"What I wanted to say is..."

Before Dev could complete, Ishwari's phone rang. Dev slumped down his shoulders in disappointment. Why everyone wants to talk to his Parents now when he is telling them something important? Ishwari attended the call while Dev dropped his shoulders in disappointment.

"Hello! Yes Rekha! How are you? Did your daughter like the pickle that I sent for her? Arey, it wasn't a big deal. Tell her not to thank me."

Till now, she was smiling and talking over the call and then suddenly, she got shocked.

"What? The maid isn't going to come today? The clothes are yet to be washed. This was the reason I told you not to hire her, but you didn't listen to me."

It was then she noticed that Dev was glaring at her. She smiled sheepishly at him and then her voice turned into a mere whisper.

"I'll talk to you later. Abhi main ek pravachan sunn rahi hoon."

Dev widened his eyes at her audacity to say this and she immediately corrected herself.

"I mean that I am in middle of something important. I'll talk to you later."

Saying this, she disconnected the call and looked at Dev.

"If you are done then can I start?"

They both nodded in a yes and he gave them a stern look.

"I request you to switch off your phones or put it on silent mode. I don't want any more disturbances."

They both nodded obediently and switched off their phones.

"What I wanted to say is that me and Sonakshi are completely different. I don't think there is even a chance for us in the future."

"How can you decide for the future? Let the future decide for you both."

Dev sighed as he heard Ishwari's words.

"Maa, we both are practical. We don't like to depend on other things to decide for us."

"Dev, enough of this. Take this tea. We will talk while drinking tea."

Ishwari handed him a cup of tea which he accepted gladly but then immediately spat out the tea when he tasted it.

"Eww! Where is sugar?"

"I didn't add sugar. Sonakshi had told me to cut down sugar intakes."

He slammed the cup on the swing and stormed in the House. He had had enough of Sonakshi rant! Ishwari and Ashok followed him and Ishwari stopped him by holding his hand.

"Devrath Dixit, you are not going to get away with this unless and until we have a proper talk."

She made him sit on the couch and he did so, irritated.

"Dev, listen to me. You have always listened to me, right? Then do so for one more time. Even if you don't want to, then atleast tell me the problem."

"Maa, she doesn't even remembers our anniversary. When it was our 2nd anniversary, she was busy partying with a bunch of famous comedians."

x-x-x

Dev was laid on his bed, thinking that Sonakshi will call him to wish them. But she didn't! It was almost 12 in the night and she didn't even message him once the entire day. He got a call from Sonakshi and he got excited. He sat on the bed and picked up the call.

"Hello! Sonakshi!"

He frowned when he heard a male voice from the opposite end.

"Hello Dev! I am glad you picked up the call. Sonakshi has drunk a bit and she is calling for you."

"Damn! Where is she?"

"I was dropping her to her House but she started puking, so we stopped at a roadside."

"Send me the live location. I'll be there soon. Till then, make sure that she doesn't hurt herself."

Saying this, Dev hurriedly disconnected the call and wore his shirt. He immediately rode his bike to the place and saw that Jatin, Sonakshi's friend was rubbing her back who was constantly puking. Dev hopped down his bike and rushed to them.

"What happened to her?"

Sonakshi heard him and squealed in happiness. She looped her arms around his neck and squealed excitedly.

"Dev! You are here."

Dev shook his head in irritation and looked at Jatin. Dev securely held Sonakshi from her waist who was mumbling something lazily.

"How did she get drunk?"

"We all were in Saurabh's party and she drank a little."

"You should have stopped her. You know that her tolerance level is not that great."

"I know but everyone was present there and it was difficult for me to handle her. That is the reason I called you."

Dev sighed and patted Sonakshi's cheeks, trying to keep her awake or else it would be difficult for him to take her to her House on his bike. A drunk Sonakhi looped her arms around Dev's neck and smiled at him.

"Dev! It's our anniversary today. Happy Anniversary to us! Happy Anniversary to us!"

She started singing while Dev shook his head in complete disbelief. A drunk Sonakshi was difficult to handle. He somehow managed her and safely dropped her to her friend's House as he knew that her Parents won't appreciate this state of hers.

x-x-x

Dev looked at Ishwari and Ashok who were looking at him, completely shocked. It was then Dev realised that what blunder did he just create.

'Shit! I wasn't supposed to tell them this.'

Before he could rectify his mistake, he heard his Mother's voice, laced with complete disbelief.

"Sonakshi drinks?"

"I mean..."

Before he could complete his sentence, his Mother again interrupted him.

