The next few days were the worst they could be.

Whereas Sonakshi was in a foul mood at the hospital, Rohit wasn't able to concentrate on his lines at his shoot.

Ever since he had come back from Sonakshi's parents' house, he had been in a state of disbelief.
Everyone thought he was just missing Sonakshi and Arihaan, but only he knew what he was going through.
When he entered their room, and found it empty.
When he opened cupboards and found their things gone. When he lay down in bed, tossing and turning. When he would wake up in the middle of the night, seeking Sonakshi's warmth next to him. And not finding it..anywhere.
It just seemed as if life had drained the love and laughter from it.

Sonakshi wouldn't pick up  his calls, she wouldn't reply to his text messages.
He kept messaging her, but she was ignoring him.
Rohit felt a sharp pain in his heart, unable to come to terms with it all.

He would come back from his shoot, and go straight to his room, not wanting to face everyone's prying eyes.

One day, he was looking for his pajamas in his cupboard, but he couldn't find them.

'Kya mazaq hai yeh? What's a man got to do? Yeh Sona bhi na..Sona, tumne mere pajamas dekhe kya..Sona..'
He looked beyond the cupboard door, and was met with absolute silence.
He closed his eyes, thinking of her.
In a fit of anger, he began throwing out things, one after the other.
He groaned in frustration, when that didn't cool him down, and only served to make the room look like a tornado hit it. He glanced at the laughing picture of hers on his nightstand, and could almost hear Sonakshi tut tut at him and say, 'Rohit! Tum koi chotay bachay ho? Yeh kya haal banaya hai kamray ka?'
He smiled, as he imagined her standing there with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. His smile disappeared, along with her image.

'God, Sona! I miss you so much! Please, mujh se baat to karlo..wapas ajao..'

But ofcourse, there was no response. There was only his guilt, and his loneliness with him, in the quiet room.

He started picking up the things he had thrown, and putting them back in. As he was doing so, he came across a shopping bag. Wondering what he had kept in it, he was surprised to see a shirt in Arihaan's size, saying 'BIG BROTHER TO BABY', and as he held it up, a onesie fell out in the same colour, saying 'BABY'.
Sudden tears sprang to his eyes, as he saw the matching clothes.

'Oh, God! Mera monkey! Or baby Sippy! I miss you so, so much.'
He kissed both the garments, and hugged them to himself.
'Please, aap log hi apni Mama ko samjhayen, ke Baba ko maaf kar den, un se baat karlen. Baba mar jayenge, aap sab ke bina..please!'
He fell on the floor on his knees, as his legs gave way beneath him. Tears rolled down his face.

'Why God, why?'
He looked heavenwards.
'Aisa kyun kiya hamare saath? Mere saath? You know na how much I love Sona, how I can't live without her, and my son! To WHY? WHY?'
He screamed in the room. But the silence, was his only answer.

***************************

'Arihaan! Beta aap sojao..'
Sonakshi patted him, as she tried putting him to sleep, but he wasn't complying.
He kept sitting up, or turning postures.

'Ihaan ko Baba paas jaana! Baba kanh? Ihaan Baba saath sona!'
Arihaan struggled.

'Beta, Baba apne ghar pe hain na. Abhi nahin aa sakte! Aap please sojao..'
She tried again, but he would just not settle.

'Baba paas!'
He threw the blanket aside, which Sonakshi tried to cover him with, since it was getting a bit chilly in the nights nowadays.

'Arihaan! Zidd mat karo!'

'Baba aao, Baba bulao!'
He kept fidgeting, and finally Sonakshi snapped.

'Nahin aayenge Baba! Abhi nahin, kabhi nahin! Aadat daal lo, ab sirf Mama hain, Baba nahin rahenge hamare saath! Nahin jaana hai Baba paas!'
Her voice was stern and louder than normal.

'Baba..' He whimpered, looking scared, and ready to cry.

Sonakshi closed her eyes, then opened them again, regretting her behaviour.
'I'm sorry mera bacha..,' Sonakshi hugged him as close as she could.
'I'm sorry! I didn't mean to shout! Abhi Arihaan sojaye, phir Mama, Baba ko bula degi, theek? Aap sojao, please..'
Arihaan sniffled, but was soothed by her tone, as Sonakshi began stroking his little back, and patting it.  Soon, she heard the rhythmic sound of his breathing, as he finally slept.
'I'm sorry, meri jaan! I never ever wanted this for you. To be stuck between two parents, not to have either one with you. I'm so sorry, lekin mein aap ke Baba ko..unhe maaf nahin kar sakti..un ke saath nahin reh sakti..I'm sorry..'
Her voice broke, as tears choked her throat. She sat up, and covered Arihaan with the blanket.
In her old room, he had been sleeping on the bed with her, so she covered the edges with pillows and cushions, so he wouldn't roll over, off the bed.
Getting up to turn off the lights, her gaze fell on a photo frame on her old desk. It was one of Rohit and Sonakshi's that she had sent Pari from their honeymoon. Pari had loved it so much, she remembered, that she had printed it and put it in a frame.
Sonakshi remembered it, as if it was just yesterday, when they had climbed those stairs of the Golden Temple in Bangkok, to see the sunset.
She picked up the frame, and a smile came to her face. It was a selfie, where Sonakshi was looking at the camera, and Rohit was looking at her, a besotted look on his face. Involuntary, her fingers ran over his face in the picture, as if she was caressing his face.
They had been so happy, so in love, and unable to stay away from each other. She chuckled, as she remembered how she had kissed him, and he had been shocked at her public display of affection.
And now...
Her smile disappeared, and sadness filled her heart. She put the frame down, back on the desk, and turned to go. But stopped, turned back, and picking up the photo, put it in a drawer, face down, but not before she gave it one more glance.

