'No! No! NO!'
Rohit almost shouted, as Sonakshi, giving him an accusatory look, turned around to leave.
'No!'
He shot off his chair, almost pushing Alizeh in his haste to leave.

'Aray, Rohit! Kya hogaya?'
Alizeh called, but Rohit was already sprinting across the court, after Sonakshi.

Rohit left the area, looking left then right, and spotted Sonakshi moving towards the elevators.
Sonakshi pushed all the buttons on the panel, as if that would make the lift arrive faster. But thank God it did. She got in, pressing the close button there, but apparently wasn't quick enough.
Rohit's foot came in the middle of the doors, and as Sonakshi watched, he pried the doors apart with his hands, before they shut.

'Sona..please..'
Rohit let himself inside and let the doors shut, cocooning them both inside. Thankfully, there was no one else.

Rohit lunged towards her, as she pressed the next floor's button, to get off.
'No! Please, suno..'
Rohit pressed the button for the topmost floor.
'Sona..'

'NO!'
Sonakshi shouted.
'No! Mujhe kuch nahin sun na..let me go!'

The lift stopped at the next floor, but thankfully, no one was waiting to get in, so Rohit caught her arm to stop her.

'Meri baat to suno..jo tum ne dekha..'

'Bohot kuch dekh liya, ab himmat nahin hai dekhne ki..'
Sonakshi slumped on the wall behind.

'Lekin tum ghalat samajh rahi ho..'

'Jaise uss din samjha tha, uss kamray mein? Sab sahi samjha hai maine..'
Sonakshi was on the verge of tears, but didn't want to break down in front of him.

'Sona! It was just..'
He touched her shoulder.

'Please! Haath mat lagao mujhe! Mujhse bardaasht nahin hota..'

Rohit's hand fell to his side.
'Aise mat bolo. Aaj..yeh..it was just a coincidence..mein to tumhara wait..'

'Ajeeb ittefaq hotay hain na..or sab tumhare saath hi hote hain, Rohit!'
Sonakshi accused him.
'Mein yahan aayi kyunke tum ne itna bola..ke ek baar sun lo..jab Alizeh se hi milna tha, to mujhe kyun bulaya!'
Her voice was getting higher in pitch.

'Maine usse nahin bulaya..woh khud wahan..'

'Right! Tumhe follow kar rahi hogi, hai na..jahan Rohit, wahan mein..'
Sonakshi said sardonically.

The lift reached the top floor, where most probably the executive offices were located.
Sonakshi stepped forward to get off.

'Yahan kahan utrogi? There's nothing here!'
Rohit stood in front of her, barring her way out.

'Doosri lift to hogi na, jis se mein ground tak pohonch jaun..move, Rohit!'
Sonakshi tried pushing him aside, but he didn't budge, and the doors closed back.
'Rohit! I said hatt jao!'

'Magar hamari baat to hui hi nahin jo karne hum yahan aaye thay..'

'Mujhe jo sun na tha, maine sun bhi liya, or saath mein dekh bhi liya..ab kuch nahin bacha hai..'

'What do you mean, kuch nahin bacha hai? Hamara rishta itna kamzor to nahin tha, Sona! Ke..'

'Tha! That's the right word! Hamara rishta tha! Ab nahin reh gaya kuch..'

'That's not true! And you also know it. We have a family, a baby, who will be coming any day now..'

'Well, that no longer has anything to do with you..it's my..'
Sonakshi fumed at him.

'What do you mean?'
He grabbed her close, and put his hands on her abdomen, his eyes flaring.
'This is our baby! Our flesh and blood! Don't you dare demean it by saying anything like that!'

Sonakshi tried pushing his hand away, but he didn't let her. Instead, to her utter astonishment, he kneeled down in front of her, on the elevator floor, still holding her abdomen.

'Baby Sippy!'
His voice totally changed from anger to a soft tone, surprising her.
'Aap to Baba pe believe karte ho na! Aap apni Mama ko bata do..Baba loves you, her and Arihaan! Aap logon ke bina to Baba..I..I..please..aap hi sifarish kardo..'
Rohit's voice broke.

Sonakshi choked back the tears, now threatening to fall.

The lift stopped on the ground floor, and the doors began to slide open.
Sonakshi came out of her trance, of watching and listening to him talking to the baby.

'Rohit! Get up!'

'No! I need to..'
Sonakshi took his arm, and pulled him up.

'Rohit!'

At least five pairs of eyes looked on, as they witnessed a man on his knees, holding a pregnant woman's belly. The whispering got loud, and served to bring Rohit out of his stupor. He quickly got up, and turned.
A couple of women gasped, on seeing the handsome actor.

'Oh my God! That's the actor na? Rohit Sippy?'

'Yes! Wow! Lift romance..that's his wife, right?'

'Oh yes..had read somewhere that they were expecting..'

'How cuteeee!'

