Note - This is the Hint from OS: A Breathless Confession about the party at Gujrals -
"She's there, Ms. Bose. She was late." Dev didn't elaborate further, but after the party, at Gujrals, he had voluntarily tried, to maintain a distance from Natasha, and had made it a little clear that his intentions were just platonic.
Credits to luvflicksgirl for getting it right. I guess, amidst the mushiness, nobody remembered there was a hint. 😆
I have slightly changed the setting from a party to the Sangeet ceremony of Gujral's son, Rishabh, who is Natasha's older brother. Dev and Sonakshi are attending that function.
AnnaPaquinFan, made a very beautiful banner for me, withstanding my irrational imagination and demands about Sonakshi's looks. Thanks Anna darling! Love you!🤗
OS - A Sangeet Ceremony
"Thanks for keeping your word, Ms. Bose and, coming for the Sangeet with me." Dev said, as he manoeuvred his car, to find a spot in the crowded parking lot.
"You are welcome." Sonakshi replied.
She continued murmuring to herself, "Shayad khud hi bhul gaye, ki Sangeet hai, not a meeting."
"Sorry what?" Dev asked, having heard her, but paying only half attention to her, while still looking for some place.
"Mr. Dixit, it's a wedding ceremony. You know, a traditional Indian function, you could have worn something else. Har roz toh suit pehnte hain." She grumbled.
Dev gave a half smile and said, "Well, you have dressed traditionally, enough for the both of us."
He gave her a look, eyeing her from head to toe.
"Are you trying to imply that I am overdressed?" Sonakshi asked, getting quite angry.
Dev didn't reply, he was getting quite annoyed now, he should have just gotten a cab.
"That's it. I am done, with you, Mr. Dixit." Sonakshi declared, and got out of the car, banging the door of the passenger seat, in anger.
Dev turned his head towards her side, "Oh. No. Ladkiyon ke nakhre."
He looked upwards, and sighed, helplessly.
He got out of his car, and walked to Sonakshi's side, who was standing against the door, of the car, her hands folded, her face turned away from him.
"She knew, I would come to pacify her." Dev thought, and shook his head.
"Okay, Ms. Bose, I didn't mean offence. It was a joke, and you do realise, we have been stranded for like ten minutes, outside their mansion, and it was just getting to me. Moreover, I am not really fond of such crowded gatherings." He ventured, carefully.
"Your Ms. Perfect Natasha hasn't done the arrangements perfectly, then, Mr. Dixit."
Dev had a small smile, playing on his lips.
He decided to gamble, "Well, it isn't her fault, Ms. Bose. I mean, have you seen, these decorations, and the invites, and the number of people? Natasha has single handedly, managed everything. She is a genius, right?"
"Of course, she is. Usi ko gale mein bandh lete, why bring me?" Sonakshi muttered, and tried walking away, when Dev held her bejeweled wrist, pulling her back, to him.
He slightly bent down and whispered in her ear, "Jealous, Ms. Bose?" He said, with a mischievous grin.
Before Sonakshi could reply, Dev straightened, and handed over the car keys, to the valet who had appeared by then.
"Let's go, Ms. Bose." Dev said, walking towards the entrance.
Sonakshi was suddenly brought out of her trance, having been disarmed, by Dev's proximity, and words, she rushed and caught up with Dev, and said, regaining her composure, "Jealous, my foot, Mr. Dixit."
"If you say so." Dev shrugged, waving to Mr. Gujral and Natasha, who were making their way towards them.
"Hello, Mr. Gujral. Hi Natasha. Congratulations!" He said, warmly shaking their hands.
"I am sorry, my family couldn't make it, they had to attend an important function. But, Ma, said, she would definitely make it to the wedding."
"Oh, that's alright." Natasha said, turning to Sonakshi, "Dr. Bose, you look fabulous today."
"Thank you." Sonakshi, said, blushing a little, and gave Dev a victorious look.
Dev couldn't help noticing that, with the faint colouring on her cheeks, Sonakshi looked prettier, than she already was.
"Dev, Mr. Kapoor and Ms. Malhotra were asking for you. Can we go meet them?" Natasha asked, as the four of them walked in.
