Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Meanwhile in the waiting room, while Pulkit had gone to see Sai,  all the Chavan Niwaasis along with Sai's friends waited for his return. The room's atmosphere was no less than that of the LOC. A single move could trigger avolatile reaction from any or every corner. Milind, the wisest of the group dragged his friends to the opposite corner to prevent any scene, away from the Chavan Niwaasis. The newly formed trimurti; Bhavani, Omi and Sonali, sat in one corner, rolling their eyes seeing Sai's friends, while Shivani, Ninaad, and Mohit were trying to console the distraught Ashwini that Sai is now alright. Virat, in his usual posture was slumped against a wall, shedding tears and completely oblivious to everything around him. Karishma, on the other hand was a quiet spectator enjoying the tension and the drama that was unfolding before her eyes. Poor Samrat was stuck between the screeching banshee, his wife and his equally ferrocious Devi tai. 

"Yeh pura ka pura drama mandali yaha kya kar raha hai? Jab inko Sai pasand hi nahi hai to phir yeh yaha kyun aaye hai?," grumbled Aniket, his patience gradually wearing off.

Aur kya wajah ho sakti hai? Duniya ko dikhaane aaye honge ki unhe Sai ki kitni fikr hai. After all duniya ki tippaniyo pe toh chalta hai inka yeh circus," retorted Sandhya.

"Guys, enough!" came Ajinkya's stern voice. "Calm down,please. I know hum sab bahut gussa hai Sai ki yeh halat dekh kar, aur agar humara bass chale toh hum inhe abhi hi arrest karwade but guys inke saath kya karna hai yeh humara decision nahi Sai ka hoga. Hum yaha sirf Sai ke liye aaye hai. Filhaal ke liye usse zyada hume kuch bhi sochne ki zarurat nahi hai."

"Exactly. Inse hume koi lena dena nahi hai. Toh inke baare mein soch kar ya baatein karke hum apna mann kyun kharab kare," added Milind. 

Aniket and Sandhya knew better, than to argue with Ajinkya. While Milind was the wise one, Ajinkya always had the aura of a leader. He was a fun guy but when he was firm, he meant business and almost no one could manipulate him to do otherwise.

Shivani who was standing close-by, heard the friends conversation and gave a weak appreciative smile to Milind and Ajinkya to show her gratitude for not adding more to the Patralekha and Devyani scene that was getting nastier by the minute. At the same moment, the waiting door room creaked openand Pulkit entered with a glum face making almost everyone race towards him with the same question in their minds.

Pulkit looked at everyone, took a deep breath and said, "Sai theek hai, kaafi kamzor hai par theek hai. Iss halat mein bhi muskurana nahi chodha. Use aaram ki sakht zarurat hai isiliye zyada baat nahi ki but she's a fighter aur woh bahut jaldi theek ho jayegi."

Everyone sighed in relief and thanked God while Patralekha was still battling her demons. She didn't know if she felt relieved that at least Sai was alive or upset that she will once again become important in Virat's life. Pulkit broke her trance by telling everyone to leave and at the same time requested his students to drop Devi home as they were familiar with her, citing some pending work. He was going to wait till the results came out because even though he didn't mention this to the others, he still felt that Sai's smile was somehow off-putting but he couldn't really figure out exactly what.  As he was contemplating further, he felt someone hold his hands. he wasn't exactly shocked to see Virat still remaining. After all, Virat was as stubborn as his wife or maybe a notch higher.

"Pulkit, woh sachme theek toh hai na? Kya usne mere baare mein kuch pucha? Kya woh mujhse milna chahti hai?" came a weak hopeful voice.

Pulkit looked at him pitifully. He was saddened that Virat didn't realize the value of his wife. How could someone be so ignorant that they do not realize where they have gone wrong even after repeatedly being pointed out. But the sad reality was that Virat will cry in front of Sai and Sai will forgive him as usual and considering the ranking of Patralekha in Chavan niwaas, the vicious cycle will keep on repeating.

