Sonakshi sighed, putting the script on the dressing table. She looked at herself in the mirror, sitting there, wearing an off shoulder deep navy blue gown, with quite a lot of makeup, her eyelids smoky, painted with deep navy blue eyeshadow, her hair Wavey and down. She looked glamorous. Maybe a bit too glamorous for Parvati. She frowned, wondering. Well it's a dream sequence. Parvati is surely allowed to wear this in her dreams. Even in the freezing cold of Shimla, amongst snow. Because hey, you don't feel cold in dreams, right? These are too realistic sensations for dreams or for itv for that matter. She looked at the phone for the umteenth time. No call, no messages. Not even had seen the message she had sent. Maybe he was sleeping. It was quite early in the morning. Or maybe he was busy with surgeries. Or maybe he had seen and replied to her message but it didn't reach her because of the crappy network. Sonakshi checked the network and gave a frustrated sigh. She didn't understand why they had to set the shoot location so far from the hotel in such a remote area with a bad network. He would probably think she is too busy to see his message while actually she hadn't even got his message. That just upset her more. She sighed again. She was missing him like hell. All she wanted to do right now in this freezing cold was to crawl into his arms and cuddle in his warmth.

--------

"What!!? Seven days!!?? Tum saat din ke liye jaa rahi ho!!?" Rohit almost screamed. He was kneeling on the bed, his expression was of displeasure.

Sonakshi gave him a look as she folded another dress and put it into the suitcase.

"But... I mean...par kyun?" Rohit blabbered at her lack of response.

Sonakshi gave an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean 'kyun', Rohit! Abhi abhi to bataya ki shoot hai. Kunal gum gaya hai aur Parvati ko khabar mili hai ki wo Shimla ki kisi gaon mein hai to usse dhundne jaa rahi hai."

"Phir se!? Pichle mahine hi to gum gaya tha wo!" Rohit gesticulated his hand frustratedly. "Ab phirse gum gaya...itna to bachche bhi nahi gum hote honge jitna tumhara hero gum hota hai."

Sonakshi rolled her eyes at him as she concentrated on packing again. " trp aise hi aate hai...aur waise bhi story and plot line to bahana hai... It's just to bring a change for the sake of trp." She moved to the closet again to bring some more stuff.

"Change?" Rohit asked confusedly.

"Haan, same cheeze, same jagah dekhte dekhte bore ho jate hai na log... To change of location gives them something fresh and new and grabs their attention..." She put down the stuff into her suitcase.

"Well, cheezo mein to kuch fresh aur naya mujhe dikhai nahi de raha." Rohit remarked sarcastically. "Baas Mumbai ki jagah shimla mein gum ho rahe ho."

"Rohit! Trp aise hi barta hai. Aur waise bhi shimla ki cold atmosphere mein Kunvati romance dikhane ka bhi mauka mil jayega."

Rohit shut up and huffed grumpily. Sonakshi looked at him, sensing the silence.

"Ek to mujhe yeh samajh mein nahi ata logo ko kya dikhta hai 'kunvati' mein...sunne mein bhi kitna ridiculous sound karta hai... it's not even as melodious as 'Ronakshi' " Rohit complained , sulking his face like a child.

And in spite of the situation Sonakshi gave a loud laugh at that. "Awwllee...mere possessive Dr. Surgeon..." Sonakshi reached over and pulled his nose softly. " Itna kyun upset ho rahe ho? Bas ek hafte ki hi to baat hai..."

"Bas ek hafta?! It's not bas ek hafta Sona! It's 7 days!!! Rehloge tum ek hafta mere bina?" Rohit said melodramatically and Sonakshi rolled her eyes. "Kya karunga main saat din tumhare bina!?"

"Wohi jo mere yaha hone se karte ho. Surgery." Sonakshi said casually. "Konsa mere yaha rehne se mere sath bada time spend kar lete ho tum. Apne surgeries se to fursat milta nahi hai tumhe"

"To tum bhi koyi free Nahi baithi rehti Sona... 12-14 ghante shoot rehta hai tumhara, raat raat bhar wapas nahi aati tum!" Rohit retorted defensively.

"Haan to tumhare sath time spend karne keliye, time manage karne ke liye hi karti rehti hoon extra extra hours shoot. Taki thoda off mil sake aur tumhare saht waqt bita pau. Par tumhe to yaad bhi nahi rehta mere days off, surgeries schedule kar lete ho tum apni." Sonakshi bit back angrily, glaring at him.

