I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU

Commotion

At Ishwari Niwas:

It's been three weeks since things changed. Dev has stopped speaking to everyone. He just behaves so differently, he is not going to office regularly, he doesn't greet Ishwari or any elder before going out. When he's at home, his room's door is always locked and no one is let inside unless he had to help them with something. No one knows where he goes, what he is doing, is he even eating or not. It's like there has developed a wall between him and the rest of the world and no one is allowed to enter that. Everyone is worried for him, especially Ishwari. But there's nothing they haven't tried. Ishwari and Mama ji tried speaking to Dev to understand what he is going through, but he either pretends to be busy or gives short replies and avoids the conversation with them. He has insisted that none should talk to him about what happened that day or about Sonakshi. Dev's sisters try to go and cheer him up but nothing worked. And he didn't speak a single word to Elena since that night. He totally ignored her. Though he was behaving like this, he never stopped being responsible towards his family. Though he wasn't talking to them and personally asking them if they need anything, he knew what they wanted and fulfilled all their wants. Afterall, he's Dev Dixit – he will never fail in his duties.

It was a usual day, where Nikki has gone to college, Ria, and Vikki are gone to work. Ishwari was sitting in her room, near the window. It has kinda become her place, she sits there for hours- looking at the gate of Ishwari Niwas, awaiting Dev.

Mama ji enters the room with a tray in his hand. He saw his sister wiping a tear from her eyes noticing that someone has entered the room. Clearing his throat, he starts speaking in an attempt to keep his voice cool and normal. "Ishwari what are you doing here, sitting in a corner you didn't even come down to eat breakfast. You have to take pills after you eat" Ishwari let out a lifeless chuckle and said "What is the need for these pills if they are not helping me get over the pain in my heart" Mama ji understood what she's talking about but he didn't want to let his sister be like this. He says in a very happy voice "If you don't eat your breakfast and take the pills then Dev is gonna come and scold both of us" Ishwari turns to see her brother with gleaming eyes which has a tint of confusion. Smiling at the confusion of his sister Mama ji speaks in a soft voice "I know what you are thinking. But it's true kachori, Dev really cares for you. He always tells me to take care of you before going out. He never stopped loving you, Ishwari. He is just too hurt to show his love but he's still your Dev." A sense of relief fills Ishwari's face as a faint smile appears. She comes near her brother who is seated in a chair besides her bed. She placed the tray which he was holding, carefully in the side table and took her brothers hands. She chokes in tears as she speaks "Bhaiya, you really think Dev still loves me? You really think he has forgiven me? He will start talking to like before na? How can't he. I'm his mother. I've been with him his whole life and loved him with all my heart. Our bond is something which is different and unique from all other relations. He will come to me again and tell me that he missed his mother. Right??" Mama ji nods his head approvingly.

In Kolkata:

Sonakshi and her family have shifted to their ancestral house in Kolkata. It's been 20 days since they shifted and everything is slowly falling into place. Sonakshi and her brother are starting to find investors for their business and trying to build the base stronger than before. Despite being advised by her family to take a break, Sona stays late night and keeps working on their pitches and business plans. She tries so hard to cover up whatever she's going through but she knows it's going in vain. She tries to be normal and put on a fake smile and mask up her pain but her family knows her well enough, to not agree that she's okay. But she always avoids talking about Dev or anything related to him. She stays out of house most of the time and when she's at home, she talks about her plans to upgrade her business or how rude the investor was.

It was past 9 and Sona was not home yet. Usually when she's late she'll inform them but today she didn't and she is not picking up their call too. Bejoy has always been a supportive father who always let his children be independent and decide things by themselves. Though he is still the same, he has become over protective for Sona after what happened with her.

With each passing minute he is growing anxious and he calls out to Saurab "How can you leave her alone and come Saurab? You both went together right then why did you come back alone?"

Asha hands a glass ofwater to Bejoy and tries to calm him down "Saurab has told you already thatSona had an urgent work to complete. Maybe it's getting delayed over there.Don't get too worked-up Bejoy, she is not a kid. She knows her way --." 

Asha is interrupted by Sona as she walks into the house with a bag in her hand. "Yes baba, maa is right. See I'm back. Sorry I got delayed there and my phone ran out of battery so couldn't inform you" She hugs her dad and gives him a reassuring smile. 

 Bejoy looks at her with concern in his eyes, "It's okay beta. Are you alright? Why do you have to work so late, your brother is there to handle everything na, don't strain yourself so much" 

Sona stops Saurab who was about to say something, and puts her hand around Bejoy and says "Baba,I know dada is there to handle everything and dada is doing most of the work. And you know that I want to divert my mind and focus on our family and my future. So, I need to do it baba. You don't worry you all are there for me right!!"Bejoy nods his in affirmation and gives a defeated smile as he patted on Sona's shoulders. Sona's Dadi comes out of her room and calls out to her "Shona beta, you go up and change, your mom has made all your favourite food!" Her face lights upon hearing about food, that's when she realised that she hasn't eaten anything since the afternoon. 

In 15 minutes, all of them are seated in the dining table, ready to eat. Sona happily starts eating and continues to talk about her meeting with the investor. But suddenly she stops talking. Noticing that something was wrong, Asha asked her "Shona beta, what happened, are you alright? You aren't liking the food?" Sona nods her head and replies, "yeah maa, I don't know why, suddenly I feel nauseated. I don't feel like eating anything more. Maybe it's because of the long gap between my meals. I'll go up and take rest. You people continue eating, I'll be fine in sometime." Saying so she went to her room and lied down in her bed, feeling confused and sick.