- Chapter 1 -
[Flashback starts]
"Rukhiye Virat sir." her voice broke out, firm and decided, as she walked up the sacred altar in her mourning clothes. Usha Maushi and the other villagers stared at her in horror as she stood in front of Virat, who was clad in the wedding attire, looking at her in confusion.
"Sai... tum aise kapdon mein kyun aayi ho? Tum ne kaha ki tum khud tayyar ho jaoge, issi liye hum tumhe akele chodkar aaye hain. Wapas jao aur tayyar hokar aao Sai. Der ho rahi hai." Usha Maushi chided Sai as she tried to take her back to the changing room.
"Nahi Maushi. Main kahin nahi jaa rahi hoon." Sai's voice was calm, yet firm, as she pulled her hand from Usha Maushi's grasp and walked towards Virat. "Virat sir, aap ko zabardasti yeh shaadi karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai."
"Sai... yeh tum kya keh rahi ho? Tumhara future ka kya hoga? Sai, maine Kamal sir ko vaada kiya tha ki main tumhara khayal rakhunga, aur har museebat se bachaunga." said Virat, gently placing a hand on Sai's shoulder.
"Khayal rakhne ki kayi tareekein hote hain Virat sir. Iske liye shaadi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." for the first time ever, Virat felt that Sai was speaking to him calmy.
"Sai... main tumhe akela nahi chod sakta." said Virat, as he remembered his promise to his guru, and he never went back on a promise.
"Chod sakte hain Virat sir. Agar iss mein hi hum dono ki bhalayi hai, toh aap mujhe chod sakte hain. Aur aap ko darne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Main dobara aise suicide attempt karne nahi wali hoon. That was a weak moment, that's it. Ab mujhe sirf aur sirf mera aur mera aaba ka sapna poora karna hai. Yeh shaadi nahi hogi." There was an air of finality in her voice. Virat doubted if anyone could change her mind after this. But, he just couldn't leave her alone like that.
"Sai... ab Jagtap jail mein hai. Agar yeh shaadi nahi hogi, aur tum mere saath nahi aaoge, toh pata nahi Vitthal kya karega tumhare saath. Aur maine Kamal sir ko vaada kiya hai, woh main nibhaunga." said Virat, as he took her fragile hands in his. To his surprise, Sai didn't pull away.
"Aapne apna vaada nibhaya Virat sir, meri jaan bacha kar. Woh bhi sirf ek baar nahi, do baar. Pehli baar, aaba ko vaada dene se pehle bhi mujhe Jagtap ke bachaya, aur vaada dene ke baad mujhe khudse bachaya. Lekin, agar hum yeh shaadi abhi karenge, toh teeno ki zindagi barbaad ho jayegi Virat sir. Main aisa nahi hone de sakti." said Sai, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Teeno ki zindagi? Kiski baat kar rahi ho Sai?" asked Virat, bewildered.
"Aap, main aur aapki best friend Pakhi." said Sai, mildly, making Virat shift his feet in discomfort. "Kal, jab aap mujhe bata rahe the ki aapke dil mein aur zindagi mein koi aur hai, issi liye main aapse koi ummeed nahi rakh sakti, aap Pakhi ki baat kar rahe the na?" said Sai, in her usual no-nonsense, straightforward manner. Virat couldn't even bring himself to nod in affirmation.
"Boliye Virat sir. Aap unhi ki baat kar rahe the na? Agar main aap sab ke baat maankar yeh shaadi kar bhi loon, hum zindagi bhar aise bematlab bandhan mein bande nahi rahenge na. Ek na ek din hum divorce karenge hi. Aur aap aasani se nikal jayenge Virat Sir. Lekin mujhpe divorcee ka tag lagega. Jab hum dono iss rishte ko nahi maanenge, toh yeh shaadi karni hi kyun hai?" asked Sai, stepping away from the altar, away from Virat, as she let to go of his hand.
"ACP Virat Chavan, main Sai Joshi, Swargiya Kamal Joshi ki beti, aapko unse diye hue vaade se azaad karti hoon. Aaba kabhi nahi chahenge ki aap zabardasti mera haath taame, aur woh yeh bhi nahi chahenge ki meri marzi ke khilaf yeh shaadi ho. Aap ghar wapas jaayiye Virat sir. Nagpur wapas jaaiye, apne best friend ke paas." Sai gave him a slight smile before she walked down the altar, not turning back despite the protests of the villagers, as Virat stared after her fading silhouette.
[Flashback Ends]
That was the last time he saw her... Sai Joshi, his guru's daughter. After she left the wedding altar, all everyone knew was that she had packed her bags and left Gadchiroli that very day. No one knew where she went, not even Usha Maushi. But Usha Maushi had received a letter from Sai that very week, stating that she had reached where she was supposed to be, and that she was safe. Sai had written that she wouldn't let anyone know her whereabouts, not until she completed her graduation. Ever since then, only Usha Maushi was receiving letters from Sai, once or twice a month, conveying her good health.
One year had passed since that fateful day, one year since he saw Sai walk away from her wedding altar... their wedding altar, and he hadn't heard from her since. Usha Maushi's phone call was the only thing that assured him that Sai was safe and alright. Sai never looked back since then, she didn't bother getting in touch with him even once, and he didn't expect it either. After all, to her, he was nothing more than her father's student, and to him, she was nothing more than his teacher's daughter... a headstrong, arrogant one that too.
But a part of him... a small part, did wish to see her, to know how she was really doing, and how close was she in achieving her dreams. But, where was she now?
A/N:
Hey guys! The 1st FF from the list of my FF ideas is updated! How did you guys like the prologue and the first chapter? Did it meet your expectations? This was just an introductory chapter to show how Sai ended the wedding before it could take place and left things off with Virat. From the next chapter, the real story will start.
SaiRat meeting will not happen at least for the next 2-3 chapters as there needs to be more build up to it. But, you will definitely get Sai in the next chapter, and a bit of Samrat too!
Drop in your feedback guys! You know how much it motivates me!
Love,
Niya❤️
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