Chapter 13

Part 13 - ‘Tera ban jaunga’

The next day, Sai wakes up groggy after crying herself to sleep. Virat notices this and asks her but she avoids answering anything and he is surprised at her sudden coldness.

Later in the morning, the Bangdiwala (bangle seller) has come to put chuda in Shivani's hands. Ashwini calls Sai.. “Sai, idhar aao beta.. Tum bhi chudi lelo. Dada, isko bhi hari chudi pehenana”

“Par Aai, vo to suhagan pehenti hai na”

“Haan bala, tumhara divorce hua to kya hua, Pati to zinda hai na abhi”

Sai who is already upset gets more emotional hearing this and is willing her tears to not fall over.

The Bangdiwala gives Sai green bangles and she keeps looking at them and feeling sad. Aai too notices her unhappiness and asks her but she doesn't share anything.

Virat is still confused at Sai’s sudden change in behaviour when he hears footsteps near him. He turns around to see Pakhi and his face contorts into irritation. 

Pakhi - “Virat.. Main jaanti hun ki tum mujhse baat nahi karna chahte, par mujhe tumhe Sai ke baare main kuch batana hai”

Virat, hearing Sai’s name from her mouth and immediately thinking that might start spewing venom again, says “Aapko uske baare main kya bakwas karni hai ab Vahini?”

Pakhi, hurt that he thinks so low of her yet overcame with guilt.. “Bakwas nai kar rahi hun.. Kuch jaruri baat hai isliye batane aai hun”

“...”

“Usne shayad Badi Mami aur Omi Mama ki baatein sun li.. Isliye tumse aisa rukha bartaav kar rahi hai”

Virat surprised, asks “Kya matlab? Kya bola Kaku ne use?”

Pakhi - “Directly use nahi bola.. Vo dono aapas main baat kar rahe the.. Sai ne shayad sun liya.. Maine usko vaha se jaate hue dekha tha.. Aur subah se uska behaviour dekh rahi hun tumhare saath… shayad ye reason ho sakta hai”

Virat - “Lekin aisa kya suna usne”

Pakhi, unsure how to say it, “Vo… vo … Omi mama… Badi Mami se keh rahe the ki vo Sai ko dobara tumhari patni banta nahi dekh sakte”

Virat is immediately angry and clenches his fist and is about to go to Omi’s room when Samrat comes and holds his arms in order to stop him. 

“Main jaanta hun Shiva, mujhe Patralekha ne bataya… abhi gussa thanda kar aur pehle Sai se baat kar. Use samjha aur use samajh… vaise bhi kal Bua ki shaadi hai… abhi jhagda mat kar.. Inse baad main baat karenge.. Main bhi chalunga tere saath”

Virat, still angry but seeing the sense in Samrat’s words, calms down and decides he needs to talk to Sai first. As he is about to go find Sai, a realization hits him.. He turns around to look at Samrat and Pakhi and with a slight smile says “Thank you Vahini” and goes from there.

Virat finds Sai sitting in the garden, looking at her hands and almost on the verge of crying. She is a sight for sore eyes and yet Virat is overcome with guilt at how his family is still treating her.

Virat goes and sits near her. Sai is in a trance and doesn't notice him. He gently touches her shoulder and calls out… “Sai”

Startled by his voice, Sai looks up and asks “Aap kab aaye?” and attempts to wipe a lone tear that's threatening to fall.

Virat gently touches her chin and turns it towards him.. “Kisine kuch kaha kya tumse?”

“Nahi to.. Aisa kyun bol rahe hai?”

“Sach batao Sai, tumhari aankhe jhoot nahi bol sakti!! Kaku ya Omi kaka ne kuch bola?”

Shocked at this, Sai asks… “Aapko kaise pata chala?”

“Mujhe Pakhi vahini ne bataya?”

“Unhe kaise pata chala?”

