Truly, Madly, Deeply- a Devakshi story.

Conversations -day and night-2

The following morning at Ishwari House-- 8.30 am

Dev just about to leave for work.

Ishwari: " Dev aaj tu sham ko jaldi aayega? "

Dev: remembering he is taking Soha out:" Nahi Maa. Aaj nahi. Aaj late hoga. Par dinner main tere saath karunga."

Ish: "Toh main use aaj nahi, kal ghar bula lungi."

Dev: "kise?"

Ish: smiling: " Natasha ko, aur kise.. tu sun nahi raha kya? Tu toh us se mil leta hai par mujhse mile bahut time ho gaya."

Dev: "Maa, woh bahut busy rehti hai. Pehle pooch lena ki free ho tabhi usko aane ko kehna."

Later...Radha Rani who was listening to this exchange in the kitchen,(unnoticed by Dev) said to Ishwari .."Jiji... aap kuch zyada hi muskura rahi hai... main samajh sakti hoon aap kuch toh planning kar rahi hain...hain na...maine sahi pakda naa... Main apni Jiji ko khoob pehchaanti hoon...aap Natasha ko apne ghar ki bahu bana ke lanaa chahti hai na? Chailye jisko is ghar aana tha woh aake hi rahegi."

Ish smiling a satisfied smile: "Bhabhi ye planning sirf main hi nahin kar rahi.. mujhe lagta hai ki Mata Rani bhi Dev ke raaste khud hi banaa rahi hain aur humko us mein hastakshep nahi karna chahiye. Nahi toh Sonakshi ke jaane ke baad Dev ki life mein Natasha dobara aati? Aur dekhiye bhabhi ab woh kitne karib ho gaye hain."

Then she looked at the coarse features and over-eager and cunning expression of Radha Rani and her heart sank. If Radha Rani said something to Dev then all her planning might fall flat. She knew how much Dev disliked Mami and she also knew Mamiji had a tendency to stir up trouble. " Bhabhi aapko saugandh hai aap is baat ka koi zikr nahin karengi. Main is baar koi gadbad nahi hone dena chahti. " She beseeched. RR made an ugly grimace but kept quiet because they were completely dependent on Dev and her behaviour last time had already caused them to leave Ish House.

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Same evening Jatin's home around 8.30 pm

As Sona turned her key in the lock she hoped Dev would have dropped Soha and left- after all it was too late. She walked into the living room to find Dev sitting and chatting with her mother. They were laughing at something and looked in a good mood and there were three empty coffee cups on the table. Sona had had a tough day and felt exhausted and on seeing a fresh and relaxed Dev dressed in jeans and a red T shirt, she felt even more conscious of her bedraggled state.

Sona thought: Oh lord, I must look a sight, with my wrinkled saree.............. Huh? Really? Now I want to make a good impression on my ex-husband! The heights of desperation! How needy am I?!"

Sona: " Arre aap yahan? Mujhe toh laga aap Soha ko drop kar ab tak toh chale hi gaye honge."

Dev looked at her very keenly and wondered if she knew how transparent her desire not to meet him was. He thought "Ms Bose kam se kam jhooth toh bolna seekh liya hota paanch saalon mein. Par kyun? Kyun aap mujhse milna nahin chahati? Har baar main aata hoon toh us din aap zaroor late hoti hain."

She sat down on the lounge chair and kicked off her sandals." Soha kahan hai Maa?"

Asha : "Soha so gayi. Bahut thak gayi thi par bahut mazaa kiya usne. Mujhe Dev neeche hi mil gaye toh maine kahan upar chal ke coffee piyo. Tabhi main, Dev aur Jatin baith kar gappe laga rahe the. Tu bahut tired lag rahi hai, teri tabiyat toh theek hai na? kuch laaoon? Chai? Soup?"