DevAkshi SS: The End of an affair (Pt2 pg3)

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surbharati

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Posted: 9 years ago

#11

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Anisa

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Posted: 9 years ago

#12

Part One

Part 2

Sona had cried herself hoarse on her mother's lap. Both Ma and Dadi had cried with her, knowing how much she must have tried being patient before breaking down like this. They swallowed their disappointment at the secret love story she had with Dev. Things got a bit hairy when Dada and Baba came home, both uniting in their anger. It was decided then, Sona was not going to work in that house henceforth, calls were made for her to resume her old job with Dr. Sinha at the hospital.

Sona had already decided the same on her way back home. Jobwise, she's had enough of the kitchen politics there and wasn't going back. But she wasn't ready to give up Dev. He loved her, as much as she loved him, there was nothing wrong between them.. except he was hiding her. Keeping her in the shadows, like someone to be ashamed of.

A fresh swell of tears rushed to her eyes. I don't want to take over his life, and dictate what he does. But I need to know how much I mean to him. Before I leave MY family and make his family mine too. Why should I just accept anything less just because I love him? Shouldn't he make way for me too in his life?

She sat miserably in her room as Elena did her college assignments next to her. No one left her side since she came back. Her family loved her so much, she couldn't bear subject them to any ridicule and disdain unless Dev was willing to put a stop to it. She owed her family at least that. She loved Dev, but she was not willing to sacrifice herself and her wonderful family for it.

Ma came and fussed over her eating or a bit, unsuccessfully. She then sat by the bed and sighed sadly.

" I'm sorry Sona. I wish I can take this pain for you. But I'm afraid this pain can only be yours to bear. But we can help you stand up again. Just take it a day at time. But please Sona, don't break apart, I don't think we can take it. Your heart is so sad, but don't punish your health for it. Eat something baby..." Slowly Sona ate a few morsels just to make her Mum happy.

She didn't dare switch her phone on, knowing Dev would be calling her a lot. She just was not ready to talk to him yet. She suddenly remembered how upset he had been before when she was mad at him. What's wrong with you Sona? Here you're grieving your failed relationship, and Dev doesn't even know you both have broken up? What if he shows up at the door now? A pang of anxiety disturbed her grief, but a strange defeatist attitude made her not care. Let him answer her parents. I am not an orphan in this world, I too have loved ones whom I care about above all else. Loved ones who have done so much for me in good and bad times. Let him. I'm done covering up for him...

But usually Dev would have marched up here by now and demanded the reason for her silence. So far Saturday and Sunday has passed. Tomorrow she was to go back to her old job at the hospital.

Whatever, Sona. He is there with his Ma. He is a grown man. You don't need to baby him also.

She fell into a troubled sleep, unaware of the many voice mails gathering in her inbox.

Across the town, Dev is pacing outside his mother's room, trying Sonakshi's phone yet again, getting gloomier by the hour. Absolutely no word from her. Is she unwell? Both ma and her are unwell, what bad turns. He tried to justify his stacking anxiety, that something bad was about to happen but right now his mother was having a nervous breakdown and developed a fever too. She refused everyone, except him. So the whole weekend he was by her bedside, feeding her soup and medicines, seeing to her every need. She is getting better, he thought, tomorrow I'll go by outside Sona's house to pick her up for work, and they could talk..he consoled himself that his Sona is sensible and mature, and that she will always be open to reasoning and understanding.

But early the next morning, a registered letter arrived at the house. Dev opened it and found Sonakshi's letter of resignation.

Good Day Mr. Dixit.

This letter is to notify you that I, Sonakshi Bose, am resigning from your employment, effective immediately. I would like inform you that I have completed the stipulated 3 months of my employment contract and would like to respectfully withdraw from your employ.

Thank you for your time.

Dr. Sonakshi Bose.

Dev's heart fell like a stone. Resignation? What does this mean? Ma still needs help. Contract has ended? How can she just leave without a discussion? Where is she going to? So many questions. He went to get ready and go meet her.

What in the world is going on?

Sonakshi walked into her old workplace with a nostalgic sentimentality. How she loved working here before, before Dev came like a typhoon and swept her away to his house. She made a beeline for Dr. Sinha's office to meet him and report back for duty. He welcomed her gladly, and she left quickly avoiding questions about Dev.

She walked briskly to her old office and walked in. It was just as she left it, she went round her desk to sit.

"So that's it. One letter to me and you just went back to work like before? You didn't think I deserved at least one phone call?"

Sona swung back in shock and gaped at Dev who was sitting at her patient's sofa.

"Not one call or message in more than 2 days, Sonakshi! And this letter is what I get? What is going on here, tell me right now!"

"This is my office, Dev, not your house, do not yell at me here. Please lower your tone and we can discuss this."

"To hell with that ! This is not done, Sonakshi! The time to discuss was before you wrote this letter ! Why didn't you ask me first before resigning?"

