Chapter 3 (B)

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[NOCOPY]

                            Chapter - 3 (Part B)

Next Day

Virat wakes up to an empty bedside. He had barely slept. But he was determined to clear up things with Sai. He finds her in the kitchen quietly cooking beside his Aai. The quiet demeanor was not his Sai. He knew that she was still reeling in on last night's events. Ashwini saw Virat approaching. She was upset with Virat, but she also knew that he would never cheat on Sai. She never doubted that he loved Sai, but till Virat gives clarity of his whereabouts this issue cannot be resolved. However, her concern was Sai right now. She cared for her like her own daughter.  She knew that she was trying hard to stay strong while she was falling apart inside. Sai was her priorty right now. Before she tried to mend things she had to let Sai calm down and get a hold of herself. She had to protect her daughter.

Ashwini - (she couldn't leave out the anger in her tone) What do you want Virat? Breakfast will be served at the dining table. Please go and wait there

Virat - (hesitating) Aai, I wanted to speak with Sai.

Sai - I don't want to..

Ashwini - (Shouting)Please leave her alone Virat. I told you to go and wait in the dining area.

Virat reluctantly leaves from there

Breakfast was relatively a quiet affair barring a few taunts from Bhavani. Pakhi was also quiet and barely lifted her eyes from her plate. Everyone could sense the tension and awkwardness in the air, but no one dared to broach the subject.

Virat spent the entire day following Sai, trying to get her to speak to him. He called her multiple times when she was in college. But she disconnected everytime and eventually turned off the phone. 

At Night

Virat was going into his room when Pakhi walked up to him

Pakhi - Virat, I'm sorry for causing so much trouble to you. I'm the reason why everyone is upset with you. I'm really sorry Virat

Virat - It's fine Pakhi. There is no fault of yours. And I did this for myself, for my Jeeva. I will handle it. Don't worry about this and don't blame yourself. Go and get some sleep. I know you are stressed out. Goodnight

Pakhi - Goodnight Virat. 

Pakhi leaves and Virat goes to his room oblivious that he had a spectator to his conversation with Pakhi. Sai! She was climbing the stairs up to her room when she saw them talking. She retracted her steps and walked away from not wanting to interrupt them

Virat was getting impatient. He had been waiting for Sai to come to the room. This was the only place where she would not find an escape and he can try to convince her to listen to him. 

Virat (To himself) Why has Sai not come yet? Is she sleeping in Usha Maushi's room?

Just as her decided to check, Sai entered. 

Virat (With a new hope) Sai where have you been? I have been trying to talk to you the whole day. But you have been avoiding me. I need to resolve this. 

Sai was on the verge of exploding. Seeing them together again had ignited the volcano inside her. She had been suppressing her feelings all this while and pretending that she was fine and none of this affected her. But that sight had unleashed it. Virat's words were only aggravating it. She tried to move past him, but he stops her.

Virat - Sai please talk to me. I'm sorry about yesterday. Atleast give me a chance to explain

Sai - You do not owe me any explanation. I do not wish to speak about it either

Virat - Please Sai. You have to listen to me

Sai - (She had reached her threshold) Why should I listen to you? To relieve you of your guilt? It has always been about you. Your decisions, your promise, your responsibility, your family. This entire deal marriage was all about you honouring you promise. The great IPS Virat Chavan! My Aaba sacrificed his life for you. I lost my only family. I lost everything. What did your lose? You still have your family, your FRIEND, your LOVE. Yet, I'm called ungrateful. You decided to marry me to fulfill the promise. You made the promise. Not me. Still I have been dragged around everywhere. I have endured so much for your sake, the taunts, the misbehavior, the hatred of your family and bearing the burden of the sham of this deal marriage. Why? So that you hold true to your promise. I feel suffocated. Like I'm held hostage. I sometimes wish I had died the day I tried to commit suicide. Atleast, I would have been free from this life and you from your promise. Why are you sorry? I don't expect nor do you owe me explanation.

Virat was rendered speechless by her confession. Every word she said pierced his heart deeper. He felt he had failed her. He had not understood what she was going through all this while. He was hurt by her words, but what was killing him inside was that she was hurt and he was the cause of it. He could not bear to think that she preferred dying to living with him. That broke him. Sai couldn't take it anymore and walked out of the room. Virat didn't make any attempt to stop her. He has lost the right. He realised he never had one.

Sai wanted to avoid facing anyone. She needed to let out. She wanted to be alone, to scream, to cry, to just be with herself.

Virat collapsed on the chair burying his head in his palms, and let his tears take over. He was so overwhelmed with Sai's words that he didn't notice Pakhi enter the room in haste. She called him twice as he didn't respond initially. It took him a while to orient himself and realise where he was. But the moment he saw Pakhi, he had a questioning look. Pakhi looked down at herself and realised that she was in her night dress. She was so excited to show Virat what she found that she just ran across to his room. Looking up at him she noticed the dried tears and his heart broken state. And realisation struck her.

Pakhi - I know we have had this conversation, but this seems to be stretching too much and causing you so much unrest. Let me speak to Sai. I will explain everything to her.

Virat - No Pakhi. I don't want you to speak to Sai about this. This is between a husband and wife. I don't want you to interfere.

Pakhi - But..

Trying to divert the conversation Virat interrupts her

Virat - Why did you come at this hour? Is everything alright?

