"Dr. Dixit, Mr. Kapoor is asking for an appointment tonight at 7", the nurse said as I stopped myself from packing my things and looked at her. "I'm sorry.. But you very well know that I won't work after 3", I said walking out of my cabin. "But Doctor..", she was about to continue but I interrupted her. "Fix his appointment at tomorrow morning and ask him if he is okay with it", I said walking away without waiting for her reply. It has been two years, since I have started my own clinic. I don't continue with my old hospital anymore as the schedule is getting more and more hectic for me. "Oh god.. It's already late. She must be waiting for me", I said to myself looking at the watch. I hopped inside the car quickly and drove it off.

It has become my daily routine to wait for her here for more than half an hour. But she won't be on time at all. I stood there leaning on the car door, waiting for her. But there is not even a glimpse of her. What to do.. As always I'm earlier by an hour. I don't mind spending my time here. Waiting for her is my happiness. Finally, as I heard the bell, she came running towards me. I scooped her in my arms as she pecked my cheeks one by one. "Dev, why did you come early today also?", she asked. "Because I don't want my princess to wait for me", I said placing her down on her feet. She shook her head in defeat and ran towards the other side of the car. I sat down on the driver seat and she settled herself on the passenger seat. I locked her seat belt and mine and ignited the engine to life. It has been more than 3 years since I've adopted arohi. But still she calls me as Dev only. She is not comfortable in calling me as Dad and I don't mind that even.

"Dev", she called me breaking my reverie. "Yes, princess", I said still focusing on the road. "Can I ask you something?", she asked. "Ofcourse yes", I was quick to reply. "For every other friend of mine, it is their mother who always wakes them up, gets them ready, drops to school, picks them up from school, feeds them food and makes them sleep. But for me only why are you doing all this?", she asked innocently. I simply smiled at her but she was adamant to get a reply. "It's not necessary that a mother should do all this to her child. Even a father can do", I said but she stared at me blankly. "Listen to me princess, your other friends are not you. You are special.. So you are different and unique", I said smiling at her. "Am I special to you?", she asked and I nodded in a big yes to which she smiled. Her smile has the power to even brighten my soul.

"Kichu bhaiya..", I called out as I entered my home. Finally, I could call this as my home. Kichu bhaiya rushed in front of us and took our bags in his hand. "Hurry up.. Let's have my princess's favourite pasta", I said as she jumped in excitement. We freshend up soon and rushed towards the dining table waiting for our delicious food to be served. I made arohi sit on the table as I pulled my chair beside her. "You know Dev.. What and all happened today..", she started describing her day in school as I looked at her astonished. Such a great story teller she is! She didn't even stop a minute but I kept on feeding her.. Her cute little antics made my heart flutter.

After finishing the food and her story telling session, we retired back to the room. I sat down calmly as she completed her homework. She was a bright student afterall! After completing her homework, I put her to sleep as she enjoyed her bed time stories as usual. This was our daily routine for the past 3 years. After assuring myself that she slept, I pulled the duvet on her and walked out of her room switching off the lights. I went to my room and sat down resting my head on the back of the chair tiredly. I stretched my arms and turned on the FM, closing my eyes as my mind drifted to that day..

"Now it's your choice", Asha aunty said walking away, leaving me behind. I sat down in a corner, holding my tear stained face in my palms. Decision? What should I decide? There is nothing more to decide.. I stood up and walked towards the Boses. Elena almost gave up on me.. She never trusted me and I don't think she ever will. "Dev beta.. What have you decided?", Bijoy uncle asked as I breathed a long one. They were expecting for an answer from me and I know what that was. "Uncle aunty.. I hope you are considering me as your son", I said as they nodded. "I would like to call you as Maa Baba.. Can I?", I asked as tears pooled in their eyes. "Ofcourse yes.. You are like shona and elena to us", Bijoy uncle spoke caressing my hair. "Thank you.. And I hope you trust me", I said. "Very much", he replied. "Then please trust my decision too", I said as they looked at me confused. I held his hand in mine, "Baba.. Maa.. Give me one last chance. I promise you.. I will not return without sonakshi.. Please", I pleaded looking at them as they both looked at each other. Elena looked at me stunned.. I know that she was never expecting this. "Please..", I begged them and he patted on my shoulder. "We trust you..", he said with an assuring smile making me smile through my tears.

