Chapter 20

Devakshi FF: Reaching Out

Part 18

Tina, Riya, Neha and Ranveer held their breath while Dev stood looking at them.

For a moment he was back to being his impassive self. None of them could figure out what Dev was thinking, while he stood there with the usual calculative gaze. Tina had always seen her Boss direct this gaze at other people. Until now. She was terrified of his reaction because now that she was on the receiving end; things looked a lot tougher than usual.

Ranveer was kind of trying to shield the three ladies behind him so that when Dev would start his rant, he'd be securely between them. But to everyone's surprise Dev didn't say a word. He turned around, unlocked his cabin door and stepped inside. Slowly closing it behind him, he walked to the couch. "Unhey pata tha he said softly, sitting down. "Unhey pata tha aur phir bhi mujhey kuch pata nahin chalne diya. He couldn't believe the state of the situation.

Weren't all of them his friends and family? Then why would they do something like this? Especially when they could see him desperately trying to look for Sonakshi. "Aur phir yeh mera khayal rakhne ka dawa kartey hai? He gripped the sides of the couch. He didn't know what he felt. Was it anger? Or was it more of pain? While Dev wrestled with his mind, trying to let the things sink in, Tina, Ranveer, Neha and Riya broke out of their trance.

Neha was the first one to start talking, " Bhaiyya ne kuch nahin bola! Riya then looked at Ranveer, " Ab kya hoga? Tina looked back at the sisters and said, "Sir ne toh humari baatein sun li thi? Phir woh kuch bole kyun nahin? Ranveer silently regarded all of them. Then he looked towards Dev's cabin door. " Tum log yahan baitho. Main ussey baat karke ata hoon. He looked back at the women, " Jab tak main bahar na aun, ya tum logo ko andar na bulaon, yahin rehna. The three of them nodded. Ranveer took a deep breath and pushed open the door to let himself in.

On the other side, he found Dev, sitting on the couch and staring into oblivion. He silently walked up to him. Taking a deep breath he prepared himself. Lightly touching his friend on the shoulder, Ranveer called out to him, " Dev? Dev immediately jerked off Ranveer's hand and stood up, " Kya poochna aya hai? He spun around to face his friend. "Dev, tu theek hai, yahin poochna hai na tujhey? fisting his hands he continued, "Jabki tujhey pata hai, ki main theek nahin hoon. Pagalo ki tarah Sonakshi ko dhoond raha hoon.

Not being able to look at Ranveer anymore, he walked to his desk and slapped his fist down on it, " Par tum logo ko toh pata tha ki Sonakshi kahan hai. He tried to even his breathing. "Par ussey kya farak padhta hai. Dev ko tadpate hai thoda. Maza ata hai usey pagalo ki tarah bhatakte dekh! He looked up at Ranveer, "Yahi plan tha na tum logo ka? He walked up to him again, " Hunh? Bol?

Ranveer sighed. He couldn't lose his temper now. He needed to talk to Dev calmly. "Tu jaisa soch raha hai, waisa nahin hai Dev. Dev pointed fiercely at Ranveer, "Itna jhoot bolke bhi tera mann nahin bhara? Ab bhi bakwaas karega? Ranveer tried again, "Dev, humein bhi nahin pata tha Dr. Sonakshi kahan reh rahi hai. Woh humein by chance pata chala.

Dev disregarded everything and yelled, "Tune aapne dost ko akela chhor diya Ranveer? Itne saalon ki dosti ko bhool gaya tu? Ek baar bhi meri help karne ki nahin soojhi tujhey? Ranveer tried to make him listen, but Dev continued, " Aur woh teeno? Tina? Neha aur Riya? Unhey bhi yeh dekhkar maza aa raha tha? Then suddenly his voice became soft and pained, "Aur Sonakshi? Usneye tum logo ko bataya. Par mujhsey she wanted privacy? Aisa kyun kia usneye?

Ranveer gave up trying to be the calm one. He gripped Dev's collar and made him focus, "Aur tu kya kar raha hai? Apney aap ko barbaad kar raha hai? Theek hai, maan le hum nahin sochte tere baarey mein, par tu khud ki khushi toh janta hai naah? Having caught Dev's attention he let go of his collar and continued, " Kyun chhora tune penthouse? Kyun gaya Dr. Sonakshi se duur?

