"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK A WORD UNTIL 12 PM"

"What the fuck Sona! I have meetings. What am I supposed to do in the meetings? Sit like a dumb doll when people will come to greet me? I should have canceled the meetings instead," Dev shouted.

"Shh..." Sonakshi said and placed her finger on his lips to shush him.

Dev sighed in defeat. Dev gave her a pleading look hoping for some mercy.

"Don't you remember me begging for you to open the blindfold from my eyes?" Sonakshi raised her voice at him.

Dev clenched his eyes shut. He could still hear her screams.

FLASHBACK

"Dev, please remove the blindfold and untie me," Sonakshi said in a soft voice.

"Why?" He asked in a raised voice, "So that you can rush back to that Rubbish Roy?"

Sonakshi flinched at his tone.

"Dev. I am not feeling comfortable," Sonakshi said in a small voice.

"I feel like someone is choking my throat Sonakshi. You were the first woman who I liked. The first woman whom I wanted for myself and you, what did you do? You easily said, 'Dev, we should break up.'" Dev said.

Sonakshi felt guilt hit her heavily in her chest.

She felt guilty for breaking his heart.

He knew he had a broken heart but he forgot to notice that the one in front of him had a broken heart too.

"Dev please open my blindfold," She pleaded.

"Not until I get my answers," Dev retorted.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"So, I am not doing tit for tat. I needed my eyes at that time and now you need your mouth till 12 pm. Be happy it is not the whole day. It is just 9 am now. Three hours," Sonakshi taunted him in a straight voice.

"So..." Dev opened his mouth

"Shhh...No words," Sonakshi whispered

Dev groaned in defeat. He took a pen and a plain sheet of paper and scribbled something on it. He then held it up for Sonakshi to read

HOW DO I CONDUCT MY MEETINGS, SONA?

"That is for you to figure out Casanova," Sonakshi shrugged.

Dev felt frustrated. No one gave him orders except this wildcat.

Tina tapped on the door of Dev's cabin. Dev was going to open his mouth to say "Come in" but then clamped his mouth shut when Sonakshi shot him a glare. He dropped his shoulders in helplessness.

"Come in Tina," Sonakshi called out.

Tina walked in with two files in her hand.

"Sir you have a meeting with Mr. Grewal at 10:30 am and Mr. Ahuja at 11:30 am. Mr. Sapru canceled the appointment as his daughter is unwell," Tina informed her boss.

Dev nodded. Tina was confused at the lack of response her boss was giving. Hardly did she know how he was facing the consequences of the mistakes he had done ever since he had met his wildcat.

"Sir are you going to say something or do you have some speech strike or something?" Tina asked not concealing her irritation.

Suddenly, Dev picked up his phone and then as if on cue, Tina got a message. She checked her phone. There was a message from her boss.

DEV SIR:

10000 rupees will be deducted from your salary this month.

Tina pursed her lips. She did not want to lose more money from her salary. She just went and put the two files on the table and left the room without a word. Dev felt slightly bad for her. He was frustrated with Sona's punishment and he took it out on his personal secretary.

"What did you message her?" Sonakshi asked. Tina's wide eyes had not gone unnoticed by Sonakshi when she had read the message sent by Dev.

Dev gulped. Sonakshi was not going to take this lightly. She narrowed her eyes at him just like a vulture does when it goes to feed on a corpse.

"Show me," Sonakshi said placing her hands on her hips.

Dev picked up the phone and showed her the message. Sonakshi's eyes focussed on the screen after a few seconds and after a minute, Dev could see the evident rage on her face.

"Why?" Sonakshi gritted

Dev just gave her an indifferent shrug as a response. Then suddenly the door of Dev's cabin swung open and Arjun walked in as though he owned the place and his eyes shrunk slightly in fear as he saw Dev already present in his cabin before 10 am.

"Did the sun rise from the west today?" Arjun turned toward Sonakshi and asked her.

"Did you hit your head somewhere?" Sonakshi retorted crossing her arms at Arjun's dramatic statement.

"Woah! Calm down, Ms. Sharma. But this great big oaf never comes early to the office," Arjun said pointing at Dev.

Arjun closed his eyes anticipating Dev yelling at him and then being treated with a punch. After a minute, he saw Sonakshi trying to control her laugh and Dev, glaring at him but not making a sound.

"What the fuck is wrong with today!" Arjun groaned raising his hands in frustration.

He could not understand one bit of what was going on. 

How had Dev come early to the office? How was Sonakshi with him? How was Dev quiet when he had called him an oaf right in front of his girlfriend?

"Is this all a dream?" Arjun said out loud scratching his nape.

Suddenly, a sound of a smack was heard in the room. Arjun could feel his right cheek on fire. His right hand went straight to soothe the burning sensation.

