Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The wait was now becoming torturous for everyone. Sandhya kept in touch with Pulkit in regards to Sai's state and Samrat did the same. On the other hand, Virat did not move an inch from the hospital. He requested Aai to send his change through Mohit, who also brought him some food. If there was any Chavan sibling that was in "No-Virat self-pity shit", it was Mohit. His vahini, who was more of his little sister now, meant the world to him but he knew that while she might appreciate his support, she will never be happy about his misbehaviour towards her Virat sir. Hence, Mohit kept a safe distance from Virat so that he didn't lose his patience with him. He was low-key glad though that Devi tai kept ranting that Virat will regret his behaviour towards Sai and seeing Virat dada break even further. At least his Devi tai had the guts, he thought. No, he was not a sadist. In no way, he was deriving pleasure from Virat's state but, he really wanted Virat to realize the many places he had gone wrong. Sai might have made lots of mistakes but what his Virat dada had done are crimes and cannot be counted as mistakes anymore was what Mohit believed.

A day and a half had passed when Sai fully gained consciousness. Sandhya, Aniket, Milind had been elated to know that their friend was going to be alright and immediately decided to go to the hospital to visit her. Ajinkya joined the trio as well this time as he had been worried sick too after hearing everything from Sandhya who bluntly made sure everyone knew how much she was despising the Chavan's, especially Virat Chavan. Pulkit and Devi were over the moon in their happiness and had also informed Samrat as well. For a change, the Chavan's were also glad to know that Sai was safe and so the entire CN went to the hospital only to be greeted by an overjoyed Virat. He kept hugging everyone telling them that his Sai was alright. She had recovered and that he will ask for forgiveness of his misbehaviour and promises that he will make everything better. These one and half days away from his family and especially, away from Patralekha, gave him a lot of time to introspect and this time he was not going to make the same mistakes as before.

The doctors after examining Sai came out of the ICU while everyone else was keenly waiting outside for the good news and in the hopes to see Sai.

"Yaha kya ho raha hai? Aap sab itni bhid mein ICU ke bahar? Allow kisne kiya? Aap sab please bahar resting room mein jayiye. Yaha par aise shor matt kijiye," instructed the senior neurosurgeon, Dr Monami Mahajan.

Virat was just about to speak to the doctor when Pulkit walked in with Devi by his side.

"Oh.... Dr Pulkit, main bas aap hi ko call karne wali thi," continued Dr Mahajan

"Sorry Dr. Mahajan, who meri beti Sai se bahut attached hai isiliye Sai se milne ki zidd kar rahi thi. Usko samjha ke bhejne mein thoda sa waqt lag gaya. Khair Sai ki tabiyat kaisi hai ab? Woh theek toh hai na? How is she doing overall?" queried Pulkit

"Filhaal ke liye toh kahe sakte hai ki she is fine. Kuch tests wagaera kiye hai, results aane ke baad hi sab kuch clearly confirm kar sakte hai. But as of now, unhe bahut zyada aaram aur stress free mahol ki zarurat hai. Woh 2 din aur ICU mein rahegi and then unki recovery ki mutabik unhe general word mein shift karenge ya nahi yeh decide kia jayega," explained Dr Mahajan. "Aur ha, surgery ke waqt, patient semi-conscious state mein kisi Aaba ko baar baar pukaar rahi thi, toh agar ho sake toh unhe bula lijijye. Unke hone se shayad patient ka mood acha rahe. After all, a happy patient recovers  faster." 

The mention of Aaba and the doctor's request made the colour drain from each individual's face present there. Virat looked as if he had seen a ghost. The guilt kept hitting him. He could not even begin to decipher the depths of the emotional damage he had caused Sai. Dr Mahajan observed the sudden sinister silence that had engulfed the surroundings after her request and looked at Pulkit with a questioning look.

"Dr, darasal Aaba ko yaha nahi laya ja sakta. Aaba, yaani Sai ke father ek police officer the jo apna farz nibhaate shaheed ho gaye. Par don't worry. Main Sai ka bada bhai hu aur main yeh dhyaan rakhuga ki use koi stress na ho." replied Pulkit. "I understand ki koi choti surgery toh thi nahi ki woh abhi hi thik ho jaye. Filhaal ke liye hamare liye yahi kaafi hai ki woh hosh mein aa gayi. Hai na Devi?" 

"Ha Pulkit, par Dr hum Sai se kab mil sakte hai," asked Devi pleadingly.

Dr Mahajan who was well aware of Devyani Deshpande's mental case smiled warmly and calmly replied, "Mrs Deshpande abhi ke liye toh main sirf kisi ek insaan ko hi allow kar sakti hu aur woh bhi 5 minute se zyada nahi. Main samjhti hu aap sab unse bahut pyaar karte hai aur milna bhi chahte hai par thoda wait aur karna padega, at least test results ke aane tak. Kal jaise result aa jayega, main aap sab ko ek proper date bata paungi ki aap Sai se kab mil sakte hai."

Pulkit thanks the doctor and looks at the CN clan who are looking at him keenly. Virat with tears in his eyes looks at Pulkit imploringly.

"Pulkit, please kya main Sai se milne ja sakta hu? Bas ek baar use dekhlu ki woh thik hai ki nahi." requests Virat. But before Pulkit could even answer Devi, very sternly replies.

