Sonakshi had been a bit nervous.

She hadn't driven a car since after the accident, and although she couldn't remember it precisely, she felt apprehensive.

But I have to carry out my plan..
Be brave, Sona! You can overcome it all..

She had hoped Rohit wouldn't notice her till they reached their destination, since he had looked lost in his thoughts, but he had caught her out.

'Sona? Tum?'
His voice was full of the shock, that was also visible in his eyes, as their eyes met in the mirror.
'What do you think you are doing?'
He frowned heavily, as he remembered their last conversation.

'What does it look like I'm doing? I'm driving you to your destination.'

'What destination? I don't see anything..'

'You will..in just a little while..'
Sonakshi made a right turn, driving onto a smaller road, which was hardly lit.

'This is not funny! You shouldn't even be driving..I..'

'Oh, yes! Me, the weak woman, jo chakra ke gaari ko kahin larra de gi..'

'Shut up! Stop the car, and let me drive!'
Rohit was leaning right behind her, and Sonakshi could feel his breath on her neck.

'Relax! I'm doing just fine, Mr. Fret Pants!'

'Fre...what even?'
Rohit huffed.
'Kamaal hai! Concern bhi nahin show kar sakte! Or yeh kis tarha baat kar rahi ho tum..'

'Kamaal hai! Ke bhaag ke, mun phula ke tum gaye thay! Tum kaise baat kar rahe ho mujhse?'
Sonakshi checked her phone, before she turned the car to the left.

'Mun phula ke? Tum bhi to zidd pakkar ke bethi thi. Kaam pe jaana hai..mein bilkul theek hun..'

'To? Yeh to mein ab bhi bol rahi hun. The doctor said I'm fully healthy. Apart from the memory, there's nothing wrong with me. And you can see for yourself, that I can talk, walk, run, drive, have sex..'
She stopped, and rolled her eyes at her own remark.

Rohit started at that, remembering how well they had merged the night before.
Sonakshi had given in to him so genuinely, that he had even forgotten about her memory loss.
Rohit shook away his thoughts, and focused on the matter on hand.
'Sona..tum..'

'Oh, come on, Rohit! Don't be so protective..'

'But I am..and you know..well, maybe you don't know it all right now..but I like taking care of what's mine..be it you, or the kids..'

'I kn..'
Sonakshi began to tell him about remembering about them, but stopped.
Sara plan chopat hojayega, Sona! Just shut up!
'Hmm..'
She quickly pretended to look for where she was going.

Rohit looked outside too, seeing several bungalows lining the street.
'Hum ja kahan rahe hain? Or kyun ja rahe hain? Chal kya raha hai tumhare dimagh mein?'

Chal to bohot kuch raha hai..but I want you to see for yourself..
'Bas..agaye..'
Sonakshi turned into an open gate, and stopped the car, in front of one of those  bungalows.
'Come..'
She opened her door, and got out, as did Rohit.

He saw her in the driver's uniform, a fitted white shirt and pants, and his first thought was that she looked sexy as hell.
He looked around, to divert his thoughts, and as Sonakshi began walking towards the building, was surprised to hear the sound of the sea nearby.
'Where is this?'

'It's a fairly new place..these are bungalows for rent..opening out onto a private beach...saw it online..in fact, I'm the first person to rent it..I..'
She saw him looking a bit surprised.

'Why are we here? Tum yeh sab..'
Rohit sounded quite confused, and suspicious too.

Sonakshi stopped putting the key in the lock of the door, and turned to face him.
'Rohit! I know you think I'm being stubborn and all, but the truth of the matter is that I..'
Love you..and remember you..

'You what?'
She stopped, as she saw Rohit frown heavily.

'Can we go inside first?'
Rohit nodded, and Sonakshi opened the door.

The living room, that the main door opened into, was sparsely furnished yet, with just a couple of sofas, and a table in the centre. A huge television screen covered the wall facing the sofas. A stairway leading to the level above, was situated near it.
Heavy curtains were drawn against the night, and the room was cast in a soft glow, as Sonakshi switched on the lights.

'Will you tell me now, what this is all about? Because I'm so confused, that I can't even think..'
Rohit went and plopped down on a sofa, his eyes roaming about the place.

Sonakshi understood what he was probably thinking and feeling right now, and if truth be told, she was a bit on edge herself.
How will he react, when he sees what I've done?

'I wanted to talk..'
He lifted an eyebrow at that.
'Away from everyone..I felt I owed you that much..'

'Owed me? For what?'
He narrowed his eyes at her.

'For all that you have done for me..'

'What?'
He had been leaning back on the cushions, but straightened up now, his eyes suddenly flaring.
'What do you mean?'

'Woh, I..'
Sonakshi looked at his expressions, and thought it better to stop explaining, and just tell him the truth.
'You sit here..wait..I'll just..I'll just be back..'
Sonakshi moved towards the stairs.
But before she knew what happened, Rohit had shot out of the sofa, and she was being pushed against the wall, right next to it. He caught her wrists, and pushed them too, with his hands, onto the wall on both sides of her.
She looked up at him, with a surprised expression.