If this is a dream, why was I slapped? Why did I feel a slap? Shit! This is real. Someone just slapped me! Who the heck did that? Arjun's brain tried to decipher the situation.

Arjun opened his eyes slowly and was faced with Sonakshi with her hands on her mouth and her eyes widened in shock.

Ahh, So Sonakshi did not slap me Arjun concluded Looks like my oaf friend did that to me.

He turned to look at the other person in the room and saw Dev giving him his famous I-am-Devil smirk. Arjun rolled his eyes at that smirk.

Suddenly Arjun's phone beeped with a message

DUMB DIXIT:

So, you see, you were not dreaming. Get used to the reality you oaf. I am sure my slap brought you to reality.

Arjun huffed at the message. Dev could not stop grinning at Arjun.

"Why the fuck are you not saying anything?" Arjun asked his friend who again stood mum.

Sonakshi started laughing.

"Are you both back together?" Arjun asked Sonakshi.

It had just been hours since he had helped his Devdas friend Devrath kidnap his love. After that, he had got one shock of his life. Suraj Sharma was a mafia leader. Sylvester.

"Oh yeah. About that," Sonakshi said, slowing her giggles, "My father has given me permission to marry Dev."

Arjun looked at Dev who gave him a big smile and nodded.

"I am so happy for you, oaf," Arjun said hugging Dev.

Dev frowned when Arjun called him oaf for the second time in the day, in front of his Sona. Arjun was gifted with a chop right on his neck for his behaviour. Sonakshi could not help but smile at these two stupid friends.

Tina tapped and knocked on the door again.

"Come in," Sonakshi replied.

"Um, I came to inform you that Mr Grewal is here for the meeting. I am escorting him to the conference hall, Sir," Tina said perfectly trying to completely conceal her fear that her boss might cut more money from her salary.

"Okay Tina," Arjun said, "I and Dev will be there in a few minutes"

"Okay sir," Tina said and left the room. 

"Now, tell me what the fuck is wrong with this idiot?" Arjun asked Sona as he knew it would be pointless trying to know the truth from Dev.

"It is his punishment?" Sonakshi replied

"What punishment? Why punishment? Why am I unable to connect any dots?" Arjun racked his brain.

"Because you are stupid and uninformed," Sonakshi said, giving him a sympathetic look.

"You are insulting me miss," Arjun spoke with fake seriousness.

"What will you do Arjun, sir? Fire me?" Sonakshi said comically that everyone in the room burst into laughter.

"I would not fire the candidate trained by Shekhar Sharma ever," Arjun said, "Your boyfriend would fire me from living if I did that."

"So, as you know, your friend did not really behave in a decent manner with me. Now if he wants me to marry him, I need him to right the wrongs he did. The easiest way is punishment," Sonakshi said, smiling at Arjun.

She adored Arjun and Dev's bond. Both of them could give their lives for each other. Most of her friends till now had only used her for their own benefit. There were only a few gems that she had met. Jatin Roy had been with her ever since she was two and was that joker friend who everyone had but he was her support rock just like her brother.

She had considered Anurag as a friend but had not let him too close into her life and secrets. Natasha had betrayed her in college and then she had become mostly introverted. There was just one more person who knew her inside out. 

"So what is his punishment? I am eager to know. If you want any help, tell me," Arjun said giving Dev a wide smile.

I will deal with you later Arjun. Dev cursed in his mind.

"Well, the punishment is he cannot speak one word till 12 pm today," Sonakshi said  

"Why are you so soft on him? You should have punished him by not allowing him to speak until midnight. It would reduce noise pollution for a day," Arjun joked.

You are so dead, Arjun. Dev said in his mind.

"I am not so mean like him," Sonakshi said, gazing at her Devil.

"Fine. I can help you. Let us get to the conference hall. Mr Grewal would be waiting," Arjun said.

Anurag was sitting in his office having a bottle full of wine. It had become a habit now. His sorrow of losing Sonakshi was unendurable. He had started to spend more time with his fiance Komolika Chaubey. She was a wonderful girl.

But she was not his Prerna.

He remembered Komolika's reaction when he told her about what Sonakshi meant to him.

FLASHBACK

"Anurag," Komolika had called out his name when they were in his room.

"Tell me Komolika," Anurag said not even sparing a glance at her.

"WhoisSonakshitoyou?" Komolika said in one go.

Anurag frowned as he could not understand what Komolika was asking.

"Repeat yourself Komolika," Anurag said now turning to face her.

Komolika took a deep breath. It had taken a lot of courage to ask Anurag the question that had been haunting her and making her feel insecure about her future as Mrs Anurag Basu.

