Devakshi FF: Reaching Out
Part 14
"Phirsey jhagda hua kya?" Mr. Shukla asked Sonakshi as she chewed the end of her pen while looking at the notepad in her hand.
Sonakshi's head snapped up at the question. "Jhagda?" She asked confused. Mr. Shukla nodded and said, " Haan Jhagda. Kyunki pichli baar tum itni distracted tab thi jab tumhara Dev Dixit se jhagda hua tha." Sonakshi's cheeks became warm and she ducked her head down again, quickly, "N-Nahin. Koi jhagda nahin hua." Mr. Shukla observed his doctor. Crossing his arms in front of his chest he said calmly, " Tum sharma rahi ho." Sonakshi's eyes widened and she looked up and gaped at him. "K-kya?" Mr. Shukla nodded his head again solemnly and said, "Iska matlab toh sirf ek hi ho sakta hai." Sonakshi abruptly stood up and laughed nervously, " Main aapki doctor hoon ya aap mere?" Mr. Shukla didn't express anything. He just kept looking at Sonakshi and said, " Uss din dekha tha maine usko, humare meeting room ke bahar." Sonakshi sat back down again and looked at Mr. Shukla in wonder, " Aapko kaise pata chala woh Dev the?" Mr. Shukla's eyes narrowed slightly, "Dev? Hmmm. Pichli baar jab uske baare me baat hui thi tab Mr. Dixit kahan tha. Ab Dev?" Sonakshi internally kicked herself, realising her slip-up.
She quickly corrected herself and said, "Mera matlab hai ki aap Mr. Dixit ko kaise jante hai?" Mr. Shukla tried very hard not to smile. Usually it was very easy for him not to smile. But Sonakshi was making it very hard for him to keep a straight face. "Main unhey nahin janta. Buss kaafi saari magazines me unki photo aati hai. Usi se pehchaan saka" he said eyeing Sonakshi carefully. Sonakshi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded her head. Mr. Shukla smiled. It was not a big one, just a small one, but he did smile and Sonakshi was amazed. "Aap-Aap hass rahey hai?!" Sonakshi whisper-shouted. Mr. Shukla's smiled widened a bit, "Kya karoon. Tum harkatey hi aisi kar rahi ho" he said pointing at her. Sonakshi stared at him , confused, " Maine kya kiya?" Mr. Shukla nodded his head from side to side and said, "Kuch nahin. Ab batao jhagda hua ki nahin hua?" Sonakshi sighed, " Nahin, koi jhagda nahin hua." Mr. Shukla continued his observation and asked, "Toh?" Sonakshi looked at her hands and said, " Woh..." And her mind drifted to the incident that happened that morning.
**Flashback**
Sonakshi brushed her hair with quick strokes. She groaned as the comb got stuck in a tangled part of her hair. She had to reach the hospital at seven in the morning today for a meeting and it was already six-thirty. She had woken up late and hence had to run around like a headless chicken, getting ready. It was all Dev's fault, as usual. His thoughts had kept her up till late and now she was paying the price. "Ek kaam theek se nahin hoti tumse Sona, tumi akdom impossible!" She scolded herself while trying to manage her hair. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the front door. She looked at the clock, "Itni subah kaun aa gaya?" She hurried to the door and yanked it open. She was greeted with Mohan, the Dixit Mansions' driver who was standing there with a bag. "Good Morning Madam Ji." Sonakshi smiled, " good morning Mohan dada, kya kaam hai?" He held the bag up and said, "Sahab ne yeh bag mangwaya tha ghar se." Sonakshi nodded and accepted it saying, " Theek hai, main unhey de doongi." Mohan gave a big toothy smile and said, " Ji madam ji." With that he was off.
Sonakshi closed the door and scrunched up her face, " Ab mujhey yeh Dev ko dene jana padega." She dragged herself unwillingly towards the stairs because she knew that once she saw Dev, her day would be full of distractions. Trudging up the stairs, she went and stood in front of Dev's door. But just as she raised her hand to knock, she noticed that the door was ajar. She slowly pushed it open and saw that Dev was not there. Then she heard the water running in the bathroom and realised that he was showering. She mentally clapped happily because she wouldn't have to see him and decided to leave the bag on his couch. She walked into the room and kept the bag on the couch. But then her eyes fell on a magazine about the hospital that she worked in and it piqued her interest. She picked it up and started leafing through the pages. She was so engrossed in reading through it that she didn't hear Dev step out of the bathroom.
