One Rainy Day - A Devakshi SS - Last part updated on Page 9 - Page 5

ONE RAINY DAY ...

Chapter 5:

Sona couldn't concentrate on her work the rest of the day. Her thoughts kept going back to Dev and she was confused. The rains outside just added to her sense of loneliness and gloom. She kept thinking "Should I have picked up on all the hints Dev kept dropping. Damn you Dev... !". On the other hand, Dev was feeling the same. He went to work for a couple of hours and wrapped up the final contract with the Mehras. He did not want to eat but Ria brought the hospital file and showed him the detailed meal plan that Sona had drawn up for him. Seeing the effort she had put in he agreed to eat. He went to the window of his office and looked at the heavy rains outside and he thought of Sonakshi. He said to himself "I think I scared her. I probably should not have kissed her that way. But how can I keep away from her! Why am I not having the courage to speak to her?"

The day ended on a gloomy note for both Dev and Sonakshi in two separate parts of Mumbai. The next day, over breakfast Ria put her plan to action. She said innocently "Bhaiya Sona di has done so much for us, so I am think of taking her to dinner at our hotel tonight". Dev brightened up immediately and told her "yes do that. This hotel has a lovely Thai restaurant and she loves Thai food".

Ria smiled to herself and called Sona. Sona initially was reluctant to accept the dinner invite but when Ria insisted she accepted and agreed to be there at 7.30 PM. Ria then put the second part of her plan into action. She went down to the restaurant and spoke to the Manager and made all arrangements for a special dinner for two including exclusive seating and champagne. Around 4 PM she started laying the excuses for not being there at the dinner by saying that she was having a stomach upset. She told Dev "Bhaiya am having an upset tummy. I don't think I will be able to make it for dinner". When Dev wondered aloud about informing Sona and calling off the dinner she said "I am not so ill also bhaiya. I am taking precaution as we need to travel back to Delhi tomorrow morning. After all we have invited her and if we call it off wont it look bad" Dev reluctantly agreed. He left her in her room and went back to his room and gloomily packed. When Dev left, Ria called Ayan and told him "I hope that Dev Bhaiya finally talks to Sona di tonight and she also agrees!".

He was feeling inexplicably sad. Around 7 PM he came out of the shower and switched on the television when a news flash came on. A building collapsed in the heavy rains and at least 120 persons were feared trapped. This building was located near the Sonakshi's hospital. The rescue work was in progress and injured persons were being brought to the hospital for treatment. Dev was just seeing the news when the doorbell rang. He opened the door and Ria walked in and said "Sona di called me now. She said she wouldn't be able to make it because of the building collapse there are many injured people being brought in and she wants to be around to help them". Dev just nodded as he had been looking forward to the evening with Sonakshi yet he know she would want to help out at the hospital.

Ria looked down and said "Sorry Bhaiya I wanted you and Sona di to talk and discuss your issues tonight. That's the reason I pretended to be ill. I am sorry... Do you think you should stay back and talk to her tomorrow?". Dev said "I knew what you were upto Ria but I think she needs time. Maybe the next time she is in Delhi I will talk to her". Ria nodded and left from the room and agreed to meet him in the lobby at 7.30 AM in the morning for their 9.30 AM flight back to Delhi.

Dev sat down and looked at his watch. It read 8 PM. He then decided that what he wanted to tell Sona couldn't wait for an indefinite time. He thought and made up his mind. He quickly changed and drove down to the hospital. He reached and saw the chaos all around as victims were being brought in. He called her on her mobile but it went unanswered. He made his way to the emergency and he saw Dr. Sharma there. Dr Sharma smiled at him and asked "Hi Mr. Dixit. What brings you here today?" Dev said "I just wanted to meet Dr. Bose once. Is she around?" Dr. Sharma looked around and pointed Dev to Sona who was dressing the wounds of a young child about 5 years old. She was comforting her in a soothing voice. As she finished she looked up and noticed Dev "What are you doing here?" Dev simply said "I need to speak to you and I am waiting for you outside". Sona said "I am not sure how long I would be here. Don't you have a morning flight to catch". Dev said "Don't worry about the flight - I will be outside". Sona nodded but for the next three hours she did not have any time to think about it as she was busy taking care of the injured persons being brought in. Around 12 midnight, when the last patient had been taken care of, she left from the emergency room and picking up her things from her room she came down. At the reception she saw that Dev was still waiting for her. She looked surprised and asked him "you are still here Dev. You are just out of hospital and should have been resting now".

Dev did not say anything and told he simply "Let me drop you home". Sona told the security that she was leaving her car in the hospital and walked to the car with Dev. She got in and strapped on the seatbelt and Dev started the car. Dev fed her address on the GPS and they continued to drive in silence. Sona asked him for the first time "How is aunty now?" Dev took a deep breath and gave her all the details of the treatment she underwent and how she is doing now. Sona said "good that she is better now". Dev just murmured a faint "hmm".

They reached her building and Sona got down from the car and told him "I stay on the 6^th floor - flat 601. Would you like to come in for a coffee?" Dev declined and told her "No. I think I will pass it this time. By the way I know you have not eaten so I had some dinner packed for you. Here take it" and handed her a brown paper bag. Sona said "Thanks Dev and Good Night and have a safe flight back". Her voice broke and she moved away from the car and got into the building. Dev watched her go away sadly and felt his eyes tearing up. He sat alone in the car for a few minutes and leaned back against the seat.

He slowly backed the car and drove out of the building and then then it started raining. Dev just parked the car on the side of the silent road and just sat in the car quietly. Meanwhile the rain outside had increased in intensity. As Dev looked through the now fogged up window glass he could see Sona clearly smiling and laughing dancing in the rain. He slowly got down from the car and was surprised not to find her. He smiled slowly. He realised that probably for the first time in his life his heart and brain were saying the same thing - that he needed to speak to Sona and this could not wait till tomorrow. He was fully wet by now. He got back into the car and went back to Sona's building.

Sona, meanwhile got into her apartment and sat down on the sofa. She held her head in her hands and cried. The heavy rains outside made her feel worse. She felt very sad and empty. Just then the doorbell rang. She wondered "who is it at this hour" and opened the door angrily. She saw that Dev was standing outside, soaked to the skin and he just said "I couldn't go away or let you go away this time Sonakshi without actually speaking to you. Can I come in please?" Sona didn't trust her voice and just nodded and moved side and let him in and closed the door.

<<End of Chapter 5>>