I Missed You: A SaiRat OS (Pre-everything)

Hello, readers! Sadiyon baad like rhi hu, so, I really hope this story is going to make up for all the lost times. If you believe that this story revolves in any sense around the current track, then sweetheart, I am sorry, but it ain't gonna be that way. This OS will take you back millions of years, and remind you of the plot when SaiRat were at their absolute peak.

I really hope you guys like it.

Tiptoeing through the hallway, Virat winced when his hand nearly knocked the vase off the table. Seriously, he thought, we really need to do something about this house’s décor. It has been long established among the members of Chavan family that if there is one thing in this world that doesn’t go with their dearest Virat, it is unnecessarily placed decorations, which for some unknown reasons are to be found all over the Chavan Niwas. You turn your head a little, and there’s a painting. You open a door, and there’s a showpiece. You turn around the corner, and there’s a vase. God knows, how many times he has nearly, and sometimes successfully, knocked things right off their designated positions. And it became increasingly irritating, for these little accidental knock-offs were capable of ruining nearly all his surprises. It doesn’t matter how sneaky he tries to be, how silent, every time he desires to surprise his Aai with his early coming home, all his plans fall to pieces, just like the vase he collides with.

And something similar was about to happen today too, with slight modifications. Firstly, unlike all the previous times, this time he was quite successful in saving the god-forsaken vase. Secondly, it isn’t a busy mid-afternoon, filled with the hustle and bustle found only in a joint family, but rather the middle of a hushed and tranquil night, where his every movement echoed through the house. And lastly, it wasn’t his Aai he wanted to surprise. As much as he loved her, it wasn’t her tenderness he seeked. It was the passion and affection his heart knew he was absolutely not going to get from his dearest wife. So, the stakes here were much higher, indeed.

Virat knew that creeping around at midnight to surprise Sai, is a thing that can only end up in disaster, for nearly everything which involves her ended up in the same. But regardless of the fact that she might get angry, that she might wake up irritated, that she might remind him, for the umpteenth time, how she clearly doesn’t consider herself his wife and thus doesn’t believe she deserved to be on the receiving end of such affections, he was excited nonetheless.

It was the first time, since his marriage, that he went on a mission far away from home, and he missed her. God, he missed her. It nearly broke his heart when he came to know that there was a good chance he won’t be able to come home by Holi. It was their first holiday together, and the thought of missing it, the thought of being away from her was quite honestly, painful.

He didn’t know why he felt the way he did, why he missed her so much, but all he knows is that he did. He missed everything about her, her voice, her laugh, her tantrums, her smiles. He even missed their pre-sleep fights. At this point, they feel more like a ritual.

And Virat wanted to see her reaction when he will surprise her right now. Will she be happy? Will her eyes sparkle the way they so frequently do? Virat wanted, no, needed to know. Did she miss him even a percent of how much he longed for her?

And so, he went, tip-toeing around the hallway, trying to overcome the carefully placed obstacles in his path. He went towards his room and slowly crept inside. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of in front of him.

There she was, sleeping on her side of the bed, the Singhar kila set up in between, even though there was no one on the other side. He carefully walked inside and towards her. She looks breathtaking, he thought. So, beautiful and painfully alluring. Tucked safely in her blanket, free of all the problems in the world, Sai looked as innocent as a baby, and Virat couldn’t stop the smile on his face.

He wanted to wake her up, that’s what he planned, that’s what he looked forward to all this time, but now standing at the foot of their bed, Sai looked so peaceful sleeping that it felt like a crime to disturb her. So, as much as he wanted, as much as he desired, he couldn't bring it in himself to disturb her sleep.

Staring at her sleeping figure for a minute longer, Virat decided to change his clothes and go to sleep himself. But the moment he turned to leave; something caught his eyes. He turned to look again, and something was wrong. No, not wrong, something was off, something was different. Sai looked different, different than how he was used to seeing her.

His eyes widened as realization dawned upon him. Breathe escaped his lips in a sharp exhale as his brain registered what he was seeing. It wasn’t precisely Sai, but rather it was her neck, and from around that neck, peeked a collar, a collar that was white in color, and was attached, no doubt, to a shirt. A shirt, that was most definitely not hers, and most surely his own.

His shirt, which was currently, on her body.

His Shirt.

Her.

Body.

For some minutes, shirt and body were all the vocabulary Virat’s mind was capable of generating. His Sai. His wife, Sai. His deal-wife, Sai, was sleeping in his shirt. With the same ardor with which it had nearly stopped, Virat’s heart started beating.