They glowered at each other furiously for a couple of seconds until Rohit looked away, sitting back on his heels grumpily. Sonakshi's gaze softened, seeing his face. She closed her eyes frustratingly.

"Rohit..." Her voice was soft. She moved around the bed to get closer to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Ab main kya karu...shoot hai aur..."

"No. You're right. It's my fault. Main hi bhul jata hoon." He said grumpily, not meeting her eyes. Sonakshi looked down at him. She tugged at his hand to bring him closer, to the edge of the bed by which she was standing. He came closer but didn't say anything.

"Rohit mera woh matlab nahi tha..." Sonakshi tried again, " sach mein... I know tumne Jaan boojh ke Nahi kiya tha...aur main..."

"No it's okay. Really. I was just being..." Rohit shook his head to himself. "Ab kaam hai tumhara, jaana to padega. Aur kya kar sakte hai."

"Rohit ..."

"It's okay, Sona... Main hi overreact kar raha tha."

"Nahii...tum overreact bilkul nahi kar rahe the... It's just ki main..."

"I will miss you." Rohit cut her off. She looked down at his childlike forlorn expression. He suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her closer and hugged her, burying his face into her stomach. "I am gonna really really really miss you." He mumbled against her stomach.

Sonakshi wrapped one arm around his shoulder and weaved the other hand into his hair as she caressed his head. "I know. I will miss you too. Bas ek hafte ki baat hai...dekhna yun chala jayega aur pata bhi nahi chalega, hmm?"

He looked up at her and nodded like an only half convinced child.

-------------

But Sonakshi was wrong. The last week felt like the longest week of her life. Every moment made his absence felt. Although Rohit wasn't the one having the hardest time it seemed as she had anticipated, given that he was always the one grumpy initially whenever she needed to go away. It was her who got more jittery while away from him. Sonakshi didn't know whether it was the fact that it was only the initial phase of their marriage or that they barely got quality time with each other since their wedding but ever since they got married being away from him for too long made her somewhat restless and unsettled. She being her didn't show it much but internally she would become anxious and fidgety and somewhat desperate to get back to him whenever it was too long away from him.So much that she didn't even used to visit her home at Goregaon for barely more than a day. Even Suman used to complain of that and Pari and Pulkit teased her of being love sick. And even if it was only one week, this was the longest she had been away from him since their wedding. However Rohit still tried to be kept informed about her whereabouts regularly in the last week as much as he could but their hectic schedules didn't make it easy to always reach out to the other. Most of the time when they called each other either one was in the surgery or the other in shoot. And when they called back later the same thing repeated.

And all of this was very new and completely unexpected to Sonakshi. Not the missing calls of each other, but being this much affected because of that. She didn't remember when she had felt like this the last time or if she had ever in the first place. So emotionally all over the place. It had always been her taking care of herself and her surroundings, all on her own. But in the last few months Rohit had completely taken over her, always fussing over her health, her meals, even of her sleeping, taking care of her moods whether she is upset or frustrated or tense or drained.He was always there to hold her, cuddle her, pamper her. And she got hopelessly habituated to that, feeling safe and secure. And now his absence completely threw her over the edge, only worsening her anxiety.

"Maam, shot ready hai..." Bunty's voice broke her reverie. Sonakshi sighed and got up to leave for her shoot.

________________________________________________________

Sonakshi ran in a filmy slow pace through the snow, holding the sides of her gown, forcing a happy expression on her face, suppressing the shivers which were quite violently threatening to show off. On the director's instruction she looked back at Sumit and smiled, still running ahead until she hit something...or someone. The force made her lose her balance and start falling backward. But a pair of hands gripped her strongly and pulled her to themselves. Sonakshi looked up and frowned.

"Rohit?" Her voice was uncertain. She saw him looking down at her scowling. He looked dismayed. She felt his arms wrapping around her protectively, pulling her more into his warmth. For a moment she wondered if she was hallucinating. What was he doing here?

"Sona! Tum aise yaha kya kar rahe ho?!" His voice was incredulous.

"Haan?" Sonakshi was perplexed. Shouldn't she be asking that?

"CUT!" The director's voice broke her trance. She saw him looking around at the crew while she couldn't move her gaze from his face.

"Sona... it's so cold here aur tum yeh..." He looked disturbed as he almost snatched the shawl the spot boy came running with and quickly wrapped it around her. Then he took his overcoat off and wrapped it too over the shawl.

"Tsch...aap phirse shot ke beech agaye?" Director Sultan bhai was piqued. Rohit looked sheepishly at him.

