New Devakshi 2 shot: Its Yesterday Once More... - Page 3

Sona sat quietly with her eyes lowered. Dev looked at her and didn't know where to start. Dev gathered his courage and asked her "How have you actually been Sona?" Sona looked up at him with watery eyes and said "I am fine Dev. I am married to a wonderful man who loves me a lot and we have a wonderful son. My business is doing fine. We live in London. What more could I ask for? Tell me about you." Dev smiled sadly at what she said and he replied "My story after yours..." and motioned her to continue. Sona started speaking her voice wavering a bit and she said "I still remember that night so well. We fought and hurt each other and broke up... I was in tears and I walked out of the farmhouse. I was crying and I sat down by the side of the street just outside and cried for more than an hour. I finally found a cab and I reached home where more troubles awaited us. The Bank guys came and wanted the possession of the house as the loan had been sold to your company. We were thrown out of our home in the middle of the night. Baba had a mild heart attack that night and we rushed him to the hospital. He was ok by evening next day. All the while I waited for you to call me."

Dev was shocked to hear that Baba had a heart attack that night and he said "Why didn't you call me Sona?" Sona looked at him sadly and said "I thought you didn't need me in your life. Anyway he was better by the next day evening. We didn't have money to even settle the hospital bills that day. MAa and I sold whatever jewellery we were wearing that day and paid the hospital bills. We left for Kolkata the next day, penniless and without a roof over our heads. We stayed with Elena's parents. I thankfully found a job at one of the best hospitals in Kolkata within a fortnight... we had started our lives afresh Dev. We cannot forget all what Elena's parents did for us. We moved to our own rented house within two months. I kept waiting for you to call me Dev. Did you not think of me even once".

"After a month of me joining the new job, I fainted at the hospital one day. And guess what I was pregnant. The event which both of us wanted actually happened... I was so happy I called you so many times that day Dev that you cannot even fathom..." And her voice trailed off. Dev remembered that day distinctly... he was stone drunk that day and missed the calls from her. When he saw the calls the next day he called her many many times but her phone was switched off. After that one day Dev always tried her mobile number once in a while but it was always switched off.

He felt his eyes watering and Sona continued speaking softly... "But my happiness was shortlived Dev. Just like you went away from my life... our baby also did not stay with me... I had a miscarriage two weeks later. When it happened I did not want to live and I tried to end my life by cutting my wrists..." She held out her wrists where he could still see the scars of that suicide attempt. By now Sona was crying and hot tears were flowing down her cheeks and it still hurt Dev like hell to see her tears. He hesitated to wipe her tears away but he did offer her his handkerchief. She wiped her tears and continued. "I was saved because Maa came into the room soon after I slit my wrists and I was saved." Dev was stunned when he heard this because the Sona he knew was so strong. He had just begun to realise the damage that this separation had done to Sona. All this while he thought only he suffered.

Sona meanwhile continued "Then finally something good happened. I had applied to the College of Nutrition and Sciences at London for a post graduate course one year back and my application was accepted. I left for London immediately and started life afresh. I used to attend college during the day and used to work in the evenings to pay for course and staying expenses at London. There I met Jatin through a friend. I liked him and we became close. He fell in love with me the first time we met and the second time he proposed to me. But I did not have anything to offer him then. My heart and all my love stayed with you at Delhi. So I felt it would not be fair on my part to marry him. He waited for me for two years Dev. I told him all about us. He helped me overcome my fears and he mended my broken heart. He became a good friend first and I liked him. The miscarriage also had another side effect Dev... I could not conceive ever again as there were many complications. So two years later when I married Jatin we knew we could never have a biological child. We adopted Ayan when he was just a few hours old."

"I told Jatin all about us before we married and he has always told me that I must meet you once for a closure. He is very understanding Dev and I couldn't ask for someone better to spend the rest of my life with. I was not sure what I would be able to give to this relationship when I married Jatin but I genuinely love him now. He helped me heal and helped me forgive myself and you for our failed marriage. I know and understand that we both made errors Dev and we paid the price." Sona finished and looked up at him expectantly.

Dev was very hurt when he heard the part about her miscarriage and that she had to face all of it alone and the fact that she was now committed to Jatin. He cleared his throat and said "I still remember the day you walked out of the farmhouse and my life Sona. I kept drinking after you left till I collapsed on the floor. When I woke up it was the next day evening... It sunk in only then that I lost you forever. I drove like a madman to your house but you were not there and the house was locked. I found out later that Vicky took advantage of my being drunk and got you all thrown out of your house. I thrashed him and threw him out of our house."

"I don't remember much about the next two months of my life even today. I knew after I found out about Vicky that I had wronged you terribly but I didn't have the courage to call you or return your calls. I kept drinking heavily for the next two months ... Till an accident when I was driving stopped me from drinking completely. I was injured badly and was bedridden for about six months. When I was recuperating I had plenty of time to analyse what went wrong and I realised that I don't deserve you in my life. I also realised then that Maa has an unhealthy attachment to me. I convinced her to undergo therapy and now she is better. A few years back she was quite keen that I marry but the fact is that Sona I cannot imagine anyone in your place in my life. That space has always been yours. It can be empty but no one else can take your place, So now its just me and Maa and Nicky at home. Rhea and Nicky are in US and both are married".

"Nicky still misses you a lot. After we separated she became very serious about her studies and now runs her own advertising firm after completing her MBA for USA. She doesn't want to get married. She still keeps a diary of all she wants to tell you when she meets you. She still holds me responsible for the failure of our marriage because she feels I never tried hard to bring you back."

"I really want to apologise for everything Sona - I wish we could turn the clock back but we both know its not possible. I am happy to see that you found someone like Jatin who cares for you and respects you. It hurts me of course to see that we can never be together ever again. But it was good we had this conversation". He looked up at her and gave a small watery smile.

Sona wiped her face and got up and he stood up as well. They shook hands rather formally and after hesitation exchanged a brief hug. Dev realised she still wore the same perfume and before he realised it was over. They exchanged their new numbers and she walked away. Dev decided to walk to the private beach which was deserted at this time in the late afternoon. He sat down on the warm sand and shut his eyes. His time with Sona flashed in front of him vividly - them meeting at the car park, then in the hospital, when he forced her to work for Maa, when they became friends, when Sona had the accident, when they fell in love, their midnight coffee dates, when they married and when they separated, their special night at the resort... Every single thing. He thought of their child who couldn't come into this world. He thought of the nights they spent making passionate love and then when she lay in his arms and spoke about her dreams and hopes, their last night together at Shimla, he could still feel her in his arms. ... He was genuinely happy for her because she had Jatin in her life but that also meant that she would never come back to him. He realised his eyes were moist... and after many years he allowed himself to cry for all his lost chances and his only love lost...he realised that his chance encounter with Sona told him that at least the uncertainty of waiting for Her was no longer there... he always knew that there would never be anyone else after her. He was happier being alone. Suddenly he heard his phone ring... he glanced at the number and realised it was from his office. He picked up the phone and started speaking on some project that was currently underway for which his decisions were needed. He started walking back towards his room to attend yet another conference call and answer some more e mails... He knew that from this moment till he breathed his life he only had his work and Sona's memories to call his very OWN. The rest of it was really meaning less...He realised that life undefeated existed and could exist...

<<End of the Story>>