"You too drink, don't you?"

"Maa, it's okay to drink sometimes. Everyone does."

"Since when did you start following people? My son always believed in being yourself, being different from others."

"Maa, you won't get anything. Even though we live in a huge metropolitan city, you still behave as the same 4th fail village woman."

Dev didn't realise what he said in the heat of the moment until he saw the hurt look on his Mother's face. Sonakshi would have slapped him hard had she been present here.

"Maa, I am..."

Without waiting for his statement, Ishwari went to the kitchen. Dev covered his face with his palms, regretting whatever he did. Ashok sat beside his son with a sigh.

"I agree that your Mother belongs to the old village and still has that thinking, but still she has accepted the modern day concept called girlfriend. I know I don't need to explain anything to you because you are a smart boy. I am sure that you realise your mistake and rectify it before it's too late."

Saying this, Ashok went to the lawn while Dev kept thinking about his words. Did he mean about his recent way of talking to his Mother or something else? Did he mean about Sonakshi?

***

Sonakshi was packing her bag when her eyes fell on a photoframe of her, Dev and his Parents. She smiled fondly as she remembered the day of her engagement.

Everyone was so happy at that day, especially his Parents. They were so happy that their child has finally found a smart and beautiful girl for him.

Ishwari loved her as if she was her very own daughter, maybe even more than Dev which usually made him jealous. She chuckled as she thought about one such incident.

x-x-x

"Aunty, this was not needed. I like vegetarian food as well."

"Come on, Sonakshi. You are marrying my good for nothing son. I can atleast do this much for you."

Dev glared at both of them on hearing this while they both chuckled. Dev had invited Sonakshi first time to his House and Ishwari had prepared non vegetarian food for her. She was strictly against eating meat in her House but when Dev said that Sonakshi loves non veg, she couldn't control herself from preparing butter chicken for Sonakshi.

"Maa, you have never made anything of my choice when I said so. But for Sonakshi you made chicken."

"Someone is jealous."

Dev rolled his eyes at his Mother while Sonakshi and Ashok chuckled.

"Sonakshi, you haven't started eating yet. Have this and tell me how it is."

Sonakshi nodded at Ishwari and all of them had their lunch while talking and laughing. After the lunch, Dev was showing around the House to Sonakshi.

"Someone was having fun laughing at my expense."

Sonakshi looked at her and smiled in her cheeks.

"Because I never knew that you were this cute in childhood. God! You have wore a frock and clicked the picture. That was so funny."

She started laughing at him and he mimicked her. When her laughter didn't stop, he walked closer to her and her laughter ceased. She walked backwards till her back touched the wall. He rested his hands on her either side and leaned towards her.

"Now let me have my fun."

Whispering this, he brushed his lips on hers. She clutched his shirt and he dropped a kiss on her nose. She would have fallen if she was not standing by the wall. He was about to place his lips on hers but heard Ishwari's voice and Sonakshi gently pushed him away. She ran away from there while giggling while he kept looking at her retreating figure with a shy smile on his lips.

x-x-x

Sonakshi sighed as she was brought out of the memories by the notifications on her phone. Life was perfect! Just perfect for both of them when she got the offer to join a famous group of stand up comedians to perform. Dev was also excited for it and had cheered hard for her when she was performing on the stage.

Because she was preparing for it, she had mistakenly ignored him for a few days. But he acted as an absolute sweetheart at that time and even told her that it was okay to give sometime to her passion, her job.

She sighed as she kept the photo frame in the suitcase and caressed it once. She wanted to live these moments but she wasn't going to Dev unless and until he comes to her.

***

Dev walked to the kitchen and saw Ishwari preparing tea for everyone. He hugged her from back and placed his head on her shoulder.

"I am sorry, Maa. I didn't mean that. I was angry and I didn't realise what I said. Sorry."

Ishwari smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. He broke the hug and she turned around.

"It's okay. I know my little boy cannot hurt me knowingly. Listen, the sugar is not in the House. I am giving you this money. Get a packet of sugar and a chocolate for yourself."

Saying this, Ishwari gave him some money and smiled at him. He smiled back and left the kitchen after kissing her forehead. Ishwari sighed as she looked at his retreating figure.

Dev's life would be messed up without Sonakshi and she was able to see the effect on him just within a span of 12 hours. How will he spend his entire life without her?

No matter what, she will try her hard to patch up the two. They were indeed soulmates. How can they separate because of just a small argument?

She was determined to make things right between the two of them and she would need Ashok's help in this.