The surgery went for about 4 hours.. I know I wasn't much experienced but still I have hope on my love.. I can't give up on her.. I didn't struggle these many years to give up on her so soon.. She deserves to live.. Live her life happily.. The surgery was successful and sonakshi was shifted back to ICU. Now, we all are praying for only one thing..she should gain back her consciousness. If she didn't regain her consciousness within next 24 hours, then we can't do anything. We sat beside her, silently.. All hoping for only one thing. "Dev..", arohi spoke sitting on my lap. "Sshhh.. Don't make noise.. You might disturb her.. ", I said pointing towards sonakshi. "Sorryyy", she whispered holding her ears. I kissed her cheek and held her close to me.. Only I know how nervous I'm getting by each passing second. "Dev.. Will she wake up now?", arohi asked innocently. "She will..", I said with an assuring smile.. I don't know what gave me such a big hope. "Then.. I will play with her.. Yayy", she jumped excitedly as I gestured her to be silent.

She got down from my lap and went towards sonakshi. The nurse asked her not to disturb sonakshi but she ignored her royally. She went and sat beside sonakshi on her bed.. I gestured the nurse, who was about to stop her.. to let her be. I moved towards them, and stood by the bed side as my eyes became wet seeing sonakshi still motionless. "Wake up", arohi whispered into her ears smiling slyly. I don't know whether to cry or laugh. Fresh droplets of tears rolled down my cheeks, showcasing my defeat. Maa baba walked out of the room unable to bear the sight. Elena stood there silently still letting her tears drop down. I shut my eyes in horror trying to absorb my pain.. But it was increasing with every second.

Arohi finally averted her gaze from sonakshi and looked at my tears stricken face. She stood up on the bed and wiped my tears with her tiny hands. "Don't cry... Sonakshi will wake up", she said looping her hands around my neck. I couldn't hold back anymore.. I held her tightly in my arms and cried my heart out. I removed the facade of being strong.. I can't see my sona dying in front of me.. "Sonakshi!", Elena's voice broke my thoughts and I quickly opened my eyes in horror.. preparing myself for the worst. I looked at elena whose lips curved upwards.. But her eyes pouring their never ending tears. She was smiling through her tears looking at sonakshi making me wonder over her actions. I snapped my head towards sonakshi and the sight I saw, pumped my life back into my body.

"So..na..k..s..h..i..", I whispered in shock as I saw her eyes balls moving. I quickly pulled arohi and made her sit down. I called the nurse and she rushed in with the instruments and I examined her. She moved her trembling fingers up as my smile grew upwards. "Sonakshi.. Sonakshi.. You are fine.. Open your eyes.. Slowly..", I shouted excitedly through my tears. She rotated her eye balls and slowly moved her heavy eyelids up. "Sona.. Can you hear me? Sonakshi", I almost cried seeing her dark brown orbs. "Maa Baba..", Elena shouted and rushed out of the room to call them. She tried to open her eyes but shut them due to the bright light. "Sona.. Slowly.. Open your eyes slowly", I said as she did the same. "Shona..", her parents rushed in calling, unable to control their sobs. She took her fragile hands up as I understood what she is about to and helped her in removing her oxygen mask. She eyed me to come near her as I wiped my tears and gave my ears. To her, gesturing her to speak up. I could hear her heart thumping loud in her chest same as mine. She gasped a little trying to speak up as her voice choked in. With lots of struggle she let out her first word making my lips curved up. "O..bh..o..d..ro..", she spoke as a lone tear escaped her right eye and wetted the pillow. I chuckled listening to her, wiping her tears and pecked her forehead softly. We both closed our eyes, savouring the moment.. The moment of her rebirth.

"This is your favorite show Midnight melodies.. And this your favorite RJ Sonakshi Dixit signing off.. Bubye.. Goodnight..", said the FM as Dev's smile grew louder. Yes, it has been almost 2 years now, since devakshi were happily married.. It took almost a year for sonakshi to recover completely. But as soon as she was fine, more than Dev it was arohi who wanted devakshi to get married soon. She became a part of their life and devakshi considered her as their own child. But Dev being a perfect husband and father took all the responsibilities of Arohi, letting sonakshi achieve her dreams. Sonakshi is now a popular RJ as well as a social activist. He so wanted to see her fulfilling her dreams and to be successful in her career and so he shared their household responsibilities equally.

