Devakshi FF: Reaching Out

Chapter 10

Hi guys!

And sorry!

I'm late today!

Had to solve some issues, hence the delay.

But I'm here now, with Chapter 10!

Happy Reading!

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Devakshi FF: Reaching Out

Part 10

"Good morning Bhola Bhaiyya, Mr. Shukla ke medicines aa gaye?" Sonakshi asked Bhola, with a smile.

Bhola nodded and outstretched his hand which contained the packet, "Yeh lijiye Doctor Didi." Sonakshi took the packet and made her way towards Mr. Shukla's ward. It had been two days since she had a session with him. Reaching the ward she spotted him sitting on his bed and reading a book. She walked up to him, " The Notebook? Mujhey toh laga tha yeh romantic books sirf ladkiyon ke liye hota hai" Sonakshi said to him teasingly. Mr. Rishav Shukla was a man who never smiled. The weight of his misdeed had taken a toll on him. Hence he believed that he wasn't worthy of a smile. But Sonakshi was the one who had challenged him that she would make him smile again.

He merely kept the book aside and said, " Yeh meri beti ka favourite hai. Uski yaad aa rahi thi toh socha padh loon." But his face never expressed any emotion. He believed he was too broken to feel or emote anything. Sonakshi checked his pulse and eyes, " itni mehnat ki kya zaroorat thi? Ek phone hi toh karna tha." Mr. Shukla looked away, " Main ussey baat nahin kar sakta." Sonakshi sighed and sat down on the chair beside his bed, " Kyun? Apki beti aapsey bohot pyar karti hai Mr. Shukla. Aur aapki Biwi bhi. Ek baar unsey baat toh karke dekhiye." Mr. Shukla fisted his hands, " Kis muh se baat karun Sonakshi? Main unsey aankhein milane ke kaabil nahin hoon." Sonkashi clicked her pen and opened her pad, " Par who toh yeh bilkul nahin sochtey." Upon hearing this his head snapped to Sonakshi, " Tumhey kaise pata?"

Sonakshi smiled, " Bataungi...par uskey badle me aapko mujhey aaj batana padega ki usdin aapko gussa kis baat pe aya tha." Mr. Shukla looked conflicted. He wanted to know why Sonakshi said that but he didn't think he was ready to discuss the matter yet. "Sonakshi...mujhey nahin lagta ki main abhi bhi bata paunga." Sonakshi looked at him sadly, "Andar dabane se aap theek toh hongey nahin. Aur aapney kahan tha aapko theek hona hai. Ab kya karein, aap hi batao?" Mr. Shukla sighed, "Theek hai...bataunga. Par mujhey thoda time lagega. Dheerey dheerey bataunga." Sonakshi nodded, " Koi baat nahin. Mere paas aaj bohot time hai." Mr. Shukla observed his Doctor, " Kyun, tumhey ghar jaaney ki jaldi nahin hai?" He observed a change come over Sonakshi's demeanour. There was an air of sadness about her, "Nahin. Jitna late ho, utna achha" she answered almost absentmindedly.

"Jhagda hua?" He asked her. Sonakshi was taken aback. "k-kya? Nahin toh!" Mr. Shukla nodded his head knowingly, " Sab theek ho jayega. Zyada tang mat karna uss Dev Dixit ko." Sonakshi laughed a little, "Aapko lagta hai main unhey tang karti hoon?" Mr. Shukla shrugged, "tum toh sabko tang karti ho bak bak karke" Sonakshi laughed loudly at that and Mr. Shukla looked at Sonakshi satisfied, at least he could make one person laugh.

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Sonakshi stepped into the penthouse and dropped her keys into the bowl. Dev's keys weren't there. She was slightly relieved but the greater part was disappointed. She wanted to apologise to him properly. The last two days had gone terribly for her. After that night, Dev had gone out of his way to ignore and avoid her. Right after she had asked him, she regretted it and wanted to take it back. She had no right to ask him that question. It was his life. She had tossed and turned in bed that night. She had even gotten up extra early so that she wouldn't miss him and could apologise. But by the time she had freshened up and reached the drawing room, his keys were gone.