"Ya sure. Why not?" Saying so, Dev gave Sonakshi a slight nod, and joined Natasha.
"Mujhe akele chodna tha, toh bulate hi nahi." Sonakshi, met a couple of people she knew, patients she had treated, but her eyes, kept searching for Dev, and with each passing moment her mood was turning sour.
Dev was mingling with every second person, Natasha introduced him to, never leaving his side, even for a minute. "He has such good company. Why waste my time?"
Dev, was interacting with his business associates and other dignitaries, who had graced the occasion, but he was constantly on the lookout for an angel with devilment in her eyes, dressed beautifully in blue.
He had just made a jibe at her appearance, but frankly, she had bowled him over, that evening, when he had gone to pick her up.
Even right now, she looked divine, and more like a bride, than the actual bride herself. Her necklace, and bangles, and ear rings, accentuating, each part of her petite frame, her saree hugging her in all the right places, accentuating her curves.
The last time, he had seen Sonakshi in a saree, it was, when, she was going on a date with that loser of a man. Sarees, really suited her. She was slender, and slim, and sarees enhanced her appearance. He was like a moth attracted to a burning flame.
He really liked blue, but tonight, blue seemed less like a colour, and more of a magic wand. It was almost as if, Sonakshi had worn blue, just to make him lose his mind.
Sonakshi was now, trying to fix the folds of her saree, a slight frown on her face, but even a scowl couldn't mar her beauty. In fact, the focus, and attention she was paying to her saree, added to her allure. Her hair was flying wildly about her shoulders. Untamable, like her.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and it was Pinky, the IT Minister's daughter. Dev's eyes widened, and he turned to find Sonakshi, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Natasha came there, too, "Oh, you guys are here. So, there is a slight modification of Sangeet rituals here. There would be the traditional Indian noise and din, but before that, I thought it would be amazing, if we had a ball. Look! So many couples are already on the dance floor! It is so unique right? People, in lehengas and sherwanis, dancing to slow music?"
Dev's attention had wavered, as soon as he set eyes on Sonakshi, who was on the dance floor, dancing with someone, he didn't know.
"Oh, Dev. I introduced Dr. Bose, to Dr. Neel. He is a cardiologist; he's shifted to Delhi now. He treated Dad, sometime ago. A great guy, and handsome too. Dr. Bose, ko koi apna jaisa mil gaya." Natasha said, smiling at them.
Sonakshi's disposition had improved. Dr. Neel. He was funny, and pleasant, and charming.
Finally escaping, from Pinky, Dev stepped onto the floor, hand in hand with Natasha, as Sonakshi's eyes burned.
Dev had had an inkling of Natasha's advances, and he decided to broach the topic, "Natasha, I don't want to combine business and personal equations. We are good as business associates, and I'd really like it, if we manage to maintain that very well."
Dev was soft, but firm, and polite, and Natasha understood. She smiled, and nodded.
By then, Neel and Sonakshi were quite close to them, and Neel, noticed Dev and Natasha, "Hey Natasha."
They stopped dancing, while Natasha introduced Dev and Neel to each other.
Neel then, volunteered to dance with Natasha, while Dev partnered with Sonakshi.
"Sabko pata leti hai." Sonakshi uttered unthinkingly.
"Jealous, Ms. Bose?" Dev asked, with a smile.
"Jealous, my foot, Mr. Dixit."
Dev's left hand was on Sonakshi's hip, while one hand of hers was resting near his heart.
The music was soothing, as they swirled smoothly, not dancing much.
"Then, why were your eyes drilling holes into Natasha's back?" Dev asking, laughing lightly.
"Stop imagining things, Mr. Dixit. I am done with you. I obliged by coming here, that's it." Saying so, Sonakshi, abruptly turned to leave, when, Dev pulled her into his arms, exerting barely any pressure at all.
It just seemed natural for her to come back to him.
Unable to balance herself, Sonakshi nearly tripped, but, Dev held her securedly by her waist, her hands placed on his shoulders, a perfect posture. (I am unable to explain further, hope you guys understand which pose I mean, the RK pose.)
Their eyes, met, and he stared at her, intently, while she stared back in confusion. She composed herself, as they continued dancing.
