New Devakshi SS - Lifetime of Love (complete) - Page 2

Sonakshi looked up from her laptop in her study at her home in Delhi and looked at the watch on her wrist. She saw it was 10 PM. She picked up her phone and called her daughter - Suhana who was spending the weekend at her ex husband Dev's house in the other part of Delhi. Suhana sounded happy and she was excited and Sona was relieved. She also spoke to Golu- her cousin Elena's son and he was such a sweetheart and he made her smile as awlays calling her BigChi!

Sona disconnected the call after exchanging some customary pleasantries with Dev. She got up from her chair and looked around the room and went down stairs. She went to the kitchen and saw that Ginni had made some khichdi for her. As the khichdi was heating, Sona thought about all the events that had taken place in the last few weeks. After the summer camp, there was some kind of truce between Dev and her and the fights were much less. They also seemed to work peacefully at office too. Saurav Dada's wedding with Ronita had just taken place and and the rest of the family including her parents and Saurav dada and Didima had all gone to Kolkata to meet relatives and introduce the new bride to their extended family.She decided to stay back as there was a lot of work at office.

Sona sat down with the plate of food on the table and was about to take the first bite when the lights went off. She panicked at first and then switched on the flashlight on her mobile. She finished her meal in silence and when the power was still not back she called the emergency number and learnt that there was a massive power failure and the power connection would be restored only in the morning. Sighing she was wondering what to do when there was someone knocking loudly on the main door. Sona was in two minds as to whether to open the door or not when she heard Dev's voice "Open the damn door Sonakshi its me". Sona was surprised to say the least and she opened the door and she could make out his outline outside as it was dark "What are u doing here at this time of the night. Is Suhana alright?" Sona asked irritably. Dev replied equally rudely "Yes she is fine. You took such a long time to open the door. Since you are not calling me in please get me a chair!" At his words Sona remembered a similar conversation many years ago and she moved and asked invited him in. He walked in and sat down on one of the sofas. "Wait here" Sona said and went to the kitchen and came back with a couple of candles and placed them around the sofa. She went and sat on a sofa opposite to Dev. On a purely unrelated note, Dev realised irritably that Sona seated herself in partial darkness and he was unable to see her clearly.

Sona waited for Dev to speak and when he didn't, she cleared her throat and asked him "Why are you here Dev?" Dev suddenly realised that she was looking at him questioningly and he did something that surprised him too.. he picked up one of the candles on the side table and went and sat down next to Sona. He placed the candle on the table in front of the Sofa. Sona looked surprised and looked up at him. At that exact moment, Dev was lost in her eyes. Her eyes were bright and were reflecting the light of the candles, her face was looking even more beautiful in the mellow light of the candles and her lips looked more welcoming than what he remembered. When he didn t reply Sona got up from the sofa and he pulled her back.

As she fell against the cushions, she looked at him angrily and said "Are you mad Dev - you barge into my home so late in the night and then u are not speaking". Dev finally cleared his throat and said "Do you want the truth?" Sona said "Of Course - tell me the truth and stop playing games with me". Dev smiled and said "I came because I saw the news that this part of Delhi is going to dark the whole night because of the power problem and I know that you are alone and you are scared of the dark and that's why I came". Sona looked at him and said "Incredulous! Are you even serious Dev. I am not afraid of the dark anymore. Please leave and spend time with Suhana and Golu!". Dev said sarcastically "Really? Please don't lie to me. You should be thanking me that inspite of your bad behaviour I am here for you".

Sona got angry and retorted "I did not call you for help did I - So please leave now Dev. I am very tired and have no interest or inclination in arguing with you now". She got up for the sofa and started walking away when Dev pulled her back to the sofa and moved closer to her and looked into her eyes. They were both silent for a while and Dev spoke out "Don't lie Sona .. at least not to me ... I know you better than that". Sona was silent and she said "Dev where were you for the last seven years? When I have spent countless nights in darkness?" Hot tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she wouldn't let them flow. Dev retorted "What do you mean where was I - I was here waiting for you. The number of times I visited this house in the hope that I would find clues to your whereabouts. How was I to know you were in Kolkata?" Sona replied "We were over and done with seven long years ago Dev and owe each other no explanations. So please leave now". Dev got angry and replied "No lets discuss now - why is it that you are always right and I am wrong? You left me when I was the lowest and needed your support?"

Sona silently got up and turned away from Dev and said "So you want to talk. Lets talk Dev - I will tell you what it felt like the day we were thrown out of this house because of you. When I came to meet you at the farmhouse, you made fun of my inability to be a mother and you asked me to get out of your house and life. How could I have believed you. You never supported me in front of your family and even when Maa accused my parents of taking advantage of your generosity and lending % crores to dada, you did not say anything and slapped Baba." Sona was crying now but she did not care anymore and she continued "after I walked out of the farmhouse, I walked out and went back home. I found baba and dida in a bad shape and we moved to a neighbours house at that time in the night. I waited in Delhi for the next three days just for you to call me and when I didn't hear from you I called you over twenty times Dev and finally we left for Kolkata. We started life from scratch. We stayed with Elena's parents and about a month later I found I was pregnant. I called you again and I sent e mails all of which were unresponded to. I had a nervous breakdown and my Doctor told me that for my baby's safety I need to be calm and happy. I decided then I would not wait for you anymore and lead life my own way. I tried to be happy and by then the online portal that dada and I set up started doing well and I kept myself busy with that. We reconnected with Jatin who was old childhood friend and worked till the date I went into labour".

"How will you make up for the darkness and loneliness I felt everytime I went for a checkup and found expectant mothers with their husbands holding their hands through the procedures. Even when I went into labour, Baba, Maa and Dada were outside but you were not there when I was in pain and I was scared Dev. I wanted you to hold my hands and wipe by sweat and tears and tell me that everything would be alright. I wanted you to see your daughter first when the nurse placed her in my arms. I wanted you to see her take her first steps, say her first words, hold her hands on her first day at school, stay up with her the whole night when she fell ill..." At this point, Sona couldn't control her tears and she started crying and tears continued to flow down her cheeks. Dev was stunned and he did not know what to do or say to ease her pain. He would obviously be lying if he said Sona's tears did not effect him - they bothered him a great deal.

He moved towards her and just engulfed her in a bone crushing hug and he was prepared to be pushed back and shoved but surprisingly Sona hugged him back and continued to shed tears on his shoulders and he never ever felt more shameful and helpless in his life ever. After sometime, Dev pulled her back a little and patting her hair he said softly "I am so ashamed that I was never there for you and Soha all these years Sona. I know I cannot replace the past, but I will surely be there for both of you in the future, if you would give me a chance". Sona replied "I don't know Dev ... I need some time before I can trust you completely again. I keep feeling what if you leave us again? Anyway I think you should leave now". Dev said "Believe me I understand your hesitation and I will wait till you make up your mind. Meanwhile let me stay here till the power comes back or sunrise. More than not wanting you to be alone, I don't want to be alone tonight. Please can I stay here?"

Sona nodded and told him to sleep in the guest bed room on the ground floor while she went to her room upstairs. Both of them spent a restless night tossing and turning on their beds.

Sona did not realise when she slept off and when she got up and went down in the morning she realised that it was 8 AM and that the power was back and Dev had left. He had left a note for her on the dining table.

"Dear Sona

I am really sorry for all that I did and I promise I will never leave you and Soha ever again. Just forgive me please ... one last time. I don't want to pressurise you into making a decision and will wait for you to make up your mind.

Dev'

Sona looked at the letter and wondered what to do?

<<End of the Chapter 1>>