Emotions welled up inside him, deep, wild, and fairly mixed. As marvelous as the sight felt, its implications embedded themselves even deeper in his mind. Even the thought that Sai yearned for him, missed his presence so much that she wrapped his scent around him incited a fire in him. Feelings engulfed his mind. Feelings of happiness, adoration, and desire consumed his body. Yet there was something more, something deeper, stronger, much more passionate. Something that made his feet move toward the bed. Something that made him kneel beside her sleeping and oblivious figure. Something that made him move his hand and caressed the soft skin of her cheek. Something so intense, so fervid, and so intimate that it knocked his breath away.

He moved. He couldn’t help but move. Towards her. Deep down there was a part of him that told him that this wasn’t correct, that he still didn’t have the right to touch her, that just because society had made him to be, he wasn’t actually her husband. But all those thoughts, all those voices were hushed by his burning desire. He had missed her. For the first time, he was away from her, and day and night, he had longed for her. And now that he was finally near her, he didn’t want to stay away.

His face moved towards hers. With the gentleness of a feather, his nose grazed her cheeks. Inhaling sharply, Virat breathed her in. This is what heaven feels like, he thought.

Her scent.

He moved to graze his skin with his mouth.

Her presence.

With a small pressure, he kissed her cheek, not noticing her sharp inhale of breath.

Her.

She is what heaven feels like.

With a deep exhale, Virat touched the side of her forehead with his, and allowed himself, if only for a moment, to get lost in paradise. He knew, that the moment she will wake up, that the moment her mind will register his presence, the wall will go back up. And once again, he would have to wear the mask he himself had chosen. The same mask that hides his pain, his want, his desires. The mask of a deal-husband. And he was tired. Tired of pretending, and tired of acting. But he knew, his suffering won’t end. Sai will never feel for him whatever it is that he feels for her. He might have gotten over it, but he knew, Sai will never let go of their deal. So, it was just one moment he asked for, just one single moment of peace and consoling his heart knew he didn't deserve. Just one moment of her touch.

Virat clenched his eyes shut, he buried himself deeper into her hair. He could feel the prick of the tears in his eyes. But he didn’t move to wipe them away, for he knew any single movement will break this bubble he so carefully built around them. And God knew, that was the last thing he could ever want.

Lost in his feelings, Virat nearly jumped when he felt a hand caress his head. Turning his face, he saw Sai looking at him with sleepy eyes.

“Virat Sir?” She whispered with a soft smile.

Looking at her, Virat couldn’t help but smile himself.

“Sai.” He whispered back.

At his voice, Sai’s smile grew wider. Not able to control himself, Virat brought his mouth to her forehead and kissed her. Both of their eyes closed at the sensation. Pulling back, Virat grazed a path down to her ears with his lips.

“Sai…” He whispered again. He didn’t know what it was he wished to say to her, but he knew he wanted her to understand. To understand what his heart wants, to understand him better than himself.

And perhaps his unspoken words reached Sai’s ears, or perhaps there was something in his tone that undid her, something raw and exposed, that made her instantly clench his hair in her fist. The sudden stinging pain made Virat gasp. With a jerk, his hand moved and immediately came in contact with the object on their bedside table.

The sound of a crash echoed in their room, and both Sai and Virat sprung back. Both stared wide-eyed at each other. Their heart still hammering and their chests still heaving. Between the two of them, Virat was the first to break eye contact and looked at what caused the noise. And immediately, his eyes clenched shut at the view.

Another vase.

Another toppled and broken vase ruined the moment for him.

But there was nothing that could be done now. He braced himself for the justified anger that was inevitably coming his way.

“Virat Sir?” Sai spoke, shock evident in her voice, all the traces of sleep that before laced her every actions gone.

Virat’s muscles tensed. He bowed his head down, unable to bring himself to face her. What he did was wrong. She was asleep and defenseless, and he basically took advantage of her state. Guilt and shame flooded his mind. He knew, that now whatever words she hurled at him, whatever insults she would throw at him, they would all be well deserved.

“Virat Sir,” Sai spoke again, this time with clarity, and with an emotion, Virat couldn’t decipher, nor did he get enough time to even think twice about it, for the next thing he knew, the next things he felt, was the feeling of Sai’s body in his arms.

Unable to comprehend what was happening, Virat looked down to see Sai hugging him as if her life depended on it. Eyes clenched shut, her arms encircled him tightly.

“Aap aa gaye.” Sai whispered, her voice muffled in his chest. Virat felt his body relax, and his eyes closed, as he hugged her back.

