Chapter 05
Drunken confession
The entire hall echoed with the sounds of clap as Dev and Sonakshi exchanged the rings. It was a simple ceremony at home with the Dixits and Dev and Sonakshi’s friends.
“Sonakshi, sirf ring pehnayi hai, isase hamari dosti mein kabhi kuch nahi badlega, hum dost pehle aur baki sab baad mein hai (Sonakshi, I have just made you wear a ring, this will not change anything about our friendship, we will always be friends first and everything else later)” Dev said to Sonakshi in a low voice.
“Pata nahi main itni lucky kab ho gayi ki tum mujhe mil gaye Dev (I don’t know Dev when I became this lucky that I got you)” Sonakshi thought and looked at him, he smiled at her and she smiled back.
*****
“Are you sure hume yeh karna naa chahiye, I mean alcohol (Are you sure we should do this, I mean alcohol)” Mishti said being a little doubtful.
“Oh Mishti, tu kitna sochti hai, itna sochogi toh enjoy kaise karegi (Oh Mishti, how much do you think, if you think so much how will you enjoy)” Kuhu said with her over-excited voice.
“Haa Mishti, Kuhu thik keh rahi hai aur waise bhi hum sirf itna chahte ki for once Sona sab kuch bhul kar enjoy kare, khush rahe (Yes Mishti, Kuhu is right and anyways we just want Sona to let go off all the baggage and enjoy, to be happy)” Keerti also said supporting Kuhu.
Mishti agreed even though she was still doubtful that instead of making it right, the alcohol could complicate matters.
“Par Sona ko alcohol denge kaise, directly toh nahi de sakte aur galti se kisi ko pata chal gaya toh hum gaye (But how will we give Sona the alcohol, we cannot give it directly, if someone finds out, we are gone for sure)” Keerti put forward a problem.
“Hmm, mere pass idea hai, alcohol juice mein milakar de dete hai, doubt bhi nahi hoga aur woh jyada alcohol piyegi bhi nahi (Hmm, I have an idea, we will mix alcohol in juice and give her, no one will doubt and she won’t drink much alcohol)” Kuhu said giving a solution.
Kuhu and Mishti walked to the backyard, they checked the place to be empty, and Kuhu took out the bottle from her bag. Keerti came with a glass of juice, Mishti added some alcohol, but Kuhu found it very less and added more, Mishti protested but the other two asked her not to worry.
“Chal Mishti, ab yeh Sona ko pila de (Go Mishti, make Sona drink this)” Kuhu said.
“Nahi, main yeh nahi karne wali, main uske saamne jhoot nahi bol sakti (No, I am not doing this, I cannot lie to her)” Mishti denied immediately.
“Yeh tum log kya kar rahe ho aur yeh toh (What are you guys doing and this is)” Kunal entered the place and said looking at the bottle in Kuhu’s hand “Yeh toh alcohol hai naa, tum log akele-akele enjoy kar rahe ho, not fair, mujhe bhi batate main aur intezaam karwa deta (This is alcohol right, you guys are enjoying alone, this is not fair, you could have told me I would have made better preparations)”
The girls breathed a sigh of relief hearing him.
“Yeh hamare liye nahi hai Kunal Bhai (This is not for us Kunal Bhai)” Keerti said and Kunal looked at her confused, “Yeh actually (This is actually)” and she narrated their entire plan to him.
“Oh God, tum ladkiyan bhi naa (Oh God, you girls)” Kunal said laughing “Waise acha hi hai Sona ka itna enjoy karna toh banta hai (But the idea is not bad, Sona should enjoy)”
“Kunal, kya tum hamari ek help karoge (Kunal, will you help us)” Mishti said and Kunal looked at her surprised.
*****
“Are pile Sona itna kya soch rahi ho, thak gayi hogi tu (Drink it Sona, why are you thinking so much, you must be tired)” Kunal gave the glass to Sonakshi “Sagai and all kafi exhausting hota hai (Engagement and all is very exhausting)”
“Sahi kaha tumne Kunal, sach mein kafi thak gayi hu main (You are right Kunal, I am really tired)” Sonakshi drank the juice but felt the taste to be little weird “Iska taste jara ajeeb nahi hai, kuch kadwa hai (Its taste is weird, something bitter)”
“Sona, tu diet follow karne wali ladki hai, tujhe main aise hi koi bhi juice thodi pila deta, yeh special diet juice hai, naya product launch hua hai market mein (Sona, you are a girl who follows diet, how could I give you any juice, this is special diet juice, new product launched in market)” Kunal said immediately making up an excuse.
