The Shattering Tale (Dark)(On Pause)

20. How dare you?

"No.... No..... No...." he murmurs while sleeping.

Sonakshi, who was in the kitchen in search of water, hears him.

"Dev...." she rushes into his room.

"No...no....please...." he was shivering, his eyes were closed, and he was so restless.

"Dev relax" she hesitates but manages to hold his hand.

"Noooo....." he jerks and sits up. And looks at Sonakshi, who was feeling so awkward.

"I'm sorry-" she tries to speak. But realizes that Dev wasn't actually looking at her. His hands were shivering, his lips were trying to speak but he breathes were running very rapidly.

It was a panic attack, she realizes.

"Devv..." she grabs his cheeks to make him look at her. "Dev relax.... It's me..." she shakes his cheeks.

His terrified eyes were teary.

"Dev.... Dev please look at me.... You are fine..... Everything is fine....."

"Noooo...." he screams and cries.

She jumps on his bed and rubs his shoulder, "Dev.... Everything is fine.... Look at me"

"Don't.... Don't kill her....." his voice was shaky and hard to understand.

She grabs his face and dugs it in her neck, "Sshhh..... No one will kill you...." she rubs his back and keeps him in a tight hug.

"He'll kill her....." he was crying in her grip.

She was confused, thinking who is he talking about?

"Dev relax-"

"Don't kill her.... Please....." Finally, he breaks down in her grip saying, "I'm sorry". Sonakshi gets teary-eyed as well. "Whom are you talking about?" she asks. "I'm sor-" and he faints.

"Dev..." she shakes him and then realizes that he has fainted.

She manages to arrange him in his bed and decides to stay with him thinking, what if he gets the attack again?

*

The next morning, Sonakshi gets up and finds that Dev was tieing the tie around his neck and behaving normally. As he sees her, he says, "I think you forgot that we have separate rooms"

"How are you feeling now?" she asks.

He looks at her finally and walks closer to her.

"Why do you care?" he asks leaning over her and she takes herself back and realizes that she's caged in between his arms.

"Cause I'm a doctor," says she, hesitantly.

"But I'm not your employee anymore Dr. Bose," says he. His eyes were full of anger.

"Listen Dev.... I... I know that things aren't right in between us.... But I think.... I think you need psychiatric therapy."

"And who are you to decide that? My wife????" he yells.

"Dev... We can fight after you are cured.... But.... You need a psychiatrist... Please understand" she shouts.

"Shut up" he grabs her cheeks and harshly dug his nails in them. "You are just a stranger for me..... Don't you dare to act as your care"

"Dev, please.... Please understand... Last night... You were so weird.... You need a treatment-"

"Oh okay ..... So you pity me!" he laughs.

"No... It's not like that. Okay fine if not me, you can consult another psychiatrist isn't it?"

"I don't need anything. So just leave," he shouts.

"Dev listen-"

"Go" he shouts.

*

The same evening, as Dev returns from the office, he finds his house was decorated with candles.

"Happy Diwali," says Sonakshi, who was ready in a pink saree.

He smirks and steps near her. And says, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

She looks at him angrily.

"What?" he laughs. "Are you angry? Or surprised? Oh come on stop acting as naive" he taunts.

"You are so sick that you really need a treatment" she yells gritting her teeth and a lone tear falls down her cheeks.

"What? Don't you want to have the perks of being the wife of Mr. Dev Dixit?"

"Well... I would like to know what do you think?"

"I think that enough of your acting so naive.... I'm not seduced I'm sorry" he walks inside the house.

"Listen you" she grabs his shoulder and again, he flinched. And she noticed. "Don't you think you are overreacting?"

"Not at all," he says grabbing an apple and takes a bite.

"You are the one who betrayed me all the time.... But still, I'm trying to take the first step... Can you explain to me why?" she yells.

"Did I asked you?" he says normally taking another bite.

"Why can't you just cooperate? Why do you always have to fight for nonsense?" she grabs his collar.

"Why do you expect me to cooperate? Who are you? My ex-girlfriend, who left me when I asked you to? My ex-boss who never wanted me to live peacefully? My ex so-called doctor who can't even understand my sufferings? Or my present wife who's trying to show pity on me because of my nightmares? Or the independent and practical person who always thinks that I'm a coward? Or the one Who left me because of my cowardness? Or the one Who left me because you were ashamed to stand by me?" he yells throwing her away.

"I'm never ashamed because of you..... Trust me-"

"Listen Sonakshi, we really do not interrupt in each other's matters. Let the things go as it was going." saying so he turns to proceed to his room.

"Dev.... Your mamaji is dead" she screams.

A lone tear falls down his cheeks but he doesn't turn to look at her.

"You don't have to protect anyone now"

"I'm not protecting anyone so just shut up" he yells.

"You are protecting me and Riya..... I read your diary"

"What nonsense?" he yells and pinches her arms harshly.

"I'm sorry I know I should not read anyone's diary. But..... But Dev, please.... Please ask for help"

"Oh just shut up" he yells.

"Dev.... I'm sorry"

"Nooo..... Just.... Go away... He's not dead"

"He's dead and you killed him. Accept it"

He starts shivering in fear, his fists were tightening and his breaths were puffing in restlessness.

"That day....what has happened that day?" she comes in his front and realizes he was getting a panic attack.

"Devvvv" she tries to hold him but he pushes her away.

"Ggggooooo awayyyyyyy" he cries.

"Dev please.... Please.... I'm sorry....."

"He's alive...." he shouts. "He can't die...." he falls on his knees.

"Dev sshh.... Relax...."

"Nooo"