"Arre Rohit! Tum yaha! Sona se milne aaye ho?" Netra ji asked enthusiastically. Sonakshi dragged her eyes from his face to Netra ji and then back to him.

"Haan wo hotel gaya tha main to someone said shooting yaha chal raha hai to..." Rohit said, looking at Sonakshi.

"To tum itni dur shoot location pe agaye? Sirf Sona se milne? How romantic!" Netra ji clapped her hands together.

"Haan Netra ji, Romance mein to hamare Dr. sahab ko sirf tv serials ke heroes hi kya koi bollywood hero bhi takkar nahi de sakta" Sumit teased. Netra ji laughed at that. Rohit looked back at Sonakshi who looked still in a trance, looking at him.

"Par...Sona...yeh yaha itni thand hai aur tum off shoulder gown pehni hui ho? kyuuun? Thand lag jayegi...bimar pad jaogi tum aur..." Rohit tightened his hold around her shoulder as she finally looked away from him and at Netra ji who looked guiltily at Sultan bhai.

"Ek break le lete hai sab...Sona tum bhi thoda aaram kar lo phir shoot karenge..." Netra ji blurted out as a distraction, scuttering away with everyone from Rohit's glare. Rohit looked back at Sonakshi, scowling and tightening his jaw. Sonakshi tried to give him an assuring smile but it didn't seem to work. because he only frowned more.

___________________________________________________________________

"Sonaa..yeh..." Rohit entered the green room at her heel. Sonakshi turned around to face him.

"Rohit tum yaha kya kar ho!?"

Rohit gave her a look. "Netra ji se milne aaya hoon...socha ek vacation mana loon unke sath."

Sonakshi rolled her eyes.

"Kya Sona abhi to bahar bataya...tumhe lene aya hoon. But tum yaha itni thand mein..."

"Haan par mera return flight to kal shaam ko hai na..." Sonakshi cut him off.

"Haan to kya kal subha aata...jaise hi schedule clear hua I couldn't wait more... kyun tum...you don't like it?" Rohit asked with an uncertain and hesitant expression.

"Like what?" Sonakshi was confused.

"Mera yahan... aise bina bataye aa jana...main... I thought" Rohit stopped as Sonakshi practically jumped on him, throwing her arms around his shoulder, clinging onto him. Rohit instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her a few inches above the ground and taking a step back to keep his balance against the sudden force.

"Maine tumhe bahut miss kiya." She mumbled against his hair.

He smiled. "Maine bhi"

She untangled her arms from around him to look at him as he put her down.

He smiled down at her moving a strand of her hair off her face.

"Par mujhe abhi kuch der mein jana padega...abhi ek scene bacha hai..." Her face crinkled up. "uske baad hum..."

"Ek minute... tum... itni thand mein yeh kapde pehnke phirse nahi shoot karne wali, right?" Rohit asked. Sonakshi's silence gave him the answer. "Sona it's snowing out there!" He said incredulously. "Thand se kaanp rahe ho tum...tumhe kya lagta hai mujhe dikhai nahi de raha...aise to bimar pad jaogi...aur...aur tumhe waise hi thand bahut jaldi lag jata hai. Aur ye log kya akaal bech khaye hai? Itni thand mein aisi costume kon rakhta hai? Common sense naam ki koi cheez nahi hai in logo mein??" Rohit looked angry.

"Rohit Rohit Rohit..." She held his hands to calm him down, "Main thik hoon...bas kuch der ki hi baat hai... dream sequence hai, Parvati Kunal ko miss kar rahi, uske bareme soch rahi hai to ..."

"I don't care!" Rohit sharply cut her across. "Mujhe koi farak nahi padta...itna hi tha to set pe nakli snow se nahi kar sakte the...tum bas Netra ji ko bolo costume change kare,kuch warm sa leke aye warna tum shoot nahi karogi..."

"Rohit I can't say that...main"

"Kyuuun? Phir main Netra ji ko bolta hoon!"

"Rohit! Tum aisa kuch nahi karogi! Yeh mera kaam hai Rohit. Script ki requirments hai aur mujhe karna parega. Ab tumhare kehne pe mein aise script to change nahi kar sakti..."

"Main script change karne ke liye nahi bol rahi hoon... I'm just asking to put something warm on. Ab kya unke trp ke liye insaan mar jaye?" Rohit retorted angrily.

Sonakshi took a deep breath to regulate herself and looked at him. "Rohit ab... yeh commitments hai mera, main aise mana nahi kar sakti. That would be unprofessional. You don't want that right?"

