Sonakshi handed Rohit back his phone, and moved towards the bed.

'What was that?'
Rohit asked from behind her, where he still stood, dumbfounded.

Sonakshi lowered herself on to the bed, and looked at him.
'What was what?'

'Why did you just agree to go to the party? Maine to mana kar diya tha..'

'Majboori mein..well, maine tumhara kaam asaan kar diya, so, we are going!'
His phone pinged.
'Dekho, Alizeh ka hi hoga, to tell the location and date..'

Rohit frowned, as he saw that she was right.
'But why did you agree? Tum iss haal mein party mein jaogi?'

'You want to go alone? So you can flirt with the women?'

Rohit blinked.
Sonakshi sighed.

'Look, Sona..'

'No, you look! You see what you are doing?'
Sonakshi put a hand to her back.

'I can see! I can see that tum se theek se betha bhi nahin ja raha, or tum party mein jaogi!'

'I go to work, don't I? I do my surgeries, don't I?'
Sonakshi answered back.

Rohit ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
'Tumhe samjhaana bekaar hai na?'
Sonakshi just looked at him, a defiant look in her eyes.
'Fine! To jo hoga, uss ki tum khud zimmedar hogi! Theek hai!'
Rohit said loudly, almost shouting, and before she could do or say anything, he left the room, shutting the door with a bang.

Sonakshi flinched.

What in the world was that? Kya hogaya hai tumhe Sona? Apna frustration kyun nikaal rahi ho? Arihaan pe bhi?

Sonakshi put her head in her hands.

What is wrong with me?

     
      ********************

'Di!! Yeh wala kaisa rahega!'
Pari held out another dress from the rack.

Sonakshi have it a glance.
'Too gaudy!'

Sonakshi knew she had to look good for the party, since all of Rohit's friends would be there, especially his women friends.

'Di! Atleast 10 dresses reject kar chuki ho aap! Kuch to decide karo! Kuch laaun aap ke liye? Paani, juice?'
Pari fussed over her.

'I'm fine, Pari! But yeh dresses achay hi nahin lag rahe. Ab maternity wear is so un-sexy!'
Sonakshi pouted.

'Lekin this whole shop is exclusive for it!'
Pari pointed to the racks and racks of dresses and gowns.
'Kuch to acha lagega..wait..mein inki saleswoman ko bulaati hun..she will surely help. Aap yahan betho..relax!'
Pari made her sit on one of the sofas there.

It's just a party! Why am I being fussy? Iss haal mein or karungi bhi kya mein?

Pari soon came back with the saleswoman, who was a bigger help than they thought.
Soon, Sonakshi had a great dress to wear, and both sisters thanked the woman as they left.

'Di! You are going to knock Jiju's socks off!'

'It's not only his socks I'm worried about..'
Sonakshi muttered under her breath.

'Kya?'
Pari asked.

'Nothing! Nothing!'
Sonakshi assured her, as they left the mall.

I don't know why, but I'm actually nervous!

           ****************

'Oh my God!'
Rohit's mouth hung open as he saw her.

She looked like a vision, as she got off the car.
Rohit had been running late from his shoot, so he had asked Sonakshi if she could reach the club, by cab.

Sonakshi looked up and saw Rohit standing there. He looked so handsome in khaki pants, white t-shirt, and a burnt green coloured blazer.

Rohit came forwards, and looked down at her.
'You look gorgeous!'
He told her, brushing a hand over her bare shoulders.
'But I'm not sure I want others to see you this way..'
He looked down at her electric blue dress, off shoulder, with ruffles at the neckline, ending over her breasts. The dress flared over her tummy, down to below her knees, and even had a slit, showing her legs, as she walked. Sonakshi had worn the silver chain he had gotten for her with the heart pendant, in her neck, and her hair was open, and cascading down her back. She looked classy, and beautiful.

'Well..unless you want me to go home and change..'
Sonakshi drawled.

'No! No! I didn't mean that! It looks absolutely flattering on you! Naya hai na?'
Rohit put a hand on her elbow, as they moved towards the entrance of the club.

'Tumhe aam khaane se matlab hai ya ghutliyaan ginn ne se?'
Sonakshi gave him a small smile, her confidence having been restored on seeing Rohit's reaction to how she looked.

'Thank God! Tumhari smile dekh ke dil ko sukoon mila..kab se lag raha tha ghayab hai!'
Rohit smiled back at her, and held her hand.

'Rohitttt!'
Alizeh came rushing over, and hugged him excitedly, almost jostling him backwards.

'Woah! Easy! Train chut gayi kya tumhari?'
Rohit laughed at her, catching hold of her, his one  hand still entwined with Sonakshi's.

Sonakshi raised an eyebrow at the other woman's enthusiasm, but didn't say anything.

'You are too funny, Rohit!'
She giggled.

'Alizeh, Sona..you met her..'

Alizeh finally turned to Sonakshi.
'Ofcourse! The mommy-to-be! Wow! That day you were wet and all, but tonight you look gorgeous!'

'Yes! Doesn't she?'
Rohit's eyes were on Sonakshi only.

Alizeh looked at his love-struck gaze, and quickly took hold of his hand.
'Chalo, chalo! Sab aa chuke hain..kitna late kar diya..come!'
She pulled at Rohit's hand and began walking.

'Hold it, yar!'
He stopped, and looked at Sonakshi who was being left behind.
'Sona, come! Alizeh, tum chalo..'

