Devakshi hired an auto rickshaw. The journey was draped in an awkward silence. There was still something going on in Sonakshi’s mind which wasn’t letting her meet Dev’s eyes. Dev was getting restless because of this unusual silence from her side. After a heated debate inside him he decided to ask her
Dev: Sonakshi…
Sona(Still looking down; not lifting her eyes):Hmmm
Dev: Are you feeling uncomfortable?
Sona: No
Dev: Nahi if you feel so tell me
Sona: I’m ok Dev
Dev: If there is any problem you can tell me
Sona: Thanks but I’m fine
Dev: Look if you didn’t want me to drop you, you should’ve told me
Sona: I never said so
Dev: If you are feeling uncomfortable I’ll get down you can take the rickshaw
Sona( finally looks up & shouts): BACCHE KI JAAN LOGE KYA? YE KYA UNCOMFORTABLE LAGA RAKHA HAI … MUJHE NAHI JAANA HOTA TO MAI BOL DETI… ZUBAAN HAI MERE PAAS…DEKHO (If I would’ve felt uncomfortable I would’ve told you. I have a tongue … see)
Sona sticks her tongue out and Dev starts laughing.
Sona: What Now?
Dev: What what ? Can’t I even laugh
Sona: Nahi haso zor zor se haso ravan ki tarah haso gabbar ki tarah haso… bolo HAHAHA (No you can laugh… laugh out loudly say HAHAHA)
Dev: Why should I?
Dev sits quietly
Sona: Now why are you sitting quietly?
Dev: What is it Sonakshi? What do you want? You girls are so confusing. You …..
Sona(Cuts him off): I am confusing! I am confusing!
Dev: Yes YOU are confusing.
Sona: If I am confusing then you are … you are … yes … Mr. Devrath Dixit Tumi eakdum IMPOSSIBLE… You are one rude person… Mr. Obhodro!
Dev: Sonakshi I could understand from your behavior the very first day that you are not from this planet but that doesn’t mean na that you’ll use your language on Earth. See if someone from ISRO sees you they’ll take you for research…
Sona(hits him with her bag): How dare you! How can you make fun of my language? This is Bengali. The sweetest language ever used by mankind, this is even older than Hindi & …
Dev: Oh! It’s older than Hindi even you are older than our civilization. Where did your parents find you? Harappa ki khudai me? (In Harrapa excavation?)
Sona: YOU…
Dev: YOU…
The auto came to a sudden halt. The auto driver who was red with anger shouted
AUTO DRIVER: UTRO UTRO ABHI UTRO MERE AUTO SE! SATYANASH,SARVANASH KAR DIA HAI MERE DIMAAG KA. PEHLE BOL NAHI RAHE THE AB BOL RAHE HO TO CHUP HI NAHI HO RAHE.GALE ME SILENCER NAHI HAI KYA. (Get out the two of you. You have roasted my brain. First no one was speaking now that you are speaking there is no end to it.)
Both of them got out of the auto. Dev took out his wallet to pay. Sona could clearly see change in his wallet. Then why did he didn’t give change to the flower seller?
Dev: Chalein? (Let’s go)
Sona: Where?
Dev: To open the chamber of secrets. Chalogi?(The ones who have seen/read harry potter would know)
Sona: Very Funny
Dev: Really? Then Haso … what did you say … Haso zor zor se haso gabbar ki tarah haso ravan ki tarah haso bolo haha
Sona first tried to act that she was really cross with Dev but the expression on his face was such that she couldn’t resist & she started laughing. There was something magical in her laughter. Seeing her laugh as carefree as a child made Dev’s temper vanish. There was something about Sona that was drawing Dev more & more towards her with each passing second. They were quite close to their homes so they decided to walk partly because there was no conveyance near by & partly because they wanted to spend more time with each other.
It was autumn, the fallen leaves of the trees adorned the roads. A subtle yet mystic fragrance of wet mud filled the air. The clouds were painted in shades of pink and orange. Tall trees on the sides of the road were dying to witness a fragment of this beautiful love story.
SONA’S POV
Ms Sonakshi Bose stop smiling like an idiot. How can I when he is with me? He stood up for me today. I thought that all of them left me to face the danger alone but no, he came, Dev came, all alone. He didn’t even care about his reputation. He just came to save me & defend me. Sona stop staring him it’s bad manners. After living a life full of hardships it feels amazing when someone stands for you. He is not that bad infact he is too good, so generous he gave extra money to the flower vendor so that he could fill his stomach & I … I’ve always been so rude to him. SONA SHOW SOME GRATITUDE… OKAY SONA YOU CAN DO IT… 1,2,3 SPEAK
Sona: Umm Dev… I was saying ….
