Chapter 3 (A)

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

Hey All,

Thanks for your comments 💜 Here is the next chapter. This one turned out to be longer than expected. Since I wanted to wrap it up in 4 chapters, have divided this chapter in 2 parts. Hope you enjoy them!

                             Chapter - 3 (Part A)

Pakhi enters her room & closes the door. She leans against the door and slowly slides down to the floor, hugging her knees, she buries her head on them recollecting all that had happened today.

Virat and Sai's room

Virat is anxiously pacing across the room. Today he had experienced so many varied emotions in such a short span of time. He was restless. The inner turmoil, the agony was killing him deep down. 

Flashback

Virat returns early from work. He is all geared up for the plans with Sai. He starts climbing 2 steps at a time in excitement but his steps are halted by Bhavani.

Bhavani - Virat.. can you please come to my room. I have something important to discuss.

Virat - (Sensing the seriousness in her tone) Is everything all right Kaku?

Bhavani does not wait to answer but walks into her room and Virat hastily follows her. As soon as Virat enters he sees a disheveled Pakhi, with swollen eyes and tear dried face. 

Virat - (concerned) What happened Pakhi? Why are you crying? 

Seeing Virat, a fresh stream of tears start rolling down her face. Virat panics seeing the worried look on Bhavani and Pakhi's face.

Virat - Can one of you please tell me what happened? You are stressing me out

Bhavani - Pakhi had gone out to meet some of her friends in the afternoon. While leaving the mall she saw someone who looked like Samrat. She chased him for a while but he disappeared

Virat - (between shock and hope, he directed his question to Pakhi) Are you sure it was Samrat?

Pakhi - Though I only got a glimpse of him but I'm almost certain. It was him!

Bhavani - Even if it was not, we can't ignore it Virat

Virat - Where exactly did u see him? I will go and search that area right away.

Pakhi tells him the location and the entire stretch that she chased him. She pleads with him to allow her to accompany him

Bhavani - Take her along with you. She saw him, so she can tell you the exact location. That will be helpful. And in her state if she stays back she will be more worried. Atleast this way her mind will be occupied

Virat reluctantly agrees.

Virat - Let me inform Aai and Sai that I'm leaving. They would worry about my whereabouts.

Bhavani - I don't think we should tell anyone about this now. We don't really know if it was Samrat. Let's not get anyone's hopes high. And don't waste time here. You should go and search for Samrat. I will inform Ashwini that you had to leave for some urgent work.

Pakhi and Virat leave in haste. After reaching the mall that Pakhi had earlier visited they start enquiring about Samrat at the local shops and street vendors near the mall area. Virat had Samrat's picture on his phone that he was using to check with people around. He had also simultaneously asked for a search team to find Samrat. They were not sure but they just could not ignore it either. It was getting dark and there were fewer people on the streets. Hence it was becoming difficult to continue, but they could not , would not stop. Suddenly, as they started moving the narrow lane on which Pakhi had followed Samrat, it started drizzling. Expecting a heavy down pour, Virat asks Pakhi to go back and wait in the car. Initially she does not agree, but then half heartedly she goes back to the car. Having spent 3hours searching for Samrat in vain they returned home without any leads, disappointed.

Flashback ends

Virat was not sure what to feel. He wasn't sure if it was actually Samrat that she saw. If it was then why was he avoiding his family? Pakhi said that probably Samrat may have come to know truth about them and decided to walk away. Again, this was an assumption, but what if it was true. He found a new ray of hope that he would see his Jeeva finally! He never doubted that Samrat was alive, but knowing that he is safe and around gave him a certain boost of hope. But he returned empty handed. And then there was Sai. He had seen the pain on her face when he returned. He knew he had hurt her, not intentionally. But he had. It had taken so much to mend their relationship and for them to come this close, and today when he felt that they would take another step forward, another milestone marking the growth in their relationship, the unexpected happened. She was hurting and he couldn't bear the thought that he was the cause. Virat wanted to tell her the truth, but he had to stop himself to not reveal anything infront of other family members. He had seen the disappointment and disapproval in Sai's eyes. Sai, stood there emotionless when he said that he can't disclose about where he had been. But tear filled eyes and the lone tear that dared to drop on her face didn’t go unnoticed by him.  He will tell her every thing, he has to. He can't lose her. But where is she?

Sai is in Shivani bua's room surrounded by the Ashwini, Shivani and Mohit. They had been trying talk to her, but their concern grew as she sat there as if void of any emotions or reactions. All of them were equally shocked and hurt by Virat's actions and wanted to confront him. But right now their priority was Sai. Only when Ashwini said she is going to speak with Virat and give him an earful and get the entire truth from him, did Sai finally speak.

Sai - No Aai. As a mother I cannot stop you from questioning or scolding your son. But if this is only for me, I would rather not disrupt your relation with him. I don't care what Virat Sir does, where he goes and with whom. That is not a matter of my concern. It's his life and he is free to live his life however and with whoever he wants. I'm only his wife for namesake and this is only an arrangement to fulfill the promise he gave to my Aaba. I'm not sure how things are going to pan out in future, so I would not want anyone of you to spoil their relations with Virat Sir or any other member of the family. I'm an outsider and have to leave this house one day, so it is not fair to be the reason for any rift between family members. 

She folds her hands and requests that this matter should not be discussed any further and be closed forever. All this while, she is holding herself strong, as if whatever happened did not concern her and she was least affected. But the moment she turned her face she knew she could not fake any further. She left without another word or look back at them, fearing that she would break down in front of them. And that she did not want. They were also devasted. They had been witness to Sai and Virat's budding closeness and in their own little ways had been trying to bring them closer. They knew she was hurt, but they just didn't know how to help.

Sai entered the terrace. She wanted solitude, she wanted space, to pull herself together. She was hurt beyond measure. She was responsible for her misery. Only her! She had allowed the walls that she had created to protect her soft heart to break away. She had let her guards down for Virat. She had mistaken his friendly gestures for something more and dared to hope for something that was never hers. Yes! She realises that the pain is because she feels something beyond the deal, for her husband. She had let her heart hope. Virat had never promised her anything. It was all her fault. Only her fault. And then she let herself give into the tears that she had been holding on for so long. She had to empty herself of all the tears, pain and hope that she had, to stand up again, take charge of herself and face this world. Alone

Sai enters her room and Virat rushes towards her. The concern evident in his eyes and voice.

Virat - Where have been Sai? I have been waiting for you, to apologise. I want to tell you why I had to leave urgently. I can explain what

Sai - (Cutting him short) You don't own me any explanation Virat Sir. It's your free will. You can choose to do as you wish

Virat - I know you are mad at me. I know I have let you down. It is not what you think and I can explain

Sai was completely drained of energy. She just wanted sleep to engulf her and to let her forget all the pain and dismay.

Sai - I have no interest in you or what you do. Like I said you can live your life the way you want. And I'm here only to fulfill my Aaba's dream. That is my top and only priority. It's very late already and I have a terrible headache. So please spare me. I need to get some sleep. 

Virat - Listen to me please. Let get you the medicine first.

Sai - I don't need any. If you continue to annoy me further I will leave and go to Usha Maushi's room to sleep.

Virat feels helpless. Sai quietly sets up the pillow partition and turns away. Virat also lies down on his side. Both lying facing away from each other, hurting, lost in their thoughts, devoid of sleep, tears strolling down their faces, dreading what the next day would hold for them.

[MEMBERSONLY]