'What is this, Sona? Some twisted way to play with my emotions?'
His gaze burned into hers, not wavering.

'No, I..'

'Don't you lie to me! You just said you owe me for what I've done..what did you mean by that?'

'Rohit! Calm down!'
Sonakshi tried, but Rohit was really in no mood to.
He had had a bad day, feeling guilty, and hurt, and things didn't seem to be getting any better.
'You are taking things the wrong way..mein to bas..'

'Tum to kya? What did you mean by that 'owe me' remark? Tell me!'
He seemed angry, but more towards himself, rather than at her.

'Okay, relax! I just meant ke tumne itna kuch kiya hai mere liye, to mein bhi kuch karna chahti hun..'

'Oh! So you want to say thankyou! By making fun of my feelings? Yun mujhe kidnap kar ke, dhokay se yahan laana..'
Sonakshi was shaking her head, stunned at where his thoughts were leading.
'You think I did the things I did because of some compulsion? To show the world? To be in the news?'

'Rohit! Tum kya bol..'

'I was selfish! I did it for myself!'
His voice got louder.
'Jo sab kiya, uss mein mera apna maqsad tha, samjhi tum?'
Sonakshi could only look up at him, as he fought with himself.
'Tum bhool sakti ho sab, magar mein..mein wahi khara hun jahan do saal pehle khara tha!'

'Rohit, I know..'

'You don't know! Because you conveniently left me, left me to face it all alone..without you! But damn you, I love you so much it hurts!'

There was a silence as they both just looked at each other.

He loves me so much..sirf hurt hai..

He shut his eyes, but opened them immediately, when he felt Sonakshi's lips on his.
He moved his head back to look at her.
'Please..'
She whispered, her gaze pleading, and without wasting a second, Rohit  crushed his lips on hers. Their mouths fused, his tongue coming out to tangle with hers. His fingers entwined with hers on the wall, and she clutched at his, moaning, as he kissed her senseless.

They stood there kissing till they couldn't any longer.
Rohit looked down at her, seeing her dazed expression, and felt a sense of satisfaction.
No matter what she says or remembers, she has feelings for me..

'Tumhe dikhana..'
Rohit blinked, as he realised, that Sonakshi was talking to him.

'What?'

'Maine kaha, mujhe tumhe kuch dikhana hai..shayad phir tum apna ghussa chorr ke meri baat samajh pao..'
Sonakshi pushed at him, and he let her go.
'Just wait here a minute..'
Sonakshi ran up the stairs, and Rohit watched, puzzled.
He stood there for a couple of minutes, before he heard her call down.
'Rohit..'

Rohit took the steps two at a time, till he reached the top, and came to a complete stop.
Because it was dark, the lights switched off.
'Sona? Kahan ho? Yeh sab..'
He stopped, as the lights turned on, and he saw what she had been asking him to see. His mouth and his eyes widened into saucers.

For there, set up in front of him, was his whole journey with Sonakshi..their most precious memories.

She remembers! Oh, God! She got her memory back!!

Rohit felt as if he might pass out from the feelings inside him right now.

There was a spa set up in a corner, much like they had seen in Bangkok on their honeymoon. There was a..a shikara? (a what? Yes, that's what it looked like), in another corner. A table set up like how they had had at the tree house, was on one end, and there was a table full of golgappay, and chaat.
There were even miniature models of the temple in Thailand, a houseboat, Burj Khalifa, and other landmarks they had visited together.
The lights dimmed, and as he watched, Sonakshi came out from behind a screen, wearing the white shirt she had been wearing, but only. She had taken off the pants she had been wearing, and as she came closer to him, he saw that she was holding a tray..a tray with colours..

'Oh my God!'
He couldn't believe it all.
'You, you..remember!'

Sonakshi came even closer, watching the stumped expression on Rohit's face.
'Yes! I remember! Us! I remember our grand wedding, our honeymoon, our anniversary trips..remember all the ups and downs, all the hardships you and I have been through, and most important of all..'
She paused, and Rohit held his breath, waiting.
'Most important of all..'

'Bolo na..'
He stood unmoving, mesmerised.

Sonakshi dipped a finger in the pink colour, and stroked it lovingly over his check.
Rohit closed his eyes briefly, against the emotions running through him.
'Most important of all, is that I love you!'
Rohit's eyes became damp, and she could see it, even in the low lights.
'I love you, Rohit Sippy! For the man you were, for the man you have become. For raising our children so lovingly, being their father and mother, both. For loving me so much, and unconditionally..for waiting for me patiently, day in and day out as I lay there on that hospital bed, unconscious. For not giving up on me, or our love, which we promised one another..I love you, Rohit, for being you..I love you so much!'
Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision, but Rohit's eyes mirrored the same emotions.

