Chapter 5

Moor278

@Moor278

Part 5

Virat reaches home feeling dejected and angry. 

As soon as Ninad sees him, he asks,

"Sai mili? Kaisi hai vo?"

Still angry and upset, Virat says,

"Haan Baba ... Mili.. "

"To kya kaha usne? Vapas kyun nahi aai tumhare saath?"

"Vo itni aasani se thode na vapas aayegi Ninad mama. Use to maja aata hai Virat ko pareshan karne main. Jaroor bahot kuch sunaya hoga.. tabhi to iska chehra dekhiye" 

Virat, tired from the journey but more from the heartbreak gets irritated at Pakhi's diatribe.

He storms towards her and she flinches a bit.

Towering over her, he almost screams,

"Tum .... Chup hi raho to acchha hai... "

Looking at others, he continues, 

"Main is waqt kisi se baat karne ke mood main nahi hun. Nahi kisi ko koi jawab dene main. Aap logo ne jo Sai ke saath kiya hai uske baad main aapse baat karne ki koi icchha nahi rakhta"

Bhavani Kaku is now angry at Virat and his insolence.

"Virat... Theek se baat Karo... Ye koi tarika nahi humse baat karne ka... Us junglee mulgi se mile nahi aur tumhare tevar badal gaye"

"Kaku... Main aapki izzat karta tha lekin is baar aapne jo kiya hai uske baad mujhe koi aadaar samaan mehsoos nahi ho raha aapke liye."

Everyone is stunned to see Virat’s anger and the way he is talking to Kaku.

"Main to behosh tha, lekin aap to hosh main thi na... Phir Pakhi ko mere saath hospital main rokne ki kya vajah hai aapke paas?"

"Virat.. bhulo mat... Us ladki ki vajah se tumhari ye halat thi... Aur Patralekha ne tumhari seva ki thi isliye tum yaha ho"

Virat tightly clenches his fist and throws them in the air, exasperated.

His action startles everyone as it looks like he stopped himself from hitting someone.

"Kaku.. pehli baat Sai ki vajah se nahi.. Sada ko mujhse badla lena tha isliye usne Sai ko kidnap kiya. Sai ko to pata bhi nahi tha ki Shruti Sada ki biwi hai. Dusri baat ... Main Pakhi ki vajah se nahi... Sai ki vajah se yaha hun. Mera injection usne arrange Kiya tha. Ram Kapoor the business man unki wife ne Sai ki chinta dekh kar vo injection donate Kiya. Lekin teesri aur sabse jaruri baat... Aapko aur is ghar main sabko .. meri aur Pakhi ki history pata hai. Aapko ye bhi pata hai ki Pakhi Sai se nafrat karti hai .... Aap to samjhdar hai... Itna to jaan hi gai hongi ki Pakhi mere aur Sai ke rishte main daraar daalna chahti hai... Is sab ke bawajood aapne use mere pass roka aur Sai ko bura bhala kaha"

Kaku is stunned, unable to counter his arguments, she twists and untwists her pallu edge trying to form an appropriate response. 

Without waiting for it though, Virat continues,

"Isse ek hi baat sabit hoti hai... Aap bhi chahti hai ki meri aur Sai ki shaadi toote. Kyunki vo aapki choice nahi hai. Aur ye sab karne ke liye aap Pakhi ki nafrat ka istemal kar rahi hai... Aap mujhe beta manane ka sirf jhootha dikhava karti hai... Kyunki aapne agar sach main mujhe beta mana hota to aap meri khushi dekh paati. Aur aise hi .. aap Samrat se bhi koi lagao nahi rakhti. Varna aapko ye bhi dikhta ki Pakhi ko meri taraf dhakelte hue aap Samrat ko kitni takleef de rahi hai."

He pauses for a bit, contemplating his next choice of words.

"Aaj sab sach bahar aa hi raha hai to ek aur baat batata hun... Kyun Pakhi bata du cafe main kya bola tha tumne?"

The colour instantly drains from Pakhi's face and she extends her hand to stop Virat but he is beyond any control today.

"Ye baat to mere aur Pakhi ke alawa kisi ko nahi pata, Sai ko bhi nahi... Aapko bahot garv hai na apni choice pe Kaku. To phir suniye aaj."

Virat closes his eyes for a second, feeling embarrassed to be sharing this openly but he needs to say this, for himself, for Sai and for his mental peace.

"Pakhi ne mujhe cafe bulaya tha, ye baat karne ke liye ki (he pauses once again.. dreading the next few words that he would say and the effect it would have on Samrat. But then looking at Samrat, he speaks) ki vo mere saath rishta rakhna chahti hai. Vo chahti thi ki main Sai ko aur vo Samrat ko divorce de aur hum shaadi kare."

Still trying to maintain some semblance of morality, Virat skips the part where Pakhi was ready to indulge in an extra marital relationship with him.

