Dev stood there shell-shocked. He tried to speak something but no words left his mouth. No voice came out of his throat.

Agoraphobia was an anxiety disorder that often develops after one or more panic attacks. Symptoms include fear and avoidance of places and situations that might cause feelings of panic, entrapment, helplessness, or embarrassment. Treatments include talk therapy and medication.

"Sonakshi suffers from agoraphobia?" Dev asked Dr Sinha in disbelief.

"Yes," Dr Sinha said.

"Sorry, this is too much to take in," Dev said, running his hands in his hair and looking all around the room. He was still trying to digest what he had heard a few seconds ago.

Dev did underestimate Dr. Sinha. After all, Dr. Sinha was a psychologist and a psychiatrist both, that too a pretty reputed one. He understood Dev's distress. Dev wanted to know about how it all happened. But after all, it was not his story to tell, it was up to Sonakshi if she trusted Dev Dixit with her past.

Dr Sinha had been treating Sonakshi for seven years now. Initially, for one whole year, she did not open up to anyone. He tried all types of therapy. Finally, one day after offering to be her friend, she opened up. Then, it took him a few months to get her to a condition that was maybe normal. She did not run away from people anymore but panicked if some incidents that happened in her past were reminded.

"How did it happen?" Dev asked, breaking Dr Sinha's chain of thoughts.

Dev had mustered up all his courage to ask. He did not know whether he would be able to patiently hear whatever happened to Sona. He did not know whether he could even hear about how much pain that woman had endured, but he wanted to know what happened. 

"I don't think I have the right to tell you what happened Dev," Dr Sinha said, "If you want to know about what happened, Sonakshi should be the person telling you. And the fact is she will tell you only if she trusts you."

"OH! Is there no chance that you tell me?" Dev asked, trying to coax the doctor into revealing the secret to him.

"I am afraid I can't. Doctor-patient confidentiality," Dr Sinha spoke having a firm stance. Dr Sinha was always professional. He had never let anyone manipulate him.

"She will not tell me anything," Dev hissed, clenching his fists in frustration.

"She will. Give her some time," Dr Sinha said, "She trusts you that is why she has allowed you so far. She has never come with anyone except her family to meet me. Not even with her ex-fiance Anurag Basu."

"She trusts me?" Dev asked with a confused face, "She despises me. I have used blackmail to reach so far."

"You think you used blackmail, Mr Dixit. But actually, it is Sonakshi who has some part inside her wanting to tell you the truth," Dr Sinha said, "She is confused about you, Mr Dixit."

"I declared my love in front of her a few minutes ago and all she said to me was This is wrong. You should not be in love with me. I am the daughter of your father's enemy," Dev said, losing his composure.

"When did the both of you meet each other?" Dr Sinha shot.

"Yesterday," Dev replied.

"Well Mr Dixit, don't you think one day is a really short time to conclude that you are in love with a girl whom you met yesterday even though she is your father's enemy's daughter from whose family you have vowed revenge and planned to take revenge from the family by using her as a pawn," Dr Sinha said, looking at Dev right in the eye.

"How... How did you...?" Dev stuttered.

"But then, you think you fell in love with the girl you wanted to use as a pawn because she is different from the other girls you met. Because she is a girl who refused you, who rebelled against you. When she denied you her love, you decided to take revenge on her by making her fall in love with you and when she would confess her love to you, you would deny her love. This way taking revenge on her for not accepting your love and revenge from her family by breaking the heart of their only daughter Sonakshi. Am I right?" Dr Sinha concluded.

Dev was flabbergasted. How did he get to know?

"I can read people easily Mr Dixit. I am a psychologist and a psychiatrist both. Humans are my business minds," Dr Sinha said with a sarcastic smile.

Nurse Priya did the routine check-up for Sonakshi.

All the while Sonakshi was thinking Did Dr Sinha tell him? How will he react? He will surely not accept me to be worthy of his love.

Sonakshi was still lost in her thoughts when Dr Sinha spoke up.

"How are we doing now Ms Sharma?" Dr Sinha asked with a bright smile.

"Better than before," Sona said truthfully as she knew there was no point in wasting her energy in trying to hide anything from Dr Sinha as he would find out whatever she was hiding without any effort.

"Tell me exactly what happened," Dr Sinha said, sitting down on a chair near the bed.

Sonakshi narrated the complete incident to him. Dr Sinha listened to the incident with rapt attention. All this while Dev was standing outside the consultation room, from time to time taking a peep at Sonakshi, who was sitting inside.

He was so puzzled when Dr Sinha exposed his plans. He still remembered the last words Dr Sinha had said to him a few minutes ago.

Dev! Sonakshi has gone through a lot in her life. She is a really strong fighter. Yes, she has Agoraphobia and has not completely recovered from it. But it is not because Sonakshi is weak. It is because the events that had led her to such a state were so brutal that we can't even imagine how she bore it.

