Chapter 15

Devakshi FF:  Reaching Out

Part 13

"Dr. Sonakshi, mera next session mere ghar pe kar sakte hai kya?" Ranveer asked, scrunching his eyebrows together. Sonakshi looked up at him from her notes and said, "Haan zaroor. Koi problem hai kya?" She asked him concerned. Ranveer quickly nodded his head negatively and said, "Nahin. Actually, uss din mera ek case ke liye meeting hai, ghar pe. Toh khatam hote hote thoda late hoga. Phir yahan hospital aney me aur bhi der ho jayegi. Isiliye pooch raha tha." Sonakshi smiled at his hesitation. She shut her notepad and said, " No problem at all, Main hospital ka kaam khatam karke aapke ghar aa jaungi."

Ranveer smiled, "Thank you so much Dr. Sonakshi." Sonakshi waved her hand dismissively and said, "I'm so proud of you Ranveer. Aap starting se ab taak bohot duur aa gaye hain. There is such a change in you" she declared happily. Ranveer looked down and rubbed his neck with his hands sheepishly. He hated compliments, "Aisi baat nahin hai. Yeh sab toh aapney kiya hai." Sonakshi laughed at his behaviour and said, "Waise main poora credit lena chahoon bhi toh nahin le sakti." Ranveer's head snapped up at that and he looked at her curiously, "Kyun nahin le sakti aap?" Putting the notepad into her bag, Sonakshi smiled mischievously and said, "Kyunki mere saath saath yeh credit sabse badi Dixit sister ko bhi jati hai."

Ranveer's cheeks immediately became pink and he tried not to break into a smile. Sonakshi laughed even harder at that reaction and said, " Ek photo kheech loon? Neha ko dikhana padega." Ranveer quickly got up saying, " Bilkul nahin! Main aapse parso milunga. Goodbye!" With that, he was out at top speed leaving Sonakshi to continue laughing at the situation. It had been a month since Ranveer and Neha had become a couple. Neha had contributed a great deal in helping Ranveer recover and Sonakshi couldn't be happier. Although ultimately, it was Ishwari who was the happiest because to everyone's surprise, she seemed to have wished for this from a long time. Sonakshi would see Neha and Ranveer behaving like fools and smile to herself, realising how wonderful it was to have someone love you like that. After all she knew how it was to love someone.

Two months ago, on the day that Dev had declared that he wanted to go for counselling, Sonakshi had realised that she was in love with him. And as the days went by and Sonakshi started her sessions with Dev, it became harder for her to hide the fact. She was sure that Dev didn't know, because let's face it, boys are slow. And until she knew that Dev had healed properly, she would not dare tell him anything. She was happy to be around him, help him with his life and just be there whenever she needed him. But that absolutely did not mean that she did not wish that Dev would love her back. She knew it was impossible but still she wished. She still remembered what her state was after the dinner that day. As she put her things in order and picked up her bag and scooty keys, while switching off the lights, she thought back to that night.

**Flashback**

Sonakshi wrung her hands together nervously after she realised what was happening. Seeing her state Tina, who had been closely observing Sonakshi's facial expressions asked her, " Dr. Bose, aap theek hain?" Sonakshi jumped a little. For a moment, she had forgotten that Tian was their beside her. " H-haan. Theek hoon main. Mujhey kya hua hai. Mujhey kya hoga?" Tina tried not to laugh, " Okay okay, Dr. Bose. Maine toh aise hi poocha." Sonakshi just laughed nervously and then kept quiet. Right then Ishwari approached her and held her hands. "Thank you beta. Mujhey pata hai ki yeh tumhara hi kaam hai." Sonakshi protested, " Nahin aunty, maine kuch nahin kiya." But Ishwari knew better. She was a woman who had seen a lot in life. So her judgement skills were almost perfect. She knew better than to believe what Sonakshi said. "Tum jo bhi kahon, par sach toh wahi hai. Ab Dev ki khushi tumharey haathon hai" Ishwari smiled. Sonakshi's eyes widened, "M-matlab?" Ishwari laughed at Sonakshi's plight and said, "Matlab usko theek karne ka kaam tumhara." But the way Ishwari said it, Sonakshi knew she meant something more than that.

Then she took her back to the dinner table where everyone else had already settled down again. As Sonakshi took her seat, Dev caught her eye and silently mouthed a "Thank you" to her. Sonakshi nodded shyly and looked away. Knowing what she knew now, it was difficult to keep looking at Dev for more than a few minutes. As the rest of the evening went by smoothly, before she knew it, it was time for them to return home. Ishwari made Sonakshi promise to drop by frequently to chat, and only when Nikki had made elaborate plans for an outing with her new friend, Sona di, were Dev and Sonakshi able to drive away from Dixit Mansion.