"What does Sonakshi Sharma mean to you?" Komolika said slowly.

Anurag looked at Komolika with a glare. No one had a right to question him about Sonakshi. It was supposed to be him and only him who would know what his Prerna meant to him. But now, Komolika had found the courage to question him about the girl he wanted.

"What do you think the answer is?" Anurag gritted.

"I think you have not moved on from her," Komolika stated.

Anurag was stumped. He had been trying so hard in front of everyone to cover up his true feelings. He had even pretended that he was happy so that his family would be convinced that he had moved on from Sonakshi. He had accepted that he would be marrying Komolika. But that did not mean his heart would love Komolika. His heart just had one name for eternity Sonakshi.

"Well then, Good observation Komolika," Anurag said giving her a standing ovation and clapping slowly with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Why can't you love me as much as you love her?" Komolika asked

"Because she was the one who made me a human from a monster," Anurag replied "She has made Devrath Dixit into a gentleman."

"You were never a monster Anurag," Komolika retorted 

"Well, Komolika, you never knew me then," Anurag said.

"I can't imagine you as a bad man ever," Komolika said with disbelief.

"I was a bad man. I might turn back into one if you try to take advantage of my humanity too much Komolika," Anurag warned.

"Why can't you love me like how I love you?" Komolika yelled out.

"Because you are not a woman who can see my soul. You are not a woman who can understand how I feel. You are not a woman who values what has been given to you already. You keep asking for more," Anurag yelled back breaking the coffee mug near the table.

"Anurag!" Komolika exclaimed in fear as she saw Anurag's bloodshot eyes.

"Don't I look like a monster, love?" Anurag asked her, smirking evilly.

"You do," Komolika gulped, her eyes filling with tears.

"This is what I was Komolika! Sonakshi has been the one to tame me. You know, when my eyes had first fallen on her, my eyes were filled with lust. All I wanted to do was use her for my pleasure. But even after we had a marital contract, whenever I wanted to use her, her innocence stopped me. My conscience would tell me Anu you are doing wrong. You know I would stop. I started enjoying the small silly things she would do. She awoke a human in me Komolika," Anurag said with a small smile playing on his lips.

"Will you leave me for her?" Komolika asked.

"No. I have promised Baba that I will marry you. You will legally be my wife Komolika. I will legally be your husband. But remember one thing, crystal clear, my heart has only one name on it. Sonakshi," Anurag said.

FLASHBACK ENDS

After that, he and Komolika never touched Sonakshi's topic at all.  They were going to get married in a week.

He looked at a piece of paper that had a poem written by him.

If I'd never met you
I wouldn't feel the pain
Of losing your sweet love
I wouldn't feel insane.

But if I'd never met you
I wouldn't know the pleasure
Of ecstasy's warm gifts
And memories to treasure.

Now moving on with life,
I force a wistful grin,
Questioning what went wrong,
Wondering what might have been.

He sighed looking at the poem he had written down one day with Sonakshi completely clouding his thoughts.

His phone pinged with messages. He opened a WhatsApp group that had two unread messages.

STAJS:

Tangent: I am back in town. Let's meet up.

Jaguar: I have meetings all day. Can't make it.

Attila: I will be there late. After midnight.

Tangent: Sure then.

Anurag smiled to himself. Tangent was back in town. He could get Tangent's help to reach Sonakshi. One last time. To know whether she would hear his heart for once.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Dixit," Mr Grewal said shaking his hand after the presentation given by Dev's team.

Dev just gave him a sheepish smile as he shook his hands with him. He could not say 'Same here.'

"Are you alright Mr Dixit?" Mr Grewal questioned him.

Arjun and Sonakshi were trying to stifle their giggles. Dev did not miss that. 

Dev pointed towards his throat and slightly gestured that he was having difficulty speaking, after a lot of effort. Sonakshi and Arjun were watching Dev as if he was an elephant in the zoo. Their wide grins were nowhere near dropping.

"Ah, I understood," Mr Grewal exclaimed, "You have a bad throat. It's alright Mr Dixit. Take care."

As soon as Mr Grewal left the room, the other staff filed out of the conference room. It was only Dev, Sonakshi and Arjun left in the room. Arjun and Sonakshi started laughing. They laughed so hard that there were tears in their eyes. Dev watched them, anger flickering in his eyes. 

Soon, Arjun and Sonakshi stopped laughing and looked at the time. The clock showed 11:13 am.

"Only 47 more minutes are left Sonakshi. He has only one meeting before 12 pm," Arjun complained.

"It is Ok Arjun. This will be till 12 pm. Then a new punishment," Sonakshi said, giving Dev a grin.

Dev sighed in helplessness. What had he got himself into?