Pakhi - Oh I forgot about that. She hands him the photo album she was carrying. I found this, and I couldn't stop myself from bringing this over. I know what Samrat means to you, and the pain his disappearance has caused you. I was witness to the emotions you were going through when we were searching for him. I thought this would help you relieve some pain. And you can reminisce the childhood memories you shared with through these pictures.

Virat opened the album and his eyes were filled with fresh tears. But these were for his Jeeva. He caressed the picture of Jeeva and him hugging eachother tightly.  It was one of his fondest memories of a school vacation they had spent at a hill station.

Virat - You know Pakhi, just before this picture was clicked, Jeeva.....

Some dark corner of CN

Sai had cried her out. Through those tears she wanted to wash away, all the pain, the anguish, everything that was causing her discomfort and causing her heart to contract. After a while when she had calmed herself, she looked at the sky and spoke to her Aaba, recollecting her fond memories with him. Somewhere the memories merged with Virat. Their banters, arguments, teasing and his care for her brought a sad smile on her face. She knew she had hurt him, but it was only to protect herself. Her outburst was only words spoken in the spur of the moment, she didn't mean them. She acknowledged everything that Virat had done for her till now. From taking over her responsibility, to protecting her from the outside world and his family, standing by her side supporting her against his own family. He had done all this and more.. selflessly. She knew that, yet she called him selfish. It pained her to have hurt him. She had realised that Virat meant more than a deal husband, but what hurt more was that she had unconsciously dared to hope for more. She was disappointed in herself for her current state and her misery. She was strong, she was ready to fight the world alone, but she had fiercely protected that soft heart of hers, building those strong walls around them. But somewhere with passing time unknowingly she had let those guards slip down slowly. Everytime a smile, a gesture, a look from Virat, tugged a string in her heart, she reminded herself that she couldn't hope. Her mind and heart had been constantly at war. Unknown to her, Virat had unlocked her heart and ignited the feelings that she had restrained.She knew her heart was broken, broken beyond repair, but she had to hold herself together, to save herself from breaking into million pieces like her heart had. He had not promised her anything, she had dared to dream, to wish for what could never be hers. It was her entirely her fault and not his. But she also realised that this needed a closure. She could not allow this wound be left open, she didn't want to have any more regrets. She decided that she will listen to what her Virat Sir had to say. "Her Virat Sir" she laughed mocking herself. 

She went back to her room, only to find Pakhi in her night clothes leaning against the chair on which Virat was sitting, their heads close to each other looking at something that Virat was holding in his hand. Both were laughing, their fingers touching while pointing down at something. Virat heard footsteps and looked up to see Sai standing at the door with a defeated look. Realisation striked him, of the picture that he and Pakhi presented before Sai and how it was perceived. He immediately stood up from the chair. Pakhi also striaghtened herself and walked towards Sai

Pakhi - Sai, it not what you are think. I don't want you to misunderstand us.

Sai (held up her hand, asking her to stop) I'm interested in your clarifications Pakhi didi. 

Pakhi - You are just assuming things, and hurting Virat with your behaviour.

Sai - (losing her patience) I do not wish to discuss my personal issues with you. This is between me and my husband. I don't want a third person (pointing a finger at her) to interfere in our matters.

Pakhi - When will you grow up and act more maturely? And what is with this attitude all the time. You are always so rude and arrogant. You are acting so jealous and insecure

Sai - I don't need a character dissection. Atleast not from you. And I have absolutely nothing to be insecure and jealous. I had accepted your unique, one of a kind “FRIENDSHIP” the day I came to this house. So, It's late and I need to get some sleep. Can you just leave now?

Pakhi (looking at Sai’s outstretched hand gesturing her to leave the room) You can't insult me like this. I only came here to..

Sai - (Cutting her short) I have already told you I'm not interested. This is my room and at this hour people generally sleep. They don't stroll into others' room, unless you are sleep walking or you have some not so respectable intensions

Pakhi - Shut up Sai.

Sai - No, You need to leave now. I have had enough. Right now this room is mine as I'm Virat Sir's wife. And I can definitely ask you to leave the room. I most certainly CAN!

Pakhi looks at Virat helplessly for intervening

Virat - Pakhi.. Sai is right. She looks exhausted and needs some sleep. It's very late, you should also go and sleep. Thanks for this (holding the album). Goodnight Pakhi

Pakhi (defeatedly) Goodnight Virat. Take care

Sai does not wait, the moment Pakhi steps out she slams the door shut behind her back and locks it. She then walks over to her bed, and collapses on her side of it, lifeless, turning away from the watchful eyes of Virat, turning off her  bed side lamp. Virat quietly followed her to the bed, taking his place next to hers and placing the pillows to create the partition. He knew that these were mere pillows, but the  walls she had rebuilt were more stronger and he could no longer break through them. Seeing Pakhi with him now had been the last straw. He loved her. She defined “LOVE” for him. Yet, he decided to set her free, even if it would kill him from inside. Even if it meant him leading a hollow, shell of a life without her. He wanted her to be happy and he realised this relationship had become toxic for her. He had ruined something so beautiful, a relationship, a wife he was so lucky to have. He knew he had lost his chance. He knew he had lost her FOREVER! Lost her, before winning her! He closed his eyes, savouring these moments, lying close to her, hearing her breath and inhaling the mild smell that was unique to her. Marking his memory and his senses, treasuring every second of probably the last night he was spending with her. He wanted the time to stop. He just didn't want to let her go, just not yet. But he knew the time would soon be up.

Concluding Chapter - All is well that ends well! But will it?

[MEMBERSONLY]

sherry_242021-05-12 18:17:33