Chapter 24

MuguetDScorpion

@MuguetDScorpion

[NOCOPY]Hello beautiful people,

I had imagined the chapter in a way but ended up writing it differently without even realizing it.
First I thought Sai would be the one sulking and Virat extending the hand of peace but turned out the otherway.  It's not a bad thing though. For once Virat is the Angry Young Man.
I kind of like the chapter. Virat's frustration of being always misunderstood and people taking his patience for granted just came out in a beautiful way. 

I am sorry for taking so much time to update. Don't laugh at me but Saturday I had a huge hookah hangover.  I had such a huge headache that I couldn't do anything else other than coming back home and sleep. And on Sunday I was out whole day with my cousin. So really sorry for that. 

Extremely busy so please ignore the typos and the grammatical errors and also the sentences that make no sense. 

When Virat came back home from his duty, everyone looked tensed in the living room. It was almost eight o'clock and Ashwini told him that Sai didn't come back from college. He immediately dialed her number but her phone came switched off. He rubbed his forehead exhausted by her. Where was she now ? He was about to call his officer colleagues when Sai entered the house. Her forearm was bandaged and her dupatta was covered in blood. Virat rushed to her and lifted her hand to see what happened. She jerked her hand away.

« How did this happen ? », he asked worried.
« Do you even care ? », she asked.
« Of course I do. Sai what happened ? », he asked again.

She didn't care to reply and walked towards Ashwini who was also concerned for her but she stopped her from asking any question by taking out a bundle of notes from her hand bag.

« This is the money for Usha Maushi and my three meals a day and the rent for this entire month. », Sai put the money on Ashwini's hand. « If it's not enough please let me know. », she added.
« Sai, why are you doing this ? You are the daughter-in-law of this house. You are Virat's wife. », Ashwini asked.
« Usha Maushi and I are the guests of this house till we are here. I finally understood that. »,Sai replied.
« Do you really want to do that ? », Virat asked hurt but with a defying voice.

Sai went to the kitchen and served herself a plate of food. She came back and walked towards the stairs where Usha was standing, still unable to understand what was going on in Sai's head. She handed it to her and asked her to eat. She knew that Usha didn't have lunch worrying about her. Usha refused to eat.

« First tell me what happened to your arm ? », Usha asked holding her hand with tears.
« Nothing Maushi. Please, eat. », she replied.

Virat was worried and angry. She was so stubborn that she didn't want to share even with her Maushi. The latter refused to have the food. Sai fed her with her own hand.

« What about you my bachchi ? Did you have lunch ? », she asked.
« Yes I did. », she replied.
« How did this happen ? », Ashwini asked joining them.
« Just a small accident, Aayi. Please, don't take any tension. », Sai replied.

After feeding her Maushi, she went to her room. Ashwini looked questioningly at Virat about the money given by his wife. He didn't reply and went to his room. She just came out of the bathroom and he passed by to go to the washroom to change his uniform. He wanted to know what happened to her. It was killing him to know that she was injured and wasn't even letting him to see her wound. He came out from the washroom and left the room. He went to the balcony, definitely not capable to stay in the same room as her and ignore her. He was joined by his mother some time later. They talked for a while. She tried to calm him down and asked him to be patient with Sai and try to understand her.

« She is the most complicated part of my life. It is not always easy. We are always poles apart. », he let his tears roll down staring into space.
« You need to ask yourself why she affects you so much. », she said.
« What's there to ask Aayi ? She drives me insane. I will tell her something she will understand something else. I will ask her to do something she will do the exact opposite. », he said angrily.
« Yet you care for her. You see her wounded and you are more in pain than her. », she said.
« I always cared for her from day one but sadly she never cared for me. », he replied.

Ashwini caressed his shoulder and left. She went to see Sai to knock some sense into her. She entered the room with a glass of turmeric milk. Sai was as usual busy with her books. Ashwini put the glass on the table and was about to leave. Sai could feel that her Aayi was upset.

« Aayi thank you. », she said.
« Hmmm. », Ashwini replied and was about to leave.
« Aayi are you upset with me because of the money ? », she asked.
« What do you think ? », Ashwini replied upset.
« Sorry. », she apologized making a sad face.
« Your sorry won't change the fact that my son hasn't eaten since yesterday morning. », Ashwni replied angrily.
« What do you mean ? », Sai asked.
« See Sai I have always supported you and I believe you weren't wrong yesterday too but you weren't right either. You can't just hide things from your husband. That's not how a marriage works. He was worried about you that's why he was harsh with his words. He was wrong but so were you. I am upset with you about what happened a while ago. Instead of defusing the matter you stretched it more. Virat actually was worried seeing you injured but you made him feel like a stranger. », Ashwini tried to make her understand where she went wrong.
« I... », Sai was about to reply.
« Listen I told you what I had to now it's up to you. Carry on with the fight or patch up. », Ashwini said and left.

Sai was restless. She couldn't see him in pain because of her. She din't know what to do. Keep her self respect intact or let it go. She decided to go and get him some food as during their huge fights he always cared for her and made sure she was fine. He never failed as a husband and today it was her turn to prove herself as a wife. Some time later when she came back to the room with a tray, she saw Virat in uniform ready to leave.