He looked at her grumpily then slowly shook at his head.

"Ab acting mein stunts to hote hi hai tumhe pata hai right? Yeh bhi waisa hi kuch hai samajh lo."

He looked down at her,still unconvinced. Sonakshi took a step closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. He automatically held her. "Rohit I will be fine. Really."

"Pakka?" His voice was soft and vulnerable.

Oh she missed him.

"Pakka." Sonakshi tried to assure. "And if I'm too cold you can warm me up when we go back to the hotel room Dr. Surgeon." Sonakshi said in a deep, luscious voice.

Rohit looked at her,a bit taken aback until he saw her smile at him mischievously. He finally cracked a small smile.

"Sona, tum pagal ho." he shook his head at her as he bent down and put a soft kiss on her lips.

______________________________________________________________

As she looked at Rohit locking the door and turning to her, her mind ran back to the previous incidents a while ago when Rohit sat through her shoot, watching her dance in snow, with a deadly expression that practically terrified the whole set . And how he took care of her afterward and even scolded poor bunty over the shawl in that process.

"Rohit usse kyun daant rahe ho?Uss bechare ki kya galti?" Sonakshi had told him.

"Right... yaha to sab pagal hai." He had retorted angrily, wrapping her in a thick shawl and blanket, holding her protectively.

She felt safe and secure.

"Kya hua? Kuch chahiye tumhe?" Rohit asked concernedly, bringing her back to present. "Ek minute, main kuch mangwa ta hoon, something warm. How about hot chocolate? Tumhe pasand hai na wo? Ya kuch aur chahiye tumhe? Ya phir..." He kept on rambling as he made to move to the landline. But Sonakshi caught his wrist and pulled him to herself.

"Kuch nahi chahiye mujhe Rohit..."

"Lekin..."

"Siwaye tumhare..." She cut him off, stepping closer and wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her thumb over his stubble.

He smiled down at her as he held her close against him. "Haan lekin tumhe..." Sonakshi cut him off, pressing her lips roughly against his, taking them in a passionate kiss. She pulled back after a few seconds and looked up at him. "I said I want you, Dr. Surgeon." She whispered, her voice was deep as her eyes burned in longing.

Rohit gazed in her eyes as he saw the vulnerability in her eyes unveiled from its usual facade.He leaned in and took her lips in another kiss, moving his lips softly and tenderly against hers, letting her know that he was here, with her. He stepped forward,making her step backward towards the bed. Sonakshi untangled her arms from around his neck and shrugged her coat off and proceeded to take his off as her leg hit the bed. Soon all of their clothes were discarded as the room heated up in their love against Shimla's frost outside.

_________________________________________________________

Sonakshi ran her thumb over his stubble lovingly as she looked at his peacefully sleeping face.

"Soyi nahi abhi tak?" Rohit's voice startled her.

"Tum jaag rahe ho? Kab se?"

"Jab se tum mujhe ghur rahi thi" Rohit mumbled against her hair, eyes still closed.

"Tum sote huye bahut cute lagte ho."

He opened his eyes and peered at her. "aur jaagte hue nahi lagta?"

Sonakshi laughed out loud at him and then sighed. " I missed you soooo much. Bahut bahut bahut jyada."

Rohit grinned at her. "I know." he tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"You do?" Sonakshi asked.

"Haan... tum jo mere bina pagal ho rahi thi yeh to mujhe pehle din hi pata chal gaya tha Drama queen." He mumbled against her cheek, teasingly.

"Huh?" Sonakshi asked, perplexed.

"Haan... aur nahi to kya...isiliye toh uss din tumhe ek scene shoot karne mein 25 retakes lene pare, hain na?"

Sonakshi looked at him agape. "Kya?"

"Haan aur kya? Sab pata hai mujhe... 25 retakes? Seriously Sona? Isse achchha call hi kar lete mujhe...kyun nahi kiya? Kyun nahi batayi that you're not fine?"

Sonakshi looked at him dumbfounded. He nudged her again, flicking his head questioningly.

"Mujhe laga tum surgeries mein busy hoge." Her voice was small. "Main pareshan nahi karna chahti thi tumhe. Aur tumhe kaise pata chala?"

"I've my sources," He said cheekily.

Sonakshi made a face at him."Swati ne bataya?"

