Chapter 7

Part 7 - Breakup Song 

Sai reaches home and after a long time feels relieved. The heaviness in her heart seems to have reduced as if a prickling thorn has been removed finally.

She goes and hugs Sandhya and thanks her. Sandhya is startled but understands and is pleased at the outcome.

Grateful for his push, Sai types a message to Sumit.

“Thank you Sir, for asking me to do this. I had a talk with Virat Sir today and I could say whatever I wanted to. Wrong analogy but I feel as if the gangrene has been removed. Feeling much better now”

Sumit looks at the message and smiles to himself. He replies,

“Glad that I could help and I am happy that you heeded my advice. Your path to self healing begins now. Let me know if you need more sessions. I might start charging you though . Just kidding. Take care and Good night”

Sai smiles reading the reply and is slightly shocked at the winking emoji but Sandhya correctly guessing the sender, teases Sai about Mr. McDreamy. The evening passes on a happy note.

A few days later, Sai, Sandhya, Aniket and Ajinkya are in the mall when they spot Sumit sitting alone in the food court.

“Yaar McDreamy acche lag rahe hai nahi?” rues Sandhya wistfully.

Sai nods, agreeing with her. Sumit is dressed casually in a Nehru collar style short kurta and blue denims. Quite a catch Sai realizes as she notices a few ladies passing by throwing a longer glance at him. 

All four of them decide to go and talk to him.

“Good evening Sir” they all speak in unison slightly drawing out the greeting like schoolkids. 

Sumit looks up and happily taking in the four looking at him,

“Are tum log yahan? Kya masti chal rahi hai? Assignments kam pad gaye kya?”

All of them chuckle and Aniket replies 

“Are nahi Sir… next week se exam hai to aaj last outing pe aaye hai”

They are about to continue the conversation when someone clears their throat nearby. All of them turn around to see Virat standing there.

Virat though is only looking at Sai, completely mesmerized by her new look. Sai is wearing a dark blue skirt that drapes her body beautifully, and a black tank top and denim jacket that gives off a cool and calm vibe, looking like a typical college going girl like she is supposed to be, thinks Virat to himself.

Sai, getting a bit restless at his continuous stare, shifts her attention to Sumit. 

“Sir, vo aap Parsons ki book dene wale the mujhe? Kab free hai aap? Thode doubts bhi clear karne the?”

Sumit too has noticed the unnervingness of Virat and responds to Sai when she talks to him.

“Kal to main busy hun thoda, uske baad 2 din comparatively free hun, tab aa jaana”

The conversation is about to end when suddenly, music starts on the AV system and a boy and a girl start dancing in the atrium. Sai and Sandhya catch each other's eye and a twinkle lights up their eyes. Without saying a word, both of them run towards the boy and girl. 

Aniket, Ajinkya, Virat and Sumit also run after them to see what has happened suddenly.

It is then they realize that a flash mob has started assembling and dancing to the song.

Dil pe patthar rakh ke

Munh pe makeup kar liya

Oh dil pe patthar rakh ke

Munh pe makeup kar liya

Mere saiyyan ji se aaj

Maine breakup kar liya

Mere saiyyan ji se aaj

Maine breakup kar liya

Subah savere uth ke maine

Ye sab kar liya

Mere saiyyan ji se aaj

Maine breakup kar liya

Sai and Sandhya are now dancing along with others, matching their steps and enjoying themselves. Aniket and Ajinkya too decide to join in on the fun and start dancing with the rest of the crowd. By now, the mob has swelled to quite a few dancers and some impromptu ones like the 4 MBBS students. 

Kuch din to rona dhona bumper kiya

Aur phir delete uska number kiya

Aansu jo sookhe seedha parlour gayi

Parlour mein jaake shampoo jamkar kiya

College ki saheliyon se catch-up kar liya

Arey college ki saheliyon se catch-up kar liya

Jinko mill na paayi unko whatsapp kar diya

Sandhya catches Virat and Sumit standing on the side, Virat looking at Sai unwaveringly and Sumit tapping his feet to the peppy beats. Sandhya whispers something to Aniket and he quickly goes and drags Sumit to the party. 

Look, baby! mujhe lagta hai ki

Jo bhi tune kiya hai wo very very right hai

Bhoot-kaal ko bhool ja ab tu

Aane wala future very very bright hai

Main hoon na baby saath tere

Party sharty honi poori night hai

Mind na karna jo thoda zyada bol doon

Kyunki banda very very tight hai

Usey phone mila aur gaali de

Photo jala ke karde raakh

Saale teri maa ki a****!

As Badshah’s verse starts, Sumit has by now joined the team and is dancing with Sai. Virat winces at the sight and Sandhya can see his irritation even from so far away. Sumit, enjoying the music, takes Sai's hand and twirls her, dipping her and then picking her up. The movements are fluid and so easily done as if they have been dance partners for ages. Virat notices that Sai too is enjoying Sumit's attention and seems very comfortable dancing with him. 

Virat, smiles sardonically, at how perfectly the lyrics fit to his situation.

The song ends and the crowd disperses. All four of them and their professor are standing in their positions. They go for a group hug, an ice being broken among the teacher and students. 

Virat has by now, joined the gang and is once again back to staring at the camaraderie shared by Sai and Sumit. They are talking animatedly to each other, oblivious to him. The dancing has made Sai’s cheeks rosy and Sumit is admiring her intently while engaged in the conversation with all of them. 

Aniket, then compliments Sumit, “Sir, aap to bahot acchha dance karte hai”

Sumit, suddenly melancholic, responds, “Haan maine sikha tha.. Contemporary. I had a dance partner then”

Sai, looking at his wistful face, notices the half truth that has come out. She wonders what it is but decides to let it go.

Sumit, quickly comes out of his reverie though and looking at Sai says,

“Lekin tum to bahot acchi dancer ho Sai. Classical to us din dekha tha. Aaj ye wala style bhi dekh liya. Umeed hai aur mauka milega tumhara dance dekhne ka”

Sai, surprised at this sudden compliment, mumbles a thanks to him earning a smile from him. She feels a blush rising to her cheeks, at the genuineness of the compliment but more so because of the bestower of it. Sandhya is not wrong after all, ye vakiy McDreamy hai, she thinks to herself and quickly lowers her eyes.

The whole scenario is captured by another set of eyes, one that is seething in anger and frustration and yet helpless to do anything about it. 

The students then move away to another table and continue their fun, chatting, teasing and poking each other. Virat notices Sumit's eyes darting to that table quite frequently and especially towards Sai. He too is glancing at her once in a while but it seems she has completely outgrown everything. Never once has she looked at him or acknowledged his presence and it feels like somebody is holding him under water, suffocating him while he is desperate to free himself from those clutches.

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This chapter feels like an incomplete one but it has a continuation in the next one so please wait for the next update.

The song is of course The Breakup song from Ae Dil hai Mushkil.