DevAkshi FF: Dreams And Desires DISCONTINUED - Page 6

Chapter 2

Sitting in the doctor's cabin, dev was twiddling his thumbs as the doctor briefed him regarding sonakshi's condition.
" the next 72 hours are crucial for your friend. She needs to gain conscious otherwise.."
" otherwise what?" dev asked through gritted teeth. The doctor sitting across him had no idea what dev was going through, the image of bandaged sonakshi was not leaving his mind and here this doctor was talking in riddles.
" otherwise we are afraid that she might slip into coma and then nothing much will be left in our hands."
dev slammed his palm on the table, startling the doctor.
" hire the best doctors, give her the best possible medical treatment. If required I can take her abroad. Don't worry about the expenses , I'll pay for everything but save her damn it... Save her at any cost." dev tried keeping his voice even and not scream like he wanted to so he didn't scare the doctor.
" Mr. Dixit please calm down. We are doing our best but at the end of the day we are not Gods. Somethings are beyond our control, you need to understand." The doctor stood up and pressed dev's shoulder. " pray to the almighty that she opens her eyes soon."
dev inhaled sharply, the doctor was right, his millions couldn't possibly wake up sonakshi. It frustrated him to think how helpless he was . He couldn't do anything for her.
The next few minutes he sat alone in the cabin pondering over sonakshi's state. As of now he couldn't do much to change the present awful situation except just being by her side.
He called up aman again.
" cancel my appointment... Do as I say! If Dadi asks about me then tell her that I'm in Mumbai for work. And listen one more thing, there's, no there was this guy neil nakhotia, I want complete information about his family and background. As Soon As Possible ."
Disconnecting the call he headed out of the cabin only to stop at the sight of sonakshi's daughter( sonakshi's daughter, it sounded strange) who was still sobbing. Moving close to the child he said, " come here shona." He scooped her out of nurse's arms and held her. He was surprised how easily she came to him. The nurse was more than relieved to hand her over and left silently.
He walked back and forth, rubbing her back and trying to soothe her. He shook his head in disappointment, he didn't even know her name.
A ward boy was passing by.
" can you arrange a crib for her in that room?" The ward boy nodded.
Mustering all the courage dev once again stepped inside sonakshi's room. It was heartbreaking to see someone who he loved once was today in such a painfully terrible state.

But this was not about him, her daughter needed to see her mother.
As soon as the baby saw sonashi she stopped crying and started jumping in dev's arms, eager to go to sonakshi.
dev lowered the baby and placed her next to sonakshi. The baby immediately started to pull sonakshi's arm.
Standing at the edge of the bed , dev gazed at both of them. He still couldn't believe that sonakshi had a child and that too from neil!

Had he broken her so much that she ended up being with neil?
What made her marry him?
Suddenly he was so jealous of neil. What had he done to deserve a wonderful wife like sonakshi and an equally beautiful child?
He didn't have to wait long, his heart shot back, neil had just not committed one mistake that he had in his past. dev shut his eyes in deep regret. One night...One action by him and he screwed up everything between him and sonakshi. Unknowingly he had ruined their love and their lives.
Glancing at sonakshi he wondered, would she ever forgive him?
Had he himself forgiven and forgotten everything?
NO
Then how could he expect the same from her?
The ward boy wheeled in the crib and brought dev's guilt trip to a halt.
The baby was now quiet. He carefully picked her up and placed her in the crib. She'd fallen asleep with her finger in her mouth and tears still clinging to her eyelashes. The sight just broke him from within.
Pulling a chair he sat down near the bed. After so long he was this close to sonakshi. Though secretly he always wished to see her but lacked the guts to face her.
And today from nowhere he was seeing her and that too in such a miserable state. His gut twisted, it was his fault that she was in the straits she was in. Today he so badly wished that he could turn back the clock and erase that fateful night from their lives.
Tears of pain and guilt welled up in his eyes as he softly whispered, " please sonakshi don't torment me like this, wake up, if not for me then for your daughter."

She failed to hear him. As though she didn't wish to listen to him, didn't wish to look at him. Instead wished to shut him off and sleep peacefully.

He wondered what she was dreaming about? Usually he'd be so wrapped in his own head that he'd forget that the people around him all had complex thoughts as well. He'd never much cared before. They were welcome to the privacy of their own thoughts, and he'd stick with his.

Now, he wished he could peer into her head. He wanted to know what she was thinking, what she was feeling. Did she hate him? He hoped not but he wouldn't be surprised if she did. Because in all honesty , he was worthy of her hatred.

Time was ticking away and there was no movement from her side. But he wouldn't let her go.

Not this time.

He'd hold on to her.

