Devakshi FF: Reaching Out
Part 9
Sonakshi contemplated about what she ought to do.
She had cooked a simple dinner intending to give some of it to Dev. She knew he would need to eat light after having fainted earlier. After coming down from Dev's room she had been in a kind of daze. And it is in that daze that she had called Elena and asked her what she was supposed to do. Elena knew about all her encounters with Dev. On hearing about the situation Elena had suggested that she cook a light dinner for him so that he could gain back the stress. She had excitedly said, " Jeeju ke liye dinner banao aap!" To that Sonakshi had immediately stopped her and said, " Elena, kitni baar kahan hai, jeeju mat bulao unhey. Mr. Dixit hai woh, mere landlord." Elena had ignored that entirely and said, " Par ab toh who Dev hai naah terey liye? Ahem." Sonakshi had gone of on a tirade once again and tried to explain to her sister. But it seemed hopeless. So she gave up and hung up. But she took Elena's idea anyway and decided to cook for him. But now that the daze had worn off she was nervous. She had this weird apprehension.
Not that she had any need to be nervous because this was just a good gesture. A helpful gesture. Sonakshi stared at the plate of food and said, "Normal log help karte waqt nervous toh nahin hote honge. Toh mujhey itni nervousness kyun ho rahi hai?" She took a breath and said, " Uff. Main bhi kitna sochti hoon. Main yeh Mr. Dixit ko dekar aati hoon." But then she slapped her forehead, " Mr. Dixit nahin...Dev..Dev." And then she smiled to herself. But then she slapped her forehead again, "Kya hai yeh sab? Yeh pagalo ki tarah hass kyun rahi hoon main?" She picked up the plate and went up the stairs, annoyed at herself.
Reaching the door she stood outside it with the plate in her hands. She raised her hand to knock but heard Dev speaking to someone over the phone. She paid attention, " Haan, haan, theek hoon main ab. Dawai bhi le li hai." Sonakshi thought, " woh toh busy hai, plate bahar hi chhor doon kya?" Right at that moment she heard Dev say, " Arey haan maa. Sab theek hai. Dr.Bose, I mean Sonakshi ne bohot madad ki meri." Sonakshi smiled to herself. " Kya matlab? Sonakshi bulaon toh koi problem hai kya ma?" Sonakshi furrowed her eyebrows at this. " K-kya ma aap bhi. Koi special baat nahin hai. Main toh Tina ko bhi naam se hi pukarta hoon." Sonakshi stifled a giggle. She realised that he was being teased by his mother. She thought back to Asha, " Saarey mothers bilkul ek jaise hote hai!"
When she realised that Dev had disconnected the call, she knocked lightly on the door, "Dev?" She heard some shuffling sounds and then, "Come in." She slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Kaisa lag raha hai ab aapko?" Dev looked at Sonakshi and said, " Better" Sonakshi observed that Dev had changed into his home clothes and was on the bed with the covers over him. He was in a half sitting and half lying position. Dev spotted the tray Sonakshi was holding. "Aapney itni takleef kyun ki?" Sonakshi walked to the bed and stood beside his bed, "Takleef ki koi baat nahin hai. Aapke flatmate hone ke naatey yeh toh mera farz hai." Dev smiled, "Achha theek hai theek hai. Main kha lunga yeh. Itni badi badi dialogue maarne ki zaroorat nahin hai." Sonakshi laughed and instantly that nervousness disappeared. Dev had the ability to make her so comfortable, when he wanted to, of course.
Because till now, Sonakshi had seen his annoying side. But now she was exposed to the real Dev, the normal one, who knew how to make friends. Sonakshi gave the tray to Dev and said, " Waise aapse aise baat karke mujhey thoda ajeeb lag raha hai." Dev took the tray saying, "Aisa kyun?" Sonakshi walked to the couch in his room and sat down on it saying, "Kyunki aaj tak toh hum dono har baat pe ladai karte aye hai. Aapko aise haste dekhkey bada ajeeb laga" she said jokingly. Immediately Dev smiled, the same smile that was slowly becoming Sonakshi's favourite, and said, " Kyun? Main hasta hua itna bura lagta hoon kya?" Sonakshi lowered her voice and mumbled to herself, " Bura? Aapki smile toh bura ke exact opposite hai."