Sonakshi had to plaster a smile on her face, as she finally moved out of the lift. Rohit also smiled at the women gaping at him.

'Wow! You are so handsome! And so romantic..'

'Thankyou..have a good day..'
He hurried after Sonakshi, but he must have taken longer to follow her, because he couldn't see her anywhere.
He looked around, even peeping in several shops, but Sonakshi wasn't there. He hurried out of the mall, just in time, to see her get in the back seat of her car, and leave.

God Dammit! How do I fix this? All of it?

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

'Sona! Baby ke kapray kahan hain?'

Suman looked at the single bag on Sonakshi's bed.
Sonakshi was looking at something beyond the terrace door, and didn't reply.

'Sona! Mein kuch pooch rahi hun..'
When Sonakshi still didn't respond, Suman walked up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder, jerking Sonakshi out of her reverie.

'Hunh? What? Kya hua, Ma?'
Sonakshi looked fazed out.

'Kya hua, Sona? Tumhari tabyat to theek hai?'
Suman looked worried.

Sonakshi cleared her thoughts away, and looked at her mother.
'Ji, Ma! Mein theek hun!'

'Idhar aao, betho..'
Suman led her to the bed, and made her sit down. She poured water from the jug on her nightstand, into a glass, and handed it over.
'Lo, paani piyo..'

Sonakshi took a sip, trying to calm her thoughts into some semblance of order.
'Ma, mein theek hun..'
She saw the concern on her mother's face, and hurried to assure her, by putting a smile on her face.

'If you say so, lag to nahin rahi. Chehra aisa peela peela lag raha hai..'
Suman sat next to her.
'Tum to baby ke kapray lene gayi thi na, to phir liye bagher hi agayin? Maine bola bhi tha ke mein saath chalti hun, magar tum hi ne mana kardiya. Warna Papa to Arihaan ko dekh lete thori der.'

'Han, woh..uhmm..kuch khaas pasand nahin aaya, to socha baad mein..'

'It's okay! Next time saath chalungi tumhare. Waise, Sona..ek baat bolun..'

'Zaroor..boliye na..'

'Shayad tumhe wapas apne ghar chale jaana chahiye...'
Sonakshi's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Suman continued.
'Matlab, dekho na, jab se aayi ho, udaas udaas si rehti ho, theek se kha pee nahin rahi, zyada baat bhi nahin karti..'

'Aisa nahin hai, Ma! Mein to..'

'Mujhe lagta hai tum Rohit ko bohot zyada miss kar rahi ho. Or aise waqt pe sab se zyada husband ka saath acha lagta hai, uss ka aap ke nakhray uthana acha lagta hai, uss ka aap ka khayal rakhna acha lagta hai..'

Tears sprang in Sonakshi's eyes, at the picture Suman was painting, but she blinked them away.
'Aisa kuch bhi nahin hai, Ma! Yeh sab eight and almost half months se kiya uss ne..kuch din nahin karega to faraq thori parega usse..woh to..'

'Beta, aisa bol to rahi ho, magar he aakhir ke din na, ussi ka saath acha lagta hai..kaho to usse bula deti hun..'

'NO!'
Sonakshi said with a vehemence.
'No!'
Sonakshi calmed her voice, as Suman gave her a look.
'I just meant ke woh aajkal busy hai, or mere saath time spend nahin kar sakta..to hi mein yahan agayi..lekin lagta hai aap ko mera yahan aana acha nahin laga..'
Sonakshi pouted, and Suman immediately responded, just as she predicted.

'Paagal ho? Mujhe kyun bura lagega? Mujhe to bohot maza araha hai tumhara khayal rakhne mein, tumhe aise dekhne mein. Mein jaanti hun Arihaan ke saath tumhe maa ban ne ki practice to  hogayi, lekin apna bacha, jisse khud nau mahinay apni womb mein sambhala ho, uss ka ek alag hi ehsaas hai, khushi hai..'

Sonakshi smiled, and caught her mother's hand.
'Aap theek keh rahi hain, Ma! Yeh sach hai! Yeh ehsaas bilkul hi alag hai, bilkul juda.'
Sonakshi put her hands over her belly, and stroked her palms across it.

Suman wiped the corner of her eyes.
'Acha, bas. Ab rula hi do mujhe. Bohot baaten hogayin. Ab tum thora araam karo. Or Arihaan neechay khel raha hai Papa ke saath, uss ki tension mat lo. Kuch khaane ko le ke aati hun..'

'Aray, Ma! Bilkul dil nahin kar raha..'
Sonakshi made a face.

'Chup! Bekaar ki baaten kam kiya karo. Itni bari doctor ho ke mujhe samjhaane chali.'
She scolded her, with love.
'Araam se betho..kuch fruits hi la deti hun..'
Suman smiled, and got up to go.

'Ma!'
Sonakshi called, and Suman turned.
'Thankyou! I love you!'

'I know! And I love you too!'
Suman gave her a flying kiss, and left, shutting the door.

