DevAkshi FF: Dreams And Desires DISCONTINUED - Page 3

The early morning rays poured through the huge glass window making his face wrinkle. His eyes shifted underneath his closed eyelids and a peculiar smell filled his nostrils. His forehead was hurting as he slowly opened his eyes. Automatically his hand went up to touch his forehead and his eyes tried to focus on the figure standing before him. It took him a few seconds when his vision cleared completely.
" good morning." The young girl smiled down at him.
His eye brows furrowed as his gaze moved around.
God he was in a hospital lying on a bed. He pursed his lips in irritation when the nurse continued to smile at him. What the hell was good about this morning?
" how are you feeling Mr.?"
" Dixit .. Dev Dixit ." And he was definitely not elated to start the new year in a hospital gazing back at some nurse. He sat up and felt his throbbing forehead.
" Mr. Dixit last night your car met with a serious accident so you were brought here." He slowly nodded his head as he recalled the events of the previous night. Unlike other youngsters who were partying on new year's eve he was coming back from attending a meeting with the supplier. The meeting lasted quite long as the supplier was not agreeing to Dev's terms and conditions. But how long and how far could that supplier negotiate? Ultimately he had to given in after all there were numerous suppliers desperate to strike a deal with his company .
Anyway as he was returning home it was a cold and foggy Delhi night, his driver was driving cautiously as he sat back. The car took a turn and then there was a crash. His car banged into something and his head hit hard against the car window. After that he blanked out only to open his eyes now in the morning.
" thanks for the treatment. Now I'm perfectly fine and would like to leave." His words were firm and far from being soft.
Seeing him on his feet the nurse turned wide eyed.
" sorry sir but I will have to inform the doctor, he shall decide whether you're fit enough to leave or not."
Dev glared at her. " listen, you can't stop me. I don't have time to waste sitting on this bed. I have a morning flight to catch." He growled and took out his cellphone to call his driver. The nurse panicked and immediately ran out of the room. The sight of people jumping around when he lost his temper was not new for him. His staff did the same more than often.
He exhaled sharply and clenched his jaws. Why was his driver not picking up the cellphone? Frustrated with him, Dev was about to leave the room when the doctor stepped in.
" Mr. Dixit you seem to be in a hurry." The doctor pointed politely.
" certainly." Dev curbed his desire to roll his eyes at the doctor.
" but we would like to keep you under observation for some time."
" no need. I just bumped my head there's nothing more to it. Moreover I have a very important meeting to attend. So if you excuse me I shall clear my dues and leave." Dev again called his driver.
" Dammit why is the driver not taking my call? Useless and inefficient!" He muttered.
The doctor took a step ahead and stopped Dev from dialling. " I guess you're not aware of the gravity of this accident. It wasn't a minor accident. Your driver lost his life." That stunned Dev for a moment and his jaw dropped. All along he was getting mad at the driver but never once cared to think about his well being .
And now that man was no more. He worked for him and worked quite diligently for him and he lost his life when he was on duty. Somewhere Dev held himself responsible for his death.
Noticing the surprised look on his face the doctor informed him further. " apparently the driver coming from the opposite direction was drunk when he crashed into your car. Unfortunately he too died at the spot."
It angered Dev to know that the guy was drinking and driving. Today one irresponsible act had claimed two lives. Not just that even their respective families would be suffering and why? Because one idiot wished on new year's eve to get high on alcohol!

He was glad that long time ago someone had advised him to be a teetotaller .
Now from where did that thought pop up? He brushed that memory aside to concentrate on the current situation.