"Sonakshi?" Dev said in a confused tone. Sonakshi jumped a little and turned around to face him. But she really wished she hadn't. Because now she stood before Dev, who was wearing track pants and just had a towel around his neck, his damp hair falling over his eyes and forehead. Whatever Sonakshi was about to say, got stuck in her throat, as she stared at Dev, or specifically, a shirtless Dev. Her heart started thudding dangerously loud and she lost the ability to form words. She just opened and closed her mouth like a fish as she tried to gather her thoughts. Seeing her state, Dev grew concerned and took a step towards her, " Kuch hua hai kya?" Seeing him approach her she forced herself to talk, because if he got any closer, she would most definitely have a heart attack. "N-Nahin, woh Mohan dada aapke liye yeh bag dekey gaye, main wahi rakhne ayi thi" she said almost in one breath. Dev's eyes travelled to the bag behind Sonakshi, on the couch, and then back to her face. "Oh. Thank you" he said, smiling. But Sonakshi had her mute button on again, so she just nodded once.
When she didn't move Dev looked at her expectantly and said, "Aur kuch?" Sonakshi realised she looked really stupid, standing there like a statue. So, she quickly mumbled a soft, " Nahin" and made her way out of the room, making sure to keep some distance between her and Dev when she passed him. But just as she was going to, his hand shot out to grab her hand, " Ruko!" Sonakshi almost passed out from panic. She slowly turned around and looked at him questioningly. Dev picked up her phone from the table and said, " Tum yeh bhool gayi." Sonakshi gulped and took her phone, "Thank you" she said trying to smile normally. Dev smiled again and said, " Welcome." Sonakshi then turned around and continued her way out. When she was near the stair case, Dev called out again, " Waise Sonakshi?" She turned to him. He was still smiling she saw, and he had this twinkle in his eye, as if he was really happy about something. As she waited for him to continue, Dev leaned against his door, pointed to the blue kurti she was wearing and said, "Blue pehna karo. Bohot achhi lagti ho." Sonakshi was sure her face was on fire. She turned away from him and literally ran down the stairs, all the while hearing Dev laughing loudly up in his room.
**End of Flashback**
"Woh kya Sonakshi?" Mr. Shukla asked. Sonakshi snapped out of her reverie and looked at him, " Kya?" Mr. Shukla tried to control his smile once again, " Tum kuch bolne waali thi, phir woh bolke, kuch sochne lagi. Agey bhi toh bolo." Sonakshi shook her head, "Kuch bhi nahin Mr. Shukla. Achha main ab chalti hoon, party bhi attend karna hai. Main aapko kal milungi, final session ke liye. Phir next week se aapki chutti!" She said quickly changing the subject. "Kaisa lag raha hai, ghar jane ki baat sunke?" Mr. Shukla smiled completely for the first time, " Bohot achha lag raha hai. Meri beti toh mujhse zyada khush hai." Sonakshi laughed, "Hona hi chahiye. Uske papa jo ghar aa rahey hai." Mr. Shukla put his hand on top of hers, " Tum humare ghar aogi naah kabhi kabhi?" Sonakshi kept her other hand over his and said, "Yeh bhi koi kehne waali baat hai? Zaroor aongi." Satisfied with that he nodded and said, " Ab jao, nahi toh late ho jaogi." Sonakshi laughed at his thoughts about punctuality even in this situation and gathered her things to leave. Waving goodbye to Mr. Shukla she made her way to her cabin to take her things and go back home to get ready for a party that she was both excited and apprehensive about.
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An hour later Sonakshi stood in front of the mirror in her room, smoothing out the front of her dress and checking if everything was alright. "Pata Nahin kaisi hogi party. Ek toh mujhey parties pasand nahin hai, upar se Dev saath me aa rahe hai. Mujhey haan bolna hi nahin chahiye tha" she said to herself. Right at that moment she heard Dev's voice call out from the drawing room, " Sonakshi, ready ho?" Sonakshi checked herself one last time in the mirror and picked up her purse, "Haan, aa rahi hoon." She closed her bedroom door behind her and cautiously approached Dev who was typing something into his phone, leaning against the couch. Sonakshi took this chance to survey him. He looked impeccable in his black suit. Hearing her footsteps, Dev's eyes snapped up to her and he stilled. Sonakshi looked at him and grew more nervous by the minute as he said nothing. When he didn't say anything for a full minute Sonakshi asked unsurely, "Dress achhi nahin hai kya?"
Dev silently straightened up and walked to Sonakshi. Stopping right before her he continued to stare at her. Bringing his hand up to put a lock of her behind her ear he said, " Bohot khoobsurat lag rahi ho tum." Sonakshi gasped and Dev smiled at her reaction. And in the next moment he stepped back and extended his hand out in a swaying motion and said, "Chalein?" As if nothing had happened. Sonakshi managed a nod and walked out the door thinking, " Shuruat hi aisi hui, pata nahin aagey kya kya hoga." They rode to the party in silence. Dev had a small smile on his lips the whole way, as he drove and Sonakshi noticed that. But she didn't dare say anything. They arrived to their destination in about twenty minutes and on entering were engulfed in a hug by Neha. Sonakshi laughed at her actions and then nodded at Ranveer, who was standing behind Neha and had come as a plus one with her to the party. Sonakshi didn't need to bring anyone with her as her plus one as the person she wanted to bring was already been invited and at this moment was clapping Ranveer on the back as Ranveer was saying something to him.
