ITS YESTERDAY ONCE MORE...
Dev Dixit, the wildly successful telecom entrepreneur stepped off the flight in Goa and collecting his baggage went out. He saw a driver from the Taj hotel holding a placard bearing his name. He signalled to him and in the next five minutes he was in the plush Mercedes car speeding towards Taj Exotica hotel where he was attending a conference on venture capitalists and start ups for the next two days. Dev looked out of the window of the car at the greenery moving fast and shut his eyes and leaned back on the seat resting his aching back. He had barely slept for four hours last night and he had taken an early morning flight from Delhi.
But Dev was used to it. Ever since she walked out his life, he made sure that he worked so hard that at night his body would simply give up and sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. But still there were days when sleep would elude him and all the memories would come flooding back... When they were together... when she would lay in his arms, both sweaty after making passionate love, when he would wake up every morning to see her beautiful face... and nights would be very tough. It had been seven long years but it seemed like yesterday. Even now when he shut his eyes, he could see her, his Sonakshi clearly. Her beautiful eyes , the sharp nose, the chiselled jawline and her smile... He would feel envious when she gave her wide smile reaching her eyes to anyone else...Ever since she went away he turned a recluse and kept everyone including his beloved mother at a distance. He became more successful at work and the more successful he became, the more he kept away from everyone. He rarely gave interviews and in these interviews as well he refused to answer any personal questions.
The car came to a halt in front of the hotel and in the next ten minutes he was in the suite assigned to him. It was around 11.30 AM and he decided to go for a swim. He had purposely come a little early. The conference was starting the next day and he was one of the guest speakers. His company, the only reason for his remaining sane in the aftermath of her departure, was not a start up by any means but at one time it was and he was invited to speak on his struggles and strategies and how overcame them.
Dev completed some laps in the swimming pool completely ignoring the looks of many beautiful women around. He knew he looked good and the hours in the gym paid off but he was simply not interested in anyone else after Sonakshi as there could be no one else like her. As he came out of the water and sat on one of farthest deck chairs drying himself, he heard a splash and a loud scream - a young five year old boy had jumped off the highest diving board and now was struggling in the water. He jumped into the water again and reached the boy and in the next couple of minutes he helped the boy out of the pool. The young boy was cute and he was terrified. The boy looked at him and said "Thank you uncle. I wont do this the next time." Dev patted his head and was about to speak when someone came running and looked at the young boy and said "Ayaan.. how are u? Why did you jump off the diving board?" He ran to the boy and hugged him and Ayaan replied "Sorry Baba I know you told me not to jump from the board and I did not listen. I wont do it again. I am really sorry. This uncle here saved me" pointing to Dev. The man came upto Dev and shook hands with Dev and said "I cant thank you enough." Dev said "Its alright. It was good I was around. By the way I am Dev Dixit" The man smiled and said "Yes I did recognise you. You are Dev Dixit the famous telecom guy! I am Jatin Ro an venture capitalist. I am based out of London actually."
Jatin continued "You must let me invite you to have lunch with us today. My wife will also be here now". Dev was not in a mood to socialise and he tried to make excuses but Jatin insisted "Please don't refuse. I have followed your career closely and I want to also thank you for saving Ayaan." Dev reluctantly agreed and they decided to meet in an hours time at the hotel's Chinese restaurant. As he went back to his suite and changed into a linen shirt and jeans Dev realised that he had never eaten Chinese food after Sonakshi left as it was her favourite. There were too many memories associated with it. Maybe it was time to move on.
He reached the restaurant and looked around and just then Ayan came running to him and said "Hi uncle. Come this way - my maa and baba are there" and he held Dev's hands and took him to the table where Jatin and his wife were sitting. As they reached the table Jatin got up and shook hands with him and said "Hi Dev. Thanks for coming. Meet my wife Dr. Sonakshi Bose." Turning to Sona he said touching her arms lighly "Sona meet Dev Dixit. He was the one I spoke to you about. He is also from Delhi... like you" and then Dev felt someone had pulled the ground from underneath his feet. He couldn't believe his eyes that he was looking at Sona ... His Sona after seven very long and lonely years.
She seemed equally stunned and before they could react, Ayan wanted to go to the washroom. As Sona got up, Jatin said "You be here and talk to Dev. I am sure you two Delhiites will have a lot in common. I will take Ayan to the washroom" and he left. Dev and Sona looked at each other awkwardly. Sona looked so different from what Dev remembered - her long hair was cut in a short fashionable bob just reaching below her ears. She was dressed in a simple white cotton shirt and blue denim shorts which showed off her shapely legs. Other than the sparkling solitaires in her ears and the ring finger, she wore no jewellery. Dev was just drinking in her appearance. She looked so beautiful and classy and Dev was getting attracted to her all over again.
Sona on the other hand was surprised to see Dev dressed in casuals, something he would do very rarely seven years back. He looked the same except for the generous sprinkling of grey hair. She cleared her throat and asked him "How are you Dev?" He smiled wryly and said "How do I look? How are you Sona?" Before she could reply Jatin was back and they ordered food. Dev and Sona both lost interest in food. If Jatin noticed anything he didn't make a comment and he kept the conversation going. He added "Sonakshi is a doctor and right now she has just set up a company that is into manufacturing organic food in the UK". Dev looked at Sona in surprise as the old Sona had been simple and straight - he was difficult for him to imagine her as an entrepreneur like himself.
They finished lunch and Dev couldn't wait to get away. He had so many things to ask Sona- about her life, about Jatin and about Ayan, about why she decided to move on... And about how she took away a part of him with her all those years back and how he was still there unable to move on...He wanted to know everything and yet he couldn't ask her anything in the presence of Ayaan and Jatin and Dev never felt more helpless ever.
<END OF PART 1>
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