Dev turned away from his friend. "Yahi sahi tha. Woh mujhse duur hi khush rahegi. Ranveer pulled Dev around to face him again, " Woh kis baat se khush hogi, yeh decide karne ka haq tujhey kisne diya? Ya tune unse poocha ki woh tujhsey duur rehna chahti hai ki nahin? Aur aisa hi that toh ab Sonakshi kahan hai yeh janne ki koshish kyun kar raha hai tu? Dev remained silent.

Getting no answer Ranveer said, "Theek hai. Ek minute ke liye Dr. Sonakshi ko bhi bhool jate hai. Teri baat karte hai. Apni halat dekh Dev. Kya bana diya hai tune apne aap ko? Theek se khata nahin, sota nahin, baatein nahin sunta. Kuch nahin karta. Aur tu keh raha hai duur jana theek tha? Dev's anger, which was simmering down, suddenly flared up slightly hearing that. He took a step towards Ranveer saying, "Tujhey koi haq nahin banta mere actions ko question karne ki. Pehley khud kya kar raha hai woh dekh. Phir meri life me galat aur sahi ki differentiation karna. Tu bol, tu kabse janta hai Sonakshi ke barey me? Bata!

Ranveer sighed, "Theek hai. Tu janna Chahta hai naa? Main batata hoon tujhey. Par uske baad tu mere har sawaal ka jawab dega Dev. Dev glared at Ranveer but gave an almost imperceptible nod. Satisfied Ranveer began, "Teri tarah, hum charo ko bhi koi idea nahin tha ki Dr. Sonakshi kahan reh rahi hai. Tujhey jis din subah pata chala ki Dr. Sonakshi ne penthouse chhor diya, humein bhi usi din pata chala.

Dev folded his hands across his chest and continued to listen. "Main ussdin Neha se milne gaya tha, hospital, aur incidentally Riya bhi Neha ke paas gayi thi, kuch kam se. Ranveer walked and sat down on the couch and looked at Dev. "Jab hum teeno reception ke saamney khade hoke baat kar rahey the tab...

**Flashback**

"Riya, aaj lunch tumhare restaurant se hi le jaunga main. Bade din ho gaye wahan ka khana khaye! Riya giggled, "Theek hai to-be-jeeju, boliye kya khana hai aapko? Neha smiled at them, "Tum dono ko toh buss khane ki baatein hi soojhti hai! Ranveer put his arm around Riya and said, "Ab yeh toh hum dono ke aapsi important baatein hai. Tum isme na hi padho toh achha hai! He winked at Riya causing her to giggle again, while Neha hit him on the shoulder lightly. Right then Sonakshi stepped out of the elevators situated right beside the reception.

All three of them turned to see Sonakshi step out of it, carrying a couple of big grocery bags. All three of them quickly went over to help her with the bags. "Kya hua Sona Di, bhaiyya ne aapko subah subah kaam pe laga diya? Riya said, helping her place one bag on the chairs opposite to the reception, while Ranveer and Neha, placed the other bag beside it.

Sonakshi gave a small smile, but all three of her spectators noticed that it didn't quite reach her yes. "Kya hua Sonakshi? Tum udaas lag rahi ho Neha asked concerned. Sonakshi sighed, "Nahin. Kuch nahin. Buss itne kam time me shifting me thodi problem ho rahi hai. The three spectators looked at each other in confusion.

Then Ranveer asked, "Shifting? Aap yahan se ja rahi hai? Sonakshi quickly nodded in negative, "Arey nahin Ranveer. Maine Mr. Dixit ka penthouse chhor diya. Ab kahin aur rahungi. Usi ka shifting. Riya was the first one to react, "Kya? Par kyun? Sonakshi looked at her, but gave no expression. She looked back down at her bag and said, "Woh toh khud hi kal penthouse chhorke chale gaye. Main uss bade se penthouse me akele kya karti? Isliye.