Dev narrowed his eyes, "Aapne kuch kahan Sonakshi?" Sonakshi's eyes widened, " Aapney suna?" Dev moved his head left to right, "Nahin suna, isiliye toh pooch raha hoon." Sonakshi sighed in relief, " Thank God." She said inaudibly. Out loud she said, " Main yahin keh rahi thi ki nahin, aapka smile jitna bura socha tha utna nahin hai." Dev continued to smile at Sonakshi but his eyes perfectly conveyed the fact that he didn't believe her sentence one bit. He clearly knew she had said something else, but didn't prod. He picked up the spoon and said, "Khichdi?" And made a face. Sonakshi smiled, " aapko khichdi pasand nahin hai?" Dev continued to make that face and said, " Bilkul bhi nahin." Sonakshi rested her hand on her chin, " Mujhey yeh toh bilkul nahin laga tha ki aap jaise top businessman ko irritate karne ke liye khichdi hi kaafi hoga. I thought you'd be tougher than that" she finished teasingly.
Dev looked at Sonakshi with a twinkle in his eye, "Aap mujhey challenge kar rahi hai?" Sonakshi nodded, " Bilkul!" Dev quickly picked up the spoon like a sword and said, " Tab toh mujhey challenge jeetna hi hai. Aakhir mere, Top businessman waali image ka sawal hai." Sonakshi showed him a thumbs up and said, " All the best!" But right then her phone rang and she saw that it was Elena. Dev looked at her expression and said, " It's okay Sonakshi. I think main ye challenge akeley me hi kar lunga. And I promise not to cheat." Sonakshi nodded happily and took her leave from the room and went down the stairs to talk to Elena. But before going down, she turned back to see Dev staring at a spoonful of khichdi hwith a face that said, " Main mar toh nahin jaunga?" She smiled at this childish side of him before disappearing down the stairs.
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Dev picked on his food and thought of how it would be just to throw the food away. But then he thought, "Nahin.. Dr. Sonakshi ne itni mehnat se banayi hai... kha hi leta hoon." He closed his eyes and put the first spoonful into his mouth and immediately opened his eyes wide, " Yeh toh...kitna achha hai!" He ate another spoonful. " Woh waqai me ek bohot achhi cook hai." Dev continued eating and soon his plate was empty. He sighed contently, " Waah, maza aa gaya." He took the plate and the tray to his kitchen sink and washed it. He looked at the clock to find it was quite late. So he decided he would give them back the next morning. While walking back to his room his mobile rang. It was Ranveer.
"Haan bol Ranveer" Dev said happily. "Arey, tu toh bada chehek raha hai? Maine toh socha behoshi ke baad sahab badey depressed mood me rahengey. Baat kya hai?" Dev laughed lightly and sat on his bed, "Pagal. Bimaar padhu toh matlab depressed ho jaun? Kuch bhi. Par ek minute, tujhey kisne bataya?" Ranveer paused and said, " Tujhey kya lagta hai, kisne bataya?" Dev scratched his head, " Jab hua tab toh Sonakshi hi thi. Usi ne bola hoga. Par woh tumhey kyun bolegi?" Ranveer immediately started laughing, " Achha toh bhaisahab aajkal koi aur hi track pe hai. For your kind information, mujhey Ishwari aunty ne bataya kyunki main bhi gaya tha tere ghar dinner pe. Samjha?" Dev smacked his forehead, " Ohh haan. Sorry. Bhool gaya tha." Ranveer coughed, " Ahem.. Bhulega hi naah. Ab Dr. Bose se Sonakshi tak jo chala gaya hai..ahem" He finished in between fake coughs. Immediately Dev was on his defence, " Chup kar. Kya bol raha hai. Usney meri itni help ki. Toh dost toh ban hi gaye na hum? Ab kaunsa dost apne dost ko surname sa pukarta hai?" Ranveer immediately resorted to a sarcastic tone and said, " Haan haan bilkul." Dev groaned, " Chup kar Ranveer!" Ranveer laughed again, " Achha baba, chup karta hoon. Par tu khayal rakh apna. Tu bimaar padega toh mujhey kaun sambhalega?" Dev smiled evilly, "Kyun? Neha hai naah." That caught Ranveer off-guard, " K-kya bol raha hai?" Dev laughed self-assuredly, " Mujhey gadha samajhne ki bhool mat karna tu. Bachpan se jaanta hoon tujhey. Ab senti marna band karke phone rakh aur Sone de." Ranveer flushed red on the other side and said, " H-haan, g-goodnight" and hung up the call at jet speed.