"Pulkit, kuch to bolo please. meri sai theek to hai na?" continued the persistent voice.

"Virat mere paas tumhe alag se batane ke liye kuch bhi nahi hai. Jo tha maine sab ke saamne bata diya aur un "sab" mein tum bhi aate ho."

"Kuch baat toh hai jo tumne chupaayi hai warna Sai se milne ke baad, use theek dekhne ke baad tum itne khoye khoye se nahi rahete. Tumhari aankho mein koi khushi dikh hi nahi rahi hai. Please mujhe bata do. Please mujhe sab sach sach bata do." Saying this Virat falls at Pulkit's feet, grovelling. 

Virat had never felt so helpless in life but when it came to Sai, all his emotions and senses usually, just go into overdrive. Pulkit felt a wee bit of sympathy at the man fell at his feet. He knew that the accident was no fault of his but he still could not forgive Virat for all the mental and physical trauma that Sai had to go through just because Virat did not know how to handle situations better and was reckless with his emotions.

Pulkit, gently lifted him up by his shoulders and replied, "Virat, Sai sach mein theek thi. Muskuraya bhi. Itni badi surgery huwi hai uski toh zaahir si baat hai ki woh khud baat karne ki halat mein nahi hai but main yeh bhi jaanta hu ki Sai ek fighter hai aur woh is haalat se ubharne ke liye jee-jaan se fight karegi. Main yaha filhaal test results ke liye ruka hu. Bass confirm karna hai ki kuch complications wagaera ke toh chances nahi hai. Isse zyada aur kuch bhi nahi hai. "Tum ghar toh jaoge nahi, itna ziddi jo ho Sai ki tarah (making Virat smile), par yahi pe thora aaram kar lo. Results aate hi main tumhe aakar bata dunga." 

Virat nods like a good little boy and settles down on one of the sofas. "Ek aur baat Virat, main tumse shaanti se abhi isiliye baat kar raha hu kyunki kahi na kahi hamare rishte ka lihaaz kar raha hu. Galti se bhi yeh sochne ki galti mat karna ki tumne jo Sai ke saath aur tumhare saamne jo Devi ke saath Patralekha ne kiya hai, main unke liye tumhe maaf kar diya hai. Inke liye main tumhe shayad kabhi na maaf kar paau." Having said those words, Pulkit left him on his own to wonder.

Virat knew what Pulkit's words meant. He had already realized that while dwelling in his hurt. He had unintentionally allowed Pakhi to trample not just over Sai but over everyone who sided with her and unknowingly even ended up supporting her in doing this. He did not even spare his own mentally unstable sister. Mentally unstable! He scoffed at the thought. Ironically enough, Devi tai had proved to be the sanest of all the Chavans. She was so much like his Sai, someone who is so pure of heart that they can be easily won over with just kindness and so Virat's contemplations on his actions continued while he lay down on the not-so-soft sofa in the waiting room of the hospital.

Author's Note:

Chapter happened because I am a crazy insomniac and was procrastinating doing my actual work so figured i might as well write something despite the fact that I have work piled up to my neck. Unfortunately, i don't work well till I am panic stricken to meet deadlines. The little joys of Adrenaline rush.

Apologies though for it being short (got attacked by post-midnight hungry tummy rats). Yes, it's a thing.

Anyways, important things:

1. Again, I don't write Virat's detailed contemplations because it has been written exceptionally well by our IF writers and I love them too much. It's beyond my capabilities to match their level of writing. 

2. Devyani in my story is recuperating after getting proper care from Pulkit and the good environment that she lives in now. She is not recovered, but she is gradually getting better.  

3. May contain grammatical errors or typos. Please, excuse the inconveniences. I am not in the position to think straight because I am famished. 

p.s. I promise, I will get back to tagging and replying to your comments as soon as i am done with pett pooja 

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