I ADORE SHASHI MA'AM AND SUMEET SIR. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A MINOR SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE MALANIS AND MITTALS, MALANIS ARE FRAGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION. THESE ARE CHARACTERS. NOTHING TO DO WITH MY REGARD/DISREGARD WITH THE ORIGINALS.  ALSO, WHILE YUDKBH IS BASED ON THE MITTALS, PEHLA PEHLA PYAR WAS TOTALLY SONA'S CREATION AFTER GETTING A HINT FROM THE MALANIS.

HAPPY READING💙

An image came swirling in his head. A dull, blurred footage of a girl sitting on a couch for a long time, trembling a little and then she got up after some time, held a poster and started crying bitterly. He saw it all from a slant angle, from the top but it was like he was there beside her or worse he was there while she was crying, he was the one she was holding and he couldn't help her - even if he wanted to.

"Sir, we've landed. Sir." A polite voice ringed in his ears and Devrat Dixit opened his eyes immediately. He straightened himself in the aircraft's seat. His forehead was covered with sweat beads despite the A/C. He nodded when the air hostess looked at him with anticipation and got up to deplane.

Mechanically, Dev collected his luggage. He couldn't get the CCTV footage out of his head. The Sona he had seen at their set and the one he saw in the footage and the party night were two different people and come to think of it, he felt like he never really knew anyone of them.

Lost in his thoughts, as soon as he got out of the airport, a monkey popped out of thin air and slapped him on his face. His goggles fell from his nose.

"Hey!" He screamed but the monkey did his business and disappeared.

He picked up his goggles and went to hire a cab. Shimla wasn't a big town but it would not be easy to find Sonakshi.

"Kaha chaloge bhaiya?" The cab driver asked Dev, who by now had put his hoodie and his goggles on. It was difficult for him to be recognized.

"IGIMS." He said and got inside the cab.

The cab driver seemed to seriously dig songs of the 90s and the earlier ones of the milennium. Songs like Janam dekh lo mit gayi duriyan, Bin Tera Sanam, Sanam Teri Kasam and even some of the Indie Pop genre got into his head till he reached the hospital wing. He wasn't thinking straight. It was all a mixture of what he had to do and Sona's vulnerable image.

"Where do I look for this Nisha now?" Dev thought.

He saw a sign board pointing to the reception and followed it's direction. In a minute he was standing in front of the overly crowded hospital's reception. The line was long. It would have been so much more easier to take off his disguise and get some VIP treatment but if his fans poured out from the patients' queue he would lose even more time in hunting down Sonakshi.

He looked up at the list of doctors.

"Dr. Nisha Kaduskar." It was written in big, bold letters.

He stared at the name as if it would conjure Sonakshi's address for him. Finally, his turn came at the reception and the pretty receptionist frowned straight on his face. That was new.

"I want Dr. Nisha's address." He said confidently.

"Ohhh and I want to become President." She smirked.

Dev wasn't used to such sarcastic back offs. It took him a full moment to realize that he had just been denied access to something he wanted. He stared at the receptionist but her continued frown told him to leave the line. He went in the waiting area and sat on a chair among people whose body radiated stress, grief and anxiety. He looked at the doctor's list again. Nisha's working hours were from 12-4pm. That was a long wait.

"It's one!" Dev exclaimed looking at his watch.

He decided to catch another nap till four but as soon as he closed his eyes the images of a crying Sonakshi started floating in front of his eyes. The helpness of being in her arms and still not being able to console her began eating him. So he logged into FB and then Instagram to hold a Live session and then an #AskDixit on Twitter.

It was ten past four when he noticed Nisha coming out of a cabin, looking exhausted.

He got on his feet immediately and followed her. She was walking and walking and walking, until she stopped to take a cab. Dev decided to follow her and hired an autorickshaw for himself.

"Follow her!" He screamed at the driver.

"What is this? A TV Show?"

"It's a Fanfiction. Now move move move."

The roads were empty and it was easy to follow Nisha's cab. Around a blind curve her cab came to a halt. She paid the driver and started walking on a steep, deserted, uphill road. He did the same.

After walking for a while, Nisha stopped and looked around. Dev hid behind a tree. She kept looking around for a while and when she probably felt it was safe to do her 'thing' she took out her mobile from her pocket.

Dev saw her pull up a dance show in the middle of the road which could even make the best baarat dancers feel ashamed.

Chat deni maar deli khich ke tamacha
Hihihi has dele
Hihihi has dele
Hihihi has dele
Rinkiya ke Papa

The girl who seemed to be the Queen of Baarat Dance, stopped, checked for her surroundings and then began her walk upwards looking perfectly sane.

In five minutes they reached a fenced gate and Dev read the head sign as 'Khushi Orphanage'

"Ohh noo. This doctor is a philanthropist! How more noble and weird could she be?" Dev kicked a stone near him.

