Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga (Shot 18)

In the evening the Dixit house was all lighted and decorated beautifully. Everything was arranged according to Dev’s likes and dislikes. Ishwari and Nikki along with all their neighbours, who loved Dev a lot, had put in great efforts to make this day a memorable one for him. At the party all his childhood friends were delighted to see him again after such a long time. His success as a businessman had been the talk of the town. After all he was the youngest “Entrepreneur Of The Year” the country had seen till date. They were all happy for him. Every single person enjoyed the party to the limits, except for one person, the birthday boy himself. He did come to the party against his own wish, only for his mother’s sakes, did give back forced smiles to all the smiling faces, familiar or unfamiliar, but when his tolerance reached the point of saturation, he left.

He went to his room and sat alone in the dark balcony, which was lit up with moonlight tonight.

It was his birthday, all the pomp and cheer was only for him, to make him happy, to make him smile, but the void within him held him back.
Sitting in the spacious balcony amongst the hills and lilies and roses, he gazed at the star studded sky, as if searching for her presence among them.

Main agar sitaron se chura ke laun roshini
Hawaaon se chura ke laun ragini
Na poori ho sakegi unse magar teri kami

Main agar nazaaron se chura ke laun rangatein
Mazaaron se chura ke laun barkatein
Na poori ho sakegi unse magar teri kami

The cool breeze flowing past him, made him crave for the warmth of her hug. The vestiges of their last what’s app chat were still afresh in his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the board exams their chatting routine was restored to some extent. Though it wasn’t regular, but they were contented with even a little bit of it.
It was about a week before his JEE Mains entrance exam when they had this chat, unaware that it would be their last.

Sona: How’s Disha? All good?

Dev: We broke up! We aren’t together anymore.

Sonakshi was stunned at this reply of his.

Sona: What? Dev is this a joke? I mean, you were so damn serious about this relationship. You were so confident that you loved her. So confident of her being the “One True Love” of your life and now you say you’ve broken up with her. Why?

Dev: I don’t know! She always complained that we weren’t into this relationship equally, that I didn’t give her the attention she sought for, she felt like being a one-sided lover n all. But trust me, I tried my best to keep her happy, to balance this relationship. But it just didn’t work out.

Sona: So now what?? Got a new girl?

Dev: None.

Sona: Why?

Dev: Because of you!

Sona: Why? What have I done?

Dev: You’ve spoiled my love life! Every time I think of hooking up with a girl, whatever you said keeps striking me. You know…all that gyaan of yours…. “Love finds you, you don’t have to look for it”….” The right girl will come at the right time, all you gotta do is wait”…..n all that stuff! It just holds me back from getting into a new relationship….. And its all bcoz of you.

Sona: Stop blaming me…alright! Who’s asked you to listen to whatever I say? Duniya mein itne saare log hain, har koi jo bhi bolta hai maan lete ho kya? Nahi na…..toh meri baatein kyun maante ho??

Dev: Because I feel you’re always right.
You can never be wrong Sonakshi.
I know all that you say or suggest is only what’s best for me….that’s why. Even if I try, I can’t ignore whatever you say. I’ve learnt a lot from you and I can’t I can’t thank you enough for that.

Sona: Stop being an emotional fool now. Mera aashirwaad sadaiv tumhaare saath hai. You’ll find a great girl. Tathastu!✋

Dev: ??? Dhanyawaad Maate!!
You know when we weren’t in touch, I mean during the practicals n exams, I used to chat with my sister. I told her everything about you and even showed her the quotes and messages you had sent me.

Sona: Sister as in Nikki??

Dev: No dumbo….why will I chat with Nikki…we live in the same house…plus she knows you already…have some common sense!

Sona: Arre sorry baba…..which other sister of yours then?

Dev: She’s my cousin, my maasi’s daughter. We’re in the same class but she’s a few months elder to me so I call her didi.

Sona: Ooo…..so what did she say?

Dev: She said, ” Sonakshi is a very good girl Dev, she’s your BEST FRIEND in the true sense. Aise dost kismat se hi milte hain. Never loose her.”
She likes you a lot.

Sona: Is it?? Then I would love to meet her!?

Dev: Even she would.?

Sona: Dev!

Dev: Yaa?

Sona: I LOVE YOU!

Dev: ????????
I just got a mini heart attack!

Sona: You love me as a friend right?

Dev: Of course I do!

Sona: I love you as a man loves a woman.

When Dev did not reply for about five minutes, she read the last line she’d texted.
“I love you as a MAN loves a WOMAN”
She could very well imagine herself as a man….but imagining Dev as a woman made her laugh her lungs out. She almost tumbled down her bed thinking of how he would look if he’s dressed up in saree.

After regaining some control over her laughter she texted him back, guessing that he was probably too confused to react.

Sona: Kya hua Captain? All confused??

Dev: I just died twice?? Yeh kya tha?????

Sona: I Love You! (Says Shaheer to Erica)
You love me as a friend right? (Asks Erica)
I love you as a man loves a woman. (Says Shaheer)
EPIC PROPOSAL!!??? Hai na??
????

Dev: Epic….my foot!! This was really a very bad joke!  You must stop watching KRPKAB at once. It’s made you crazy!

Sona: Stop being so dramatic!! And no speaking ill of KRPKAB!?
It’s the B.E.S.T.

Dev: Yes of course?

Sona: Acha tell me something…. What if I had actually been serious about this….you know what I mean right?

Dev: Then I would have first committed suicide and then wondered why didn’t you tell this to me earlier.

Sona: What if I had said,” Jab mujhe realise hi ab hua hai toh main pehle kaise batati?”
(What if I’d said, “When I’ve realised it only now, how would have I told you earlier?”)

Dev: Phir toh is duniya ki sabse badi bewakoof tum hi hoti. I mean….we’ve been friends for over seven months now….itna time kaafi hota hai realise karne ke liye.
(Then you would’ve been the dumbest person on earth….I mean, we’ve been friends for seven months now…..that long of a time is enough for anyone to realise their love)

“You’re right Dev”, she thought to herself, “Itna time kaafi hota hai realise karne ke liye. Agar tum bhi mujhse pyaar karte, toh tumhe bhi ab tak realise ho chuka hota. But I guess aisa hai hi nahi….aur na hi kabhi hoga.
(You’re right Dev seven months are more than enough. If you would have loved me, you would realised it by now. But I guess you don’t, and will never even do)
But you know what the weirdest part is……I don’t even expect it from you anymore.
You were so confident that you loved Disha, so desperate to have Riddhima in your life, so quick to agree to Sheena’s proposal and all that you did in the end was to breakup and forget. If this is what love means for you, if this is how transient your feelings are, then I don’t want you to feel for me. I don’t want you to love me.”

…………………………………………………………….

PRECAP: The dawn of realisation!

P.S. The next two chapters will reveal the entire mystery lingering Sona’s disappearance. Till then thoda intezaar kijiye. I’ll post regularly so you won’t have to wait much. If you liked this chapter give in your comments and votes too. And ya one more thing…..don’t forget to send in a lot of love?.

Love you all!?????