Sonakshi looked at Ariana standing before her, and quickly tried taking the papers from her.

Ye kahan se agayi..woh bhi yahan..

'Sonakshi! Are you alright?'
Ariana asked, as Sonakshi fumbled with the papers, and they fell again, in her haste.

'I'll get them..'
Sonakshi made to lean over.

'Please! Itna to mein kar hi sakti hun..'

'Yeah, right..'
Sonakshi muttered under her breath, as Ariana bent down again to pick up the papers.

A thought suddenly came to Sonakshi's mind, and she quickly grabbed the papers from her, but was too late. Ariana had glanced down at them, and seen the divorce papers.

'Divorce?!?! You and Rohit are getting a divorce?'
Her eyebrows shot up on her head, her expression incredulous.

Sonakshi snatched the papers from her, and quickly put them in the file, closing it, but the damage had been done.

'I don't think it's any of your concern..'

'But it is! Rohit is my friend, and I..'

'Yes! Friend! A friend you think the world of, apparently! That you can talk about him, behind his back, bitch about his wife, behind his back. So, sorry, if I don't believe you!'
Sonakshi turned away, intending to leave, but Ariana blocked her way.

'Sonakshi! I'm really sorry for that. Woh Alizeh..'

'Don't even say her name!'
Sonakshi's eyes flared in anger.
'You both are despicable!'

'I agree! But please, meri ek baat sun lo..'

'Why? You were there too! You were a part of what happened that night! To ab yeh natak karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai..'
Sonakshi moved out of the waiting area, but Ariana followed her.

'You are right! I was there, too. But I didn't know uss ke baad Alizeh aisa game khelegi. You have to believe me..'
Ariana kept talking, while Sonakshi had reached the elevators, and was pressing the buttons on the panel.

Sonakshi turned around at that.
'Believe you? Why should I? And why are you suddenly pretending to be my well wisher, when I know that you never liked me, even before Alizeh came in the picture?'

'You are absolutely right!'
Ariana said, and Sonakshi was taken aback, despite her claim.
'I never did, because Rohit was so besotted with you, or mujhe lagta tha ke uss ne hum sab se contact mein rehna chorr diya tha because of you. I never had any personal grudges..'

'What's the point of all this?'
Sonakshi jabbed the buttons again.

'You can't divorce Rohit over this. He doesn't deserve it..and you don't know...'

'And I don't want to know, either. Please, excuse me!'

The lift doors opened, and Sonakshi stepped inside, pressing the button for the ground floor.

'Sonakshi, please listen to me! Rohit is innocent! Uss ne kuch nahin kiya!'

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

Rohit looked up at the ceiling, his thoughts all in shambles.

Sona, tum please mat karo aisa mera saath. Mein marr jaunga. I swear! I'll go and kill myself!
Lekin tum se door nahin reh paunga..you have to understand..believe me..

He had received a call from the lawyer's office, confirming if he had received the papers. He had also been reminded to send Dr. Sonakshi Rastogi to complete the formalities for registration of their case, in court.

Rohit had been in a bad mood since then. He had his shoot in an hour, but he just didn't feel like getting up from the bed, or making an effort.
He took out Sonakshi's scarf, that he had found in her cupboard, from underneath his pillow, where it had been since he had found it. Bringing it to his face, he inhaled it, the smell of her perfume, the smell of her infused in it.

Mein jaanta hun, tum bhi mere bagher nahin reh sakti..tumhare chehre pe saaf saaf likha tha..bas maan nahin rahi. Or yeh divorce papers..mein nahin maanta..na maanunga..

He covered his face with her scarf.
He knew that he would have to get up and go, unless he wanted everyone at home knowing about this.
Veena had already been after him, about why Sonakshi hadn't visited even once, or why Rohit hadn't brought Arihaan to meet her, atleast. About how she was missing them, about why he was always in a bad mood, about why he wasn't talking to anyone in the family.

I'm sorry, Mom! I kept hoping ke Sona meri baat sun le gi, mere paas wapas ajayegi, or yeh sab aap ko batana hi nahin parega. Magar divorce ki baat, yeh kaise chupayenge..

He sat up in bed, finally, his eyes on the large portrait of Sonakshi and his, on the wall.

'Sona! Mein yeh nahin honay de sakta! Sab ko hurt nahin kar sakti tum, iss tarha!  Tumhe apna faisla badalna hi parega!'

He suddenly remembered,  what the receptionist at her lawyers' office, had said. That Sonakshi had to come to complete the formalities.

Oh no! What if she is already there, and made it all official? No!!!

With a sudden spurt of determination, he got up, and ran to get dressed.

I have to make you understand, even if it means making you more upset. I have to..I can't lose you, or my family..I won't let you..

Hurrying down the stairs, he almost made it to the entrance, when Veena called to him.

'Rohit! Tum phir bina naashtay ke ja rahe ho? Ruko to..'