What followed next was a battle. Neither between the head and heart nor between good and evil. It was the most savage inner battle ever fought - between proactive Dev and lazy Dev.

He had been on the move since the Malanis handed him the job to bring their precious writer back. He wanted to sit down and rest after the tough climb to the orphanage but their was his clue to Sonakshi inside the building and a few question answers could finish his task and save the show quickly. The faster the better.

With this thought Dev went inside the orphanage. He pushed the gate, stamped over broken twigs and entered a big compound surrounded by few small white buildings. He looked at the swings, slides and see-saws. He saw children playing. He could hear chants of ABCD and the hindi varnamala from several classrooms to his right, he could see someone teaching slightly older children from a window to his left. The smell of freshly fallen leaves and dew mixed with the children's laughter made the air smell heavenly.

As if on an impulse he began moving forwards. The carefree look on the children's face made him recall his own childhood and also his troubled youth. As the innocent childhood mingled with the painful times of his youth he came back to reality and the purpose of his trip popped into his head. He had to look for Nisha.

He didn't have to search too far. In the heart of the compound he found Nisha sitting in between kids, reading out a story to them. The thrill in the kids was visible on their face. She didn't read from a published book. She held a diary in her hand and the stories appeared to be handwritten - self created or even copied from the internet. Who knows?

"Oh Thank God!" Dev muttered as he saw Sonakshi come out of a building's door in front of them.

She looked a little different than she did in Mumbai. She had changed her sense of style and was wearing more neon colours instead of the regular pastels she did. She was smiling, laughing harder than she ever did in Mumbai. Her cheeks had turned rosy - a classic mountain effect. She looked fit and not just slim like she did in Mumbai. Her hair had grown a bit and were more bouncy than ever. Her eyes had shed the gloom they always held in them, they were twinkling with her smile now. She looked ... beautiful.

The kids were talking to her and she was taking each of their word seriously. He didn't register for how long he kept admiring her or when she noticed him. It was all so mesmerising that he lost himself in the orphanage's atmosphere.

It was only when he saw her moving in his direction, he got out of his trance.

Sonakshi saw Dev and froze in her spot. This could not be true. She pulled Nisha closer.

"Can you see a guy over there?" She asked her while pointing towards Dev. She was wondering whether she was halucinating.

Nisha nodded.

"Who is it? Koi bhi chala aata hai! We need a guard here. I'll talk to Nachiket." Nisha said. She shot one look at the intruder but when she looked back at Sonakshi, her expressions were gone. She stood there like a stone. "What's the matter? Kaun hai ye?"

"Never mind." Sonakshi told Nisha to continue her session with the kids and she decided to talk to the intruder.

Dev was still looking at her when she began walking towards him. He didn't even realise that Sona had identified him despite the disguise.

"Hi." She said.

He removed his goggles and hoodie.

"Hey Sonakshi!"

An uncomfortable silence began growing between the two of them. Earlier, when they were together there was never a dull moment. The silence spoke about how distant they had grown in one month's time.

Sonakshi didn't knew what to say. The voice note still hurt her.

Dev didn't knew what to say either. He knew the reason behind her departure but he couldn't help her even if he wanted to. So he did what he did best - treat everything like a joke.

"Enjoyed your little holiday? Now c'mon Sonakshi. We have some daily soap business to finish. Remember?" Dev tried hard to keep his voice calm but it became more complaining. How did she even feel like leaving them?

"Sorry. I didn't get it. My bad. C'mon? Come on where? I am not coming with you anywhere!" Sonakshi said. How could he even try to act friendly when he didn't think well of her?

"Tomar matha khorap ki?" Dev tapped Sona's forehead.

"You will not use my language to flatter me!" Sonakshi stepped back.

"See Sonakshi." Dev dropped the happy smile and came to the point. "Let's keep it plain and simple. I know you liked me.  I am sorry. I can't be with you. How do I make it up to you for this?"

"By getting lost!" Sonakshi tried hard not to scream. All the things she had heard him say in the voice note came rushing back in her memory. "Now, as I have made my answer clear. I would request you to leave the premises of the orphange unless you have a donation to make."

"You're sending me away?" Dev snorted a bit.

Sonakshi kept quiet.

"Well, the Production House wants you back." Dev said after a pause. "So, if it won't hurt your fragile ego. Come back."

"Fragile ego? My ego is fragile?" Sonakshi was bewildered. He was cracking the shell she was trying to hold on to.

"Yes. Seems so. You couldn't take a minor rejection. I thought you were more of the kind of girl who ..."

"LISTEN! I heard what you had to say about me and the kind of person I am. I have had enough of your views. You may not like me Dev Dixit but I will not change how I basically am to please you. I can improve and mend my mistakes but I heard you were mocking my basic character and I will not change for a man like you. I can't force you to like me and I am not forcing you. Stay out of my way." Sonakshi had lost control over her voice by now.

