An Affair In Summer

12. 'Please Stay'

Dev peaked in Sia's room and saw Sonakshi sitting beside her still, reading, while Sia slept laying on top of her legs. For a second he thought Sonakshi minded, but when he noticed that one of her hands were stroking her hair, he smiled and knew she didn't mind sitting there at all.

Sonakshi looked down from her book at the child and then as she went back to the book she noticed Dev at the door.
"Hi, what are you doing at the door?" She folded the page of the book and closed it. "Come in."

He sat down on the bed beside Sonakshi and looked down at his daughter, sleeping peacefully. "You take care of them like a mother more than a nanny, Sonakshi." He placed a hand on top of hers and smiled. "You'll make an excellent mom someday."

"Let's hope." She smiled, but something inside her was uncomfortable. The hand that laid on hers was a friendly one, but she wanted it to be something different.
"Sanjana took everything with her?"

"Yes. Shivani checked twice before they took off." He took his hand back. "When did she tell you about the camp?"

"I'm sorry Dev, I wanted to tell you but I forgot with your mom's surgery and everything." She shrugged, pressing her lips together.

"It's ok. Sonakshi, your contract gets over in a week." He looked at her with a unsure look. "What are you doing after that?"

"Well I've looked at a few apartments and I'll start going to the office and start my column in October. Why?"

"Sonakshi you're going to have to live here until Mom gets better."

The truth hit her again, she had almost forgotten she was Dev Dixit's wife. "Yes, I forgot about that." A sadness and pleasure hit her at the same time.

"You can work at the same time that's ok, but you're going to have to stay here."
She nodded chewing on her lower lip again, something about the fact was disturbing her, she just didn't know what.
Sia shifted in her lap and Sonakshi looked down at her. She had to tell her that she was leaving soon. Sia was getting used to Sonakshi. She laid her down on her bed and pulled the blanket over her. When she turned her head to Dev, she found him close, very close.

Something tickled her in her stomach as an unexpected smile played in her eyes, while her lips stayed straight. Her arms felt like they were going to fall off if she didn't wrap them around him and her lips might have stayed that way if they didn't touch his right away.

He lowered his mouth to hers but before he could kiss her she turned her mouth and then looked back at him. "You won't avoid me for four days again, will you?"

"I don't think I should kiss you even if I wasn't going to avoid you."

She was disappointed at his comment. Why not? she asked herself. "Yes, you're correct." She picked up her book and looked back at him. "Good night, Dev."
She waited for a second, hoping he would kiss her. But he didn't.

"Good night, Sonakshi." He stood up and she walked away.

Shivani quickly ran away from the door and hid behind the curtains, with a frown on her face.

Sonakshi fell on her bed crying. What she didn't understand was that why was she crying? She wiped her tears and started to pull the blanket when there was a knock on the door. In anger she went and opened it, "What is it, Dev?" She was rude and annoyed.

He blinked absently and looked at her. "You left your cheque in my office."

She snatched in from him and ripped it, in front of his face and then threw it on him. "I don't think I should be paid for taking care of my husband's children. And if this is it all you were here for, you can leave."