Chapter 8

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]


Note - Short update. Just wanted to prep the establishment of a relationship. And with no baggage of the current character sketch. Hope this works 😉 Excuse the gram err. Haven’t proof read.

Chapter - 7

Mine

A hand that always held me, my life

Teaching me to live and to fly

To do what my heart truly desired

Fight, that had my conscience wired

Protecting myself and what was mine

None needed thee nor thine

Then came an arm that held me close

Had me fight my own battle that rose

Yet standing tall beside forever

Like my very own armour

Virat could feel a pair of eyes boring into him as he stood mute trying to process what had happened. The eyes that screamed betrayal, and broken trust. The eyes that shined so bright like gems a while back, that he was left mesmerized. 

Sai was clueless of the accusations hurled at her. She felt like she had just walked herself into a trap. Not one to bow down and walk away she decided to speak for herself. That was the only way she had lived, that was the only way she knew!

But before she could utter her words in response, she heard a familiar voice speak up. However, there was an undertone that she could have never associated with that voice.

Virat - Enough Kaku! I had categorically mentioned that Sai knows nothing about the clause.

He paused, controlling his anger, choosing his words. Something changed in him in that few moments that he stood there unable to face Sai, guilt replaced by something he couldn't place, but much stronger. His hands clutched in a tight fist, and he finally spoke.

He spoke bordering restrained anger and composure. Fighting his raising fury threatening to take over his senses. Everyone was watching him now. But he didn't care. None had seen this side before, just a glimpse when he stood up for Nagesh. Today his words held a certain authority and air of someone determined, yet the unwavering tone still held respect.  But for Virat he was at war with diverse emotions of guilt, hurt, anger, disappointment in everything that had happened over the past few months and how he had failed at every occasion and what he could or should have done.

She watched him as he spoke, he stood firm and tall against his family shielding her. He demeanor so calm and composed, while he spoke his mind with firm absoluteness. 

Bhavani – Don’t use that tone with me Virat

Virat – Pardon me if I have offended you Kaku. But at this point I refuse to let you or anyone insult Sai. I got her here, her self-respect is my responsibility. I know you are upset and you are venting it out on her. Your anger towards her is unjustified. Like I had clearly mentioned, she is not aware of the clause, not until now, till you enlightened her.

Bhavani – You are defending her? She is a cheat, she duped Nagesh into taking such stupid steps

Virat – Please Kaku. Not another word against her character. We have no right. Bade Kaka decided to share his possessions. It was entirely his choice, his prerogative and no one can challenge that. He was Police Commissioner. Please give him the credit that he was intelligent enough to gauge people. It was Bade Kaka’s decision, and you cant accuse Sai for it. In fact there is no one to be blamed here.

Ninad – Shut Up Virat. How can you speak to Vahini like that? Have you forgotten your manners?

Bhavani – It seems like this girl is some witch who had cast her spell on Nagesh and is now controlling Virat

Virat – I repeat, I will not allow any wrong word against Sai. We invited her to our home, and she is our guest. Inviting someone over and then disgracing them is absolutely unacceptable. And you are now questioning my credibility Kaku. Do you really think that I can get fooled so easily, or do you not trust my potential? Questioning her, accusing her, means you are insulting me, my intelligence and my capabilities

Samrat – I agree with Shiva. Badi Mami, we all know Virat and how righteous he is. You have claimed that he is the most mature and responsible amongst us all. Yet you are questioning his assessment?

Bhavani – Stay out of this Samrat

Samrat – I know I’m a Salunkhe Badi mami. But I also know that Shiva is my brother. And that means more to me. I will defend him and stand by him always. Against anyone!

Bhavani could sense the determination in Samrat’s voice. He would not waver, she knew. So she turned to Sai

Bhavani – I can see what you are doing, you scheming woman! Turning my family, my children against me. I know your kinds. But you have underestimated me. I will thwart all your plans

Sai – I don’t know what to say to you. I didn’t have faintest of idea about Wishy..I mean Nagesh Sir’s will. I knew him, knew him well. He was a dear friend. And a friendship that was selfless, and without any expectations. But, I guess you will never understand. You will never understand that a relationship can be based without an ulterior motive.

Bhavani – And you think I will buy your innocent story

Sai – That is not my concern. That is the truth, my truth. And it doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not.

Bhavani – I will get you arrested

Before Sai could respond Virat spoke again

Virat – And on what grounds will you get her arrested Kaku? What is her crime? Are you going to say that your husband was fooled by Sai to leave her a share in his property? And you think you can prove it? And what does that make Bade Kaka?

Bhavani – I don’t care what people will say, nor do I care what happens to this girl. I want my property back. And I will get it by hook or by crook. I will not let it go to this charity case

Sai (Unable to contain her anger) – I’m not a charity case. Nor do I need your property. You can keep it to yourself or sell it for all I care.

Bhavani – Smart girl! Because you know I will not have it either way

Virat – It has already been established that Sai had no idea about the clause. Just because you want to pass the blame you can’t target her Kaku. I will not allow it

Bhavani – Are you threatening me Virat? What will you do?

