Dev wrapped Sonakshi in a warm towel and got changed to his clothes. He left the washroom to give Sonakshi some privacy to get changed. Once he walked outside to the guest room, he noticed a shadow outside the room. When he walked further outside, he spotted Nisha quickly rushing out from behind the pillar. He wondered what she was doing so late since he thought that she had already gone to sleep.

Once Sonakshi came out, both of them resumed to their room. Tucked into their cozy bed that night, sleep pooled on their eyelids, as they dozed off.

Sona's POV

The next day I woke up early and left the house with Dev. I was really stressed ever since Dev spoke to me about the errors in the finance department. However, I tried to mask my fear with a straight face. Thankfully I didn't have to face Nisha or Ishwari in the morning. I was least bothered about Radharani anymore since I felt like she was completely a puppet to her daughter.

When we reached the office, I quickly jumped into work seriously. There was no time to rest for me anymore since the end of year period was a hectic period for all the accountants. When I started work, Jatin came to me and told me that most of the account records are missing from my file. He asked me where I placed them since he couldn't find some of the important documents too.

I started to take a deep breath and told him that I will search for them. How could they suddenly go missing? Gosh... I am in deep trouble now. How will I find them? I tried looking for them in my drawers and cupboards. But there was nothing I could actually find. Something was deeply wrong.

I am an extremely organized person and I always kept my files like a model employee. A few days I was on leave and everything is missing? How? I was so stressed that I even skipped my lunch. After two hours of intense search, I was exhausted and sat on my table with my hands buried in my hair.

Just then, the door opened with a creak sound. Dev came in with a big plastic carrier. He had a warm smile.

"Hello! I thought we could eat lunch together since you are planning to starve inside your office?" he said jokingly but I wasn't in the mood to laugh or smile. I just sat down there with a frown on my face.

"I don't want any food Dev. I just..... Can I eat later?"

"No! You can't! What's wrong Sonakshi?" he asked genuinely.

"Dev.... I can't find the papers missing from the locker in the office. Looks like there's a large difference in the account balances. There is only two possibilities for this. Either the money from the locker has been stolen or there is a mistake in the paper works. As far as I know, there can't be any mistakes in the paper works. Can you ask a trusted person to check the locker once more? I am just too confused Dev... I don't know what I should do. It's only two days I was on leave and all this happened?" I asked while Dev listened to me with his full attention.

"Sona... Don't take too much of stress. I know there is a problem in the monetary matters here but the problem is..... This issue was already found out at the start of this week, when you were already attending office. When I was informed, I thought of rechecking this matter before informing you. But now, looks like we have a serious problem. Do you know who else has the spare key to the office safe apart from you?" Dev asked.

"I know the senior officer, Mr David had it. You can ask him to check the amount left inside the safe. Maybe it's counted wrongly...." I mumbled. There was a kind of desperation in my voice. I badly wanted to find a solution to this problem because my inner mind told me that something grave was going to happen. I wanted to go against my fate and change it before anything really happens.

"Hey, I will inform David. Please don't worry now and have your food." Dev said as he spread the food on the table and served me.

"Dev....I am scared."

"Don't be love. Everything will be alright." He said as I swallowed my fear and nodded.

----------------

"Sonakshi.... This is serious, look! I have sent these papers to different people and all their results are coming out the same way. Fifty lakhs is missing in accounts... Try recalling whether you placed any other office expense papers or maybe any purchasing receipts somewhere?" Jatin asked as he also helped me look through the papers.

"Jatin, I know very well, where I kept the papers. It all should be in the same file. But now, it's not here. How is that possible? Did someone come inside my office last two days?" I asked him.

"No Sonakshi. As far as I know, your door was locked all the time. Only Dev has the key to your door. Apart from him, no one could have entered."

Immediately I took out the phone and called the finance department to check out money from the safe box and also requested them to bring me the bank statement. Everything had to be settled today. I can't afford to make any mistakes now! How will I answer Dev? Although he doesn't say anything, this whole mistake was my responsibility. Fifty lakhs was missing from the safe and no one had a clue what happened to it....

Now the only solution would be.... The security cameras!

-----------------------

Days passed and things got worse. I started worrying about office work the whole day. Money was already a sensitive topic to me and this had to happen now. Everything that was happening around me looked like a mystery. Am I forgetting things? My mood was spoilt at home as I felt that Dev and I had very little conversation even when we came back after work. Our professional life was affecting our personal life as well.

Even at home, whenever we talked, it was about work. The work pressure was chewing our brains. I desperately wanted to leave somewhere and take a break. But how could that be done when so much of problems were happening?

The pain in my chest kept increasing and the home environment was not helping me at any way. Nisha had stopped bugging me. But different problems started hitting me. I started crying silently every night while Dev wasn't there. During these days, I had started missing my parents too.

