Part 18
Sunday came and two observations were made, mornings in Virat’s apartment are to die for, you can see the sunrise from the bedroom window and the bai doesn’t come on Sundays. Because Sai was still in the flat at 9:30, she had spent a lot of time admiring the sunrise, and there was no sign of the bai until she left for camp at around 10:30 and the flat was exactly the same when she returned in the evening.
Her mood was soured a little with the conversation she had with Abigail who seemed offended that Sai had moved out.
“Please Sai, you are making me feel bad. Yeh sab karne ki kya zrurat thi? Tumne move out hi kar liya?!”
Sai with a smile, “Come on Abigail, abhi tak mujhe thik se bataya nahi gaya hai ki meri last date kya hai, aisi situation na ho ki aaj hi hai mera last day and I am stuck with suitcase and no where to go na. Mujhe lagta hai jaha humei appreciate nahi karte vaha jyaada time waste nahi karna chahiye”. She felt good saying it, but her heart was heavy. She was finally told she had a scheduled time on Monday afternoon to speak with the senior doctor and that Aniket and a visiting doctor will be taking the morning shift and she can come if she wants directly to meet with the doctor. In her mind, she was already used to the idea that she will be jobless soon, and this was just a formality now.
That sour mood was uplifted when she returned late afternoon, as she started opening the door, the door on the other end of the floor opened and a young woman came out in a jogging suit and earphones, Sai turned and returned her smile, the girl removed her earphones with a huge smile
“Hi, I am Sonali, hum log abhi recently shift hue hai.”
Sai nods and says, “I am Sai”.
“Sai, hi, I think maine tumhare husband ko dekha thaa on the day we moved in, police mei hai na? Uniform mei the.”
Sai nods and smiles. Sonali continues her chirpy self
“Actually hum Hyderabad se shift hue hai, I just joined Cognizant. Vijay, mere husband abb tak Hyderabad mei hai, he will come next week.”
Sai looks at her, “Aap saath mei kaam karte ho?”
Sonali continues, “Nahi nahi, voh Wockhart Hospital mei clinical manager ki job join karne vaale hai, Mumbai mei formalities ke liye ruke hai, our joining dates were different aur Mumbai winding up kaam bahut thaa.”
Sai smiles and says, “Do you want to join me for dinner? Hum bahar khaa sakte hai”
Sonali grins, “I would love that, lekin kya hum order kar sakte hai, actually electrician shaam ko aayegga AC fix karne, aur Monday se mujhe time nahi milne valla.”
Sai smiles and agrees, they fix a time to meet at Virat’s apartment. Sai finishes unpacking, grabs herself a cup of Horlicks and then sets out to buy some vegetables and bread for the home.
Meanwhile as evening begins to set in Amravati, Shivam and Virat are out for a walk. Shivam is using a cane, and as they wind down, Shivam looks at his friend and bursts
“Tu yaha kar kya raha hai? Tu aaya kyu?”
Virat somberly replies, “tujhse milne aaya”
“Achaa, Tu kya mujhe ullu samajh ke rakha hai kya? Jab se aaya hai, mood off hai tera, phone ko Dekhta hai, phir side mei rakh deta hai, Mai Sai ke baare mei kuch sawal puchoo toh topic change kar detaa hai...kya Chal raha hai?”
“Kuch nahi”
“Tu vapas chala jaa.. main tera maika nahi hun, ki tune biwi se jhagda kiya toh yaha aa gaya. Voh bhi aise hi Chandrapur chali gayi hogi aur Vaise bhi uski interest tere se kam hi hai, shayad vapas hi na aaye.”
“Tu chup karega, mujhe sunna nahi hai”
“Nahi sunna, toh jaa,, abhi direct Teri gaadi mei baith aur Nagpur jaa Sai ke paas. Jaaa!!!”
At around 9pm, Sai is having the time of her life. Sonali is cracking her up with stories and Sai is thoroughly enjoying her company. Chinese food is on the kitchen counter, they have ordered more than they can eat and the smells of veg Manchurian and Hakka noodles fills the air. The door suddenly clicks open, and Sai looks up at the door, to see Virat standing in shock looking at her. In her completely relaxed and comfortable state, she says loudly,
“Aap Tuesday ko aanevale the”
Virat is way too shocked to even respond, except turn and look at the young woman who is a complete stranger standing in his apartment. Sonali watches the couple and suddenly says, rushing to Virat and shaking his hand
“I am so sorry, I am Sonali, new neighbor. Aapke wife ke dinner plans ko maine hijack kar diyaa, so sorry.”
Virat nods, “It’s ok. Main jaake fresh hota hun. Please continue”
He walks into the bedroom and shuts the door. And walks into the bathroom...and there sitting on the sink is a new cup filled with new things, comb, tweezers, toothbrush, flosser. He grabs a towel and enters the shower - next to his shampoo, he sees a new shampoo. And a bath wash, and a lufaa pad. He cannot believe his eyes, she is here, in every part of his bathroom. He grins through his bath. Comes out and opens his cupboard and there are her clothes. He pulls a bunch of tops and holds them to his face, it’s her everywhere. He rejoices and yells, Sai!!!
Sai comes rushing into the bedroom, closing the door behind her, and stares at Virat in a towel, bare chested. He looks at her with some of her clothes in his hand.
“Yeh kya hai?” He asks hiding his smile
“Kapde hai” she says flatly, folding her hands, challenging him to be contrary
“Yaha kya kar rahe hai” he asks, biting his inner cheek
“Aur kaha rakhti? Balcony mei?” She maintains her mock seriousness, and comes forward to grab her tops. “Istri nikal jaayegi, dijiye yaha”
“Aake le jao” he smirks
“Dijiye!” She grabs.
He grabs her and pulls her on the bed, his towel threatening to unknot and his bare chest dampening her kurta.
“Itne geele ho, hatiye, Sonali bahar baithi hai” she fists his chest, squirming underneath him.
“Naye dost bana rahi ho?” He holds her closer, running his face on her cheeks
“Kya karu? Aap toh mere dost nahi hai na?” She trying hard not to be affected
“Usse ghar bhej do” he demands
“Nahi, aap kapde badaliye aur bahar aake Khana khayiye” she retorts
“Mujhe Chinese pasand nahi” he moves the bunch of her tops to the other side on the bed and begins to bury his wet hair on her neck.
“Please..” she says, her neck turning red, heated moisture bathing all over her.
He suddenly stops. He stands, adjusts his towel like as though it was nothing. She stands up, bites her under lip.
“Aap bahar aayenge?” She asks softly
He nods. She uses her dupatta to wipe herself a little and then adjusts it across her chest.
“Just Sai” he whispers
She looks up softly. He continues, “thank you”
“It’s ok.” She replies softly.
He wastes no time, “Vaise thank you tumhe kehna chahiye”
She tongues her cheek and says, “Cupboard mei jagah kum hai, dresser lena padega”
He grins as he watches her walk out of the bedroom into the kitchen area.
——
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
CID
Current Affairs
