Hola Everyone,

It's Monday and I am here with the next update. Thank you for your votes and comments. Means a lot.🙂🙂🙂
Without further ado, here is the next part of this story. Hope you like it :-

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"MAIN NE APNEY BETE KO YE TOH SIKHA DIYA KI DOOSRON KE LIYE KAISEY JIYA JAATA HAI, PAR MAIN USEY KHUD KE LIYE JEENA SIKHA NAHI PAYI" said Ishwari in a defeated tone, as soon as Sonakshi could bet that she saw few tears in Ishwari's eyes. She waited for her to speak.

After a few moments Ishwari spoke again "Tumhey pata hai Sonakshi, Dev ke papa ke dehant ke baad wo jo bhi karta usmey meri manzoori zaroor leta, agar koi bhi aisa kaam ho jismey meri manzoori nahi hoti toh wo kaam wo kabhi nahi karta" she said as Sonakshi by now had started realizing where Ishwari was going with the conversation.

Turning around to look at Sonakshi, Ishwari continued "Aur aaj bhi wo wahi kar raha hai, Iss liye zindagi main jab pehli baar uss ney apney liye kuch chaha toh wo usey bhi jaaney de raha hai kyunki main uss se naa khush hoon" she said as Sonakshi sighed in sadness, there it was, out in the open that Ishwari did not Dev's relationship with her.

"Aun...Auntyji...Kya main aapsey kuch pooch sakti hoon?" asked Sonakshi hesitatingly as she was unsure about Ishwari's reaction, Ishwari gestured her to go ahead as Sonakshi gathered her courage and asked "Aap mere aur Dev ke rishtey se khush kyun nahi hai?"

Ishwari kept quiet, she was unsure about her answer while Sonakshi continued "Kya issliye kyunki main aur Dev do alag soch waley parivaron se hai ya phir iss liye kyunki hum middle class hai aur main Dev ke laayak nahi hoon? Ya phir koi aur baat hai jo aapko pareshan kar rahi hai Auntyji?" she asked, though she very well knew that the financial condition of either of the families was never a matter of concern for Ishwari, she wanted to hear it from her and additionally somewhere Mamiji's words about her financial condition had hurt her. She wanted to express all her fears to Ishwari.

Ishwari looked at Sonakshi and said "Sonakshi, ye baat tum bhi achhi tarah jaanti ho ki main rishton main kabhi paison ko mahatva nahi deti, agar aisa hota toh main Neha ke rishtey ke liye kabhi nahi maanti" she said as Sonakshi nodded her head in agreement while Ishwari continued "Aur rahi baat iski ki tum Dev ke laayak ho ya nahi toh jab wo ladka kus...Haan Kushal ne tumhey mana kar diya tha tab main ne tumsey kaha tha ki tumhara rishta jissey bhi hoga wo ladka, wo parivaar khush naseeb hoga. Aur aaj bhi mera wahi maan na hai Sonakshi" she said as Sonakshi sighed in satisfaction, but she was still confused.

"Toh phir aap mere aur Dev ke rishtey se khush kyun nahi hai Auntyji?" she asked in a confused tone as Ishwari got up, moving away a little with her back facing Sonakshi she said "Kyunki main darti hoon, darti hoon ki kahin uskey zindagi main tumharey aaney ke baad kahin wo mujhey bhool na jaaye. Kahin uskey zindagi main meri zaroorat na ho, kahin phir se main akeli na pad jaoon jaisey 20 saal pehle pad gayi thi" confessed Ishwari, finally letting out her fears in front of Sonakshi who was left speechless, though she and Dev had expected it to be something on this line yet hearing it from Ishwari herself was confounding her.

Sonakshi got up, moving towards Ishwari she kept her hand on her shoulder as Ishwari turned to look towards her. She wiped the tears which were flowing from Ishwari's eyes as she spoke "Aapko yaad hai Auntyji, Dev se rishta judney se pehle main aapki Nutrition thi aur phir aapki dost bani. Toh phir Dev se rishta judney ke baad kyun humara rishta badal gaya? Kyun humari dosti main badlav aa gaya?" asked Sonakshi as Ishwari was left tongue-tied, she had no answer to her question.