I tried calling my mother but whenever I called, Elena would pick up and tell me that mum went to the hospital for baba's check-up. Why was she constantly going to the hospital? I understood that my parents didn't reveal Elena much information too. Hence she too was clueless like me. Now my worries had increased more as I missed my parents. My father's health condition bothered me as I made a mental note to visit them next week.

God.....give me strength to deal with everything.

*End of POV*

Sonakshi was laying on the bed on Sunday morning after a tiring day, full of housework. Tomorrow she needed to get back to work. The real problem would be finally revealed tomorrow. She was too involved in thinking of ways to solve the office issues that she didn't realize that Dev was cozying up from behind her.

"Dev.... What are you doing?"

"Trying to loosen up your brain cells a bit." he said kissing the length of her arms up to her shoulder.

"Not today Dev! I am in no mood to entertain you now." she sighed as he stopped and sat on the bed. She was angry that he wasn't there with her when she needed him. He was always busy with work and would only join her in bed after she slept most of the times.

"Why? What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing concerning you. So, you don't need to worry much." She spat harshly as he gaped at her. He knew she wasn't in her best mood but her rude replies were too new to him. He wanted to know what was bothering her but her replies just stated that she wanted to be alone. He respected her decision and just left her alone.

The whole day Sonakshi just avoided Dev and gave him a hard time. After lunch, Dev decided that he would bring Sonakshi for a movie which might clear her mind. But when he told her about their movie date, he was shocked to hear her rejection.

"I am not interested in any movies Dev. I am sorry but if you want to go, you can go with your family." while she was speaking, Ishwari entered their room.

"What happened? Where are you planning to go with the family?" Ishwari asked in surprise. Dev was now tongue tied as he contemplated whether he should tell his mother or not. In the end, he just decided to go with the former option.

"Maa....I was..........erm....... talking about movie"

"What? Movie? Really?" she asked as Dev just nodded helplessly.

"Wow, I was just thinking that all of us should go for a family outing too. Thank god you guys planned something today. I am so happy....." Ishwari blabbered while Dev was shocked.

He obviously wasn't planning for a family outing. All he wanted was to spend some time alone with his wife and Sonakshi had just spoiled it in a second. Soon mami and Nisha were all there. Even Neha was in their room, talking about which movie to watch.

Looking at their excited faces, Dev didn't want to protest. So, he unwillingly agreed for the movie too.

Looking at all the havoc, Sonakshi stood there dumbfounded. She cursed herself for the blunder she had created. She didn't want to hurt Dev but her stress level was increasing and she needed someone whom she could vent it at. When she had no one, she ended up releasing her pent-up frustrations on Dev, which she felt immensely guilty about.

After three hours, the whole family was out for the movie. Due to Neha's insistence, even Sonakshi followed them. She had no choice. All the time, Dev did not even speak to her a word, making her guiltier than she already was.

"Dev.... Please talk to me. I am sorry..." she whispered while everyone were entering the movie theatre.

"Sorry that you had to follow my family here. You wanted time alone right? After this movie, have all your time alone. I am never going to disturb you!" Dev said coldly as he took a deep breath and walked in without giving her a look.

As they settled on their seats, Dev took his seat in between Nisha and Neha leaving Sonakshi sit in the corner. Sonakshi was shocked to see that she was forced to sit further away from him. With no other option, she had to sit uncomfortably beside Radharani. Settled down in the seats, she stared at the screen where a random movie was being played. But she had no interest on watching the movie as all her thoughts were scattered around.

She peeked at Dev with an aching heart. How she wished she had not spoken so rudely to him.

She could not cry even if she wanted to. She hadn't experienced this feeling before. The sadness was still there, but not raw anymore. She sat still on her chair, with no strength to move. Her shaky fingers finally come to stop after running restlessly through her messed up hair. She bit down on her lip trying not to burst into tears.

"This not going to help, it's not going to change anything. I know anyone would laugh at it if they were present here right now. I know there's nothing to feel so despair over a small fight. It happens to all couples." she told herself but her heart still didn't stop racing fast, forcing tears to roll down her face.

She abruptly stood up in the middle of the movie and walked outside without informing anyone. She walked out with a heavy heart and bottled up emotions. She believed that she was strong woman who was brave enough to fight anything. But in Dixit's house, it was more than just a fight. It was a war.

She felt like she was unable to breathe as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She walked to the emergency exit staircase and sat there with her head buried in between her legs. She recalled all the incidents which happened the whole day. How she had been rude to Dev and pushed him away. She knew she was wrong and Dev had every right to be angry. But the part where he chose to ignore her in the midst of his family damaged her to the extreme end.