'Mom! I'm sorry, mujhe bohot zaroori kaam hai ek, I have to go!'

'Aray, magar suno to..'

'Mujhe jaana hai, milna hai..'
He said to himself, but she heard him.

'Kahan jana hai? Kis se milna hai? Kya barrbarra rahe ho?'
Veena followed him to the main door.

'Sona se, Mom! Mujhe uss ke paas abhi jaana hai!'

'Kya hua, Sona ko? Kahin baby to nahin..'

Rohit realised that Veena had started to panic, so he turned back around.
'I'm sorry, Mom! No, no! Baby abhi nahin aaraha..woh to mein..'

'Tum dono ki larrai hui hai na, sach sach batao..'
Veena scolded him.

'Nahin woh..mein to..'

'Theek hai, mat batao, mein khud hi uss se pooch lungi..'
Veena turned to leave, but he caught her arm.

'Aray, Mom! Aisa kuch nahin hai..woh..uhm..maine khwaab mein dekha..acha nahin tha..to bas, dekhna chahta hun usse..'
Rohit quickly made up, so that she would back off.

'Oh, ho! Yeh baat hai! Pagal! Mujhe to dara hi diya!'
Veena put a hand to her forehead.

'So, mein jaata hun, relax..'
Rohit said goodbye, and quickly moved to his car.

But he had just turned the corner away from his house, when a motorbike coming from the opposite end came in front of him. Rohit hit the brakes, and quickly got off to see. He was surprised to see his friend Vineet, getting off the bike. Rohit groaned.

'Rohit! Kahan bhaga ja raha hai?'

'Vineet, tum? I'm sorry! Magar tum, iss waqt, yahan?'
Rohit looked a bit irritated.

'Yar! Tu kahan hai? Kab se calls kar raha hun tujhe. Uss din mall se bhi bhaag gaya..baat hi nahin ho payi..to dekhne aaya tha..'

'Yar, iss waqt mere paas time nahin hai..mujhe bohot zaroori jaana hai kahin..woh mein..tum..'
Rohit tried getting out.

'Kya hua hai tujhe? Itna pareshan kyun hai? Sab theek to hai?'
His brow cleared.
'Kahin Bhabi labour mein to nahin chali gayin?'

'Nahin..'
Rohit frowned.
'Sab ko Sona ko labor mein pohchaane ki bohot jaldi hai..'
He muttered under his breath.

'Unhe bula dun andar se? You don't look so good.'
Vineet offered, looking at Rohit's face, which was getting paler, now.

'Nahin! Sonakshi yahan nahin hai..ussi ke paas ja raha hun..woh..apne parents ke ghar pe hai..'

'Ohh! Yeh baat hai! Iss liye bhaage chala ja raha hai. But sab theek hai na? Aise hi gayi hain, ke kuch hua hai?'

'Kitne sawaal poochte ho tum!'
Rohit was annoyed now.
'Han, woh yahan nahin hai, han, bohot kuch hua hai, or bohot kuch hojayega..'

'Itna ghussa kyun kar raha hai..batao na kya hua..'

'Kya bataun? Ke Sona mujhe chorr ke chali gayi hai? Ke woh mujhe divorce dena chahti hai!'
Rohit burst out, hitting his fist on the car's roof.

'What?!! Yeh kya bol raha hai tu? Theek se bata na!'

Rohit ran a hand through his hair, and ended up telling him what all had happened that night of the party, and how he had ended up in bed with Alizeh.

'What?!? Yeh kya bakwas hai? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?'

'Aisa hi hua hai, and I've been cursing myself ever since! Mein Sona ko kaise dhoka de sakta hun? I want to just kill myself..maine kabhi bhi..'

'It's impossible, Rohit! Aisa nahin ho sakta!'
Vineet insisted.

'Tujhe kya pata! You weren't even there..uss raat..'

'Exactly! Uss raat to mein wahan tha na, party mein. Rohit! You passed out, drunk! Mere saamne!'

Rohit's heart took a massive nosedive.

'What?!?!'

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

Sonakshi's heart lurched in her throat, and before she could react, the doors began to close. Ariana stepped in between, and they opened again.

'What?!? What are you talking about?'
Sonakshi's throat constricted, in trying to get the words out.

'Pehle bahar aao..'
Ariana took hold of her hand, and led a stunned Sonakshi to a bench placed near the elevators.
'Betho, please! Tum theek to ho? Paani laaun?'
She looked around, to see if there was any.

'No! No! Paani nahin chahiye! Tell me what you are saying. And how..how do you know..what..'
Sonakshi frowned, looking at her, but then her brow cleared, as she thought of something.
'You are Alizeh's friend. Tum to kuch bhi bol sakti ho mujhe divert karne ke liye, hai na?'
She gave Ariana an accusatory look.

