Had Sonakshi known the truth, she would never have stayed away from home so long.
Never have abandoned her friend. Never had let him be alone.
Because when the world was caring for the blind Reyansh, she was the one who should have cared for her friend, who was dying each moment in his guilt.
But such is life.
If we get caught in what ifs or buts, we'll never move forward.
So, Sonakshi did the only thing that made sense to her in that moment.
Be patient. Her profession required her patience and now, so did her best friend.
She waited on days at end.
What surprised her the most was the lack of anyone showing up.
She didn't expect Reyansh to come, he needed his rest. But his own mother didn't bother to come?
"So-" A voice came, hoarse, from the bed as Sonakshi's eyes snapped open.
" Dev! " She shouted, nearly tripping over her own feet as she ran over to him, pulling him into a hug... Then realising. He wasn't well. Gently extricating herself from him, she sat by, on a stool.
" Stupid. Stupid Panda! " She cried, hitting his arm as he sighed, laughing softly.
"My muse... Tell me.. What did I say to warrant this physical assault on my being? " He smirked, or well, tried to.
Sonakshi's eyes went wide as saucers and she sat up, ready to give him the verbal abuse of a lifetime.
" How dare you! You leave your home, go missing for months on end! Then end up in my hospital, acting like a crazed lunatic! I had to give you a tranquilizer to calm you down! And all you have to say is hi...." She shouted.
Dev's eyes grew grim.. But then he shook his head, laughing low.
" My dear Muse, " He whispered, " If I had any doubt that you are truly Hermione Granger born and brought up in India, it's cleared now. As for... My.. State. You needn't bother -"
Dev didn't even manage to finish the sentence when Sonakshi's hand collided with his chest.
"- you insufferable prat! I shouldn't care? My best friend turns up nearly dead and I shouldn't care! And what's with the I want it that way! Why didn't you tell me you liked me too! " She said, then slapped a hand to her mouth, realising her folly.
Dev's expressions moved from apathy, to confused, then.... Mirthful.
"Like me too? " He asked and she had enough.
" You Devashish have a lot to explain for. So don't you dare change the subject.
" I will do whatever I want Sonakshi. You cannot... Control my actions -"
" - cause Uptown Funk don't give it to you! Cause -"
"- Sonakshi -"
" Saturday night meet me in the spot-"
" Sonakshi! " Dev finally yelled, over Sonakshi's singing session.
" Lower your damn voice! We're in a hospital and I am your doctor. Don't you dare, " She said, eyes deadly as she looked at him, " You and I both know I have every right. You hurt yourself.... You didn't even tell me what happened? Is that all the importance I hold on your life? Didn't you even try to have Reyansh brought to me? But no. We're so selfish that we'll abandon our blind brother to an inconsiderate and uninvolved mother.
Did you know what he said when I called him? " She said, whispering the last part, her eyes bore into Dev's own defiant ones, which were cracking under the pressure of her rage.
" He told me...' If you find bhaiya. Tell him I love him' .. You found a brother like Lakshman, but for once I can say with complete disgust that you couldn't be his Ram -"
" - you don't know what happened. Stop assuming -" He began, softly.
" - all I know is my friend abandoned his brother when he needed him the most. You didn't even deign to tell me... I'm your best friend... " She whispered, willing back her tears as she saw her Dev reel with her words.
" I - "
" No... You need to understand Dev. Not everything can be solved by being a one man army. Especially when you are not mentally well yourself. Do you even know how scared I was, watching you being brought in, truly restrained? " She asked, her voice, low. Her throat ached. But was it from the tears she kept in or the screaming. She wouldn't know.
" I am giving you about three hours. Make yourself presentable and then we'll talk. I need you coming out singing Uptown Funk... Just like you always did... " She trailed off, eyes flashing with memories of their childhood.
" But today! Mumma! She's a girl! " A six year old Dev whispered to his mother as she dressed him, while Sona looked away, red faced.
" You'll be fine. Calm down. " His mother chided and she left him alone.
As he admired himself in the mirror, he had an idea.
" Too hot! Hot damn! Call the police and the firemen. Too hot! Hot damn! "
He sang, not understanding the words.. But it was his favourite song.
" You're hot? Do you have a fever? " The girl asked, perturbed and Dev facepalmed himself, hard.
" Alright... " He whispered, leaving, when he stopped, mid tracks.
" Did you say you like me too? " He asked, not turning around. Yet this time, his voice held a vulnerability.
" Yeah. I do... " She whispered to herself, but the confirmation was enough for Dev.
Author's Note
This chapter is written by @matsya_200406 and prompt is used in title for the chapter.
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