Ever since she was small Shekhar Sharma had focussed on Suraj more than Sonakshi. Sonakshi was as smart as Suraj, but her success was never acknowledged by her father.

Her mother tried her best to make Sonakshi not dependent on her father's approval and praise, but her mother failed to do so. For Sonakshi, her father is the person whose words she will never deny. She will always obey him. That is the reason she is working in your office as it is what her father wants.

All that Sonakshi craves is love. Till now, according to her, only her mother and Suraj love her. I can see it in her eyes Dev. The way she asked you for your permission before she left, confirms the fact that she trusts you. You can't make a person fall in love. You need to give that person time. To trust you. To open up to you.

I would advise you. Do not go on the path of revenge. It would not only give her pain but you will be hurt too. I do not think Sonakshi would be able to bear another heartbreak. She would lose her sanity, Dev. Please do not do this to the girl.

SONAKSHI IS A DIAMOND! Remember one thing Dev

DIAMONDS ARE FORMED UNDER PRESSURE. BUT NEVER FORGET THEY ARE NOT FORMED OVERNIGHT!

He peeped at Sonakshi again. She was looking a bit better. He saw her standing up from the chair and saying THANK YOU to Dr. Sinha. She started moving towards the door. Dev adjusted his suit and rushed and sat on a chair pretending as if he had been waiting for her sitting on that chair.

Sonakshi came out and closed the door. She looked around, her eyes searching for Dev. When her eyes met him, her frantic face became calm. Dev observed the change in her expression. He remembered what Dr Sinha said to him earlier and smiled. His Sona was a Diamond. Rare and Precious.

"Everything fine?" Dev asked.

Sonakshi nodded.

"I paid at the reception," Dev said. He noticed her expression portraying shock.

"Why did you?" Sonakshi started to say something.

"The company covers health costs and," Dev cut her off, "I am your boss."

"Thank you," She said, looking into his mesmerizing brown orbs.

"Now let me drop you home," Dev said. During his wait outside, Dev decided that he would drop Sonakshi home instead of taking her back to the office.

"No No No," Sonakshi said. "I have to go to The Deep Waters restaurant. I have to be there by 2 pm."

Dev looked at her completely confused. Why does she want to go to the restaurant?

"Please take me there Sir," Sonakshi pleaded, " I have to meet someone there."

Dev's possessiveness came to life. He wanted to know the name of this someone, who mattered more than the rest to Sonakshi.

"Who?" Dev asked as soon as Sonakshi finished her previous statement.

"Anurag Basu."

Anurag had been waiting for Sonakshi since quarter to two. It was exactly 2 pm now. He had booked a table for two in a private area inside the restaurant. He was looking for her through the window.

A black car stopped in front of the restaurant. He saw Sonakshi get out of the car. But what he saw next made him a bit upset.

He saw Devrath Dixit getting out of the car and giving the car keys to the valet so that the valet would park his car. Sonakshi went over to Dev's side and he held her hand. Anurag was shocked that Sonakshi had allowed Dev to hold her hand and was looking perfectly comfortable with him.

Both of them entered the restaurant. Sonakshi spotted Anurag at a private table inside the restaurant. She waved at him. He waved back at her. She moved forward, but Dev stood rooted at his spot.

Sonakshi looked at Dev. She came closer to him and held his hand and said, "Come." 

She looked at him full of expectations hoping he would not disappoint her. He looked at her for a few seconds and then nodded. He did not want to disappoint her. He did not like the idea of her meeting Anurag Basu, her ex-fiance.

Anurag was fuming at the silent exchange going on between Dev and Sonakshi. Then in a minute both Dev and Sonakshi walked towards Anurag's table. Dev asked a waiter to get another chair for him to sit in.

Anurag stood up as they neared him. Sonakshi waved at him. Anurag smiled and said HI. Anurag forwarded his hand to Dev which Dev shook after Sonakshi looked at him gesturing him to do so. All of them sat down after the waiter brought a chair for Dev to sit on.

"So, Sonakshi," Anurag started, "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your engagement to Komolika that happened the day before yesterday," Sonakshi said. She did not know how to speak about her business to Anurag when Dev was sitting with them.

"Thank you," Anurag said.

Sonakshi turned to Dev.

"Sir. Sorry, but can I ask you for a favour? Can you please get my bag? I left it in your bag. It has the thing that I have to give to Anurag," Sonakshi said making up a way to get rid of Dev for a few minutes.

Dev got up. He wanted to please Sonakshi and get done with this meeting soon. As soon as Dev left, Sonakshi turned to Anurag and said to him in a low voice.

"I am going for the deal myself tonight. I need the remaining money that I lent you tomorrow." She said.

"Okay," Anurag said, "I will send it to Kriti tonight."

"Fine."

WORD COUNT: 2044 Words.
DATE UPDATED: 7th Jan 2023

NEXT UPDATE: Evening

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BOOK 📖
THANK YOU FOR LIKING MY WORK 😊
THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING ON THE CHAPTERS.

CHEERIO!