He peered down at her hand that was connected to the iv . He always loved her hands, delicate, slender and beautiful.
Hesitantly he took her hand in his. They perfectly fitted in his and still felt the same...tender and baby like.
He couldn't stop himself from remembering the first time he had held her hand.

Flashback

While entering the college, dev glanced at his watch, he still had around twenty minutes on his hands before his class started. He could quickly grab a sandwich from the canteen. He woke up late and was now starving. His night shift at the BPO ended during the wee hours of the morning. Yes he worked at a call center because he had no other option. His financial condition was such that he needed to earn and study side by side. He had been doing it for the last five years. Ever since he landed up in Delhi he knew he had to survive on his own. His Dadi and sister had supported him in his schooling but after that he wished to stand on his own feet. As much as he dreamed of going to US for his master's degree, his pocket didn't allow him to do so.
So here he was pursuing his MBA degree from Delhi's top most college... Which was also not bad. Just one more year to go and then he hoped to get a high profile job in some MNC. Setting up his own business was another dream that he desperately wished to fulfil, some day.
Right now dreams had to be pushed aside, he needed to concentrate on his present.
He hurriedly made way for the canteen when he spotted a small group of his batch mates whistling and clapping. What were these fools up to?
Depositing one hand in his pocket he saw them ragging a fresher, asking her to dance as they sang and cheered around her. Disgusting!
And who was heading this nonsense? Neil. It didn't surprise dev one bit.
He peered at the girl who was being ragged. With her head hung low she looked like a frightened cat.
" neil just stop all this. You know ragging is banned." dev raised his voice to make himself heard.
neil hated the sight of dev who always portrayed him as the bad guy and himself as the good one.
" dev why don't you mind your own bloody business?"
dev stood rooted to his spot and glared back at neil. Then his gaze shifted to the girl, her eyes filled up and lips trembled. She looked so innocent and vulnerable.
" let her go or else..." dev spoke through clenched teeth.
" or else what? We are not ragging her, we are just trying to know her, trying to be friends. Is that a crime? What say Miss?" neil turned to glance at the fresher who pressed her books close to her chest and without saying anything averted her gaze. It was her first day in college, co-ed college to be specific and it had started in a horrible way. After studying in a girls school she would have opted for an all girls college as well but unfortunately those colleges were very far away from her house therefore she had to take admission in this college for her further education.
She gulped the lump formed inside her throat. She was completely shaken up by this bunch of hooligans.
dev failed to understand that how could one be friends by harassing the other person. This was just a way of showing or imposing your superiority over the other person and he hated it.
" neil, I repeat, let her go."
Irked by dev's interference, neil stepped closer and pointed his finger at dev.
" you get the hell out of here." dev's intense gaze traveled at his finger before moving back to his scowling face.
He pushed neil's finger aside. " fine. I'll get out of here and report the matter to the principal, then let him suspend you for some weeks." dev showed neil his cellphone in which he had recorded the whole incident.
Flaring his nostrils, neil tried to grab the phone from him but dev moved his hand back and smirked at him.
Before walking away neil glared at the girl and dev. " one day I will get back to you." ( and he did) to which dev simply rolled his eyes.
Folding his hands before his chest, dev casually walked toward the girl who slowly raised her head and glanced at him.
" thank you." The words barely coming out of her mouth. She was so soft spoken.
dev smiled and nodded his head. " relax. There's nothing to be scared. If someone troubles you, go straight to the principal's office and complain. Mr. Bannerjee . Do you know where he sits?" She shook her head, she was yet to explore the campus.
" okay let me show you his office."
dev looked down at his shoulder as she silently followed him. She was a bundle of nerves so shy and timid around him.
" first year?"
She peered up at him, nodded her head then again dropped her gaze.
dev grinned to himself, he had no idea that he could make a girl so jittery or was this because of the ragging.
Whatever, he stopped outside the principal's door.
" Here you go."
She gave him a weak smile. She was grateful that he saved him from those students who were bullying her and then took the effort to show her this office. Without asking he had stepped in and helped her. Not all Boys were bad here, he was a good one.
She was still appreciating him in her thoughts when suddenly he surprised her. He stuck his hand out to her.
" hi, dev." Her eyes darted to his outstretched hand then to his smiling face. She knew his name in fact came to know when he was arguing with neil. She clutched her books more firmly.
dev tilted his head slightly and wondered, had he done something wrong? Maybe.
He was about to take his hand back when she slowly lifted her hand and held his. She swallowed hard. " sonakshi."
dev smiled, he blinked his eyes and softly pressed her hand.
He liked the feel of her hand. Didn't wish to let it go.
sonakshi, He also liked the feel of her name on his lips.
Unaware that one day her hand would slip away from his and her name from his life.

Thanks for reading

Rose