Sonakshi continued "Ajeeb baat hai naa Auntyji ki jiss insaan ki wajah se aaj hum dono iss kagar pe khadey hai hum dono ussi insaan se itna pyar kartey hai ki usey dukhi nahi dekh saktey" said Sonakshi with a smile as Ishwari smiled as well. She wiped the tears from Sonakshi's face.

"Pata hai Auntyji, main ne Dev se kaha tha ki humara rishta jo adhurey rishtey hai unhey todega nahi balki usey poora karega aur aapsey se bhi main yahi kehna chahti hoon" said Sonakshi as Ishwari smiled.

"Aur phir agar koi problem hoti bhi hai toh Dev hai naa, ye baat hum dono ko pata hai ki wo hum dono main se kisi ko kabhi dukhi nahi dekh payega" she said as Ishwari nodded her head in agreement as she spoke "Sonakshi, main ye toh vaada nahi kar sakti ki hum sab ke beech sab kuch theek hoga. Humarey beech bhi ladiyan hongi, mann mutav honge, lekin main koshish karungi. Koshish karungi ki sab kuch theek karney ki" Ishwari said as Sonakshi's smile widened as she said "Aur ismey main aur Dev aapkey saath hai" as Ishwari caressed Sonakshi's head.

"Auntyji friends?" asked Sonakshi as she forwarded her hand as Ishwari held her hand and said "Friends" as both chuckled, both were finally at peace with the way things were moving forward just as Ishwari spoke "Sonakshi, tumhey mere liye kuch karna hai" said Ishwari as Sonakshi replied "Kya Auntyji?" while Ishwari informed her about her want. As she finished Sonakshi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Le...lekin Aun..Auntyji main kaisey?" she fumbled as Ishwari replied "Ye sirf tum kar sakti ho Sonakshi, mana matt karna, tumhey Dev ki kasam" she said as Sonakshi sighed in defeat and agreed to her request though she herself did not know how she would fulfil it. After that Ishwari came down along with Sonakshi and talked to her parents. On the insistence of Bose family she had her lunch with them and left not before reminding Sonakshi of her wish which she had to fulfill.

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A couple of hours had passed since Dev had called Sonakshi, he was working on his laptop on an important deal, but his mind was somewhere else, he was getting restless by the minute. Somewhere he could sense the nervousness in Sonakshi's voice when he had called her earlier. He knew it had to be something important else Sonakshi would not have asked him to meet later in the day knowing how eager she normally was to meet him. He picked up his phone and dialled her number as he waited for her to pick the call, but there was no response from her side. Frustrated he cut the call, he got up from the chair and paced up and down the room to reduce his restlessness, but it did not help. He looked at his phone and called her once again but this time Sonakshi herself had cut the call which surprised him, quickly he typed a message.

D: What's the matter Sonakshi? Why are you not picking up the call? Still busy with your work?

He waited for her reply impatiently as he got back to his laptop to continue working. Ten minutes had passed since Dev had messaged, he kept looking at his phone every minute expecting Sonakshi's message but there was none, irritated he picked up his phone and dialed her number again but once again Sonakshi cut his call.

D: Sonakshi at least drop a reply, I am waiting.

He messaged and waited for her reply but seeing no response from her for five minutes he dialled her number again as he waited for her to pick up the call.

Sonakshi on the other hand was looking at her phone when she saw Dev call her again, ever since Ishwari had made her the request she was nervous unable to understand how to adhere to it. She had asked Ishwari to reconsider her request but Ishwari's stubbornness and then subsequently her swear upon Dev's name had rendered her helpless. Though she had accepted Ishwari's request she was now tensed as to how to fulfil her request. And now to top it Dev was calling her continuously, she could not let Dev know about Ishwari's want. But she also knew that Dev was just as stubborn as Ishwari, if she did not pick up the call or reply him he would land up at her place and then everything would go kaput, nervously she picked up the call.

"Sonakshi, where were you? Why were you cutting my calls? Is your work done? When can we meet? Why are you not saying anything Sonakshi?" he rattled off his questions as Sonakshi's nervousness increase, seeing no other way out she took a deep breath and replied.

