?" Sonakshi glared at Dev, " Aap iss waqt yahan se jaiye. Aapko yahan aana allowed nahin hai." Dev walked into the study, " Ghar mera hai, study mera hai, main jab chahey jahaan chahey aun!" Sonakshi stood up, " Aur yeh sessions private hai! I decide kaun ayega, kaun jayega." Dev narrowed his eyes, " Toh mujhey kaise pata hoga ki Ranveer ka ilaaj theek se ho raha hai ya nahin?" Sonakshi was losing her cool completely, " Mr. Dixit, aap please yahan se jaiye aur mujhey apna kaam karne dijiye." But Dev didn't budge. He continued to ask questions that infuriated Sonakshi further and before one could blink they were fighting again, totally forgetting the fact that Ranveer was sitting right in front of them.

He slowly got up from his couch, stepped out of the room and then dialed Neha's number. The moment she picked up the phone he said, " Neha, jaldi yahan ao. Dev aur Dr. Bose phirsey ladai kar rahey hai." He hung up when Neha said she was coming. Looking at them from outside the room he thought, " Inka kuch karna padega."

But little did Ranveer know that he would have to go through a lot of convincing before Dev and Sonakshi could let each other be in peace.

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So that was Chapter 7 for you all!

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Mishti!