Business conference parties always reminded Sonakshi of the extravagance she had just begun to get used to before it all disappeared. An abundance of alcohol, dinner and dancing. Not much had changed in the last 7 years and yet nothing had stayed the same either.
Gone was her dancing partner, the subtle inside jokes they whispered that made her feel like they were in a bubble. Like only they existed.
Jatin called out to her from their table right up front, quickly introducing her to some of the top businessmen in attendance.
As the years passed she found that if she really tried she could actually enjoy these events, not everything had to remind her of the past. Especially when surrounded by people looking for a good time. Tonight she was going to let loose and give people a glimpse of the old Sona.
Unfortunately, all her plans went out the window when the person she often obsessed about walked into the room sucking the air right out of her. He however didn't seem to even notice, his eyes focused completely on his date conveniently draped on top of him.
Her eyes kept flicking on over to him and no matter what she used to distract herself. Jatin, the other guests at the party... nothing could take her attention away from the man she once called her husband.
He leaned in to whisper something to his date, placing his hand on her thigh, as if her were finding any excuse to touch her. She threw her head back and laughed at what he said. It was a carefree laugh reminding her of their time together, especially at these parties.
Sonakshi brushed her feelings off taking a large gulp of her drink. She prided herself for never being shallow and insecure. And what should she be jealous of anyways? Shes moved on... right?
"Stop staring its weird" Jatin jibed beside her.
"I'm not staring" she shook her head in denial. But jatin just pointed towards her line of sight and snickered as if making a point
"Oh Shut up" she chided taking another gulp of her drink already feeling slightly buzzed.
"I think he's doing it on purpose" Jatin whispered, leaning in close. He then followed this gesture by tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"So he's stringing this innocent girl around just so he can mess with me, that's a little extreme don't you think" she countered.
"Sure looks like it" he laughed, subtly pointed in Dev's direction.
Sonakshi turned and looked in Dev's direction again but this time he was looking right her, a frown marring his face.
She simply rolled her eyes not willing to believe what was essentially staring her right in the face.
"Fine" he said reaching to some sort of conclusion. "Ill prove it to you."
"And how do you plan to do that" she asked accepting the challenging look on his face.
"Let's dance" he stood up, offering her his hand like the gentlemen she knew him to be.
"I don't really feel like dancing" she grumbled. Seeing Dev with his date had officially killed her mood.
"Don't be a chicken, get up." He mocked, forcing her to stand up.
He held her hand and escorted her out on to the dance floor.
"C'mon now, wouldn't hurt you to smile" he joked. "It's a beautiful night and you baby doll are no less beautiful" he easily flirted forcing a smile out of her. This is why she loved him, no matter what the situation he always tried to cheer her up.
The fast paced music made it easy for them to jump around laugh, smile and for a minute she actually forgot the whole point of this. She was just having fun with her best friend.
With the passing of each song Sona found herself surrounded by a group of men just dying to dance with her, talk to her, laugh at her every joke and she couldn't lie and say that it didn't feel good.
"Can I get a turn?" one of the business men she recognized from her table asked.
He looked so sweet and nervous she didn't think she could say no even if she wanted to.
She looked at Jatin for a second, uncertain, but all he did was smile his carefree smile and continued dancing.
But before she could even say anything she felt his presence standing right behind her. Her heart stopped as it did whenever he was close. And from the looks of it her suitors did too. He seemed to have lost all courage and backed away from her as if he had seen a ghost.
"Wont you dance with me, Ms. Bose?" he asked framing it more like a statement than a question.
"Well since you scared away my date ... do I really have an option?" she replied sarcastically. "Speaking of dates where's yours's"
He turned around to look for his date completely forgetting about her existence, finding her in the arms of a very familiar man.
"Jatin!" Sona exclaimed looking at her friend in shock. He simply winked at her cheekily as if this was clear proof of Dev's intention all along.
"Why do you look so pissed, sad that your so called date has eyes for someone else?" he asked bringing her into his arms resuming the dance.
Sona looked away from Jatin and right into Dev's eyes for the first time that night. "Why do you even care, you've been preoccupied yourself" she sneered referring to his date.
"Jealous?" he smirked.
"Hell no, I'm just sad for her sorry soul"
Dev suddenly stopped dancing, forcing her to look at him. She bit her lip nervously as she took in all the emotions she saw in his eyes.
She tried pushing away from him, but her ex-husband in true fashion held on, continuing to sway in place. He placed his head on top of hers making the dance alot more intimate than she would have liked.
"Let me go Dev" she whispered. "It's what you're good at anyways."
"I notice anything and everything about you Sona, even today. After all these years."
His sudden revelation took her aback. She decided to make a run for it exiting the dance floor like she'd been scarred. She couldn't handle it; the years had done nothing to prepare her for the conversation he wanted to have.
She made her way to the parking lot hastily approaching her car. She wasn't wasted but she definitely drank enough to know that she shouldn't be driving.
"Shit." She kicked the vehicle, hurting her own toe, crying out in frustration. She slid against the car sitting down on the ground completely frustrated with her situation.
Dev witnessing the whole thing, just walked calmly to stand in front of her. Just as dejected, and frustrated as she was.
She looked up at him, tears slowly filling her eyes. "What do you want from me Dev, I'm just so tired."
He simply moved to sit next to her resting his head against the car, letting the silence between them do all the talking.
"How could you not tell me, Sona?" he whispered out.
If she wasn't fixated on his every word she would have questioned if he even said anything.
She knew he was talking about Suhana, and she didn't want to insult him anymore by denying it.
All she did was sigh, leaning her head against his shoulder. Seeking comfort from someone who was once her support system.
"It's not like I didn't try Dev." She whispered back.
In that moment they were both back in their bubble and she didn't want to do anything to break it.
"I swallowed all my ego, my pride, my anger." For her, for you...for us.
"Then why are we sitting here, Sona." He cried.
"Why aren't we living like the perfect family I've always dreamt of us being... The truth is you didn't try hard enough; you gave up on us."
"That may be true... all I know is after you turned me away, I sat for months at home angered and alone, bathed in defeat." She admitted softly as if she were acknowledging it to herself for the first time. "Then this beautiful baby girl came along and my whole world changed... I couldn't imagine going back to the shell of a person that I was once"
"So you decided to move on leaving me in the dark, to feel alone enough for the both of us" he barked out angry.
"I was blinded by defeat...It consumed me, I couldn't win against your mom. I would never win against her. And I couldn't imagine a life where my daughter would grow up feeling the same way. Feeling like she was never enough, like she always came in second."
"You didn't even give me a chance Sona; I might not have done right by you but I would have done right by her"
Sonakshi nodded letting his admission settle in between them.
"I knew better Dev but I... I'm sorry I couldn't do better."
Hey Guys! Thanks for reading đ do tell me what you think. I might write a continuation depending on the response â¤ď¸.
Ps:- I really struggled with the title for this đ so if you have better suggestions do tell đł
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