Neha tried to gauge how deep the fight was as she had seen Dev's state last night. Now it was time to understand Sonakshi's state. So she indicated Riya and Ranveer with her eyes to follow her lead and asked, " Par Bhaiyya toh buss kuch hi dino ke liye aye hai ghar. Unhoney yahi bataya! Sonakshi frowned, "Oh. Toh unhoney aap logo se yeh kahan? She sighed.

Ranveer butted in, Kya matlab? Aapsey usne kya kahan?' Sonakshi didn't look at them, "Let it go. Unhoney mujhsey kya kahan, issey koi farak nahin padhta ab, jo hona tha, woh toh ho hi gaya.  Neha grew even more concerned, "Aisa kyun keh rahi ho? Kya ho gaya hai? Before Sonakshi could say anything, her mobile rang. While Sonakshi received her phone, Ranveer, Neha and Riya huddled together and started whispering.

Riya beat the other two again. "Bhaiyya achanak ghar aye, issey toh humein pehley hi shaq ho gaya tha ki mamla gadbad hai. Ab toh Sona di ne bhi chhor diya penthouse! Neha shushed her sister, "Dheerey bolo Riya. Ab humein pata lagana hai ki aakhir hua kya? Ranveer hummed in agreement and said, " Aur yeh bhi pata lagana hai ki Dev ne unsey yeh kyun kahan ki he was leaving the penthouse for good.

Just as Neha was going to voice her agreement they heard Sonakshi distinctly say "Nahin Mr. Shukla, main aap logo ke saath hi lunch karungi. Aur maine groceries bhi le liya hai. Jaldi me thi isiliye subah suitcases rakhkey hi nikal gayi, aapko bataye bina. Dopahar ko akey baat karti hoon aapsey. As Sonakshi ended the call, Ranveer looked at Neha and Riya and put his finger to his lips, indicating that they were to pretend to not have heard anything, unless Sonakshi brought it up. Sonakshi turned to them. From her expression they realised that Sonakshi didn't know that they heard them.

At that moment, a nurse walked up to her and said, "Dr. Sonakshi, aapki ek patient ki family aapsey milna chahte hai. Sonakshi nodded to her and started to reply, but the phone on the reception desk rang loudly, making her reply unintelligible. So she just gestured the nurse to go on and that she would be there. She turned back to Riya, Neha and Ranveer, to bid them adieu for the moment, when the four of them were distracted by the receptionist jumping up from her chair. They turned to look towards her. "Oh Dev Sir. Haan boliye, hum abhi aapko batate hai. Kaunse Doctor? Hearing Dev's name, Neha said, "Bhaiyya is waqt kya pata kar rahey hai? But before she could understand anything else, Sonakshi had already made her way to the reception desk.  Ranveer, Neha and Riya, quickly followed.

Sonakshi stood before the receptionist and said, "Kya janna chahtey hai woh? The receptionist beamed at her, "Achha hua aap aa gayi Dr. Bose. Sir aapki hi kuch details maang rahey hai. Aaj aapney subah phone karke kuch changes kiye the naah, shayad unke baarey me hi pooch rahey hai. Sonakshi didn't say anything. She just outstretched her hand.

She was given the receiver. Putting it to her ear, with a sort of desperation and annoyance she said, "Dev, aap please inhey dobara phone karke meri koi bhi details mat mangiyega. Maine apni details lene ki permission kisi ko nahin diya hai, chahey woh hospital ke Board of Directors me se koi hi kyun na ho. I hope you'll respect my privacy. Thank you.

**End of Flashback**

"Issey pehley ki hum kuch kehtey, Sonakshi wahan se chali gayi, leaving all of us stunned. Dev had been listening intently, but his face had become blank again. "Toh woh Mr. Shukla ke ghar reh rahi hai Dev said looking somewhat content. Ranveer wrung his hands together, "Hum sure nahin the. Usneye tujhey kuch nahin bataya phone pe. Isiliye humne decide kiya tha ki hum sure hoke hi tujhey batayengey.

He stood up and walked to Dev, "Humney socha tha, koi bhi bahane se Sonakshi se milke, phir tujhey batayengey. Frowning he continued, "Aaj tujhey iss halat me dekhkey, humney Dr. Sonakshi ko call karke, unsey milne ka plan banana ki socha. He kept a hand on Dev's shoulder, "Tu jab aya main usi meeting ke barey me baat kar raha tha unseye.