The hard, expressionless look was back on Dev's face. No one could tell what was going on inside him

"I really love you Dev." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I still do. I curse myself for it but I haven't still gotten over you but I am working on it. Still, this fact gives you NO RIGHT to tell me what to do. You have NO RIGHT to call me immature, bacchi, bahut lafde hote hai iske and what not!" She felt rage rising in her.

There was a brief pause. The look on Dev's face deepened.

"You know what? You don't deserve me and I won't stand in a place where I feel my self respect is being hurt and that is what you and your director were doing to me! Every single day she would find fault in my work and, and you were doing the same thing. Although, I never thought that you'll turn out to be vicious like her." Sonakshi feared that she may start tearing up in front of him but she was surprised to find herself standing tall and strong, staring at him in the eye. Her voice didn't crack. She was fierce.

"Our show is in danger Sonakshi. It may get sacked. Both online and offline TRP are drowning. Please help us. We need you." Dev pleaded as if he had not heard a single, personal allegation.

"I had asked Baba to pay my penalty. I have resigned with dignity although it could have been done more maturely... Turns out he couldn't care to do it! I'll talk to the PH and pay it." Sona looked angry.

"He has already paid them." Dev told her.

"... But no money has been withdrawn from my account." As soon as Sonakshi said it, it dawned on her that maybe Bijoy paid the money from his pocket.

Nobody spoke for a while. The heavy silence and Dev's eyes on her face were making her giddy.

"Your father is missing you Sonakshi." Dev tried the last arrow in his arsenal.

"I ...I... I am happy here and you won't even know how it feels to have parents who never cared for you." Sonakshi began shouting again.

"Right. I won't because my parents are dead!" Sarcasm dripped from Dev's voice. He lost his patience finally. As soon as the fit came, it got wiped away and in a more business like tone he said, "Well, brushing that aside, I will not leave before you say a yes."

"Please go away. Spare me."

"I expected you to fight." His voice finally mirrored some of his inner feelings. He was hurt.

"I have no reason to stand upto your expectations. Please leave."

This was never a future Sonakshi had imagined with Dev. With him, it was suppossed to be a fairy tale. What had her life come to?

Nisha sensed something wrong between Sonakshi and the guy. She ran upto her.

"Is this the one?" Nisha asked as soon as she reached the duo.

Sonakshi nodded.

Nisha gasped.

"He? OMG! Dev Dixit is that ba****d that broke your heart?" Nisha was so loud the entire orphange could hear her if they wanted to.

"Welcome to reality." Sonakshi smiled.

"OMG!OMG! Sonakshi you caught the biggest fish in the market!" Nisha was out of breath with the shock and the run.

"Get a grip!" Sonakshi told her.

"I can give a 100 bucks for him to just flirt with me." Nisha was going all weak in her knees.

"Ladies, I am right here!" Dev said to remind the girls of his presence.

"You're impossible!" Sona told Nisha. "You are just seeing him as an actor I have seen how he is in person and he is the ugliest in that manner."

"Oh right!" Nisha gained her composure.

"I am RIGHT here!" Dev was getting annoyed.

"Scum of the Earth! All men are dogs." Sonakshi crossed her arms.

"Haww!! But I like dogs, don't call him a dog." Nisha faked being offended.

"You know what? I'll take your leave for now." Dev left them and sat in a corner of the orphanage. He wasn't letting her go at any cost.

PRECAP - Dev and Sonakshi try to bring whatever they had to a conclusion. Nisha forces Sonakshi to call her father.

Dev is getting soft. Why is it that he blocks his feelings from showing on his face? Is there something more to him than what meets the eye? (or ear in our case)
________

Also, Friday's YUDKBH episode has left me pissed. CVs built this break up track so beautifully and when Samaina were finally face to face, Naina was almost running towards him, everything had to go down the drain!

My only complaint is the CVs who have always sticked to potraying everything realistically showed something so unrealistic. I mean they ended all of Samaina's dates with a sour taste because of the family intrusion, Naina gets to hear taunts from everyone about her looks which is perfectly real and normal. The kings of PVKM fought hard to make their identity in VJN. When Mitali stole their casette at the Fresher's they sat and lip synced the Qawali, Naina forgot the lyrics in stress. So real! Then there is a Baba who comes to college, gets the shock of his life, shaves his overgrown beard, changes into normal clothes, brings on shades and a guitar in a second and proposes a SHOE.

Also, Sameer Maheshwari's displacement as a character will come down to zero if he again plays with an innocent (tho chipkali) girl's emotions for his benefit. What did you learn from the bet track Mr. Maheshwari?

So unless this mess isn't cleaned up, Sameer Maheshwari is disowned💔

Naina was forced into marriage with Sharad. Sameer chose to play along with Sunaina.

And Naina can't even stand up for her dreams? Might be a 90s thing😞

Not watching next week's episodes😩

[EDIT - I DIDN'T MISS A SINGLE EPISODE]