"Knock knock..", Sonakshi's voice came from the doorstep and Dev quickly acted as if he was asleep. He could hear her footsteps approaching towards him and so he hid his smile careful enough to not get caught by her. She stood before him hiping her hands in surprise, "Mr. Obhodro slept!". Before she could register anything he quickly pulled her towards him and she landed on his lap. "How can Mr. Obhodro sleep when Mrs. Obhodro is awake?", he asked winking at her. "So you acted.. Dramebaaz!", she hit on his arm but he held her tight. "Not more than you Mrs. Dixit", he said to which she showed her tongue out to him. "Where is arohi?", she asked. "I made her sleep", he replied calmly. "Thank you", she said pecking his left cheek. "Another one", he said showing right cheek. She slapped him lightly on his cheek to which he growled.

"Why were you late?", he asked her. "I have gone to hospital", she replied calmly making him shock. "Hospital! Why? Did you have headache again?", he asked panicked. On the first year of her recovery, she suffered from mild headaches at times but after proper medication it gradually reduced. But still Dev had this fear of losing her again though he didn't exhibit to her. Only he knows, how much he suffered on those dreadful days. "No.. Nothing like that. I've gone for some other thing. But before that promise me that you will take me for shopping tomorrow", she said to which he looked at her confused. "Shopping again? Only yesterday my both shopping queens shifted the entire mall to this house.. But no you want to do shopping again!", he said rolling his eyes. "No.. Now I want to shop something important for someone important", she said smiling slyly. "What and who is that important person?", he asked narrowing his brows. It is true that he is still possessive of her and she likes that very much.

"I want to shop some new dresses, toys and.. a cute little cradle", she said. "Already arohi has so many dresses and toys and I don't think she will sleep in cradle anymore.. She is already sleeping peacefully in her room", he said confusedly. "Tumi ekta boka Mr. Dixit", she said hitting his forehead lightly. "It's not for your baby who is sleeping in the adjacent room.. It's for you baby who is sleeping here peacefully", she said placing his palm on her abdomen. It was then he understood what she meant and his eyes pooled with tears looking at her bright smile. "Sonakshi.. You meant that..", he whispered in surprise. "Haa.. It's for tiny Mr. Obhodro sleeping here", she said smiling shyly. He quickly pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. "Happy Birthday Dev!", she said breaking the hug. "Thank you sonakshi... This is the best gift ever", he said holding her hand in his.

"Happy birthday Dev!", arohi exclaimed entering the room and sonakshi stood up from Dev's lap quickly jerking herself a little. "What happened?", arohi asked her parents innocently who were smiling looking at each other awkwardly. "Nothing.. Thank you princess", Dev said pecking her cheek scooping her in his arms, trying to cover up. He made her sit on the bed and they both sat on either side of her. "Arohi.. We have a present for you", Sonakshi said smiling at her. "But it's not my birthday mumma", arohi said confusedly. From the day she met sonakshi, she started calling her as mumma unlike Dev, whom she is still shy to call as dad. "So what?.. Arohi is the best daughter of the world so we will give her so many presents whenever we want", Dev said to which she smiled excitedly.

"Where is my gift?", she asked searching everywhere in the room desperately to which he giggled. "She is exactly like you", Dev said to sonakshi teasing her to which she twitched her nose. "Princess.. mumma has your gift", he said and she rushed to sonakshi quickly. "See.. I told you", Dev whispered to sonakshi giggling, which she ignored royally. "Arohi.. You are going to have a little brother or sister soon", Sonakshi said to which she smiled brightly. "So I'll become a big sister na?", she asked innocently as they nodded. She jumped excitedly and quickly ran to her room, leaving her parents wonder over her actions. "I have a gift for you", arohi said to dev entering in. They looked at each other and at her hands that were folded behind. She stood before him and showed him a hand made card that she was hiding from them till now. "This is for you", she said smiling slyly as he took it in his hands in surprise. He opened the card and his lips automatically curved upwards. There was a "Happy birthday superman.. You are the best!" written on the top with a cute sketch of the father-daughter duo.

Dev and sonakshi smiled at each other looking at the picture as arohi stood shyly. "Happy birthday papa", arohi said pecking his cheek and quickly ran out of the room before they could register what happened a while ago. "Sona.. Arohi called me papa!", Dev said excitedly to which sonakshi nodded in a yes smiling at him. He pulled her into a hug as she wrapped her arms around him, "This is my best birthday ever", he said smilingly as his eyes moistened. "Because you are the best Dev", she said hugging him more. From here, there begins a new journey of devakshi along with arohi and their little sign of love.