What had happened had happened, he couldn't change it neither could he sit down and mourn over it. He had a client waiting for him, there was lot at stake and he had to take that flight.
" well the accident was quite unfortunate but I insist on being discharged. Please. If anything happens, I'll take the responsibility." Please was not a common word in his dictionary. Now that he had used it, he expected it to be honored.
The doctor reluctantly nodded and asked the nurse to get the discharge papers ready.
Walking down the corridor Dev made some urgent calls. First he spoke to Aman his manager instructing him to send an adequate compensation to the deceased driver's family. Plus a job offer to any of his family member.
Second he called up his Dadi, lying to her that last night he was at the farmhouse working. Neha and Dadi were his only family. While neha was happily married with kids and stayed in Kolkata, Dadi shuttled between Delhi and Kolkata.
And he wished neither of them to worry about him.
Though Dadi was annoyed with him for working round the clock but he didn't pay heed. He had an established fashion house in Mumbai and since last year he was operating from Delhi to set up his branch office here. All this wasn't a cake walk, Dadi needed to understand but then when did she bother to think beyond her thoughts and beliefs? She was orthodox and lived in her outdated traditions whereas her grandson was modern and more liberal in his views and lifestyle, which lead to clashes but over the years Dev had gotten used to this tension between them. Not that he didn't love her, he definitely cared and respected her however at the same time he didn't allow her to rule his life. His life which was now just work and more work was quite precious to him and he didn't allow anybody to interfere in it. So after informing Dadi about his out station meeting with the client he disconnected the call and proceeded to clear the hospital dues.
Throwing a quick glance at his watch he waited impatiently for the papers to get ready when from a close distance he heard a child crying. He loved kids and could not see them crying thus instantly he turned towards the sound of wails and slowly walked toward the child who was being held by a nurse. He couldn't see the child as her back was facing him but still he guessed that she must be less than a year old.
" what's the matter why is she weeping?"
The nurse pointed towards the stretcher.
" her father was the one who was driving last night when his car collided with yours and unfortunately he couldn't survive the mishap."
Dev looked down at the dead body and was shocked to see who it was.
" Neil Nakhotia!"

They both studied in the same college but never got along well. They had their share of ugly arguments and fights but never did Dev expect to see him like this.

Dead and lifeless .

Neil always irked him with his callous attitude and behavior. They both strived to be the best student in the college. Therefore often competed with each other, in not just curricular but extra curricular activities too. While Dev believed in winning through hard work and honesty , neil just had to win whether by hook or crook. However all that was years ago.

But somewhere neil hadn't changed. Even today He made dev furious by his irresponsible actions. If he had to drink then why did he have to drive as well? Any sensible guy would know how risky it could be.
dev looked at the little girl who was wailing. Her cries tugged his heart. What was her fault that today she was fatherless? She didn't even know that she'd never see her father alive again.
" where's her mother?"
" she was also in the car. now she is extremely serious and battling for her life. "
Dev threw his head back, could this get any worse?
So many lives were and would suffer because of the mistake committed by one man.
God forbid if something happened to that lady, this child would be an orphan at such a tender age. Dev was twelve when he lost both his parents in a train accident. He had his sister and Dadi but still the pain and the grief had been unbearable.
Suddenly the dislike, he wouldn't use the term hatred, toward neil doubled. In his eyes neil had never been a sensible and matured guy always careless and self centered. He only cared about himself. A truly self absorbed person. However all his traits couldn't justify the blunder he had committed. He had played with not just his own life but with his families too. A family he might have loved maybe not as much as he loved himself but still that child was his flesh and blood and that wife who cared about him and their home. They both were dependent on him and he had lead them down.
Dev shook his head in disgust as he continued to blame neil for destroying innocent lives when suddenly his conscience pricked him.
Had he forgotten what he had done in his past? Had he never played with someone's life? Had he always been right and just with people who truly loved him?
His heart and soul screamed a loud NO ! He was a culprit ! A sinner! He had no right to blame and hold anyone responsible when he himself was far from innocent and trust worthy in his own eyes.
Now the guilt of his own misdeeds weighed on Dev's shoulders when he lifted his hand to caress the child.
The baby rattle dropped from her hand and dev bent down to pick it.
" excuse me nurse, she dropped something."
When the child turned around, it was for the first time he got a look at her. Kneeling down and holding the rattle out, dev forgot what he was supposed to do next. The wind completely knocked out of him. There were no words...just a complete state of disbelief and confusion. Because if he didn't know better, he would have thought that he was looking into the face of ... Her.
A terrible thought struck him and he at once barged into the room where the child's mother and neil's wife was being treated.
The doctor's head shot up and he snapped at Dev. " how dare you enter like this?" The words fell on deaf ears as dev continued to walk in. With every step his heart pounded inside his chest and his breath laboured. Panic crawled all over him.
Oh god please it should not be her played in his mind. He couldn't imagine to see her in such a state. Punish him in the most horrible way but not like this. He wouldn't be able to take it.
On reaching the edge of the bed, his heart which was remorseful... His heart which was shameful of his past... His heart which didn't deserve to be loved...ceased to beat.
His eyes froze on her face which was pale , weak and bandaged.
His mouth went dry as he whispered, " Sonakshi."
He failed to recall when was the last time he had taken her name because his mind had stopped functioning. His worst fear was lying in front of him.
" do you know her?"
Without taking his eyes off her, Dev replied, " yeah, she's my ..."

Thanks for reading

Rose