Virat – Anything you do against her, please be aware that you will find me next to her. And I will not bow down and will fight even against you if that’s what it will boil down to eventually

With that Virat held Sai by her hand and walked out without another word. And she followed him in silence...in trance. She knew she could have fought this on her own, she was capable. But the way he stood up for her against his own family, for what was right, made her heart dance on hip hop beats. It was not in her character, yet she walked after him without any resistance, without another word. The way he held her hand, she felt as if that where it always belonged. Had it been someone else she would have jerked her hand away before placing a slap across the face. But this was Virat, and she was in reverie. She had admired her, maybe had a teeny weeny crush, however this was something more. Something much more enormous and earth shattering for her. She now respected him and maybe LOV. Nope that would have to wait! But she was definitely wavering.

They reached the beach and sat at the same spot in silence. None spoke for a longtime. A silence that was so powerful and meaningful. She sat beside him patienly, giving him the time to process his thoughts and to settle everything that had gone on a rampage within him. Watching his face, tracing his features that she had come admire, memorising every small crease, to imprint in her memory. Closely watching, reading every feature, from the crease that played on his forehead as something worried him, to the intense eyes softening as he sadness took over. The tear that was not visible but she knew that there. The way his jaw tightened when his anger rose with that cleft on his cheek playing hide and seek. The Adam's apple changing levers as he gulped down a painful memory. And she watched patiently as all those feelings crossed him, and many more, holding him in that silence without the proximity of a single touch. They had only met thrice and all those encounters had been about a third person, never about the two of them. Their fleeting meetings had nothing to connect individually on a personal level. Yet, she felt the familiarity of someone she had known closely for years. An unexplained, unspoken connect, yearning to be defined.

In all this Sai wanted to soothe him of that pain, take away his worries to see him smile that could melt her heart in a heart beat. But she realised, what she could give him at this moment was her company. Her silent, unprejudiced presence. Watching the changing expressions, matching them with the eyes that seemed to change color in synchronicity. Learning him, feeling for him, knowing him, deciphering everything about him on her own. He had become her favourite subject of study and research.

It was Virat who finally broke the silence. He somehow felt much calmer than he had been when he left Chavan Niwas.

Virat - I'm sorry Sai. I apologise on behalf of my family and myself. You didn't deserve that treatment. I should have disclosed everything to you. 

Sai - I would not deny that wish you had shared this detail with me earlier. Atleast I would have been better prepared rather than taken up by surprise. It just had me tongue tied for a second before you stole my mic from me (they laughed at that). However, I understand that you had your own reasons for it. I was a little disappointed momentarily, but now I don't hold anything against you. In fact I can't thank you enough for standing up for me and my self respect and the displaying trust you have on me. And all this against your own people, your own family.

Virat - I know you are independent and capable of fighting your own battle. But I had invited you to my home, you were my responsibility. And I could not let anyone insult you. So there is nothing on thank me for. You would have managed well without me.

Sai - I agree. But it just felt good. I mean, (she started to stammer) I didn't mean it that ways.  I would hate to see you at loggerheads with your folks, but it was just I'm so used to speaking for myself, it just felt pleasantly strange for someone speak for me

Virat was finally smiling. The smile she had been eagerly waiting for and was lost in it, the embarassment of her last statement long forgotten. 

Virat - I wish things would have worked out differently. It would have been so much more better if Bade Kaka was here. I wish I had known you before. Spent some time in you and Bade Kaka together. Heard his genuine, carefree laughter. I wish I had stood up for him, probably he would have been with us today. I wish I could go back and change so many things. I wish I had done so many things differently. I wish....that is all I can do, wish. I hate myself for so many things, I didn't say or do. I'm living with so many regrets, and guess will live with it all my life. 

He felt a hand over his, and it seemed to have soothed his heart is a strange way. The remorse, and guilt that was escalated was halted and difused. Kaku was right, she definately had cast some spell on him. Only if she knew the spell dated much before she knew. 

Sai - If we live in regret, we will never live. And that is an injustice to our present and our future. It is an insult to everyone who loves us, cares for us, believes in us, who is dependent on us directly or indirectly. Instead, we should strive to make a better today and tomorrow. Things will take its own course, how they are destined. So we should me mindful that everything will not play out as per our plans, the are bound to be bumps and hiccups and roadblocks. And then there will be a new opening, an alternate road. Wishy Mushy is probably in a better place, watching over us. Whatever time we spent with him is what was accounted for in destiny. But what he left us with is what we need to make worthwhile. And make him happy, make him proud, in his space after life. This is something only we can do, for him and for us.

Virat looked at Sai, tears brimming in his eyes, his hands placed in hers. He could see why his Bade Kaka adored her. She just could spin anything negative into an opportunity, and spread positivity. She was someone who could charge up a dull place, and change the vibe around. And then it dawned on him, like a sky cleared off the clouds. He said it it to himself

"I love u Sai Joshi! And you will always find me beside, whatever the situation. I’m not letting you go. And I will do everything to change the situation in our favour. I just wish I'm able to confess this aloud soon...Sooner!"

Chapter 8 - Changing Equations
[MEMBERSONLY]