Dev: Yes…
SONA’S POV
Don’t look at me like that I’m going weak in my knees
Sona: Dev
Dev: Hmmm
Sona: Uhh …aaa …clouds …. The clouds are so beautiful na
Dev looked at her & just smiled listening to her observation which came out of the blue.
SONA’S POV: Wow ! Clouds … very good Sona, tumse na ho paayega
DEV’S POV
Clouds are beautiful but have you ever looked at your eyes Sona they are the best things my eyes have ever seen. Mr. Dixit … control … but how do I control this storm of emotions that is running inside me. I don’t know what made me go to Lady Bacchan & tell that story. I wouldn’t have done this if even Jatin was in danger. Then why for her? For once, I felt that she didn’t care for my sacrifice but no she made everyone own up & take the detention. DEV YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO HER for being rude to her without any reason. Come on man up
Dev: Uhh Sona
Sona: Bolo(Speak)
Dev: ummm… aahh .. you ..
Sona: yes
Dev: Yo… Yogi Aadityanath … Yogi Aadityanath ka naara … bol raha hai … UP saara.. Vande mataram
Sona: Are you okay?
Dev: Noo… Yess … Yess
DEV’S POV: SHABASH! Mr. Dixit very good. Yogi Aadityanath where did he come in between? Tumse na ho paayega
They kept on walking. Dev spotted an ice-cream vendor & they decided to stop and have an ice-cream. They bought their ice-creams & sat on a bench near by.
Dev: Sonakshi… I need to say something.
Sona lifted her eye brows & asked “ what?” She still kept licking the ice-cream.
Dev: That day when I first met you in the bus I made a remark about your merit. I am sorry for that.
Sona stopped licking her ice cream & sat alert.
Sona: Go on
Dev: I was in a hurry that day you know I had to give a speech in the assembly & in my nervousness I shouted at you. From the very first day we’ve been fighting… that too without any reason and I want to end this Tom and Jerry relation of ours …
Sona: I’ve already forgiven you after what you did for me today. Thank You Dev! If you had wanted you could have left me with Lady Bacchan but you came back & took all the blame on your head. You even risked your reputation for me…
Dev: No reputation is important than you… & all my friends (He quickly covered up). Now that we are friends let’s follow the Salman Khan policy?
Sona: ??
Dev: No sorry No Thank You No formalities in our friendship
The moment was worth freezing still both of them got up, reluctantly & continued their walk
Hum jo chalne lahge
Chalne lage hai ye raaste
A ha haan
Manzil se behtar lagne lage hai ye raaste
Aao kho jaaye hum
Ho jaaye hum yun laapta
Aao milon chalein jaana kaha naa ho pata
Hum jo chalne lage
Chalne lage hai ye raaste
They were walking, stealing glances, smiling everything had in a fraction of minutes became magical for both of them.
Suddenly Sona saw something & screamed. She ran & hid behind Dev. She clenched his shirt tightly.
Dev: What happened?
Sona: There is a dog right there. It will eat me. Shoo it away
Dev: Eat you? Have you seen your size. I will not shoo it away. Why to disturb the poor soul
Dev had an idea he gently banged his head with Sona’s
Sona: What was that?
Dev: Now horns will grow on your head & you can fight with dog when it comes to eat you.
Sona was in no mood of joking. She still looked afraid.
Dev: Okay. Give me your hand
Without any hesitation Sona held his hand tightly & they continued their walk
Hoo… Aise kaise baithe baithe
Koi rasta naya sa mile
Tu bhi chale mai bhi chalu
Honge kam ye tabhi faasle
Aao tera mera na ho kisi se waasta
Aao milon chale jaana kaha na ho pata
Hum jo chalne lage…
Finally they reached Sona’s home… hand in hand … it was time to bid goodbye.
Sona’s POV: I don’t want to leave your hand Dev
Dev’s POV: please don’t leave my hand Sona
Still they said goodbye. Sona went inside her home while Dev continued his walk
CAUTION: ISHJOY AHEAD
Thanks for reading till the end & keep commenting
PS- Thanks everyone for all the ‘take care’ they really helped