Neha pulled her aside and said, " Bohot acchi lag rahi ho Sonakshi. This Lavender colour suits you." Sonakshi smiled warmly and said, "Thank you, Neha. Tum bhi bohot achhi lag rahi ho." Neha suddenly got a mischievous glint in her eyes and said, "Bhai ne kuch kahan kya?" Sonakshi's cheeks pinked and she squeaked in a high-pitched voice, "Neha!" Neha giggled like a little girl and said, " Achha achha, nahin poochongi." Ranveer and Dev joined them after a few minutes and then they talked to all the guest who came up to them.
After quite a while, when most of them were done with dinner and the host asked everyone to dance, Neha jumped up in excitement and said, " Bhai, chalo dance kartey hai, bohot dino se hum dono ne dance nahin kiya. Ranveer ke saath baad me jaungi." While Dev protested vehemently, Neha played her part of a persuasive sister and almost dragged her brother to the dance floor. Ranveer and Sonakshi laughed at the sibling pair. Ranveer then smiled and said, "Toh hum bhi chalein? Yeh dance mujhey theek karne ke liye thank you ke taur pe." Sonakshi smiled and accepted it. As they danced behind a laughing Neha and an annoyed Dev and many other couples, Ranveer suddenly said, "Aaj toh uski aankhein aapse hath hi nahin rahi Dr. Sonakshi." Sonakshi looked back at Ranveer confused, "Kiski?" But before he could answer Dev cut in, " Ranveer, Ja, Neha is waiting." Ranveer nodded and went to his girlfriend.
Stepping into his space, Dev took Sonakshi's waist. Sonakshi stiffed slightly, but then slowly relaxed. "Enjoying?" Dev asked amused, knowing that Sonakshi wasn't a big fan of parties. Sonakshi made a face and said, " Aapko kya lagta hai?" Dev laughed and said, "Bohooot achha lag raha hai?" Sonakshi couldn't help but smile at that. "Aur achha kyun lagega?" Dev scoffed like it was most obvious thing in the world and said, " Kyunki tum Dev Dixit ke saath ayi ho." Sonakshi laughed lightly and said, " Aap pagal hai." Dev smiled at that and then looked at her seriously, "Thank-you Sonakshi." Sonakshi looked at him with furrowed brows, " Kis baat ke liye?" Dev pulled her a bit closer, "Sab kuch ke liye. Jo kuch tumney kiya mere liye, woh sab." Just as he said that, a couple bumped into them making Sonakshi bump against Dev, while he held her steady. The couple apologised immediately and Sonakshi assured them it was fine.
Dev on the other hand, grew irritated. "Hum kahin aur chalein?" He asked her. She nodded and took Dev to a balcony connected to the banquet. It was quiet there, with no one around and there was a cool breeze blowing. Sonakshi turned to Dev and said, " Aapko mujhey thank you bolne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai." Dev smiled and said, " Tumhari wajah se ma aaj kitni khush hai pata hai. Jab ma mujhey dekhti hai, she has so much pride in her expression. And yeh sirf tumhare liye hua hai." Sonakshi disagreed, " Nahin. Aapke liye hua. Aap bohot strong hai Dev. Jo kuch bhi hua hai, it's only because of you." Dev quietly observed Sonakshi as she said this. When he didn't say anything, Sonakshi asked, "Kya hua?" But Dev still didn't say anything. He just took one step towards Sonakshi, put his hand behind her head, and brought her lips to meet his in one swift movement.
Sonakshi was frozen for a moment when she realised what was happening. But then she acted too. She put her arms around Dev's neck and kissed him back. As the kiss grew more heated Dev bit her lip, while Sonakshi gasped. Immediately Dev, deepened the kiss. They only broke apart when both had to breath. Sonakshi opened her eyes and looked at Dev. His expression was unreadable but there were a lot of emotion in his eyes. He abruptly stepped back and said, " Ghar chalein?" Sonakshi was too dazed to register anything, so she nodded and they made their way home after bidding Ranveer and Neha, adieu. The whole ride back they were silent again and when they stepped into their apartment, both of them bid each other goodnight, in a daze and went into their separate rooms.
As Sonakshi changed and fell into bed, she said, " Dev kissed me" in a voice that conveyed absolute disbelief. And as she kept repeating this in her head trying to let it sink in, she realised that her thoughts yesterday were true. That sleep would not come to her, at least not tonight. But what she didn't know was that she wasn't the only one to whom sleep refused to visit, because the man lying in bed, one floor above her, couldn't get a wink of sleep that night either.
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So that is it for today!
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