"You don't own me , Dev. I am completely justified in seeking my old place of employment."

Sonakshi's clinical and emotionless voice and words just angered Dev even more. He marched up to her by her desk and grabbed her hand.

"What's wrong with you Sonakshi!? What the hell is going on?? I don't understand anything !! At least explain what caused all this! Mum was sick all weekend and I couldn't get you on the phone at all!! And now you're all cold and silent...explain!"

"I'm sorry your Mother is unwell, I hope she gets better soon. But I have to draw boundaries, as I am not part of your family. Your mother is your family and you have that responsibility to care for her. However, watching her diet was my job which I have done for the agreed 3 months. Now, I would like to very much get back to my own job and responsibility as a trained nutritionist to this hospital that helped pay for my studies. I am not your personal employee for you to order about, neither am I your wife. I have to reevaluate our relationship Dev. It is occurring to me, that we might not be so good for each other..." Sona rattled off on a prepared speech, as Dev's eyebrows shot up in consternation.

"What the HELL are you talking about? When did you decide this? And without me!? No, Sonakshi, stop deciding things for the both of us. Why are you talking about breaking up? What did I do? Everything was fine last week?! I come home on Friday night and everything went south. Will you stop being cryptic and just tell me what happened and I'll fix it !"

"I'm not interested in trying to make you understand, Dev. I'm telling you. We are not suitable for each other and it's better than we just end it right here before it's more difficult to turn back. "

Dev walked right up to her and shook her by the shoulders. "Did I imagine telling you that I was in love with you? That you loved me back and cared about me? "

Sonakshi's eyes filled with tears and she looked down. Dev grabbed her chin and made her face him. A tense eye to eye moment lead her to shake her head no.

"I still love you with all my heart. SO much it hurts. This stupid conversation is making me feel like punching a hole in the wall. What is going on? Please...?"

"I'm saving you the trouble of trying Dev. Your mother does not approve of me, neither does you aunt or uncle or your sisters. I'm apparently a gold digger after your money, aspiring to be rich, completely unsuitable for you. I love you too, so much! But your happiness lies in your mother's happiness. If she does not approve of us, there is no point being together. I do not wish that much unhappiness upon you for my sake. So, I decided to leave you."

"Leave me! No. Don't! I'll talk to Ma. It must be a misunderstanding, she won't make a fuss when she knows how happy I am with you. Ma loves me, she'll accept us, Sona, trust me.. Just give it time. Please, don't break off like this !" Dev was pleading with her and she couldn't take the pain in his voice. She broke into sobs of pain and Dev gathered her up in a hug.

"Don't pull away from me Sonakshi... I can't be without you. OK fine, you resigned and you work here now. But I'll talk to Ma, and she'll understand about us. Just give me time. Please..."

"How long, Dev?" she said softly. Dev looked at her in surprise.

"Don't you trust me, Sonakshi? I'll talk to her today. Right away... but what happened that you are so discouraged about me? "

"I told you Dev. Your mother does not approve of me as your partner. Auntyji and your Mami said it as clearly as they could without telling me to get out. I am an employee, that's all. And I should stay within my boundaries. I am not a fool Dev. I don't back out of a fight, unless victory is worse than losing.."

"Don't speak in riddles Sonakshi. Are you saying my mother was rude to you?"

"Ishwari aunty is never rude, but your Mami has always been towards me. I am not after your money Dev, I am not a gold digger!! "

"Come on Sonakshi! Mami is like that. Everybody knows not to take her jibes seriously! You're being overly sensitive. "

"No Dev. I'm not overly sensitive. I've put up with enough of her insults and I'm not going to anymore. There is nothing wrong with being a Bengali or middle class. If your family has a problem with that, then it is YOUR problem , not mine! I will not subject my family to these insults!"

Dev pressed his temples in stress.

"We are NOT broken up Sonakshi. I refuse to accept that. I will continue to call you and meet you until we sort our issues out. Okay?"

Sonakshi kept quiet , noncommittal. In her mind, she has already broken up with him, felt like he needed to reach where she was by himself.

"I have patients to see, Mr. Dixit. If you don't mind..."

"It's Dev, for you.." He held her by the shoulders and looked sternly into her eyes. But the anxiety was showing in his eyes, and she hated doing this to him. But it was necessary.

"I'll call you later..."

"I won't pick up."

"Sonakshi... please. Don't do this.."

Sonakshi looked away and he grunted exasperatedly. "If you don't answer your phone, I'll come up to your house.."

"Please do! It's time you met with my parents too, and see if you measured up to their expectations!? Don't take me for granted Dev."

"I don't like battling with you Sonakshi. Just give me some time to talk to Ma. Everything will be sorted out, I promise.."

"Don't promise me things Dev..."

"Sonakshi...!"

"I really do have patients, Dev. You'd better go.."

Dev had no choice but to leave. He reached over and kissed her on the cheek, and whispered, "We're not broken up Ms. Khargosh. "

to be continued..