Sonakshi saw Alizeh's face fall a bit, as Rohit put a hand over Sonakshi's back, and led her forward.
The dance floor was already quite crowded, with several people grooving to the peppy music.

'Hey, Rohit! Tu agaya!'
One guy, whom Sonakshi thought looked familiar, spoke, coming forwards.
'Hello, Bhabi ji! Mein yaad to nahin honga aap ko. Aap ki shadi pe milay thay. Vineet! Yeh Rohit aap ko hum se chupa ke jo rakhta hai..'
He joked, slapping Rohit on his back.

'Ha ha! Very funny!'
Rohit made a face at him.
'Tum to jaise roz mere ghar aate thay..'

'I don't think ab chupaana bhi chahe ga to chupa sakay ga..'
Another man spoke, pointing  to Sonakshi's baby bump.

Sonakshi laughed.
'True that!'

'I'm Rahul. Hum bhi pehle mil chuke hain..aap ki shadi pe, or han, Rohit ki birthday pe bhi.'

'Yes, I remember you. How have you been?'

They all chit chatted for a while, introducing their girlfriends and wives. Sonakshi saw Alizeh and Ariana (yes, she was there too) glancing towards her, over and over again.

What's their problem?

'Sona! Chalo, kahin beth jao. I'll get you something to eat and drink.'

'It's okay, tum yahin raho, mein..'

'No ways! Chalo..'

Rohit steered her towards the bar, and where tables were set up.
Finding one with chairs, instead of stools, he helped her to get settled.
'Tum betho, I'll go get you something..'

Sonakshi nodded, and looked around, as she waited.
Fast, peppy music was blaring away, making even thinking difficult. Sonakshi looked to where Rohit had gone. She saw Alizeh go and stand next to him, putting her hand on his arm.

Kuch zyada hi physical nahin hai yeh larki?

Sonakshi saw Rohit throw back his head, and laugh at something she said. Alizeh took his hand and began pulling him. They both looked her way, as Rohit must have said something about her. She saw Alizeh pout a bit, but she stayed there with him, while he waited.
Sonakshi shifted position, trying to stay comfortable, but she would rather have died than told any body, that she was not.

'Sona! Here!'
Rohit came back with a plate of sandwiches and fruit juice for her.

'Thanks! Tum nahin kha rahe?

'Abhi mann nahin hai! Tum khao, please!'
Rohit had just sat down with his drink, when Alizeh came to call him.

'Rohit! Sab tumhe bula rahe hain dance floor pe! You always were the heart of a party. Chalo na..'

'Woh mein Sona..'

'I'm sure Sonakshi can sit here a while. And she is eating..so I don't think she would mind..right, Sonakshi?
Alizeh was talking as if Sonakshi wasn't fit to talk herself.

She saw Rohit glance towards the dance floor, and open his mouth to speak.

'Sure!'
Sonakshi spoke before he could.
'Go ahead!'

'Yeah, see! And it's not like she can dance..'
She stopped, as Rohit gave her a glare.

Sonakshi gave a sardonic smile.
'Well, she has a point..go, Rohit!'

Rohit looked at her, trying to figure out if she had minded that, but Sonakshi had schooled her features.

'Chalo, Rohit!'
Alizeh dragged him away, leaving Sonakshi staring after them.

Oh, boy! Is this going to be a long night or what?

             *************

The blaring music had given her a headache, but there was no stopping those dancing away.
Sonakshi had been sitting here for a while now, nursing her juice.
She had seen Rohit enjoying himself, and didn't want to spoil his fun.
The song 'Ghungroo' played, and Sonakshi had a sense of deja vu, remembering a new year's party she had attended with Rohit's industry friends, and they had taken over the dance floor.

Wahan woh Sonal chipki hui thi, or yahan yeh Alizeh! Chorr hi nahin rahi..I wish I could go there and show her what I can do..but I can't..

Sighing, Sonakshi got up, and asking a passing waiter where the restroom was, hurried over for her ever increasing bladder calls.

She was about to come out of the cubicle, when she heard voices.
As she put her hand on the latch, she heard Rohit's name. She stopped to listen, as she recognised Alizeh's voice.

'Yeh Rohit ko itni kya jaldi thi shadi karne ki? He's still so young, he could have played the field a lot longer.'

You wish..

'Han! Hum sab hi surprised hogaye thay jab uss ne paper mein announce kiya tha..'
Sonakshi recognised Ariana's voice.
'His wife is one strong headed woman. Never thought Rohit would fall for someone like that. When I met her the first time in Goa, she had been so rude, almost hit me!'

'What?'
Alizeh gasped.

What the hell!

'Yeah! I was dancing with Rohit, and she just almost knocked me down..'

I wish I had killed you then, you bitch!

'How rude ya! I don't know her personally, but I didn't find her anything special..'
Alizeh said.
'Aisi kya khaas baat hai uss mein, jo Rohit aise fida hai uss pe?'

'She's a top notch surgeon, owns her own hospital..'

'Yeah, I heard! Maybe that's why she seems so snotty!  I didn't like her at all..and look at her gal! Itna bara pait le ke party mein agayi! Matlab who does that? Rohit is an actor yar, image hai uss ki, woh chaahe jitne affairs kar le, kon rokay ga? Certainly not her, looking like that!'
Alizeh laughed maliciously, and Ariana joined her.

Okay..that's enough!

Sonakshi opened the door and came out. Both women turned to look, and froze.

To be continued..