Devakshi FF:Love Actually!!! New Update:Chapter 29: Page 96 - Page 55

[Note: Flashbacks are in italics]

Chapter 25:

The lightning struck sharply across the Manhatten Skyline. Thunder came like the prelude to a great song, impetuous rumbling permeating the air every bit as much as sudden rain. At first it was a crack, violent to the ears, but after came a rolling sound that dissipated soon. This is the most accurate description of the thunder that night.But nothing could accurately describe what Dev was going through at that precise moment. He looked outside the window. The sky was getting rough by the second now.

Sonakshi was staring at him..trying to decipher his feelings, not knowing if she should say anything or even stay there for that matter. Her breathing was back to normal now. It had been five minutes since her confession and not a single word had been uttered by Dev. He just stood motionless looking outside the window while she stood there calming her anxious heartbeat.

"Dev...say something please." She begged..

"I think you should leave now", The businessman's voice was surprisingly soft, calm and very much composed.

"But..." Her words died down as he turned around finally to face her now.

"Leave Miss. Bose" He stared at her with the blank expression scaring her to the core.

Sonakshi left wordlessly. The office was empty now.

His facade dropped as soon as she left. The raw pain hit him just then. He stumbled towards the window. He needed air...lots of it. But somehow everything around him was suffocating him to bits.

"Dev..your dad is no more" Ishwari said shakily.

His mom had been practically living in the hospital since last few days.He looked at his mom...sobbing..looking very thin and fragile. He looked at his three sisters, who were trying their best to help their mom. And he looked at the other many people who were there just for the sake of it. But of course he did not had the luxury to stand and stare whole day. He hugged his mom tightly, trying desperately to control his tears and failing miserably at it.

"Please eat something maa...at this rate you might fall ill" He begged Ishwari.

"Maa...bhaiyaa cooked today...please eat something atleast" Neha requested Ishwari.

But Ishwari was not even listening.

He sat down and made the list of expenditures which he was supposed to bear from now on..being the only man of the family now. Studying further was no longer possible so he decided to drop from the college altogather. His mamaji came to know about this and confronted him.

"Dev you are not leaving your studies in between. "

"Mamaji...we will talk about it later now"

"There is nothing left to talk..Its a bad time..but nothing is constant on this earth including the bad time and now you have the responsibility to bring back this family's good time." Mamaji said.

Good time. How? And what If he fails? Will anyone help him?

The worst part about being strong is that no one ever asks if you are okay.

His thought process was broken because his mobile rang just then. Natasha calling...He picked up the phone and tossed it down the window. Today he wanted no disturbance.

By 11 PM Sona reached Dev's home. Ishwari was waiting in the entrance.

"Arey Sonakshi..where is Dev? He said that he will be returning early today?"

"Wo office main hi hain aunty. Don't know when will he be back"

"Uska number unreachable aa raha hai" Ishwari was worried.

"Aunty please don't worry. He is in the office only"

"Theek hai beta..have your dinner before sleeping"..Sona nodded.

Sonakshi knew she won't be sleeping a wink tonight. It was going to be a long night.

At 8 AM when she reached downstairs the entire Dixit family was assembled in the dining area. Ishwari was hell worried by now. Dev didn't come home the entire night and nobody could contact him. This had never happened before. Sonakshi also tried his number but there was no response. Seeing Ishwari's condition she called Tina who told her that Dev was nowhere in the building. In the end she decided to look for him with Aditya.

They both scurried through every frequently visited place by Dev through the entire city finding no leads at all. By noon Sonakshi started to panic. Adi tried to calm her down but to no effect.

"Should we go to the police Adi?"

"That must be the last choice Sonakshi"

"Oh god now what? This is the dead end"She was about to add something to it when her phone rang.

"Hi Sonakshi...Natasha this side...Dev is in my house. Can you please come?"

Aditya was not prepared to witness whatever he just did at Natasha'a apartment. There he laid with unruly hair, torn clothes and battered arm and speaking utter rubbish. The guy was drunk. Seeing him in this condition Sona couldn't dare to wake him up.

"Dev...Aunty is so worried about you. You should have atleast called her once . And why is your phone unreachable?"Adi shook him violently.

Hearing the familiar voice Dev tried opening his eyes with great difficulty and looked at Adi & Sona.

"Natasha...here comes my best friend and the love of my life, no ..no scratch that..here comes my life!!" His voice was sleepy and sarcastic.