As they made their way home in silence, Dev suddenly spoke up, "Aapko pata tha na ki main maan jaunga?" Sonakshi's eyes widened and she snapped her head sideways to look at him. She could see a small smirk on his lips. " M-matlab?" Funny, Sonakshi thought, she seemed to have been asking that question a lot after her realisation. Her brains must have shut down. Dev took a quick glance at her and looked back in front. "Matlab ki aap jo koshish kar rahi thi intne dino se, woh aaj kaam karega, yeh toh aapko pata hi hoga naah?" Sonakshi's jaw almost dropped to the floor. He Knew? "Mujhey nahin pata aap kis cheez ki baat kar rahey hai" Sonakshi said looking out the window. Dev laughed, his deep musical laugh. " Dr. Bose, aap jitni bholi dikhti hai utni hai nahin." The moment he said that, Sonakshi's eyes were drawn back to his face. She sighed and asked him softly, "Aapko pata tha?" Dev laughed silently and then said, " Sonakshi, main Dev Dixit aise hi nahin bana hoon." That was enough for Sonakshi to cover her face with her hands. Dev laughed again. Sonakshi turned to him, " Toh aapney kuch kahan kyun nahin? Agar aapko pata tha ki I'm trying to convince you?"

Dev parked the car in the parking lot of their apartment and cut the engines. Turning to Sonakshi he said, "Shayad mujhey dekhna tha ki aap mujhey convince kar pati hai ya nahin. Kahin na kahin mere dil me bhi theek hone ki wish toh zaroor rahi hogi. Buss wahi kaam kar gaya" he finished with a serious look. Sonakshi smiled now, " Tab toh bohot achhi baat hai ki meri koshish kaam ayi." Dev nodded in agreement. They then got out of the car and made their way to the elevator. Stepping into it Sonakshi suddenly realised that she was very close to Dev and alone with him. Their shoulders brushed against each other and Sonakshi's cheeks turned pink. She quickly looked down to hide it and scolded herself in her mind, "Don't be ridiculous Sonakshi, yeh pehli baar toh nahin hai ki tum Dev ke saath akeli ho elevator me." As she coaxed herself to relax, their floor arrived and she practically jumped out and raced to open the door. She knew her cheeks were still pink and she didn't want Dev to see it. Because Sonakshi always walked fast, her actions didn't make any difference to Dev. If she stayed any longer beside him, she would give her feelings away right then. After getting inside Sonakshi dropped her keys into the bowl over the shoe rack, told Dev she would talk to him about his sessions the next day and went straight to her room.

**End of Flashback**

Sonakshi twisted the keys and Swiggy started with the familiar vroom sound. She sighed. That had been her strategy after that night. She helped Dev with his sessions and chatted with him when it couldn't absolutely be avoided, because being around him for a long time would make it difficult for her to keep calm. Which is why she would work longer hours and make sure that she didn't have to be around Dev for long. In these two months Dev had opened up a great deal and was healing steadily. There were moments when he had broken down during the sessions and Sonakshi had been right there for him, as his therapist and more importantly as his friend. Even though Sonakshi had tried to maintain her distance, her bond with Dev had become stronger, so much so that he had started calling her "Tum" instead of "Aap". And Sonakshi, well she would fall a little more in love with him, each day. But it pained her to realise that he would never see her that way. And that would force her to keep her distance again.

She stepped into the apartment and put her keys into the bowl. She saw that Dev's keys were already there, which meant he was home. Trying not to make a lot of noise she made her way into her room. Having shut the door securely she let go of the breath she didn't realise she was holding. She threw her bag onto the couch and decided to freshen up and change. Twenty minutes later she sat on the couch chewing her nails, "Abhi bahar jaun ki nahin? Bhook bhi lagi hai. Par Dev neechey aa gaye toh?" Sonakshi felt stupid. She couldn't starve just because Dev might come downstairs. She silently opened her door and made her way to the kitchen. She had cooked Rajma and rice last night and she had quite a few of it left. She took it out and heated it up, all the while praying that Dev wouldn't hear her. Her dinner went by peacefully and she washed the dishes feeling a bit relieved. As she dried her hands on the towel and turned around, she walked straight into a wall. Sonakshi clutched her nose and shut her eyes tightly, " Yeh deewar itni paas kaise aa gayi?" she thought, annoyed.