He closed the distance between them, reaching out to take her in his arms. But in his eagerness, he forgot that she was holding the tray with the colours, and as he crushed her to him in a hug, the tray tipped from her hand, flying in the air, upending its' entire contents on the stunned couple.

As the gulaal coloured them from head to toe, they shifted back to look at each other, only their faces partly spared, before they both burst out laughing.
Rohit lifted her up, and spun her around.
'Sona! Sona! Sona!'

'Aray! Rohit! Mein gir jaungi!'
She clung to his neck, as he continued to spin her around, some of the colour flying off of them, before setting her down.

'You won't believe how happy I am! Aisa lag raha hai ke sab kuch mil gaya! Jo zindagi veeran lag rahi thi..aaj tum ne rangon se bhar di!'

'Literally!'
Sonakshi laughed at him, with him.
It was the best feeling in the world.

'I love you, so much!'
He took her back in his arms, hugging her once more,  before letting her go again.
Sonakshi looked down at herself, shaking her head.
'Ab nahana parega..'

'Wasn't that part of your plan?'
Rohit teased her, and she laughed.

'No! The gulaal was just a reminder of the day you coloured me with your love..magar yeh to..'

'To kya hua? Naha lete hain..'
Sonakshi looked up at that, and saw him make an innocent expression.

'Han, han! Kitne masoom ho tum..sab samajh rahi hun mein..'

Rohit pulled her by the waist towards himself.
'You were always smart! Jab samajh hi gayi ho to intezar kis baat ka? Chalo..bathroom to hoga na yahan..'
He tugged her along as he began to walk towards the doors, but then stopped.
'But wait!'
He looked a bit pensive.

'Kya hua?'
Sonakshi asked.
'Changed your mind?'

'You know me better than that! I never miss a chance!'
Rohit leered at her, and she chuckled.

'Ofcourse! Mr. Moqay-ka-faida-uthane-wale Sippy! Aray! Kahan ja rahe ho?'
As Rohit suddenly turned, and began walking towards the stairs with her.

'I believe you mentioned a private beach..'
Rohit held her hand in his, as they descended the stairs.

'I did, but..Rohit! Iss waqt? I did arrange something there..but..'
Sonakshi said, but Rohit kept walking, and looking, till he found the door, leading to the beach.

He stopped, when he saw a canopy set up, with a table and chairs, just like he had arranged on her birthday on the night of the accident. He turned to look at her, surprised.

'This is as far as I remember..I still can't remember the accident, or giving birth to Mishaye, or raising the kids. There are still gaps..'

Rohit put a hand to her cheek, and Sonakshi leaned onto his hand.
'It's okay! Jahan itna yaad agaya hai, woh bhi zaroor ayega..tum tension mat lo..'

'I know..ke tum saath ho, to sab acha hi hoga! Jahan itna saath diya hai, to aagay bhi do ge na..'

'Yeh koi kehne ki baat hai? You know I will.'

The sound of the waves beckoned, and they both turned to the sound.
It all looked so beautiful and serene at this time of the night, the waves pounding on the sand.
Rohit took her hand, and they began walking towards it, their bare feet sinking in the soft sand.
A light breeze blew their hair, as they reached the water's edge.

Sonakshi dipped her feet in the water, and squealed.
'It's cold, Rohit!'
She clung to him, sideways, pulling back from the water.

'Kahan?'
Rohit dipped his feet in it. 'Itna acha to hai..aaahh!'
He screamed, as Sonakshi bent and lifting water, splashed some on to his neck and chest.

'Kitna acha to hai..'
Sonakshi mimicked, laughing.
Rohit narrowed his eyes at her, and bent down and did the same, making her yelp.
'You!'
Sonakshi bent to repeat the action, but Rohit broke into a run.
'Ruko tum!'
Sonakshi ran after him,   throwing water, but Rohit dodged it, laughing, as he ran ahead.

'Bhool jao, Sona! Nahin pakkar paogi mujhe!'
He said without looking back at her.

'Rohit Sippy! This is not fair! You know I can't run as fast as you right now..mein thak jaati hun jaldi..'
Sonakshi put enough melancholy into her voice, that Rohit turned to look.

'Sona! Tum theek..what the..'
As Sonakshi caught him with the water on his face.
'You cheater!'
This time, Sonakshi squealed loudly, as she sprinted back in the other direction, with Rohit on her heels, in the water.
'You know I will catch you! Abhi bola na tumne, thak jaati hun..'

'Stop, Rohit! Sach mein..mein mazaq thori kar rahi thi..'

'Sab jaanta hun..badmaash!'
Rohit kept running after her.

Sonakshi just then, made the mistake of turning her head to look at how far behind he was. Her foot hit a rock in the water, and she screamed.
Rohit who had been right behind her, crashed into her, as she suddenly stopped, and they both screamed, clutching at each other, as they went tumbling down in the cold water with a resounding splash.

To be continued...