Kaku is absolutely mortified to hear all this and so is Pakhi. With the words that he has finally spoken, she wishes to disappear into thin air this instant. Any hope of Virat reconciling with her is gone through the roof. She realises the hate he has for her and is utterly ashamed. Unable to bear the gaze everyone has on her, she quickly runs to her room and shuts the door tightly. 

Others are still in shock and afraid to speak up lest they face Virat's wrath.

Virat then sees Mohit and Shivani trying to avoid looking at him and he smirks,

"Aur aap teeno... Samrat, Mohit aur Shivani bua.. aap sab to bade supporter the na Sai ke... Mujhse lad jaate the uske liye... Tumne to mera collar pakda tha Jeeva. Lekin sab sach saamne aaya to conveniently saara dosh Sai pe daal diya. Wah... Kya rishta nibhaya hai... Aap logo ki vajah se vo apne aapko anath samjhne lagi hai... Jaante hai kitna bada ghaav kiya hai aap logo ne... Aai aapne bhi.. I feel ashamed to call you my family."

Ashwini bursts into tears at this and moves towards Virat to hug him, but he resists her attempts.

Lastly he moves towards Samrat and says, “I am sorry Jeeva. Mere us decision ne teri zindagi kharab kar di. Aur main uske liye tujhse maafi mangta hun. Lekin jo tune Sai ke saath kiya… uske liye main kabhi maaf nahi karunga tujhe” saying this, Virat storms off to his room leaving everyone rooted to their spots. 

A few months later, Virat calls up Priya and asks to meet her. She invites him to the cafe. 

When he reaches though, he sees Meera Maa and Brinda has also joined Priya. Introductions are made and Virat understands that he needs to pacify this protective barrier Sai has around her. He feels pleased though that Sai finally has people that genuinely care for her. 

"Aapne mujhse kuch kaha tha last time Priya ji... Usi ke aage ki kahani batane aaya hun. Uske baad aap chahe to Sai ko ye sab bata sakte hai" 

He then mentions how he has taken transfer to Mumbai and has shifted to his new deputation. He also mentions that he has cleared everything with the family members and the relations are only just cordial. 

Priya listens to everything and asks, "And what about Mrs. Salunkhe?"

Virat smiles, understanding her concern... "I have ended that chapter once and for all from my life. And with the kind of interaction we had this time, I don't think she will bother me anymore"

Meera Maa looks up at Virat now and she speaks,

"Bachhe.. aapse pehli baar mil rahi hun lekin aapke baare main bahot chije suni hai maine. Aur aapko bura lagega par kai saari aisi chije hai jo mujhe lagta hai aapko badalni chahiye" 

Virat, looks at the kind older woman and realises her love for Sai.

"Beta.. aapne aapka vaada nibhane ke liye bahot kuch kiya, lekin kya ye socha ki vo sab Sai ko kaisa laga hoga? Apne pati ko kisi aur ke bacchhe ka birth certificate sign karte hue dekhna kisi aurat ke liye kitna dard bhara ho sakta hai. Kya galti thi Sai ki agar use laga ki aapka kisi dusri aurat ke saath rishta hai? Socha hai aapne is baare main? Aur is sab ke baad bhi us bacchhi ne aapki naukri aur phir aapki jaan bachane ki koshish ki… aur badle main kya mila? Beizzati aur dard?”

Virat falls silent, while he understands where he went wrong, verbalising it like Meera Maa does makes him realise the amount of betrayal Sai felt. And when Meera Maa gently places her hand on his, the dam of tears bursts through. Mentally cursing himself for being so heartless towards Sai and her pain, Virat sobs silently.

Seeing his regret, Brinda speaks up,

“Mr. Chavan… Ram, Adi, Meera Aunty ye sab acchhe log hai. Kisi ka bura nahi sochte. Par main aisi nahi hun. Sai meri choti behen jaisi hai. Aur uska jo bhi decision hoga aap ye yaad rakhiye ki agar uske aankho main ek bhi aansu aaya aapki vajah se… to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. And I mean it. Honge aap IPS… par main bhi Brinda hun.”

Virat smiles for the first time, irking Brinda, but Priya restrains her by holding her hand and looking at Virat says,

“I am a little bit convinced about the actions you have taken Mr. Chavan but I will leave it to Sai. I will inform her of everything that has happened today and let her decide. Meanwhile aap samajh hi gaye honge ki agar Sai ko jara bhi takleef hui to aap ka kya hoga” With that, Priya tilts her head and hints at Brinda who is still flaring her nostrils and looking angrily at Virat.

Sai has been told about Virat's visit to the cafe and is wondering what has transpired suddenly. Because, although he did mention that he will contact her when he resolves everything, Sai had not imagined Virat keeping himself away from her. 

Breaking the radio silence of a few months, Sai receives a call from Virat.

“Hi Sai… kaisi ho?”

“Main thik hun Virat Sir.. aap kaise hai?”

“Main bhi thik… (after a moment of silence) Priya di ne tumhe bataya hoga meri visit ke baare main… Do you feel comfortable to meet me again? I need to talk to you”

Now eager to hear his version of events and to actually see the supposed change that he had promised, Sai agrees to meet him.