“Usne tumhe vaha dekh liya aur baad main baatein bhi suni”

Sai is now feeling very sad and her tears start falling. Virat wipes them away with his thumb and puts his arm around her shoulder and she leans on him. A while later, he speaks,

“Ab meri ek baat sunogi?”

“....”

“Sai… humne bahot kuch saha hai… ek dusre ke saath bhi aur ek dusre ke bina bhi.... Par ye second chance main nahi jaane dena chahta and especially kal ke baad. I want you and I need you, whole body and soul. Always and forever. Aur agar koi mujhe tumse dur karne ki koshish bhi karega to main aisa hone nahi dunga. Agar Kaku aur Kaka ya ghar ke koi aur bade log nahi chahte ki hum ek ho.. To bhi main nahi maanunga… I can take a transfer to someplace else. We can shift there. But I don't want to live without you… never. Tumhi ne kaha tha na that you are holding on to MiMo’s promise.”

Sai looks at him now, eyes brimming with tears and a certain hesitation but she knows that he means what he is saying.

Virat sees the change in her composure and goes down on one knee in front of her. He lovingly takes her mehendi adorned hands in his, the bangles clinking sweetly. 

“Main ise koi tarike se karne ka soch raha tha, much better planned and much more romantic but I don't want to wait now.. I have a question for you. 

Dr. Sai Joshi…I love.. love .. love you… will you be kind enough to marry me? Punha lagna karshil majhyashi??” 

Sai is unable to express what she is feeling but keeps looking at Virat, who is earnestly looking at her hoping for a yes. Sai closes her eyes for a moment and remembers all that has happened with her in the past in this home.

After opening her eyes she looks at Virat, still kneeling down and holding her hand, “Aap pehle uthiye” and makes Virat sit next to her again. She turns towards him and finally says,

“Main jaanti hun aapke emotions sachhe hai, lekin aapko aapke parivar se dur karne ki vajah nahi ban sakti.. Mera to vaise bhi koi nahi hai ab is duniya main… aapko bhi vo dard nahi de sakti”

Virat, astonished at how much she loves him and his feelings, lets out his tears and cups her face in his hand and says “Sai, agar tum saath ho to mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye… and I am sure abhi bhi bahot log hai is parivar main jo tumhe accept karenge… but more than that, I want you to be mine”.

Sai, hearing his conviction, is finally able to smile, making Virat too smile. He says, “Yahi ruko jara, abhi aata hun”

Virat goes and brings a box with him and asks her to open it. It has the same ruby necklace that he had given her earlier.

“Sai, I know you are hurt aur isliye agar tumhe sochne ka waqt chahiye to main rukne ko tayar hun. Just take this and whenever you wear this again, I would know that you have accepted me”. 

Sai accepts the box and smiles through her tears. Virat, holds out his hand and takes her inside knowingly passing in front of Omi kaka and Bhavani Kaku tightly holding Sai’s hand in his.

Later, he sends her another song to listen to,

Meri raahein tere tak hain, Tujhpe hi toh mera haq hai

Ishq mera tu beshaq hai, Tujhpe hi toh mera haq hai

Saath chhodunga na tere pichhe aaunga, 

Chheen lunga ya Khuda se maang laaunga, 

Tere naal taqdeeran likhwaunga

Main tera ban jaaunga

Main tera ban jaaunga

—

It is custom in Maharashtrian homes, where the Bangle seller (typically using a handcart) is invited, fed food and given gifts and he is the one who puts bangles on the bride. The Mehendi happens a day before as after wearing the chuda, it cannot be removed for 1.5 months/ 1.5 years neither can the bride go out of the house (after wearing chuda) till her actual wedding day. Bangles are given to every female present in the house that day (except widows) and while everyone is free to choose, green glass bangles are worn only by married ladies. 

The song is ‘Tera ban jaunga’ from Kabir Singh

Also, if anyone here is a fan of Pride and Prejudice (2005) they would notice a much loved dialogue. This is my teeny meeny tribute to the great Jane Austen.