"Viru, tumne shayad dhyan se suna nahi doctor ne kya kaha. sai ko stress se dur rahena hai aur uski life ki sabse badi stress toh tum aur yeh gandi Patralekha hai. Apni jhuti care mat dikhao aur jao yaha se tum dono. Agar us waqt meri baat maan ke tum Sai ko rok lete toh aaj yeh accident nahi huwa hota. Par tumne is gandi Patralekha ki baat suni aur mujhe bhi data. Tum Sai se bilkul nahi miloge."

Patralekha, who was torn between sympathising with Sai and her want to separate SaiRat, felt very insulted at Devi's remark, shriekingly replied, " Yeh aap kya kahe rahi hai Devi tai? Sai ki iss halat mein mera ya Virat ka kya kasoor? Akhir aapko mujhse problem kya hai? Aap hamesha mujhe kyun kosti raheti hai? Hamesha meri beizatti kyun karti hai raheti? Bataiye, mujhe aaj ye janna hai!"

"Bas!" thundered Pulkit. "Main apni biwi se kisi ko iss laheze mein baat karne ki ijazat nahi deta Patralekha. Main Virat nahi hu jo apni biwi ki beizatti koi bhi aurat ke muh se sunta rahe aur phir use aur beizatt karne mein shamil bhi ho jaye. So mind you, apni zubaan par kabu rakhiye warna main bekabu ho jaunga." 

Samrat without giving Patralekha the time to retort firmly said, "Bahut ho gaya tamasha Patralekha. Kam se kam kaha ho yeh to dekh lo. Khair doctor ne kaha yaha nahi ruk sakte toh hum sab waiting room mein  chalte hai. Pulkit, mujhe lagta hai hai Sai se tumhe milna chahiye. Abhi yahi sahi hoga ki tum usse milo kyuki usne apne dil ka haal sirf tumse share ki thi."

Pulkit nodded and just as he was about to enter the ICU, his 4 students entered the hallway excitedly.

"Sir, Sai kaisi hai? Woh theek toh hai na?" asked Ajinkya in one breath.

"Ha Sir, uski halat mein sudhaar?" continued Sandhya.

"Hamari Sai pahle ki tarah theek toh ho jayegi na Sir?" quizzed Ajinkya again.

Milind shushed his crowd while Aniket replied with laughter in his voice, "guys! guys!!!!... Shaant, sir ko answer toh karne do." 

Pulkit smiled fondly seeing the love of these 4 for Sai. Pulkit even knew that in Sai's absence they had made lecture notes for Sai so that she doesn't miss out when she is well. 

"Tum sab pareshaan mat ho. Main bas use dekhne hi jaa raha tha ki tum log aagaye. Tum sab bhi waiting room mein intezaar karo. Main aake batata hu ki Sai kaisi hai. Thik hai?" Pulkit responded with warmth in his voice.

The 4 nodded in agreement and went towards the waiting room. Pulkit entered the ICU and teared up immediately. Seeing all those machines connected to Sai made his heart weep. He was forever indebted to Sai for reuniting him with his love Devi but his care towards her wasn't just this. He genuinely saw Sai as a little sister.  Sai stirred a bit in bed and looked towards him. He noticed the emptiness in her eyes. The same eyes that used to sparkle with mischief on campus. At first, she was a loner but after the talent show the 5 of them, Sai, Ajinkya, Aniket, Milind, and Sandhya gelled up so well. SAAMS, they called themselves. Ajinkya was her academic competitor but never did it ever affect their friendship even once. Pulkit wiped his tears and walked closer to the bed and gently called out to her.

"Sai, ab kaisa feel ho raha hai?" asked Pulkit softly. "Baatein karne ki koshish karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai bas palke jhapka kar bata sakti ho. Tumhe abhi apni energy kaafi sustain kar ke rakhni padegi." 

Sai continued staring at him but finally, she smiled faintly and blinked her eyes.

Pulkit who was holding his breath, let out a relieved sigh and smiled as well and walked out not being able to see her in such a fragile state, but not before telling her to rest well and not to worry about anything. There was something about the way that Sai looked at him that gave him shivers. He did not understand why he felt a little eccentric. "Sai had smiled so everything should be alright," contemplated Pulkit and decided to just shake off that weird feeling and moved towards the waiting room. He realized that he still had to deal with the drama that must be unfolding in the waiting room. With his head down, and frustration evident on his face he moved towards the waiting room to deal with some of the biggest self-centred and self-absorbed pricks in the world. 

...

A/N

Hello and sorry for updating really late. Actually, I was going to just delete the whole thing as I no longer watch the show nor visit this forum often but then I felt bad because as a reader, I know how much I hate incomplete stories. So I have decided somehow, by hook or crook, I will finish this one. 

This chapter was getting extra long, so I had to cut it short so Chapter 4 just might come soon (after new year's maybe). I know this chapter may seem like a little drag but the future plot kind of depends on it and the build-up was kind of necessary. The idea is to explore the frame of mind of those who surround Sai, especially those who hold importance in her life.

There might be, at max, 3-4 more hospital track chapters (promise) and then it will be back to the present times. I will try not to bore you to death. Don't forget, we are in a flashback 

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