Dev let his phone charge and made himself comfortable on the bed. Before switching off the light he smiled to himself and said, " Thank you Sonakshi" very softly and then slowly fell asleep.
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Sonakshi groaned at her alarm clock as it rang, " Uff ho, kyun subah ho gayi itni jaldi." She dragged herself out of bed and towards the bathroom, though unwillingly. She had been talking to Elena and Raunita on conference till pretty late. Elena had told Raunita everything and the girls wanted to know every detail of what happened after she took the food up to him. Every time she tried to explain that it was just a kind gesture, the girls just refused it outright and went all out on teasing her about Dev.
Frustrated she had hung up on them after a point. But that didn't mean that she slept immediately. She spent a long time after that thinking of what Dev might have gone through and had realised that she yearned to know him better. She had never felt this urge with anyone before. But Dev intrigued her. The more she interacted with him, the more she wanted to know him better. But then she had convinced herself that it was normal human nature to be inquisitive and it was her sympathy as a psychiatrist, to Dev's suffering, though she didn't know what it was, yet. But was she convinced? That was the big question.
Sonakshi slowly got ready for work and then made her way out to make breakfast. She was pleasantly surprised to see the tray, plate and spoon from yesterday sitting on her kitchen counter with a small note beside it. She quickly walked to it and picked up the note,
Dear Dr. Bose...I mean Sonakshi,
Thank you for everything you did yesterday. Aapka yeh ehsaan main kabhi nahin bhoolunga. Isi baat pe let's call a proper truce and dosti ka haath badhate hai. Have a great Day.
Mr. Dixit...Err..Dev.
P.S. - Aap toh bohot achha banati hai...Khana I mean.
Sonakshi laughed at the PS in the note "Mr. Obhodro bilkul pagal hai." She put the note in her bag and got to making breakfast. Suddenly she seemed to be a lot more energetic to go to work that she was before. As she ate her breakfast and then left for work, she wondered what changed her mood, but couldn't reach a proper conclusion.
The rest of the day flashed by in a jiffy and before Sonakshi knew it, she was done with lunch and had also finished her session for the day. She had a nice chat with Neha during lunch and informed her that Dev was absolutely fine. Neha had raised a perfect eyebrow when she had referred to him as Dev, but hadn't commented which relieved Sonakshi because she didn't know what she would say if it happened.
Sonakshi decided to stay and go over some patient progress files before she went home. She was just through with her first file when she got a call from Ranveer, " Dr. Sonakshi, kya aap free hai? Kya main session ke liye aa sakta hoon. I feel restless. Shayad kuch help ho." Sonakshi immediately agreed, " Haan bilkul. Par aaj aap clinic aa jaiye Mr. Shekhawat. Wahin kar lengey session." Ranveer agreed and half an hour later he was sitting before Sonakshi with a cup of coffee. "Toh boliye Mr. Shekhwat, kya kehna tha aapko?" Ranveer took a deep breath, "Main aapko mere problem ke baarey me batana chahta hoon." Sonakshi took out her pad and pen, " Zaroor. Sab batana."