"Dev...hum tumhe ghar le jaane aaye hain" Aditya intervened.

"Ghar? Kyun? I am not going anywhere"

"But Ishwari Aunty.."

"Maa ko bol dena that I have to go to some trip or something.." He yawned.

"Aise kaise? And hua kya hai suddenly tumhe? Jo problem hai mujhe batao."

"Arey chor na yaar...meri life hi ek problem hai...jab lagta hai ki kuch sahi hone jaa raha hai usi time sab barbaad" Dev hiccupped.

"Dev please chalo yahan se." Sona said finally.

"Oh...Shonaaa...you were intelligent since childhood right?? Help me solve this riddle now. I love someone I cannot love... But then I cannot even hate her...and if I manage to get her I might end up hating her...but then I don't want to hate her. ...What should I do?" Speaking such a lengthy line had a toll on him and he ended up coughing badly. Natasha rushed to bring some water.

"Dev tu kya bol raha hai.. listen to me...abhi ghar chalo. Fir jab tera nasha utar jaega then we will talk."

"Talk what Adi?? You think that I am one of the smartest guy around...well let me tell you something...I am the biggest fool on the face of this earth."

"Why are you saying this? And itni jyada drink koi karta hai kya?"Aditya was worried.

"Bhai...I am glad that Neha has found you. You have no idea Adi how lucky you are. And me on the other side... even god wants me to suffer throughout my life."

"Don't say things like that Dev"

"Why not? Jo sach hai wo hai...hai na Sonakshi?? Oops sorry..Miss Bose?" Dev looked at Sona.

Sona burst into tears hearing all this.

"No don't cry..don't cry...I will also start crying after seeing you cry. And Miss Bose I haven't cried in the long long time!"

"Dev...Please come home with us. Main aaj hi tumhare ghar se chali jaungi." She uttered softly.

"Out of sight ,out of mind is applicable to every human being except me...this was established long ago " He pouted sleepily.

"Sonakshi...please control yourself. Iski baaton ka bura mat maano. He is not even aware of what he is speaking and most of the stuff he won't even remember I am sure once he gets sober." Adi had to interrupt.

"Adi..i cannot see him like this."

"He will be just fine don't worry. Lagta hai tum dono ke beech jhagra hua but I never thought something can affect Dev to this extent. I mean..I am surprised!" Aditya was thinking now.

"I will tell you everything. But please pehle iski help karo. He will not listen to me today" She begged.

Adi was a tall and well built man. He lifted Dev very easily and dumped him in his car and drove off.

"Sona...Ishwari aunty ke saamne iska ye haal nahi saamne aana chahiye. Be careful ok?" Sona nodded.

Later they told Ishwari that Dev was not well and hence is sleeping in his room. Ishwari was anxious but they both calmed her down.

"Aunty..let him take complete rest. He will be fine by the evening." Adi explained after successfully putting Dev in his bed.

Seeing Ishwari's downtrodden face Sona felt as if someone has ripped her heart. Now the things are going to worsen here on ,she realized. But she knew it ,it was never going to be easy.

"Auntyji...ek request hai aapse"

"Bolo Sona"

"Elina is back to New York. I have to go back to my place now. "She lied.

"Arey...wo itni jaldi kaise aa gayi?"Ishwari was surprised.

"Wo she has some urgent college work ..that's why she had to return early."

"Okay..."

Sona peeked through Dev's room before leaving. He was still asleep so she stepped inside.

"Dev...I wish I could tell you how sorry I am. But I couldn't say it then and now that everything is out in open I cannot see the hate in your eyes for me. I wish I could do anything to reduce the pain..anything at all...seeing me everyday will remind you of the difficult times and you don't deserve this." She whispered.

Ishwari came to check on Dev. Dev had slept the entire day and she felt the need to take his temperature.

"So many girls around me..and yet all I have ever loved is you...aisa kyun Sona?" he murmured heavily in his sleep.

Sona?Sonakshi?' Ishwari stood rooted at her spot.

Dev loves Sonakshi?'

Precap: "So you thought you could just get away from all this ?" Dev whispered.

[Note: I am overwhelmed by the response I got from my last chapter. I expected some of the readers not liking the twist...and that too during Devakshi's wedding episodes. Really thankful to you all sweethearts😳. Was not so active since past few days because of bad health...will try to be more active now.]