Sonakshi wanted Dev to learn through the punishments she was giving him. She wanted to convey to him that hurting anyone without a valid reason is not justified. And if you want to punish someone who has hurt you, you should do it with decency and dignity.

The meeting with Mr Ahuja went well. Mr Ahuja stood up to shake hands with Dev.

"Nice meeting you Mr Dixit," Mr Ahuja said.

Dev quickly sneaked a glance at his wristwatch. The time showed 12:01 pm.

"Same here Mr Ahuja. I hope we can crack more deals together," Dev said and shook Mr Ahuja's hand.

Mr Ahuja left the room. Dev turned to face his staff.

"OK staff, back to work," Dev said loudly.

It feels so good to be able to speak again. Freedom of Speech is the fundamental right of every Indian citizen. Now, where is that granny Arjun? Dev thought.

As the staff was filing out, he noticed his best friend trying to sneak out in the line too.

"Not you, Arjun," Dev called out, giving Arjun a devilish smirk.

Arjun stood at his place like a deer caught in headlights. He knew Dev would now not spare him and overload him with work. Sonakshi would escape from everything because Dev would not risk hurting his precious Mia Bella.

"Um Dev, I am not feeling so well. I think I will go home and take some rest," Arjun said.

Now again, there were only three people left in the conference room. Dev, Sona, and Arjun.

"You don't need to go home, Arjun. My hands have magic. They will set everything straight in you," Dev said menacingly.

"Not a word more Dev," Sonakshi stepped in to rescue Arjun.

"Sona, your punishment of me not speaking is done. Have I been punished 100%?" Dev asked his girlfriend.

"No, you are only 77% done," Sonakshi declared.

"Thank you for rescuing me Sonakshi," Arjun said "But what is with the weird number? 77? Seriously?"

"I will take care of you soon, Arjun," Dev growled at him.

"23% of your punishment is still left Dev," Sonakshi reminded Dev.

"Tell me, Sona, what do I have to do?" Dev asked her. He wanted to get this done with.

"You will have to babysit kids," Sonakshi broke the news.

"Kids!" Dev exclaimed. He had never been good with kids. The main reason for this was his short temper. He did not have patience when it came to anything. He was patient only for Sonakshi to realize his feelings.

Arjun's jaw dropped to the ground.

Dev and children! This is going to be interesting! Arjun thought.

"Sonakshi, I am not good with kids. Plus I have meetings," Dev argued.

"All meetings have been cancelled," Sonakshi informed him.

"What! You cancelled my meetings! How could you?" Dev shrieked.

Sonakshi narrowed her eyes at him.

"Fine," Dev surrendered.

"Good, Arjun will take you there. I am meeting up with an old friend of mine," Sonakshi said.

"Why me?" Arjun squealed in annoyance.

"I have already messaged you the location," Sonakshi said rolling her eyes at Arjun's drama.

"Fine," Arjun gritted.

Sonakshi turned and walked out of the room.

Here I come, Tangent.

"Tsk Tsk Tangent. We meet after a month," A woman clad in black with an S-shaped pendant hanging around her neck spoke.

"And in that fateful month, Songbird has found her soulmate," A sweet but bold and authoritative voice spoke out.

Sonakshi glanced at Tangent. She was wearing a red mini-dress with red pumps. The red veil on her face covered the view of her lower face and exposed only her eyes for anyone to see.

"You are not mad at me?" Songbird asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Are we friends who have pledged friendship?" Tangent said with a sly smile behind her veil. Sonakshi rolled her eyes at the stupid drama her friend was trying.

"Songbird pledges lifelong friendship to you Tangent," Sonakshi said, tapping Tangent on her shoulder.

"So how is he?" Tangent asked, signing Songbird to take a seat.

"Who?" Sonakshi asked.

"Your Devil," Tangent said.

"My Devil," Sonakshi said, his name rolling on her tongue, "I like the sound of that."

"Don't deviate from the question, Sharma. I know you inside out," Tangent said.

"He is unique. He makes me feel like the world's most important person whenever I am with him. He brings out all the humanity inside him for me. Whenever I am with him, I feel really secure and safe just like I feel when Suraj Bhai is around," Sonakshi said.

"Ah, so Songbird has become Lovebird," Tangent teased her friend.

"On a serious note, was your mission successful," Sonakshi said, turning grim.

"Yes, it was successful. We are a step closer to the destruction of those who wanted to destroy us," Tangent said taking Sonakshi's hands in her hands.

"I can't wait," Sonakshi said, "Finally, we get justice."

"Ravit Raheja will not be spared," Tangent said.

"He will pay for what he did to us," Sonakshi said and looked into her friend's eyes.

WORD COUNT: 3540 Words

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