That's when Sonakshi's tears began to fall.

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

Rohit let her phone ring. Four rings, then six, then twenty, but Sonakshi didn't pick it up.

'God, Sona! Please phone to utha lo..let me know you reached home okay, that you are okay..I..hello? Sona, thank God..mein..'

'Rohit! Mein Ma..'

'Oh! Ma! Woh mein Sona ko..' Rohit tried not to sound disappointed.

'Han, Sona so gayi hai. Mall gayi thi na, to thak gayi shayad.'

'Uss ka phone aap ke paas..'

'Han. Mein fruits dene gayi to phone utha layi uss ka. Mall se aayi to bas sir jhukaye ooper room mein hi chali gayi thi. Tabyat theek nahin lag rahi thi mujhe..'

'Tabyat theek nahi thi!'
Rohit began to panic.
'Kya hua usse? Hospital le jaana hai? Mein aaun? Aap ne mujhe bataya kyun nahin..mein..'

'Aray, ruko, honay wale papa ji..woh theek hai..bas mood shayad off tha..tumhari baat nahin hui uss se?'

Rohit closed his eyes.

Kaash baat ho gayi hoti..

'No, Ma! Meri baat nahin hui..'

'Koi baat nahin, mein bata dungi usse, or phone bhi de aati hun. Uthay gi to call back kar legi. Tum to foran panic karne lagte ho. Pata nahin delivery ke time kya karoge..'
Suman chuckled at him.

Rohit distracted her with some other talk and disconnected the call.

Delivery mein to kitna kam time bacha hai..or mein tumhare saath nahin hun..Sona..I'm sorry..

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

'I love you! Tumhare bina to jeenay ka koi matlab hi nahin hai..'

Sonakshi smiled, as Rohit leaned over her, kissing her eyelids, his lips moving down to her cheeks.
They were lying in bed, naked under the sheets, and Rohit's hands stroked her all over.
His muscles rippled, as he hovered over her, his head going down to her breasts, taking the globe of one in his mouth.
Then the image blurred, and shifted.

'Rohit, please..'

Sonakshi realised the voice wasn't hers, and as she watched, she saw the scene happening in front of her.  Rohit was in bed, naked.
She called to him, but he didn't listen, and continued kissing the woman beneath him. Wasn't that her?
As he shifted, the woman's face became visible. Sonakshi gasped. Alizeh!

'You are my life..I love you..'

Rohit smiled down at her, his hand on her breast. As she watched, he took her lips with his own, and they turned in the bed, together.

'No! No! NOOOOO!'

Sonakshi sat up with a jerk, her hand going to her throat, feeling as if she had swallowed something extremely bitter.
Looking around, she realised that she was in her bed, in her room, and alone.

It had been a dream, a bad one, but somehow, so real.

She put a hand to her brow, and was surprised to feel herself sweating. Her cheeks were wet too, and she realised she was crying.

Oh, God! Why? Why is this happening? Why can't I get the image out of my head?

Sonakshi got up, and went out in the terrace of her room. Despite it being chilly, she was sweating, as she paced the floor.

What is wrong with me? I can't..I can't live like this..I can't do this! Nothing will ever be the same..nothing!
Or Rohit! Woh aisa kya bolega jis se mere andar ki larrai khatam hogi? Kuch bhi nahin..kuch bhi to nahin..usse dekhte hi..dimaagh kehta hai uss ki sunun..magar dil..dil ke to tukray hi bachay hain..woh kaise sunnega..kya karun mein..

Sonakshi stood looking out beyond the horizon for a few minutes.
Then, with a sudden squaring of her shoulders, she came to a decision.
Going back inside, she looked around for her phone. She didn't find it at first, but then noticed it on the table by the door.
Snatching it up, she quickly scrolled through her contacts. Finding the one she wanted, she dialled.

'Hello? Dr. Sonakshi Rastogi here. I need your help..'

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

Rohit rubbed his forehead with his fingers, as he felt a headache coming on.

My head is going to burst with all the tension! Or I'm going to die..

Rohit headed towards his dressing room, after his shoot.

Kal, jab se Sona wahan mall se gayi hai, mera dil phatt raha hai. Ek moqa diya tha uss ne, woh bhi maine gawa diya..ab kis tarha manaun usse dobara..kuch to karna parega..

He walked inside his room, and moved to pick his phone from the table. His fan mail had been underneath the phone, and a couple of envelopes went scattering to the floor.
Sighing, he picked them up, and began putting them back on the table. He was certainly in no mood to read fan mail right now.
As he was doing so, a stamped letter caught his eye. He separated it from the others, the bright orange colour standing out from the rest.

It looked official, but why would anyone send him official documents on his work address. They were usually delivered at home.
If his heart had been beating slightly faster than normal, it almost stopped, as he broke the seal and took it out. He shook the papers open, to read.

The heading shook him to his very core, because it announced,
'DIVORCE DECREE.'

To be continued...