Why? Why is this even happening to us? We were meant to be together..always..weren't we?

Sonakshi got in bed with Arihaan, but couldn't sleep. She put a hand over her big abdomen, as the baby kicked, tears prickling her eyes.

Baby Sippy! I know you are worried too, but hang in there, okay?
Baba nahin to kya hua? Mama hain na..or itni strong hain, ke aap or aap ke bhai dono ko sambhaal lengi..you just stay there..and come on time..I love you..I love you so much...
God..give me the strength to face this..alone..

***************************

'Cut! Rohit! Thora or feel se. We need to see more anger! A bit more okay?'

Rohit held up his hands.
'Sorry! I'll do that..let's do it again!'

Sameer sir clapped his hands.
'OK great! Shot ready, cameras rolling...and..action!'

'Zain! Kya hogaya hai tumhe? Maine bola na sign kar do..'
The actor who played his brother in the show, gave him a pen, but Zain didn't take it.

'NAHIN! Mein nahin kar sakta!'

'Yeh jaante hue bhi ke Roshni bewafaa hai? Uss ne shayad kabhi tum se pyaar kiya hi nahin?'

Zain took the pen and threw it across the room, and grabbed his brother's collar.
'Aisa nahin ho sakta! Roshni meri biwi hai, woh mujh se pyaar karti hai, or mein uss se..'

'Sab jhoot tha, Zain! Yeh papers sign kardo! Or azaad hojao iss rishtay se!'

Zain slapped his brother, anger in his eyes.
'Shut up! Tumne socha bhi kaise, ke mein usse divorce dunga? Kaise?'
He shook his brother to and fro, in anger.
'Mein in divorce papers pe sign nahin karunga! Hamara rishta itna kamzor nahin hosakta ke ek ghalti ki wajah se khatam hojaye! Mein Sona ko kabhi nahin chorr sakta, kisi bhi haal mein.. samjhay! Mein..'

'CUTTT!'
Everyone groaned, as the director shouted. It had been the fifth take already.

Rohit looked at the director, a frown on his face.
'Kya hua, sir? Abhi bhi kam tha ghussa?'

'Nahin! Ghussa kuch zyada hi perfect tha, magar naam mein chook hogayi..'
He shook his head, as Rohit looked at him, puzzled.

The actor who was his brother in the show, slapped him on the shoulder.
'Rohit! Tumne Roshni ke bajaye Sona bol diya! Ke mein Sona ko kabhi nahin chorr sakta..'

Realisation hit Rohit, and he looked sheepish.
'I'm sorry! Woh ghalti se..'

'Yo, man! It's okay! Ho jaata hai..relax!'

Yehi reh gaya hai, ke mein apni personal problems yahan sab ke saamne air kar dun..God! What is wrong with me? Get a grip, Rohit!
And what am I even thinking? There is not going to be a divorce..no ways...never..kahan se kahan dimaagh jaata hai..

'Let's take it from the top, shall we?'
Sameer sir called to Rohit, who nodded, giving himself a mental shake.

Rohit got through the rest of the scene somehow, without any mishap, and sighed in relief when the shot was over.

This..this situation..it's really taking a toll on me. I can't concentrate! Sona ek baar meri baat sun le, mujhse baat karle..its been three days since I saw her, or Arihaan..kaisa hoga woh mere bina? Mujhe yaad kar raha hoga na?

Rohit was sitting on the side, while another scene was being shot, his mind not on whatever was taking place.

'Sir? Rohit, sir?'

Rohit looked up, and saw a spotboy, standing above him.
'Yes? Kya hua?'

'Woh, sir? Aap se koi milne aaya hai..'

Rohit frowned.
'Mujhse milne? Kon?'

'I'm sorry, I don't know, sir. Magar woh bol rahi thi ke aap se baat karni hai..'

Rohit's ears perked up at the 'bol rahi thi'.

Sona! Kahin Sona to nahin aayi hai mujhse milne?

His heart did a gallop.
'Koi dekhi hui lady hai?'

The spot boy looked a little wary of the many questions Rohit was asking.
'I'm sorry sir, mein naya hun yahan..maine nahin dekha pehle unhe..mein pooch ke batata hun...'

Rohit sighed, and got up.
'It's okay! Kahan hai woh?'

'Sir, aap ke dressing room mein bitha diya hai. Is that okay?'
He looked a bit scared that maybe he had done something wrong.

'Theek hai! Tum jao. Mein aata hun..'
Rohit got up, and motioning to the director's assistant, moved out of the set.

His heart was racing, as he walked the short distance to his makeup room.

Sona..tum meri baat sun ne ke liye tayaar hogayin? God, I hope we can work things out..

He turned the corner, and hurrying now, opened the door of his room, with a loud bang.

His visitor turned at the sound, and Rohit was left  stunned.

'Tum? Yahaan?'

To be continued...