« Aap kahan jaa rahe hain ? », Sai asked him but after getting no answer she asked again, « Virat Sir, where are you going ? »
« Why should I tell you ? And where does one go in uniform ? », he replied annoyed.

She put the tray on the table. Picked up the plate and held his hand when he was about to leave. He looked at her surprised and then gently removed his hand.

« Virat Sir, please don't go without eating. », she requested.
« Do you even care ? », he laughed sarcastically.
« Virat Sir, it's not safe to go on duty with empty stomach. », she said.
« You don't have to pity me. I won't die. I am trained to stay empty stomach. I will survive. », he said sarcastically.
« I don't pity you, Virat Sir. I genuinely care for you. », she said.
« Thank you so much, Sai. I always cared for you but you always misunderstood me. Anyway, now would you please excuse me, I am getting late. », he thanked her with sarcasm and was upset that she never saw his caring and understanding side of him. « Oh haan. You don't forget to eat... », he continued with a lot of concern and love in his voice before adding bitterly « After all you have paid your three meals a day. Don't waste your money. »

He left the room and went downstairs. The elders asked him where he was going and when will he return to which he replied that he didn't know yet. Virat asked his mother to take care of Sai in his absence in case he can't come back by tomorrow. Samrat heard the entire conversation from the stairs and he wondered why his brother cared so much for his wife when he didn't love her. He could die for her yet consider her just a zimmedari.

Sai was studying on the bed but her mind was preoccupied by Virat. She couldn't stop thinking about how he knew and could feel the smallest things about her. If she skipped a meal he would know it immediately. If she was in danger he would feel it and save her anyhow. If something bothered her he would read her face and know there was something. Then how come she didn't know he was so upset that he refused to eat since their fight. Guilt driven she couldn't study. Aayi was maybe right that she overdid it.

Sai woke up the next morning surrounded by the books. She was pretty late. She took a shower and then went to help Ashwini in the kitchen. Ashwini replied dryly to her « Goodmorning Aayi ». Seeing her Aayi upset because of her, it made Sai sad and it broke Ashwini's heart. She didn't want to behave like this but she had to to make her understand that her stubbornness affects everyone specially her own husband. Both cooked in silence and then served everyone silently at the dining table. In the middle of the breakfast, a middle aged man and his wife showed up. The man's « Mrs. Sai Joshi Chavan » got everyone's attention and all left the table to see who was that person. His voice didn't suggest anything good.

« Hey ! Who are you ? », asked Kaku.
« Where is Sai ? », asked the man.
« I am here. », Sai replied.
« Where is Heena ? Where is my daughter ? », he asked.
« Uncle, I don't know where your daughter is and even if I knew I wouldn't share it with you ? », Sai replied.
« Just tell me where my daughter is. », he said.
« She is married and happy. Isn't it all you want for your daughter ? She will come back as soon as you will calm down. », Sai explained.
« Married ? », the woman held her husband's hand in shock.
« You helped her in eloping with that guy. What a shame, never thought the respected Kamal Joshi's daughter would do something like that. », he said.
« Did you really do that ? », asked Kaku shocked and angry.
« No Kaku. », Sai tried to explain.
« Daughters like you are disgrace to the family. Kamal Joshi's soul must not be in peace right now. You know what I will sue you for helping my daughter to elope. », he interrupted her.
« Enough. », shouted someone from the door.

Sai didn't even have the time to retort that someone had already intervened making everyone look at him.

« How dare you talk to my wife like this ? », Virat walked towards them angrily.
« Virat Sir, you here ? », the man asked.
« What did you think ? That you will misbehave with my wife during my absence ? », Virat asked.
« No, it's just that your wife has helped my daughter run away from the house. », he explained.

Virat looked at Sai angrily and asked her to explain everything. She told him what exactly happened that day during Kaku's birthday and why she had to leave. The entire family was shocked. Virat looked daggers at Samrat and then turned his head towards Sai and shook his head in anger but he didn't say anything because he wanted to deal with the outsiders first.

« Your daughter is an adult. She can marry the person of her choice. You can't sue my wife but I can sue you for forcing your daughter for an arranged marriage. », Virat warned them.
« I want to know where my daughter is. », he said.
« Your daughter is with her husband. As I said she will meet you once you will calm down. », Sai repeated.
« Did you hear it ? Now please leave. », Virat ordered them.

Defeated they had to leave as ACP Virat Chavan was right. Their daughter didn't do anything wrong.They were at fault and if they didn't want things to go against them, they have to follow his orders. Once they left, Virat turned towards Samrat.

« I think I know my wife a little bit better than you. So next time avoid encouraging her to do things that I am stopping her to do. », Virat said before going upstairs.

Sai folded her hands from far and whispered a « Sorry » to Samrat. She felt everyone's eyes on her. She looked down and walked to the kitchen. Knowing her husband, she knew he had not eaten yet. While preparing the food tray, she thought how he always supported and saved her even when he was angry with her. For the first time he didn't question her nor did he argue with her. She knew he was angry but gave up. There was no point trying to make her understand. She then went to the room and found him already in bed.

« Virat Sir, I know you aren't asleep. », she started. « Please, kuch khaa lijiye. », she added.
« I am extremely tired, Sai. Please, let me sleep. », he replied his eyes still closed.