Sonakshi did not think much and drank the juice, she felt a little weird but did not pay attention, she excused herself and walked away from there, while Kunal gave the girls thumbs up indicating their plan had succeeded, the girls became happy and came to him.
“Not bad Kunal, tum toh kafi smart ho (Not bad Kunal, you are very smart)” Kuhu said.
“Woh toh main hu hi (That I am)” Kunal raised his imaginary collars “Lekin girls we have to be careful, usne pehli baar alcohol li hai, kuch gadbad nahi honi chahiye (But girls we have to be careful, she has consumed alcohol for the first time, nothing should go wrong)”
“Nahi hogi, mera plan hai, bilkul hit hoga (Nothing will go wrong, it is my plan, it will be a hit)” Kuhu said smiling.
*****
Sonakshi was going towards the staircase, she was feeling dizzy from the time she had drunk the juice, she held her head as she climbed the first step, she was feeling dizzy she closed her eyes and opened them again, she put her feet on the second step but due to the dizziness she lost her balance and was going to fall down, but Dev saw her and saved her by holding her by her waist.
“Sonakshi, tum thik ho naa, kya hua tumhe (Sonakshi, are you fine, what happened to you)” Dev asked her concerned.
The others also came there and were surprised to see the scene in front of them.
“Lagta hai plan thik se chal raha hai, Sona, Dev Bhai ke saath hai matlab tension wali koi baat nahi hai (Looks like the plan is working, Sona is with Dev Bhai that means there is nothing to worry)” Keerti whispered to Kuhu, Mishti and Kunal.
“Haa Keerti, normal hi lag raha hai sab, Sona thik hi lag rahi hai (Yes Keerti, everything looks normal, Sona is also fine)” Mishti said looking at Dev and Sonakshi.
“Yeh Sona ko kya ho gaya (What happened to Sona)” Ishwari asked Abir and Naksh who were standing beside her.
“Pata nahi Maa (I don’t know Maa)” Abir said while Naksh also nodded his head in negative.
“Sonakshi meri baat maano chalo yaha se (Sonakshi, listen to me let us go from here)” Dev tried again but she was stubborn and did not move from her place.
“Nahi, nahi, nahi, kyun hamesha main tumhari baat kyu sunu, kabhi toh meri baat bhi sun liya karo (No, no, no, why should I always listen to you, you should also listen to me)” Sonakshi said looking at him.
“Sonakshi” Dev tried to say something but Sonakshi put her finger on his lips “Sshh”
The others were surprised to see Sonakshi.
“Dev” Sonakshi smiled but then nodded her head in a negative “Nahi Dev nahi, tum Abir ho (No not Dev, you are Abir)” she chuckled but then nodded her head in a negative again “Nahi Abir nahi, tum Dev hi ho (No not Abir, you are Dev)” she looked at him and smiled “Dev, Abir, Abir, Dev, kitna confusion hai meri life mein (Dev, Abir, Abir, Dev, so much of confusion in my life)” she said looking at him.
As everyone heard her, they looked at each other.
“Sonakshi, tum thik nahi ho, mere saath chalo tumhe aaram karna chahiye (Sonakshi, you are not fine, come with me, you should rest)” Dev said trying to make her stand properly.
“Tum pakka Dev hi ho pata hai kyu (You are Dev only, you know why)” she asked him “Kyun ki Dev hi meri itni parwah karta hai, Abir ko toh koi farak hi nahi padta (Because only Dev cares for me so much, Abir doesn’t care)” she became quiet and looked at him.
Abir felt a sharp sting in his heart hearing her.
“Sonakshi, bohot ho gaya yeh sab, chalo yaha se (Sonakshi, enough now, come with me)” Dev looked at Abir as he tried again to take Sonakshi but she did not move, he looked at his mother asking her for help.
“Sona, beta chal naa tu thak gayi hai naa, ab aaram karte hai (Sona, you must be tired, go and take rest)” Ishwari walked to Sonakshi and tried to take Sonakshi.
“Nahi Bua, main bilkul thik hu (No Bua, I am completely fine)” Sonakshi smiled at Ishwari.
“Jiska daar tha wahi ho raha hai, pata tha mujhe gadbad jaroor hogi (I knew something would go wrong, I was fearing something like this would happen)” Mishti said looking at Sonakshi.
“Mujhe laga tha Sona apna dukh bhul jayegi aur khush hogi par yaha toh (I thought Sona would forget the pain and will be happy but here)” Keerti said looking at Sonakshi.