Dev's POV

Being angry was one thing. But now, I was annoyed. Annoyed to an extent where I felt like I needed to be away from Sonakshi for a few days. I have noticed how she had been for the past few days. She looked like a lost soul. I waited for her to approach me and share with me her burdens but she had not even spoken to me about what was bothering her.

She looked so devastated. I was busy in work over the past few days and I agree that I have left her on her own but I can't say I was ignorant. There was no time I rejected her when she approached me. Even when I was busy, I was all ears to her. But she was just being rude to me.

Her behaviour today was far more than unacceptable. I tried to console her and make her day better but all she did was, behave like a spoilt kid. I didn't want to make a scene in front of my family members so I just decided to remain silent. I knew that I should have at least sat with her. But my stupid ego over-powered at that moment and made me do a big mistake.

When she sat alone at the corner, it took everything in me to not walk towards her and take the seat beside her, replacing my mami. She may not have noticed. But most of the time, I was constantly keeping an eye on her. She looked so hurt. After a few minutes, I saw her walking out of the theatre and wondered where she was going.

Thinking that maybe she went to use the washroom, I stayed silent. However, when fifteen minutes passed, I started getting nervous. Excusing myself, I walked out from the theatre and started to search for her. I quickly walked outside the lady's washroom and spotted the cleaner.

"Hi, actually I am looking for my wife. Can you help me check whether she is inside?" I asked her as she nodded and went in.

"Sorry sir, the toilet is empty." She replied once she came out, making me completely frightened.

I walked from there and started calling her. However, the ring kept on ringing, making me more panicked. Every muscle felt tight, springing for action and I couldn't even walk. My body screamed at me to sprint down the street, spend the energy that kept piling in regardless of my inability to use it. I kept running around the theatre like a mad person until I met the same cleaner lady.

"Hi sir, was your wife wearing a red coloured dress?" she asked me and I quickly nodded.

"I think I saw her going inside the emergency exit area there. You may check there if you want..." she said. I didn't wait for her to finish as I quickly sprinted towards the emergency exit area. Once I got there, the image I saw was enough to whip away all the air from my lungs.

Her head was hung low as she cocooned in a corner, holding her shivering frame like a fear-stricken pet. Her head was buried in between her legs, indicating that she was crying vigorously. All because of me. I slowly walked towards her in fear. I didn't want to give her more pain or anything.

I just hated how easily I got angry for little things. Why wasn't I a little patient like Sonakshi? I could have dealt with this situation in a better way but unfortunately everything was ruined by my anger. My little angel was crying here for god knows, how long.

"Sona, look at me please" I whispered as I cradled her head in between my palms and lifted her face to look at me. But once I saw her face, my heart froze.

Her eyes shifted to the side again and became glazed with a glassy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth; my heart sank.

Her lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out of her mouth.

"Dev...I am sorry" she spoke but her voice indicated fear and pain. It wasn't something normal about Sonakshi.

"Don't be mad at me..." she whispered as I sat down beside her.

"Sonakshi..... I was never mad. I was just a little upset. You were mad at me for a whole day. Can't I show my anger at you for a few minutes? You just gave me heart attack. Do you know how worried I was. What are you doing here? Is this how you scare me?"

"Dev, I need you. I don't have anyone else apart from you in this house.... If you can't handle my mood swings and tantrums, who else will? Who can I share it to? Yes, I agree I was rude today.. My behaviour was terrible but what could I do? I was upset. I know I made you angry but..... Are you going to ignore me like this everytime you are angry? I can't take it when you ignore me. Do anything. Argue with me, scold me, throw tantrums back. But just don't ignore. It's too painful." she sobbed.

"Fuck, I am sorry.... I am really sorry. I swear I will never do that again. Do you want to tell me why you were upset?" I said as I enveloped her in my arms while tears soaked my shirt.

"I was just stressed thinking about my father. And also, work matters. I am sorry" she said as I kissed her cheeks.

"Don't worry about anything. I am there for you. You can always share with me anything and everything" I said as she nodded.

I have never seen her cry that way but just seeing her that way was so depressing. Probably she was undergoing pms? God girls.

The last time I saw her crying was before our marriage at the office but now, it was totally a different case. Why was she so moody? I slowly wiped her face and brought her from outside.

As we walked in the theatre, I requested Neha to exchange seats with Sonakshi and she gladly did. Once we were seated together, Sonakshi coiled her arms around mine and laid on my shoulders with a sigh. She was never a crying person but for the last few days, I noticed that she gets moody and upset easily. She craved for closeness and intimacy more nowadays, not that I was complaining but could it be due to overloading stress?

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

Precap: Sona and Pooja's Night-out plans...but...