Ariana sighed, but kneeled down on the carpet, in front of Sonakshi.
'I understand why you would think that, but please believe me. I know Rohit better than Alizeh, and I know that he's very much in love with you..'

'So is Alizeh, right?'
Ariana gave Sonakshi a look of surprise.
'I know she's interested in Rohit, uss ki baaton se, andaaz se pata chalta hai..'

'Unfortunately, you are right! Alizeh is interested in him. I tried my best to convince her, that Rohit is totally head over heals with you, he would never leave you..but she went on and on..'

'Rohit didn't believe me, when I told him..'
Sonakshi put in quietly, remembering.

'That's because uss ke saamne woh meethi, meethi baaten karke uss ko distract kar deti hai..'

'Or tum yeh sab jaanti thi?'
Sonakshi raised her eyebrow at her.
'To Rohit ko kyun nahin bataya?'

Ariana looked a bit sheepish.
'I'm sorry..Alizeh ne mujhse promise kar waya tha..'

'So why are you breaking your promise, now? Or woh bhi mujhe bata kar?'
Sonakshi looked at her, suspiciously.

'Because, I just saw your divorce papers. Please, Don't do this to Rohit..or yourself..and your baby. I can't keep quiet now.'
Ariana looked upset.

'Or yeh kya bol rahi ho, Rohit is innocent..how do you..'

'Uss raat party mein, usse zabardasti roka gaya tha..usse strongest alcohol pilayi gayi thi..he was stoned, Sonakshi! Stoned!'

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

'Rohit! Uss raat tu ne itni pee li thi ke tu behosh hogaya tha, wahin, club mein!'

Rohit grabbed Vineet's collar, and pulled him by it.
'Yeh tum kya bol rahe ho, Vineet! How do you know this?'
Rohit was fuming.

'Kyunke I was driving, I didn't have that much to drink. But you had quite a lot. Too much in fact, or woh Alizeh..'

Rohit stepped back, leaving his friends' collar.
'Uss ka kya lena dena tha? Woh bhi to iss sab mein..I mean, I was the one drinking. Uss haal mein maine hi..'

'Rohit! Tum itne bholay to ho nahin ke tumhe pata na chale..'

'Kya bol rahe ho?'
Rohit looked puzzled.

'That Alizeh was full time coming on to you, plying you with drinks, dancing with you, touching you indecently.'

'What!?! No, no! You have got to be wrong. She is my friend..woh aisa kyun karegi..I..'
Rohit looked at him, stupefied.

Something in the back of his mind suddenly registered. Sonakshi saying pretty much the same thing.

'Did you know Alizeh was interested in you? Romantically?'

Rohit had denied it, and called her a friend.

'A friend who went to so much trouble to get me out of the way, so she could be with you?'

'That Alizeh did this on purpose! She slept with you because she's in love with you!'

Rohit grabbed his head, and screamed out loud.
'NO! NO! Oh my God! Sona warned me too..she knew..oh God! What a fool I've been..and I cheated on Sona, uss ke saath..I can't..'

'Rohit! Baat nahin sun rahe tum. I said you were too drunk, and you passed out. I offered to take you home, but Alizeh stopped me, saying that your house was on her way, and that she will drop you, safe and sound.'

'What? But wasn't she drunk, too? We ended up in bed..I..what?'
Rohit looked at Vineet, who was shaking his head.

'Rohit! Alizeh was completely sober!'

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

Sonakshi stood up, unable to sit any longer.
'Well, aksar nashay mein hi ghaltiyan hoti hain na, beqaboo hona, hosh mein na rehna..'

'Sonakshi! Mein tumhe kya bata rahi hun..or tum kya sun rahi ho! Listen to me!'
Ariana got up too, and held her by the shoulders.
'Rohit. Passed. Out!'
Ariana emphasised every word.
'Ek insaan behoshi mein kya karega! Uss raat, Alizeh ne offer kiya usse ghar pohchaane ko, sab maan gaye..'

'What you are saying, is that Alizeh took him to that hotel room herself..'
Sonakshi said, in disbelief.

'Yes! She staged everything to suit herself. To take him away from you, knowing full well, that you will react this way, and break it off with him! Don't you still get it?'

Sonakshi had the most dumbstruck look on her face, unable to accept what Ariana was telling her.

Rohit is innocent. He didn't cheat on me, our love..he's innocent..

'Sonakshi! Are you listening to me? I said Rohit beqasoor hai..'

Sonakshi could hear Ariana talking, but her mind was spinning with all sorts of realisations.

I should have believed him..kitna bola uss ne..mujhe kya hogaya tha..I should have listened to him..I should have believed in him..Rohit...itni bari ghalti kaise..no..no..this can't be..maine jo dekha..it wasn't true??

'Rohit..Rohit..'
Sonakshi chanted, as her head began to spin, and she held her head. She heard Ariana calling to her, as if from a faraway distance, as her head spun, and she fell to the ground, and fainted.

To be continued...