"Dev, firstly I can speak only when you let me speak?" she said in a rough tone as Dev was caught by surprise listening to her tone as he replied "Sonakshi, what's the matter love? Is something bothering you? Why do you sound upset? Everything fine?" he asked as Sonakshi sighed, this was getting difficult.

"Dev, nothing is bothering me. And stop calling me love, baby, shonu and all these weird nicknames I do not like it" she said brusquely as her words pricked Dev's heart, it was the first time ever since they were in a relationship that Sonakshi had spoken to him like that and he even did not know why was she speaking like that, only if he knew more than him it was her heart that was bleeding for speaking to him like that.

"Sonakshi, I know something's bothering you. Tell me what it is? If you want we can meet right now" he replied calmly trying not to lose his temper but Sonakshi replied harshly "Dev, I have already said that nothing's bothering me, can't you understand such a simple thing. And when I said that I will let you know once I am free and can meet you then why are calling me again and again?" she said as Dev's heart wrenched listening to her words, only if he knew the difficulty she was feeling speaking those words to him.

"Sonakshi... I was just..." said Dev but before he could continue she interrupted "You were just what Dev? Please stop bothering me, I have a life outside your world as well, let me live. Don't suffocate me with your unnecessary interference" she said as Dev listened to her silently, he was too shocked to speak anything as Sonakshi continued "Now if you please can I get back to my work, and please do not disturb me again" she said as Dev replied slowly "I am sorry Sonakshi, I will not disturb you" he said and cut the call.

As soon as he cut the call he threw the phone on the bed, he was seething in anger. He wanted to go right away to Sonakshi and confront her about her behavior, but he would not do that, not this time especially when it was not his mistake. He would not go to her, he decided.

Sonakshi's situation on the other hand was completely different, as soon as Dev cut the call she slumped down on the floor as tears made way from her eyes, she was heart broken to speak to the person she loved the most in this world, but she knew she was doing it for him "I am sorry Dev, I am sorry" she spoke to herself and continued "But I promise Dev, I promise I will make it up to you, I promise" she said and got up wiping her tears she went towards the washroom to freshen up.

Dev on the other hand decided to go to his office and involve himself in work, it was the only way for him to calm himself down, "Kichu, Kichu" he screamed as he came down as Kichu came from the kitchen, one look at Dev and he knew that he was angry and upset as he said "Ji...Ji Dev bhaiya" he said as Dev replied "Maa aa gayi?" he asked as Kichu said "Nahi bhaiya, wo abhi tak nahi aayi" he said as Dev was surprised, he knew that her mother had gone to her friend's house but surprised to know that she had not yet returned.

"Theek hai, jab wo aa jaaye toh unhey khaana aur dawai waqt pe de dena. Main office jaa raha hoon" he said and stormed off even before Kichu could reply who could do nothing but nod his head in agreement though Dev had left.

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It was around 9 in the night when Dev returned home, by now his anger had subsided. He was hoping that Sonakshi would call him and explain about her behavior, but it never happened, seeing no other way he had decided to go and meet Sonakshi the next morning hoping that by that time even she would have calmed down and would probably be in a better shape to talk to him. But there was one thought that was gnawing his mind and heart, had Sonakshi given up?

As he entered his home Dev was caught by surprise as the house was engulfed in darkness, he wondered if someone was at home or did they sleep early? He moved forward when he hit his knee with the sofa "Ouch" he whimpered in pain and bent down to rub his knee. Suddenly he heard a sound as he looked up and right at that moment the stairs leading to his room lit up, he was surprised as he walked with a little limp towards it. He got up the stairs and went towards his room. He was confused as to what was happening around him. He slowly opened the door of his room which was dimly lit, as he opened it he was stunned into silence.

Standing before him near the window was a lady with her back facing him, but what stunned him was the fact that the woman had worn the same pink chiffon sari that he had gifted to Sonakshi for their first date, the dim lights did not allow him to see clearly who the lady was. He moved forward just as the woman turned to look at him and the next moment he was left speechless.

STANDING BEFORE HIM WITH A RESPLENDENT SMILE ON HER FACE WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, HIS SONAKSHI.

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Done.
Please ignore the grammatical mistakes and see you in the next update.

PRECAP - WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW??? 😮😮, WHAT WAS ISHWARI's REQUEST???🤔🤔🤔