"Naak toot toh nahin gayi naah tumhari?" Sonakshi's eyes flew open. There was no wall before her. Instead there was all six foot of Dev Dixit standing inches away from her, looking at her with an amused expression on his face. "M-main w-woh.." Dev grew even more amused, " Yeh kya, naak me lagi toh bolti bhi band? Itni zor se lagi kya? Dikhao toh!" When she saw Dev reaching out to touch her nose, Sonakshi snapped into action and took a step back, " N-nahin! Sab theek hai. Woh main thodi surprised ho gayi thi. Aap achanak aye naah." Dev crossed his hands before his chest and regarded her with an amused smile again. "Tum toh aise peechey bhaagi jaise main tumhara naak sachme todne wala tha. Dekhne bhi nahin dogi?" Sonakshi tried to calm her racing heart and commanded her brain to listen to her. With a lot of effort she said, " Aisa kuch nahin hai. Sab theek hai Dev. Aapko chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin." Dev nodded and smiled at her playfully and then looked back at the sink. "Tumne khana kha liya?" Sonakshi nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "Aur main yahan soch raha tha ki hum eksaath dinner karengey." At that Sonakshi felt extremely guilty. She cursed herself internally and regretted being so stupid. Suddenly Dev started laughing. Sonakshi looked up in shock. He had doubled over, clutching his stomach.

 "Aap hass kyun rahe hai?" Sonakshi asked utterly confused. Dev sputtered between his laughs, "Tumhari...shakal..." Sonakshi grew even more confused. Calming down Dev took a deep breath and said, "Kitni udaas lag rahi thi tum. Jaise abhi ro deti." Sonakshi just stared at him. Dev nodded his head from left to right and said, "Main mazak kar raha tha. Maine bhi khana kha liya." Sonakshi furrowed her brows, "Aapko sharam nahin aati naah, aise joke marte huye." Dev smiled his million-dollar smile and stepped close to Sonakshi. Bringing his finger up, he flicked her nose and whispered, "Bilkul nahin." Sonakshi's heart almost stopped and then started beating at a crazy speed. Dev then slowly stepped back smirking, and said, " So jaiye Dr. Bose, kaafi raat ho chuki hai." With that he turned around made his way towards the stairs. Sonakshi took deep breaths and steadied her heart. She turned towards her room. Suddenly she remembered something. " Dev!"

Dev stopped mid step and turned around. "Woh..kal ek party hai. Hospital ke doctors, board members aur directors ki. Ek senior doctor retire kar rahey hai. Unki farewell. Aap investor hai toh, aapko bhi bulaya hai." Dev smirked again and said, "Tum yeh sab mujhey kyun bata rahi ho? I already know it. Invitation toh tumne hi mujhey mail kiya tha naah?" Sonakshi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Nahin. Main aapko remind kar rahi thi aur..." Dev looked at her and asked, "Aur..?" Sonakshi looked at him and said, " Aap chalengey na mere saath?" And then she panicked. That came out wrong! "Mera matlab hai ki mere saath nahin. Aap chalengey naah? Toh main wahan aapke sath hi jaungi, because destination same hi hai-" Before she could continue to embarrass herself any further Dev interrupted her, " Haan hum jayengey wahan. Goodnight." Sonakshi nodded and almost ran to her room and shut the door. " Stupid, stupid, stupid." Sonakshi whisper-yelled at herself.

This is why she had feared going in front of Dev. This was not her state when she would sit for sessions with him. She would be her confident self when she would conduct his sessions. But when they would end, she would be back to this stuttering mess. Why did things have to be like this? On top of that something had gotten into Dev. While he was serious during his sessions, he would keep teasing her like this at other times. Something had gotten into him or it was merely the fact that he had grown comfortable with her and her feelings just made it difficult for her to deal with this wonderful, teasing side of Dev.

Even though she had asked him about the party, she was terrified to go with him. An entire evening with him by her side was something she dreaded. But it excited her too. She had gone shopping for a dress last week after Dev had accepted the invitation. Neha had been her partner during shopping. While she had teased Neha endlessly about Ranveer, Neha had not left one opportunity to tease her about the fact that she was trying to impress someone by dressing up. She knew Neha was hinting at the right person, but would never let her know that her guess was right. She fell onto her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. If she wanted to survive the party tomorrow, she would need to sleep well tonight.

Because something told her that tomorrow night, sleep wouldn't come to her at all.

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So That's it for today!

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Next update will be up on Sunday and let me tell you, the next chapter is something you all will love!

Stay tuned, and keep showering all the love!

Love

Mishti