[Note:Flashbacks are in italics]
Chapter 3:
Friday: 2:30AM @John F. Kennedy international Airport, New York.
A tall and attractive young man of 27 was impatiently waiting for his car. He was severely jet lagged. His business trip to Europe was successful but right now at this moment he just wanted to go home and sleep. Ignoring all the female attention he dialed his driver's mobile.
"Hello Dev Bhaiyya...where are you? I am outside terminal 1." Driver's voice boomed through his mobile.
"I am standing outside the arrival gate number 3..jaldi aao" Dev Replied.
By the time he reached Ishwari Residence everyone at home was asleep and he did not feel like waking anyone up. He always had a habit of checking his email before falling asleep and today also he did the same.
"Meeting @ 11 AM!!!!!..i wanted to take a day off...nevermind..."muttered Dev after accepting the meeting request.
He must have hardly slept for four hours when Neha, Riya and Nikki came inside his room and woke him up.
"Bhaiyaa..wake up wake up...lazyhead wakeup...what did you bring for us from Europe" Asked Nikki playfully hitting him.
"Nikki...please sone de...sabke gifts mere bag main hain..khud se nikaal lo..and all of you get OUT of my room "!!! Grumbled Dev sleepily.
Thankfully Ishwari came inside his room at that time and dragged the girls out of Dev's room.
"Sone do usko...subah bahut late se sone gaya hai and kuch der main wapas office jana hai usko..."
"Maa...bhaiyaa workaholic ho chuke hain...please kuch karo unka...nahi to he will turn into a robot some day" Laughed Riya.
Ishwari herself was concerned. She had no idea why her son is working himself to death after achieving success of this magnitude. Dev was her pride. He single handedly managed to change their family's destiny after her husband's death. But what people failed to notice was what he sacrificed for it. He was no more that easy going fella. It seemed like he had stopped living for himself. Whatever he did was either for his sister's or mother's happiness.
"Hey Bhagwan...Dev ko uski khushiyan wapas de do" Ishwari prayed for her son silently.
Turns out God was in a good mood today . J
Ishwari Enterprises @ 10:50 AM.
Nobody could have guessed that Sona was hell nervous from inside. She felt sick but she knew it was too late to back out now. She was in the washroom calming herself.
Aditya's message brought her to the reality. "Where are you. Everyone is here. Our CEO is very punctual about the time Sonakshi. Please come fast".
"When you are nervous on stage..just remember one thing...think that you are in an empty room talking to yourself. Glance at the people around yourself casually but you don't really have to focus on anyone and dekhna...one day you will get rid of this stupid stage fright of yours." Dev used to say.
Sona:"Dev how you are so good at this. Look at my hands.. it's still shaking" .
Dev took Sona's hand in his hand..."Look at me...you will do well Sona...just stop thinking about what people are gonna say...mere liye you are and always be perfect .Just remember that." He said hugging her. (In my story Dev will not be so Sanskari :D).
"11:02 AM !! Shit...main bhi kya sochne lag jaati hu...ye sab yaad mujhe ek din barbaad kar degi"Sona thought and ran towards the conference hall.
Once inside she did not get much chance to think..as she directly jumped into her presentation. The hall was full of people and she was too much engrossed into her presentation to notice anyone.
Dev was busy giving instruction to his secretary when he heard a familiar voice.
"Sona...!!! No no...I think this jet lag is making me hallucinate stuff..."he thought rubbing his eyes and tried to focus on what the lady in blue was saying.
"And why the hell I am thinking about her!!! Not good Dev...focus!" His mind screamed.
And then the lady turned.
Time stopped for Dev.
"Sona...you have the most beautiful eyes in the entire world."
"Dev...kitna buttering karte ho .Subah subah main hi mili thi "Sona was always uncomfortable when someone complimented her.
"Arey..Why will I lie to you my bunny...I can recognize you anywhere because of your eyes...tum kitna bhi mujhse chupne ki koshish karo" replied Dev pulling her cheek.
"Really?? Will see" Laughed Sona.
"Your smile is also so pretty"
"Ok now stop...seems like you want some favour from me...warna itni tareef" Sonakshi said and got up.
Dev pulled her back and held her tight "You just came. And ab jaa rahi ho...we are meeting after a week.Pata hai maine tumhe kitna miss kiya".
"How would I know"
"I will show you" Replied Dev with twinkle in his eyes.
"Dev leaveee...koi dekh lega..."Sona was horrified.
"You think I care?"Dev smiled mischieviously.
"But I do..please leave me"Begged Sona.
"No"pouted Dev.
"Tumi ekdum impossible"
Dev blinked...same eyes..same smile..same freaking manner of talking. How can this be possible? Am I still dreaming?
Needless to say he did not hear a single thing Sonakshi said but just stared at her.
She has lost weight.
Her hair has grown long.
She has applied Kohl in her eyes...
She has become more beautiful
But she looks tired...Why?
"Dev...did you like her ideas?" Aditya shook him.
"Huh? What?" Dev asked in confusion.
"Arey...her presentation. She proposed three plan of execution. Didn't you hear?"
"Well...I would like to go through it again...mail me that presentation" answered Dev getting up. Sona was nowhere to be seen. "Where did she go?? Or was I dreaming?? Yes I was dreaming. But out of nowhere why would I think of her?" thought Dev.
"Dev are you all right?" Asked Adi worriedly.
"I don't think so...something is not right. If there are no more meetings I would like to work from home today" Dev started to leave.
"Ok fine...I will ask Sonakshi to mail you her presentation"Called Adi.
Dev stopped dead in his track and turned.
"You will ask who?" Dev asked..He had to be sure..he just had to be.
"Sonakshi...Sonakshi Bose..our new employee...arey wahi to presentation de rahi thi."informed Adi.
Now it was Dev's turn to be speechless.
"Dev I am really worried...are you all right? These foreign trips are getting hectic for you."asked Adi.
Dev recovered. "I am fine Adi. Send me her presentation" saying this he went inside his cabin.
After locking his door he called his secretary Tina "Tina..send me Miss Sonakshi Bose's file.The background check file, her resume ..everything which we have on her"
"Sure sir" Replied Tina.
"Now what Dev?" He asked himself staring outside the window.
Precap: Devakshi meet.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