“Bua aap, Dev, Keerti kitna pyaar karte ho mujhse, kitna dhyaan rakhte ho mera (Bua you, Dev, Keerti love me so much, care for me)” Sonakshi said looking at Ishwari “Maa aur Papa ke jaane ke baad mera kitna dhyaan rakha, mujhe sambhala, apni family ka hissa banaya (After Maa and Papa left me, you took care of me, supported me, made me a part of your family)” she said as tears collected in her eyes, “Aur main, main kitni buri hu, hamesha aap sab ko pareshan karti rehti hu (And I, I am so bad, I always bother you all)” she said as a tear rolled down her eye.
“Sonakshi aisa kuch nahi hai, tum hume bilkul pareshan nahi karti ho (Sonakshi, there is nothing like that, you don’t bother us)” Dev said wiping her tear.
“Sabse ache to tum ho Dev, sabse jyada toh maine tumhe pareshan karti hu phir bhi tum mujhse naraaz nahi hote ho (You are so good Dev, I bother you the most yet you never become upset with me)” She said looking at him, “Kyun Dev, kyun ho tum itne ache (Why Dev, why are you so good)” she tried to stand properly but slipped, Dev held her and helped her “Bachpan se lekar aaj tak tumne hamesha mera dhyaan rakha hai, hamesha meri parwah ki hai aur maine, maine kitna galat kiya hai tumhare saath (From childhood till today you have always cared for me, and I have done wrong with you)”
“Nahi Sonakshi (No Sonakshi)” Dev tried to talk but she signed him to keep quiet.
“Nahi Dev, bolne do aaj mujhe (No Dev, let me speak today)” She said looking at him “Tum hamesha mere saath rahe, meri har problem solve karne ki sari koshishein ki aur main, main hamesha apne hi baare mein sochti rahi, hamesha apni khushiyon ke baare mein socha, us insaan ke baare mein socha jisase main pyaar karti thi (You were always with me, solved all my problems, and I always thought about myself, about my happiness, and about that person whom I loved)” she said looking at Abir, who was also looking at her.
Hearing Sonakshi, Mishti also looked at Abir.
“Jab ki mujhe toh uske baare mein sochna chahiye tha jo mujhse pyaar karta hai (When I should have thought about the person who loved me)” Dev looked at her shocked hearing her words “Kya hua, itna shock kyu ho rahe ho, tumhe kya laga Dev tum bataoge nahi toh mujhe kabhi pata nahi chalega (What happened, why are you so shocked, you thought I would never know)” Dev did not know what to say “Tumne kabhi kaha nahi, par tumhare har action se main samajh jaati thi, par phir bhi kuch nahi kehti thi, kyun ki main toh kisi aur se pyaar karne mein itna ghum ho gayi thi ki (You never said it, but your actions did, but I never said anything because I was so lost loving someone else)” She could not complete as tears flowed from her eyes, she sat down on the floor while Dev also sat down with her, she hugged Dev tightly “Kyu hu main itni buri Dev, kaise ban gayi main itni buri, itni selfish kaise ho sakti hu main, Abir ke pyaar mein main itna ulajh gayi ki tumhare pyaar ko nazarandaaz karti rahi (Why I am so bad, how could I be so selfish, I was so lost in Abir’s love that I ignored your love)” she cried hugging him “Aur itna sab kuch hone ke baad bhi, jab Abir ne mere pyaar ko accept nahi kiya, mera dil tut gaya tab bhi, tab bhi tum hi mera sahara bane, tab bhi tumne hi mujhe sambhala (And even after everything, when Abir did not accept my love, when my heart was broken, you took care of me)” she cried more “Dev, tum itne ache ho, tum mujhse kayi guna better life partner deserve karte ho phir bhi tumne mujhse shaadi karne ke liye haa ki, kyu Dev, kyu ho itne ache (Dev, you are so good, and deserve a much better life partner than me yet you agreed to marry me, why Dev, why are you so good)”
Sonakshi stopped speaking and Dev realized Sonakshi had fallen unconscious, he picked her up in his arms “Iss baare mein baki baatein kal hongi (We’ll talk about this tomorrow)” he said looking at Keerti and Kunal who knew Dev had understood what had happened “Aur haa agar Sona ko kal subah kuch yaad na rahe toh koi bhi use kuch nahi batayega (And also if Sona doesn’t remember anything about this, no one will tell her anything)” he said in a commanding tone and others nodded, he looked at Abir signing an apology and walked up the staircase.
Abir looked at his mother once and walked away.
Ishwari turned to the others “Raat kafi ho chuki hai, tum sab bhi jaake so jao (It is late now, you all also go and sleep)”
They all nodded and walked away from the place.
*****
Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!