Rohit saw Dr. Rahul, and his smile disappeared.

Rahul, however, was surprised to see Rohit, and gave him a smile.

'Rohit Sippy! The actor himself!'
He came towards Rohit, who was still standing watching him.
'Hi! I'm Dr. Rahul..Rahul Mehra..'
Rahul extended his hand, as he moved closer, then stood waiting, for Rohit to take it.
But Rohit just kept looking at him, as if observing something closely, so Rahul had no choice but to drop his hand.
'I've heard so much about you from Sonakshi..'

'Have you, now?'
Rohit broke his silence, as he moved away from the door, and came to stand in the centre of Sonakshi's cabin.

'I'm sorry?'
Rahul frowned, wondering what he had done wrong.

'You better be..'
He muttered under his breath.

'Ji?'
Rahul gave him a weird look.

'What are you doing here?'
Rohit asked him.

'I came to give Sonakshi some files..had hoped to catch her before she left...'

'Why?'
Rahul was a bit perplexed by Rohit's behaviour, and short replies, in what he thought of as, a sarcastic tone.
'Why did you hope to catch her?'

'I had to discuss something about a patient..'

'Well, as you can see she's not here..'

'Yeah, it's okay..I'll talk to her later..'

'Fine!'
Rohit said, shortly, to which Rahul, who had turned to leave, stopped and turned.

'Is something the matter? I mean, I've met you for the first time, and I feel very negative vibes from you..'

'What did you expect?'
Rohit's voice became a bit loud.
'That I hug you, or pat you on the back, for going after my wife, and confessing your love to her?'

Rahul was shocked, his eyes widening.
'Woh..mein..you know..'

'Ofcourse, I know!'
Rohit spat out.
'Tumhe kya laga, Sona mujh se yeh chupayegi? Or woh to baad mein..I happen to be a witness!'
Rohit had his hands on his waist now, in a defensive posture.

'Witness? But you weren't even here..how?'

'I heard it over the phone! You, confessing your love to my wife..MY WIFE!'
Rohit moved closer to Rahul, and Rahul stepped back an inch.

'Listen, I know what you are thinking, but Sonakshi has already made me see the light..and I..'

'You, what?'
Rohit's stance was threatening.
'You wanted to stay close to her, work with her everyday, secretly watch her when she's not looking..'

'Hey! You are blowing it way out of proportion here..I..'

'Am I? You work with her day in day out, eating and drinking, doing surgeries, and you expect me to believe that your feelings for her have disappeared? Just like that?'
Rohit snapped his fingers.

'No!'

'What?'
Rohit frowned heavily at him.

'I mean, it's not like how you are saying it! But, yes! I do have feelings for..ooomph!'
Rahul, who had been unprepared, went staggering back, as Rohit punched him in the face.

'ROHITTT!!'

Rohit turned to see Sonakshi standing at the doorway, her hand at her throat.
He realised his fist was still in the air, and he quickly lowered it.
But Sonakshi was already running inside, and as he turned to speak to her, she hurried past him, and kneeled on the floor next to Rahul, who was sitting up and holding his nose.

'Rahul! Are you alright?'
Sonakshi asked, concerned.

'Yeah, I'm alright!'
His voice came out a bit muffled.

'Oh, God! You are bleeding..your nose..'
Rahul looked at his hand, and realised she was right.
She quickly got up, and taking several tissues from her desk, handed them to him, before turning to Rohit, who had been watching the scene quietly, his eyes fiery.

'Rohit! Yeh kya gundagardi hai! Aise kon behave karta hai?'
She looked at him accusingly, but Rohit didn't look like he regretted what he had done.

'It's alright, Sonakshi! I'm okay..'
Rahul was standing now, holding the tissues to his nose.

'But I'm not okay! Aisa kya hogaya yahan ke baat violence pe agayi?'
Sonakshi kept looking at Rohit, who was still brooding.

'Kuch nahin..bas, you have a very jealous husband..'

'What?'
Sonakshi gasped.
'Rohit! Yeh kya bol raha hai? You hit him just because..'

'He had the audacity to tell me he still has feelings for you! And I'm supposed to just stand here and listen?'
Rohit glared at Rahul.

'What even..'

'Okay, look..'
Rahul intervened.
'You took my words the wrong way..Sonakshi and I are just friends, and very good colleagues. Mein un feelings ki baat kar raha tha..'

'Yeah, right!'
Rohit looked skeptical.

'Rohit! He's right! We are just friends now!'

'I believe you! It's him I don't trust!'
Rohit looked at Rahul accusingly.

'Look! You have nothing to worry about! I really respect Sonakshi for bringing me out of a misconception..and in my defence, I can only say that I hadn't known she was married or had children..I did back off..'
Rahul tried to reassure Rohit.

Sonakshi glared at Rohit now, and so to appease her,   he nodded.
'Okay, fine!'
Rohit could see that Sonakshi was not really pacified.

Rahul's nose had stopped bleeding now, and he threw the tissues in the dustbin.
'I'll just go now..can't say it's been a pleasure, Rohit..'
He looked at Rohit, then at Sonakshi.
'I've left the files on your desk..I'll just go now..'
Rahul reached the door, and left quietly.