“Aana hi tha. Aakhir aur kaha jaata.” He replied

At his words, he felt Sai smile, and she whispered, “I missed you.”

A grin broke on his face. Tightening the hug, Virat buried his face in her neck and whispered back, “I missed you too.”

For a moment, they both simply held each other, basking in each other’s presence. Then Sai broke the hug and looked at him. Seeing her expression, Virat’s heart skipped a beat. There was that sparkle, that shine he missed so much.

“Mujhe to laga tha ki humari pehli holi mujhe akele hi manani padegi.” Sai said.

“Lekin aap aa gaye.” She added with a grin.

Smiling down at her, Virat said, “Aata kaise nahi. Tumhe aise hi thodi na akele chhod deta. Aakhir shaadi ki hai to kuch responsibility to nibhaani padegi na.”

“Lekin”, Sai frowned, “Aap to holi ke baad aane vale the, to itni jaldi kaise?”

“Vo actually mera mission jaldi khatam ho gya, to sabko holi ki chutti mil gyi. Abhi bhi kuch kaam baaki hai,kuch documents bharne hai, but DCP sir ne kaha hai ki vo holi ke baad khatam kr skte hai. Isiliye jaldi aa gya”

At his words, Virat noticed the change in Sai’s expression. For a moment, he was reminded of the pending work that is there in his house. The mystery behind Pulkit and the letter, but Virat nudged it aside. There was a time and place for such worries, and this right here, between the arms of his wife, was neither the right time nor the right place.

“Vaise, Sai?” He spoke slowly,“tumne mujhe bahut miss kiya na?”

He watched with amusement, as red-tinged her cheeks, but ever the brave Sai, was not going to get defeated so easily. So, pulling back, she defiantly replied, “thoda thoda lekin kuch zyaada Nahi. Vo kya hai na Virat sir, mujhe na aapse ladne ki aadat ho gayi thi. To uss ladayi ko maine thoda sa miss kiya. Baaki aap to…” She trailed off, with a smirk adorning her mouth.

Rasing his eyebrows, Virat mimicked her tone, "Main to…?”

“Matlab aap bas aise hi, added bonus hai.”

“Oh accha. To tumne mujhe zyaada miss nhi kiya?” He asked again.

“Nhi to. Bilkul nahi.” She replied with the same confidence.

“Like meri ladayi ke alawa…” He asked, amusement evident in his tone, “meri presence, ya mera tumhare saath rehna, baatein krna, kuch nhi?”

Sai smiled sweetly at him, “Nahi Virat sir, abhi to btaya. Aisa kuch khaas miss nhi kiya maine. Vo to bas aapne abhi mujhe thoda surprise kar diya, issliye main bhaavnaon mein beh gyi, varna as such kuch khaas nhi.”

“Oh.” Virat feigned hurt her words "Aisa kya?". Moving his face towards hers, he innocently whispered, “Shayad aaj shaam mein bhi tum bhaavnao mein beh gayi thi.”

Sai frowned at his word. Bemused, she asked,“Matlab?”

Tilting his head back, he looked at her with a smirk. Moving his eyes down towards his chest and then back to her eyes, he answered.

“Meri shirt tumpe kaafi acchi lagti hai.”

If there was ever a tinge of red, then now red engulfed her entire face. Virat burst out laughing as Sai immediately rushed back under her covers.

“Arey Sai.” Virat said, trying to suppress his chuckle, “main to mazaak kr rha tha.”

“Aap na jaiye yaha se,” her voice came from beneath the sheets, “mujhe na koi baat vaat nahi krni hai aapse. Aap vaapas mission pe jaiye. Mujhe pareshaan krne chale aaye bas.”

Grinning at her antics, Virat felt his heart burst. God, I missed her. Bending down towards the tightly clenched blanket, he said, “accha goodnight to wish kr do.”

Two innocent eyes peeked at him from under the covers, as he heard the tiny squeak of good night.

Smiling, Virat got up, and went to change his clothes. He came back and laid down on his side of the bed. Turning to the side, Virat saw Sai’s sleeping face from the 'window' of their kila.

He had no idea how much more obstacles are going to come in his life, how many more twists and turns their relationship is going to face. But he knew one thing, he thought as he closed his eyes, as long as he has his Gadchiroli Superfast express in his life, it is all going to be one hell of a ride.

So? How was it? Honestly...it was not the most favourite of my works. Main itne dino baad likh rhi thi ki aisa lag rha tha jaise mano meri writing mein zang lag gya ho. But still I tried.

I really hope you guys loved it. Please do leave a comment. All your criticisms are welcome. And most importantly, Stay safe and healthy.