Chapter 17

Part 17 -’Mere naam tu’

Day after the wedding

Virat has asked everyone to be present in the drawing area as he has some announcement to make. While most of them have a hint at what it might be, they are waiting for an official announcement.

Virat walks in, holding hands with Sai. He notices the love and care from Ninad-Ashwini and happiness from Mohit-Karishma and Samrat- Mansi bua. Devi Tai is elated to say the least. 

Bhavani, Omkar and Sonali are understandably not happy but are relented now.

Virat - “Aai, ek baat batani thi.. Aapko khushi hogi ye jaankar ki Sai ne mera proposal accept kar liya hai”

Ashwini, extremely happy, “Ae bai.. Main kabse intezar kar rahi thi ki kab ye din aayega. Thank you beta.. Mujhe sabse badi khushi dene ke liye”

Ashwini takes both of them to the mandir and she does a little prayer. Next, she does veneration to ward off evil eye (nazar utarna). Sai and Virat then move to take blessings from all the elders. Bhavani, Sonali and Omkar begrudgingly give Ashirwad but the others wholeheartedly support the new development.

Ashwini - “To main aaj hi Pandit ji ko muhurat ke liye pooch leti hun.. Thik hai na Virat? Sai?”

Sai just nods but Virat, too eager, “Aai, jitna jaldi ho sake vo nikalna!!”

Mohit and Samrat almost in unison exclaim.. “Intezar nahi ho raha kya??” 

Virat blushes and looks at Sai, who has lowered her eyes in embarrassment.

Ashwini takes charge of the situation and scolds both Mohit and Samrat “Pareshan mat karo mere baccho ko. Sai beta, hum Gadchiroli se sabko bula lenge.. Thik hai na.. Mujhe numbers de dena. Abhi to phone pe hi invitation de deti hun. Baad main patrika bhej denge”

Sai just nods and says “Ho Aai”

The discussion moves to rituals to be followed and the related arrangements when suddenly Sonali interjects, “Vaise Vahini… Sai ka kanyadaan koun karega? Uska to koi nahi hai na?”

Sai, hearing this, looks at Sonali hurt in her eyes. Once again, she is reminded of how she does not have anyone in her corner. Virat too is exhausted at the constant jibes and is deciding how to handle this when suddenly Pulkit speaks,

“Kisne kaha ki Sai ka koi nahi hai.. Main Sai ka bada bhai hun, main aur Devi karenge uska Kanyadaan” 

Sai, startled at hearing this, looks at Pulkit who looks at her and smiles. Just as she is about to cry she hears another voice, proclaiming “Main bhi uska bhai hun… main aur Pakhi bhi kar sakte hai”

Pakhi, though startled, accepts it as a retribution for her deeds, looks at Sai and smiles.

Sonali is effectively dumbstruck hearing this and so is Bhavani.

Sai, grateful that she has two such people on her side, goes and hugs both of them and says thank you.

However, another voice bursts through this “Lekin main kanyadaan nahi karna chahta”

Everyone is shocked to see it is Virat who has said this. Shocked, Ashwini asks “Kya matlab Godu? Aisa kyun bol raha hai?”

Virat - “Aai.. main soch samajh ke bol raha hun. Vo zamana gaya jab ladkiyon ko daan samajhte the. Aapko jo rasme karni hai kijiye par kanyadaan nahi hoga”.

He then looks at Sai and proclaims, “Sai mere liye daan nahi, vardaan hai!!!”

Sai, who had been controlling her tears so far bursts into tears and runs to Virat and hugs him.

Later, they both go on a long drive to Naag Nadi and spend time with each other, finally glad that they would be together soon. A street performer is crooning melodies nearby and they sit together, hands linked and listen to him, a calm in their hearts after all the storms they have endured.

Woh rang bhi kya rang hai

Milta na jo tere hoth ke rang se hubahu

Woh khushboo kya khushboo

Thehre na jo teri saanwari zulf ke rubaru

Tere aage ye duniya hai pheeki si

Mere bin tu na hogi kisi ki bhi

Ab ye zaahir sar-e-aam hai, elaan hai

Jab tak jahaan mein subah shaam hai

Tab tak mere naam tu

Jab tak jahaan mein mera naam hai

Tab tak mere naam tu 

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The Kanyadaan thing might seem cheesy on Virats part but I have used it to show that he will support Sai no matter what. It is also to show Bhavani, Sonali and Omkar that they can no longer trouble Sai. Also, that not only Virat, Sai has many people on her side.

Song for this part is 'Mere naam tu' from Zero