Rohit watched him go, and then turned to Sonakshi as the door shut.
She was standing, her hands closed in fists, settled at her waist, an eyebrow raised, looking perfectly ready to fight.
He swallowed, before speaking.
'Sona..woh..'

'Don't Sona me!'
Sonakshi shrugged off his hands, as they came around her shoulders.

'Aray!'

'What aray? Tum koi chotay bachay ho? Aise kon behave karta hai..'

'Acha, I'm sorry! Usse dekh ke mujhe ghussa agaya tha pata nahin kyun..I even tried not speaking to him. Magar woh khud hi insist karne laga, asking if I had any problem with him. Phir mujhse raha nahin gaya..'

'So you punched him? Just like that?'
Sonakshi made a face.

'No! Itna bara pagal bhi nahin hun!'

'Phir?'

'He said he still had feelings for you, and I just saw red. Phir kuch socha nahin, or mera do mahinay ka stress bahar agaya in the form of that punch! I'm sorry!'
Rohit held her gaze, but finally Sonakshi blinked.

'That's still no reason to behave in such a way with a colleague, a friend..'

'Maana..magar ab to hogaya na..maaf kar do..'

'Rohit! Maafi to uss se mangna chahiye! You can't just behave like a gunda and then shrug it off..you know I don't like..'

'I know, I know..'
Rohit lifted his hands up in surrender.
'And that is the only reason I'm sorry..no other!'

'What?'
Sonakshi huffed.
'Tum se to baat karna hi bekaar hai..'
She turned to move, but Rohit caught her, his hands coming around her stomach, from behind.

'Sona! Yun khafa to mat ho! Bola na sorry..'

'Bolne mein or sorry honay mein faraq hota hai, Rohit..'

'Acha, baba..'
Rohit put his chin on her shoulder from behind, his voice now close to her ear.
'Mein uss se bhi sorry bol dunga..pehle tum to maaf kar do..please..'
He kissed the tip of her ear, and Sonakshi couldn't help but give a small smile.

Rohit noticed the upturned lips, and sighed.
'Shukar, muskurayin to..'
He lifted his chin, and turned her around in his arms.

'I'm still upset!'
She made a face, pursing her lips.
Rohit planted a quick kiss on her pouted lips, and moved back, putting his hands around her neck.

'I'll make it up to you, I promise!'
He touched his forehead to hers, and Sonakshi closed her eyes.

'Theek hai! Maan leti hun..'

Rohit immediately brought her closer.
'Thankyou..'

'Ab ghar chalen? Arihaan bohot excited tha to see the sea..'

'Hmm..actually, I came to pick you so we could save time. Or yahan dekho..'

'Han, to chalo..'

'Chalo..'

'Aap chorenge to chalengay na..'
Sonakshi pointed to where his arms were wrapped around her.

'Oh! Yes!'
He moved back.
'Aise hi jaane ka plan hai?'
He looked at her scrubs.
'Not that I mind! I always found them sexy..'

'Uff! Mein two minutes mein aayi..'
Sonakshi hurried over to the bathroom, while Rohit looked after her.

Aaj to bach gaye, Rohit Sippy! Learn to control..control..

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

'Arihaan! Ruko!'
Rohit ran after him in the sand, as Arihaan sprinted towards the sea.

'Baba! Water! Nayi nayi kare..'
Arihaan protested, as Rohit caught him, and lifted him up in his arms.

Sonakshi and Mishaye caught up with them, as Rohit reached the water's edge.

'Yahan aise nahin nahaate. It's not a swimming pool, beta!'
Rohit settled Arihaan on his shoulders.

Mishaye made cooing noises, and Sonakshi smiled.
'Lagta hai aap ko bhi aise hi karna hai..'
Rohit helped a bit in settling Mishaye on Sonakshi's shoulders.

'Ohhh..aaahhh..weee..'
Mishaye laughed, as she caught some of her mother's hair, and pulled.

'Aray! Aap aisa karo gi to Mama to gayi..'
Sonakshi tickled her little legs, making her laugh.

'Come on, let's walk along here!'
Rohit told Sonakshi, and together, they strolled down the water's edge, the water spray exciting the children.

Several onlookers enjoyed the view of the cute family, as they went laughing and talking.
Arihaan kept up his constant chatter, with Sonakshi and Rohit trying to answer his never ending questions.

'Baba! Ice-cream!'
Arihaan pointed to where several vendors were selling ice-cream, juices, chaat.

'Mere bete ko icecream khani hai? Let's go then...'

They walked up to the vendor, and Rohit got them all some. Arihaan licked and licked, dropping some on Rohit's neck.
Rohit yelped, and Arihaan and Sonakshi laughed.
Rohit touched his icecream to Sonakshi's neck, in jest.
Sonakshi screamed, as the cold icecream trickled down her neck.

'Tissue! Jaldi do, for God's sake!'
Sonakshi arched her neck, as she had already taken Mishaye down from her shoulders.
'Chorrungi nahin tumhe..'