Dev looked slightly confused. "Sonakshi ko pata hai ki tum kyun ussey milna chahtey ho? Ranveer quickly nodded his head from side to side, "Nahin! Maine yeh kehke call kiya tha, ki mujhey unseye mere mind exercise ke barey me kuch baat karna hai. Isiliye Dr. Sonakshi ne mujhey kal hospital bulaya hai. Dev walked to the couch and sat down. He sighed deeply, "Sorry Ranveer. Mujhey waise react nahin karna chahiye tha. Par jab maine tum logo ko Sonakshi se baat karte suna, I just lost control.

Ranveer came and sat down beside his best friend. "Pata hai mujhey. Pata hai ki Sonakshi ka naam sunte hi tera dimaag kharab ho jata hai. Mujhey toh shuru se hi pata tha ki Dr. Sonakshi tere liye kitni khaas hai. Par Neha ne party ke barey me batakar mera shaq yakeen me badal diya. Dev's eyes snapped up to meet Ranveer's, "Tujhey pata tha? Neha ko bhi pata tha? Par usey kisne bataya? Ranveer smiled slightly, "Dr. Sonakshi ne. Dev's eyes widened, "Sonakshi ne? Ranveer nodded. Dev smiled. Ranveer exclaimed, "Dekha. Party ki yaad atey hi tera chehra kaise khil utha. Itna pyaar karta hai tu Dr. Sonakshi se. Toh phir bhaga kyun?

Dev's smile vanished. "Tu nahin samjhega. Ranveer frowned, "Toh samjha mujhey. Jab tak tu nahin bolega, main yahan se nahin hilunga. Bata. Tu pyaar karta hai na Sonakshi se? Dev jumped up and walked to the balcony door. For a few minutes he quietly stared outside. Ranveer thought he wouldn't answer. So he got ready to ask again.

But before he could, Dev said, "Haan. Bohot pyaar karta hoon main ussey. Ussey...ussey kahin zyada jitna ki usney mujhsey kiya hai. Ranveer's jaw dropped, "Toh tujhey yeh bhi pata hai ki woh tujhsey pyaar karti hai? Dev nodded slowly. Ranveer couldn't stay on the couch anymore. He got up and walked up to Dev, whipping him around, " Toh phir kya hua? Ussey batane ki jagah, tu ussey chhor ke kyun gaya?

"Kyunki woh mere saath kabhi khush nahin rahegi. Tujhey pata hai na main kaisa hoon? Dev said, frustrated with everything. Ranveer wanted to strangle his friend, "Kya bakwaas kar raha hai tu. Tujhey yaad hai naah, ki yahi woh ladki hai, jisne apni puri jaan laga di, taaki tujhey khushi mile? Taaki tere life ki saari problems duur ho jaye, taaki tu phirsey hass sake. So that you can live properly again! Dev's face grew pained again, "Yaad hai mujhey. Vishwaas kar, aisa ek bhi second nahin nikla, ki mujhey yeh saari batein yaad nahin ayein.

"Aur uss din, jab maine usko restaurant me dekha meeting ke waqt maine decide kar liya tha ki main ussey apni dil ki baat kehkar rahoonga. Party me jo kuch bhi hua, uske baad hi mujhey ussey sab kehna tha. Par himmat hi nahin ho raha tha. He kept his hands on Ranveer's shoulders and said, " Main toh apney pyaar ka izhaar bhi karne wala tha, wahin khadey khadey, restaurant me. Par phir situation yaad aya. Isiliye maine decide kiya tha ki raat ko ghar jake, main ussey sab kuch keh dunga.

Ranveer was confused, "Par tu toh us raat ghar chala gaya na penthouse chhorke? Kahan kyun nahin? Dev dropped his hands to his sides, "Kyunki tab tak mujhey samajh aa gaya tha ki Sonakshi mere bina zyada khush rahegi. Ki mera confession will just hurt her more. This time Ranveer really did want to hit Dev with something. "achha, aur aisa kya hua ki tujhey itni badi realisation hui?

Dev took a deep breath.

"Main Natasha se mila.

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