Truly, Madly, Deeply- a Devakshi story.

A call in the night.

11.00 pm same day--Dev calls Sona

Sona- "Hello"

Dev—"Hi Sonakshi" ( noticing her voice heavy with sleep)

Dev: "Thanks for having Riya and Nikki. They loved Suhana."

Sonakshi in a slightly curt tone: "Suhana loved them too."

Dev thinking she sounds upset: "Are you upset? With them?"

Sona: "Not at all. You forget they are important for me too. Why do you thank me? Just because you and ............ " she kept quiet, thinking how he just made her feel her as a sheer stranger, as if she hadn't shared his life for some months; as if his sisters were nobody to her.

Dev knowing that Sona had always had her own relationship with Riya and Nikki, separate from  him, and was friends with them and  not just through him:  "Yes I understand. Sorry. Is Suhana asleep?"

Sona: "yes"

Dev: "Sorry if I disturbed you. Just a small favour. Is it okay if I take Suhana home this Saturday for a few hours? Riya and Nikki will be there too. I think now Suhana should meet her Dadima."

Sona: speaking slowly but now alert..." I suppose it is okay. Er.. Dev...You will take care of her, no? You know she gets stranger anxiety in a new place and there will be so many people."

Dev: :"Yes I know that. I promise I will take care."......"And Sonakshi, don't worry, I wont let her face anything negative at all. Please trust me." He promised her with all the sincerity he could muster. He understood that her own experiences in his home and his inability to protect her was probably making her anxious. " And there is just us in that place now, no one else, no Mami or Vicky or anyone else."

Sona: "Okay. Just that she hasn't been to new places without me."

Dev: ( very hesitantly and softly), "Sonakshi,....Would you.... like.. to..... come too?" He held his breath waiting for her reply, knowing what would her reply be, but maybe by some miracle.....

Sona: Dev's words from ages ago ringing in her ears "Jab tum is ghar mein aa jaogi toh Maa tumhe kahegi ki mere bête ko samhalo","Tumhare bina, main is ghar mein ek din bhi nahi rah sakta"////and then his final words "Go away Sonakshi, get out."....Sona was quiet for a long time...."No." 

Dev let go of his breath in a soft regretful sigh. " I will pick up Suhana on Saturday afternoon, is that okay? You don't have to go to work on Saturday, do you?"

Sona: " Saturday? Of course....Oh ye... I just remembered....... I have to go somewhere on Saturday afternoon and I will be back late night........Sorry I wont be able to see you.... I mean, meet you. Good night."

"Phew... saved.." she thought,"I feel disturbed and anxious even at the thought of meeting him.Now at least I wont make a fool of myself in front of him."

"Again that haste, as if she cant wait to be away if I am there," he thought disappointingly. "Now she will make sure she is out of the house." Outwardly he feigned a cheer he did not feel. "Okay good night."

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To be Continued