'Or haso mere haal pe..yeh to hona hi tha..'
Rohit laughed, and so did Arihaan on seeing his mother shouting. He wiped her icecream, and she stuck out her tongue at him.

They finally walked back the way they had come, as the sun started to set.
The kids immediately went to sleep, as the car began to move, while Rohit and Sonakshi enjoyed the comfortable silence, as they drove home.

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

'Yeh sab kya hai, Rohit?'
Sonakshi looked at the several packages scattered over the bed, as she entered their room.

'And hello to you too, wifey..'
Rohit looked up from where he was sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a script.

'Oh, hello! Kaise ho?'
Sonakshi put down her bag, and glanced over the boxes, with brand names jumping out at her.

'Uff, yeh rookha pheeka hello..'
Rohit complained, and chuckling, Sonakshi walked over to him.

Plopping down on the sofa next to him, she took off her sandals and laid down her head on Rohit's lap.
Rohit immediately moved his papers to the side, and touched her cheek.
She looked up at him from her position on his thigh.
'Hello, hubby! How was your day?'

'It just got better!'
He leaned down, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
'Kya hua? Thak gayin?'

Sonakshi closed her eyes, and Rohit began to lightly massage her forehead.
'Hmm..that feels so good..'

Rohit pressed his fingers firmly over her temples, and on into her hair.
'At your service, ma'am!'

'Bhala, aisa husband kisi ko kahan milega..'

'Yes, indeed! You are sooo lucky..'
Sonakshi opened her eyes at that, and rolled them.
'Aray? Nahin ho lucky?'

'Kidding! Yes! Indeed you are the best! Ever! Khush?'
Sonakshi pulled his cheek playfully, and he grinned.

'Very khush! Tum kitni achi ho, Sona! Kaash aisi do hoti!'

'What?'
Sonakshi huffed, and sat up, putting her legs beneath her on the sofa.

'Aray! Leti raho..'

'And hear you talk about wanting another wife?'

'Aray, bilkul tumhari jaisi ek or..because you are the best..'
Rohit hugged her sideways.

'To best ke saath ek or best nahin ho sakti..'
She pulled him by his t-shirt collar, and brought him close to her, her face inches from his.
'Samjhay?'

His eyes lit up, at her actions and her words.
'Bohot achi tarha! Why would I want anyone when I have you? You run through my veins, my heart, my mind..'
He leaned even closer, his lips aiming for hers, but Sonakshi put her palm over his mouth, pushing him away.

'Okay, okay! I get it!'
Sonakshi had started to smile, but suddenly it disappeared. Rohit frowned  gesturing with his eyes.

'Kya hua?'

I hope we never have to part..ever..

'Nothing!'
Sonakshi shook her thoughts away, and smiled again at him.
'So, best hubby of the best wife ever..'
Rohit chuckled at that.
'What's all that on the bed?'
Sonakshi waved her hand towards the boxes.

'That? Khol ke dekh lo..'

Curiosity won, and Sonakshi walked over to the bed, and opened the lid of one box after the other, gasping.
'Oh, wow! Yeh sab kis ke liye hain?'
Sonakshi touched the silky material of the gowns she discovered.

'Meri doosri wife ke liye, ofcourse!'
Rohit had come to stand beside her to see her reactions.

'Rohit!'
Sonakshi whacked his shoulder playfully, and Rohit grinned, pulling her by the waist from behind.

'All yours, best wifey!'
He kissed her neck.

'Magar kyun? Kya occas..'

'Meri beautiful wife ki birthday arahi hai..to I thought iss mein se kuch pehnogi..'

'Oh! I had totally forgotten about that! But, Rohit! Ek dress hi pehnungi na..to itne saare..'
Sonakshi shifted her neck, as he nuzzled it.

'Sab hi achay lag gaye, to I bought them all..dekho..'
He let her go, as she reached over to lift them out, one by one.

'Oh, wow!'
Sonakshi exclaimed, as she shook out a lavender coloured one, then gasped, as she took out a bottle green dress. There were two casual ones, but when she opened the last one, she put a hand to her throat.
It was a white lace, wrap around dress, and was absolutely gorgeous.
'This is beautiful! I love it! Yehi pehnungi!'
Sonakshi turned to look at him, her heart in her eyes.
'Thankyou! I love you, so much!'
She reached over, to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head, so that her lips landed on his.
Sonakshi dropped the dress on the bed, as she gave in to his kiss completely.

'I love you so much, Sona! Tumhare saamne yeh sab cheezen bemainay hain..bas tum ho, to sab kuch hai!'

They stood there, hugging each other, and sudden tears pricked her eyes, at his words. She shook them away, and looked up at him, surprised to see his eyes damp, too.
'Itna senti honay ki zaroorat nahin hai..'

'Yeah? Look, who's talking!'
He reached down, and wiped the wetness from her eyes.

'We are a couple of fools, aren't we?'
She smiled at him.

'Yes! Fools, totally in love!'

They both laughed, brushing away the sadness, from their faces, and their hearts.

To be continued...