Ranveer sat straight, " Do saal pehley, main aur mere parents ek new year party se wapas aa rahey the." He looked out the window in Sonakshi's cabin, " Bohot khush the woh dono. Mere kaam ko lekar bohot proud the. Party kaafi duur thi. Main drive kar raha tha." He paused. Sonakshi gestured him to go on. He took another deep breath, " Flyover se neechey utarne ke baad, papa ne mujhse kuch kahan, jiske liye main peechey muda jawab dene ke liye." He pressed his hands together on his lap, " Side se ek drunk driver ne apni car se seedha aakey humare car ko mara...mere...mere parents died on the spot. Par mujhey sirf minor scratches huye." Sonakshi saw him struggle and put her hand on his, " Phir?" Ranveer tried to pull himself together, "Mujhey pata hai, ki main kuch nahin kar sakta tha. Par main bach gaya aur woh nahin bach paye. Iska mere mann pe bohot asar hua. Jab bhi mujhey gussa ata tha apne aap par, main cheezein todne lagta tha, usko shant karne ke liye." He looked up at Sonakshi, " Par ek din, I stopped having any control aur pagalo ki tarah ho gaya. Galti se maine apney housekeeper ko bhi chhot puhunchai. Main jab paida hua, tabse who thi. Par uske baad maine unhey jaaney ko kahan. Unhey manzoor nahin tha, but I couldn't hurt people I love anymore."
He stood up not being able to sit any more, "Tab se mujhey aise fits aatey hai. Uss accident ke baad se main insomaniac bhi ho gaya hoon. Jabhi teen chaar din neend theek se nahin hoti, uske baad hi usually yeh attacks atey hai." Sonakshi nodded. Ranveer came and sat back down on the chair. Sonakshi closed her pad and looked at him, " Toh tum mere paas kyun aye ho?" Ranveer sighed, " Main theek hona chahta hoon. I want peace. Aur nahin bardasht hota yeh pain." Sonakshi sat thinking quietly for a bit of time and then said, " tumhey heal karne ke liye I need to understand your thought pattern. Ab tumhara kaam yeh hoga ki kal tum mujhey ek list likhkey doge. It will be a list about 5 reasons why you think tumhey yeh anger fits aatey hai." She gave him a glass of water and said, " Phir tumhari proper therapy shuru hogi. Can you do it?" Ranveer seemed unsure. Sonakshi quickly said, " Mujhey pata hai iske baarey me sochna painful hoga. But theek hone ke liye yeh zaroori hai." Ranveer nodded, " Main poori koshish karunga Dr. Sonakshi." Sonakshi smiled. " I will see you tomorrow at 7:30 then. Theek hai?" Ranveer nodded and then left.
Not much later, Sonakshi left as well. All the way home, she kept thinking about how paiful it must be for Ranveer. She wished to heal him soon enough. She also wished that God wouldn't be so cruel to people. She stepped into the penthouse and looked at the key bowl. Dev's keys weren't there which meant he was still at work. She thought of talking to Dev about Ranveer to get better insight. She decided to make notes till Dev returned. Halfway into her notes she heard Dev come in. She decided to finish it and go to talk to him and also check if he was okay. He had left before her in the morning. She doubted if he had proper rest after the fainting spell. Checking on him was her duty, but she didn't really understand why she thought so.
It took her another half and hour to finish her notes. Just as she got up to go and talk to Dev, he barged into her room, " Sonakshi? Sorry main bina knock kiye andaar aa gaya, par humein abhi nikalna padega." Sonakshi was utterly confused, " Kyun? Aur kahan?" Dev waved his hand and said, " Bataunga raste me, change kijiye aur jaldi chaliye. I'll be waiting in the car downstairs." Sonakshi nodded. She hurriedly got dressed properly and ran out the door, but didn't forget her keys. She reached the parking lot and ran to Dev's car, getting in quickly. "Kya hua Dev, kya emergency hai?" Dev started the car and said, " Ranveer. Who phirsey tod phod kar raha hai. Main tumhey leke ja raha hoon so that tum kuch kar sako." Sonakshi's eyes widened, " Shayad yeh aajke session ki wajah se trigger hua hoga." Sonakshi thought worriedly. Suddenly she said, " Dev raastey me koi chemist ka shop ho toh do minute rukna, mujhey kuch lena hai." Dev nodded. Thankfully there was a shop right outside Ranveer's house. Sonakshi bought what she needed and they both raced up the stairs.
As they were let into Ranveer's house by their new caretaker, Sonakshi heard banging and crashing from what she assumed to be his study. They both made their way to the room. On reaching the entrance Sonakshi spotted Neha, Riya and two other men she didn't recognize, trying to stop him. Sonakshi turned to Dev and said, " Dev, unko kisi tarah couch pe bithao, I need to give him an injection." Dev nodded and without a word he got to work. He moved Riya and Neha aside and with the help of the two men in the room made Ranveer sit on the sofa, though he was struggling. Sonakshi wasted no time and got to work. With Neha and Riya holding each of Ranveer's hands, she gave him the injection which was a sedative. It would calm him and put him to sleep.