"What's wrong with you, Mr. Dixit?"
"Maybe, the same as is wrong with you." Dev said, smoothly, with a sly smirk.
The lights were dim; everyone was lost in their own world.
Dev's hands, moved up Sonakshi's hip, from the folds of her saree, to her bare waist.
The sudden, contact, incited a jerk from Sonakshi, whose eyes widened in surprise, and as a reflex, her hands, tightened around his shoulders.
"What are you doing, Mr. Dixit?" She hissed.
"I am dancing, Ms. Bose. So are you. Itni kho gayi hain, aap. Are you okay?" Dev, asked, feigning innocence.
His thumb, was slowly making circles, on her waist, and Sonakshi flinched with the intimacy of his gesture, and she took a deep breath.
Dev noted her response, and his eyes, darkened, as he tightened his hold, on her waist, and pulled Sonakshi closer into his arms. His fingers, interlocked at the back of her waist.
Slowly, Dev guided Sonakshi, as they danced, and moved, on the dance floor.
His hands, were quite explorative, and slowly, moved up to the hook of her blouse, and Sonakshi cursed herself for wearing a backless one. Dev's fingers, tugged at the strings, while Sonakshi made a futile attempt to control her rapidly beating heart.
Suddenly, Dev rudely turned her around, and Sonakshi's back, was against his chest, as Dev nearly hugged her from the back.
His hands, still at her waist, slowly dug deeper, inside the folds of her saree, their bodies, touching, as her hands, held his.
He dipped his head to hers, his nose, grazing against the side of her throat, as he inhaled her fragrant scent, his eyelids half closed.
"Mr. Dixit, your behaviour, is obnoxious. Look at everyone around you." Sonakshi brought out, amidst pants and breaths.
Dev didn't flinch, and whispered, his lips brushing against her neck, as he spoke, "Look at everyone around you."
Alarm bells started ringing in Sonakshi's head, as she turned her head, to her right and left, to find that, they had moved away from the dance floor, and now, it was only him, and her.
The realization somehow, awakened the slumbering rationale in her, and she pulled out of Dev's arms, forcefully.
"What the hell, Mr. Dixit? What's going on?" She nearly, screamed.
Curtains flew about in the wind, the place, decorated with roses, sunflowers, lilies and other flowers, the winds blowing faster than ever, marking a change in the atmosphere between them. It was no longer, light and playful, and mischievous. The air around them, turned intense, passionate and fiery.
Dev stood stubborn, and adamant, blinking his eyes.
Sonakshi, came forward, and held his collar, clenching her teeth, "Who the hell do you think you are, making untoward advances towards me?"
She shook him, as he remained silent, his fists closed, he shut his eyes, and a moment later, opened them, as Sonakshi continued to badger him with questions, legitimate, and justified.
Finally, Dev's eyes shone with sudden decision, as he held her arms fiercely, and pushed her against a decorated pillar, his tall figure looming over her.
"I don't know who or what I am anymore. What I do know is, I am unable to look at anyone else except you, tonight." His hands, at her waist again, his nails scratched against her skin, as Sonakshi flinched in the slightest pain.
"You look breathtaking, in this saree, and, no man, in this ceremony today, has been able to take his eyes off you." Dev hissed, his tone, low, but fierce.
"And, somehow, I feel violated, that hundreds of men, here, are doing their best to cherish something, that belongs to me alone."
"I am not an object, to be used." Sonakshi said, trying to free herself.
Dev held her back, "I told Natasha, I am not interested in her." There, he said it.
"Why?" Sonakshi asked, her voice meek.
"I don't know." Dev said, quite honestly.
Dev's hand, touched her face, and Sonakshi's eyes, burned, this time, with passion and intensity, as she tightened her hold around his shoulders.
Dev's head bowed, as their lips touched, softly at first, in anticipation of unknown oceans of feeling and sensation, and slowly, moved against each other. Sonakshi, responded, fervently, and Dev, lost all consciousness of his surroundings and gathered her into his arms, and kissed her back, fiercely, with a hunger and thirst, born out of an intimacy so unexpected and so, deep, it shook his entire being.
The End
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Cricket
