Devakshi One-shots/Drabbles/Short stories

Building bridges (Part 7)

Sonakshi stared out the window in her office, sipping a cup of coffee. Her life had been such a whirlwind these past few months. She had come to Delhi after seven years, bought an office space, met Dev again, got back with him and set up a little world. Things were finally somewhat settled in her life. Did she want to jostle this boat?

Dev's mother's words from the other day bothered her. Sonakshi knew Dev and his mother had always been close, from the time she first met him. He would do anything when it came to his mother. He had gotten her fired from her job, he had broken up with her and he had thrown her out of his house. All for his mother. His mother always came first for him. He could live his entire life in misery as long as his mother was happy and this aspect of absolute devotion towards her defined Dev Dixit. Sonakshi had always accepted this. In fact, she had fallen for him seeing how caring and loving he was towards his mother and family.

In these past years, he had broken off that closeness with his mother because he had been angry with her about the prenup, considering it a betrayal. However, ever since he found out about that rogue Khatri and the gold bangles, Dev had been feeling extremely guilty about his mother, guilty that he had remained ignorant of her troubles, her worries, the desperation that she had been through for him and their family. No matter how hard Sonakshi tried to make him understand that it wasn't his fault, that he had only been a child, he still held himself responsible.

Now, Dev visited his mother every day, spent quality time with her, made sure she had her medicines. But at the end of the day, he always returned to her, to their apartment. She wondered if he regretted that? She wondered if he thought about moving back to his house, where his mother was. Probably. Although he hadn't mentioned moving back there with her at all. She wondered why?

But what about her? Did she want to live there with his family? The very thought brought a coldness to Sonakshi's entire being. Her association of a lot of her heartache was with Ishwari Niwas, even though now she was on much better terms with his mother. They had started spending a lot of time together and she really enjoyed his mother's company. Even before their marriage broke, there had been many happy moments too, but unfortunately, the few bad ones always marred the many good ones.

Sonakshi tried to imagine how it will be, if they moved to his family home. Would moving to Ishwari Niwas be a good idea, especially since Dev hadn't initiated this discussion at all? Would it be good for Soha to go through another change, yet again? She wished there was some sign, some way she would be able to make a decision. Maybe she needs to talk to someone about all this.

Sonakshi picked up the phone to call her mother.

Sonakshi watched Asha rearrange the 'Post-it' notes with different bullet points on the white board. Her mother was in the process of writing a book and working on her manuscript. She had been wanting to do something on her own for a long time and she had truly found her calling in writing. Sonakshi was proud of her.

"Do you think this section should go before or after the second chapter?" Asha asked Sonakshi, holding up a 'Post-it' note

"After, Ma. I think it flows better that way, making the transition less bumpy. Ma, we are going shopping tomorrow, right?"

"Okay, let's put a pin on this note, this will be after this section." She changed the order of her notes. "I cannot go tomorrow. I have to go with Ishwariji to introduce her to Jaya aunty."

Sonakshi was surprised. "You do? You are spending so much time with her these days. How come?"

"Jaya aunty runs the kitchen that serves an orphanage. So, I thought, it will be great if Ishwariji can get involved in that. She is an excellent cook, it will be good for her to get out of the house and do something on her own. And I am just giving her company. Poor lady, she is so alone."