The sedative immediately reacted and within the next fifteen minutes Ranveer was out like a light. He was carried to his room by Dev and the other men, whom Sonakshi learned to be Ranveer's PA and his assistant. Neha, Riya and Sonakshi waited in the study while Dev made sure Ranveer was comfortably in bed. Neha turned to Sonakshi, teary eyed, " Thank you Dr. Bose." Sonakshi put and arm around her shoulder, " Thank you mat bolo Neha. And call me Sonakshi. Ranveer theek ho jayengey bohot jald." Neha nooded, " Kaash aap jo keh rahi hai woh sach ho jaye." Riya piped in, " Kyun nahin hoga, zaroor hoga. Sonakshi hai naah." Sonakshi smiled at Riya and then assured Neha, " bilkul. Aaj ka attack meri wajah se hua hai. Maine hi unhey iske baarey me sochne par majboor kiya tha. But woh sochengey nahin toh how will he gain control. Ab dekhna dheerey dheerey yeh attacks kam ho jayengey. Pakka." Neha nodded again, believing Sonakshi.
Just then Dev stepped into the room, " Theek hai sab. Ab sab ghar chalte hai. Ranveer ke mama maami aa rahey hai. Kuch din yahi rahengey. Woh jab tak nahin aatey main yahan rukta hoon. Tum log jao. Kal subah ussey mil lena." All three women nodded and left the room. Before leaving with Nehaand Riya, Sonakshi turned to Dev and said, "Yeh kuch medicines hai jo unko proper sleep ke liye chahiye hoga. Yeh aap unke mama maami ko de dena Dev." Dev accepted them and said, "Thank you Sonakshi." Sonakshi made a face, " yeh mera kaam hai. Isme thank you ki kya zaroorat?" Dev smiled a little. "Ab aap jaiye. Main thodi der me aata hoon."
Riya and Neha dropped Sonakshi off in their car. But she didn't go to sleep after reaching home. She went through her notes sitting on the couch in the drawing room. She wanted to wait till Dev came. She assured herself that it was because she wanted to know if Ranveer was okay, but somewhere she knew it was also because she wanted to see him safely home before she slept. Dev arrived half and hour later and was surprised to see Sonakshi up, " Arey, aap soi nahin?" Sonakshi got up from her place and came towards him, " Nahin. Mujhey poochna tha Ranveer theek hai ki nahin." Dev showed a thumbs up and said, " Sabko darake khud aram se so raha hai. Theek hai woh." Sonakshi sighed, "Mujhey shayad thoda slowly poochna chahiye tha. Bohot gehri chot hai. Time lagega." Dev nodded, " Haan. Par main chahta hoon ki who bilkul theek ho jaye...meri tarah..." And he stopped.
Sonakshi observed him, "Aapki tarah?" Dev looked away and said, " Aap so jaiye. Kal subah Ranveer ko dekhney jayengey. Goodnight." Sonakshi followed him with her eyes as he made his way towards the stairs, " Aap chahte hai ki who aapke tarah suffer na karey?" She asked him softly. Dev stopped in his tracks and turned around, " Kya kahan aapney?" Sonakshi took a step towards him, " Ranveer ne kahan tha ki aapko bhi kuch-" Dev interrupted her. " Ranveer aapka patient hai, mujhey nahin lagta aapko mere baarey me baat karne ki koi zaroorat hai" he said to her in an icy cold tone. Sonakshi was taken aback at his tone."Par Dev-"
" Dr. Bose, buss. Aapko so jana chahiye. Goodnight." And with that he disappeared up the stairs. Sonakshi looked at the spot where Dev was standing minutes ago and thought, " Maine dosti shuru hone se pehley hi khatam toh nahin kar diya?" With a forlorn expression.
Well, she wouldn't know that until she got to talk to him again, would she?
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So that was it for today!
Sab like aur comment zaroor karna!
And let me know kaisa laga and I'll see you all on Wednesday!
Love
Mishti
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