Rohit shook his head,"Nahi, Bunty ne bataya tha jab maine tumhe call kiya tha,tum shoot pe thi. Aur Sona tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakti ho ki main pareshan hota?" His voice was soft and delicate as he cupped her face, " Aisa bilkul nahi hai Sona. Tumhe pata hai main tumhe kitna miss kar raha tha?"

"Achchha?" Her voice was accusatory "Tumhe to main yaad bhi nahi thi, bas aane se pehle bol rahe the ki 'Itne din tumhare bina kaise rahunga Sona?' 'I'll miss you Sona'. Par jaise hi main waha se nikla tum apne surgeries mein busy ho gayi, mujhe to bhul hi gaye." She complained like a small child.

"Aisa nahi hai,Sona...aisa ek din nahi jab maine tumhe yaad nahi kiya, tumhare bare me nahi socha, har din bas yahi sochta tha ki kisi tarah tumhare paas ajau. Tumhe pata hai jab tumne mujhe uss din adhi raat ko message kiya mera man kar raha tha tabhi bhaag ke ajau tumhare paas... aur tabse main bas yehi koshish kar rahi hoon ki schedule clear ho jaye ki main waha se nikal pau...tumhare paas asaku... par hua hi nahi." He sounded guilty. "Isiliye jaise hi aaj mouka mila maine immediately early morning flight book karli aur..."

"I know, I know Rohit...ki tum busy the... I understand...main to bas mazak kar raha tha..."

"Tum thik ho na?" Rohit cut her short, moving her hair off her face and stroking her cheek with his thumb.

Sonakshi gazed at him as she snuggled closer to him and gave him a soft smile, putting her hand on over his and leaning her face into his hand more. "Main thik hoon Rohit. Sach mein" She murmured back. "Aur uss din bhi... I was fine after talking to you....aur"

"Aur?"

"Aur achchha hua uss waqt tumne call karli aur tumse baat ho gayi"Sonakshi looked sheepish "Aur shoot bhi ho gaya, warna Netra ji was going bonkers." She gave a small chuckle. " Thodi der aur chalta to ya to wo usi din sab wrap karke mumbai wapas chale jaate ya phir tumhe yaha utah late."

Rohit laughed at that at first and then grumped at her. "Matlab Netra ji ko bhi pata tha aur mujhe hi nahi pata tha. Pehle call kyun nahi ki tumne?"

"Rohit I just...I didn't want to bother you. Par tumhe to phir bhi pata chal gaya tha na."

"Haan par tumse to nahi...dusre logo se pata karna parta tha mujhe. Kabhi Sunita se, kabhi Ravi se, kabhi Sumit se, even Bunty se. Tum kuch bata hi nahi rahi thi. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ki tum kya soch rahi ho, kaisa feel kar rahi ho, thik ho ki nahi, main kya karu, kaise baat karu, kya bolu ki tumhe better feel ho...par tum..."

"Rohit." she put a hand on his face, "I'm sorry...really... and... and thank you. You have no idea ki tumhari wajese maine kitna better feel kiya. Sach me...jaise tumne in sab ke bawjood bhi mera dhyan rakha, uss raat ke baad har raat check ki ki main theek hoon ki nahi, thik se so rahi hoon ya nahi, chahe hum kitna busy kyun na ho, kitna late hi kyun na ho jaye, chahe tumhari surgery ho ya meri shoot, chahe humari baat bhi na ho paye phir bhi you were always always there. And you have no idea how much that comforted me. Really. And ..And I am sorry for making it all so difficult for you. I just didn't want to upset you...I didn't realise ki aise main cheesein aur mushkil kar rahi hoon tumhare liye..."

"Sona, You didn't..."

"No really...I know tum bhi busy the aur yeh sab karna tumhare liye bhi aasan nahi tha...phir bhi tum..."

"Sona, tumne mujhe bilkul bhi pareshan nahi kiya, to aisa ek second ke liye bhi mat sochna. But now you promise me something."

Sonakshi slightly moved her head upward questioningly.

"Promise me ki agli baar jab bhi hum aisa dur honge to you will tell me whenever you need me. Chahe jo bhi ho, tum mujhse baat karo gi aur mujhe batao gi. Chahe adhi raat ko bhi agar tumhe baat karni ho to bhi you will call me. You will call me and tell me that you miss me, tell me that you're not fine. Promise me that."

Sonakshi felt overwhelmed as her eyes teared up. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying and nodded. "I promise, Rohit. I will."

" I love you, Sona. lots" Rohit leaned and mumbled against her lips. "And I'm always with you. Humesha."

"I love you too. So much" She kissed him back.