Prologue: It has been an year and half from the Diwali that brought Sai and Virat closer. They became husband and wife in the true sense, which not only had changed them both but thereafter Sai's acceptance had made difference in the entire family of Chavan's. Sai's goodness has been recognized by everyone though no one acknowledges it openly especially Bhavani Kaku for her own valid reasons and ofcourse the other woman who never liked her from the beginning. This is one such normal weekday in the new changed environment and dynamics of Chavan household I tried to capture and envision would happen in the story too.
Sai and Virat's bedroom:
It is 5:30 AM in the morning and Sai's phone alarm woke her up from deep sleep. Lifting head from the sprawling expanse of her husband's bare chest, Sai first looked at his peaceful sleeping face before turning around and reaching out to her phone on the bed side table. She looked at her reminders and the time table which showed 'Night shift' check marked for that day. Instantly she got energized looking forward to seeing patients in her night duty. She is already loving her profession. She has half an hour to get ready and go to the kitchen to take care of breakfast routine along with Pakhi and Karishma. The 3 younger wives have convinced the elders to keep a cook to assist them in the kitchen and in the last year it was only managing duty for one of the DILs to oversee the breakfast menu. Today it is her turn. So she jumped out of the bed to kick start her day. Not before grabbing her husband's t-shirt to cover her naked body. After a year and half, she still feels shy to walk freely without clothes in their room and is amazed how her husband has no qualms doing it!! Men, she thought nodding.
She came back from shower, to see her husband now lying on his stomach with one hand hanging loose from the bed. Still sleeping!, she mumbled. She got ready and packed in all her stuff, including her white apron, stethoscope and extra pair of clothes for her night shift today. She was about to leave, when she turned back to check the floor on her husband's side of the bed to catch the inevitable sight of discarded condom cover lying next to it. She took it immediately and disposed it in the nearby dustbin.
"Virat Sir! wake up", she shaked him irritably. "How many times I have to tell you to put this cover in the dustbin. Where is the used one?", she howled. The actual reason for her early morning outburst is still the last night's argument and she wanted to put across her final word but not knowing how to bring that up, she took help of this persistent issue of discarded condom cover.
"Sai...why are you shouting early in the morning?", mumbled Virat waking up from the sleep. "I put it in the trash. Promise. This one was before so I was in a rush. you see.?", he tried to reason out.
"Virat Sir, already quite a lot of people in this house walked on this cover when they came to our room. How many times I have to tell you to be careful.? What if Kaku knows?", she asked sternly with her hands on her hips.
"Sai why do I have to see your rudra roop first thing in the morning? Why not this otherwise cute face", quipped Virat fondly trying to sit up and reach to her cheeks which was timely thwarted by Sai.
"Dont touch me Virat Sir", she said irritably to which Virat looked to her side of bed.
"Dont touch?!. What did we do last night?", he bemused, which she snubbed.
"And Mr. Virat Chavan, dont you bring up the same topic today in front of Kaku again.", she warned him pointing her finger. "I had enough of it yesterday trying to make you understand. I dont want to repeat it again. I will talk to Kaku when she is in good mood. Also, you cant just say things and leave me to face their taunts. They dont say anything to you but I have to listen to their constant bickering. I am saying again, DO NOT bring the topic up today and I will ask Kaku when the time is ripe.", she reiterated again.
"Wah Sai Joshi! you learnt the ways of joint family. When did you become scheming like this?", he taunted back.
"I am not scheming. I am just working around people to make peace in the family. And also this is about me, so I will decide what I want.", she tried to cut down anymore arguments from her husband, took her belongings and barged out of her room not listening to her now angry husband.
"Sai...wait a second. You cant decide always and expect me to agree with you. I am the head of our family and I will decide for both of us, what is good and what is bad.", he screamed to the room expecting that his wife would have still heard his words, now getting up to dress for his workout.
Now a days, he doesnt go to his soccer matches or running anymore...as his wake up schedule keeps changing based on their night activities. He was expelled from the soccer team owing to his irregular show ups. Instead Sai had convinced Kaku to add a small gym in their back yard so everyone in the family can do some workout in the morning and keep themselves healthy. As with any of Sai's makeovers to the Chavan family, this was also objected right away but his wife convinced Kaku and Omi Kaka. Now, all the men workout in gym at different times in the day, him mostly first thing in the morning. Having a cook and help in the house enabled the older ladies to go for a morning walk around the neighborhood. His mother and Kaku bonded a lot over these walks and they all can see how Kaku toned down her tirades to his mother, if not completely stopped. Sonali Kaku doesnt want to tag along with the other two 'old' women so instead she uses the gym along with Virat in the morning, mostly ranting on how Sai is taking over the house and how he should reign her in. To shut her up, he had to just remind her that the reason she is looking more fit and beautiful is because she is using the gym that his wife had arranged for them. There is a different kind of satisfaction for him, when he revels in his wife's achievements. He is one lucky man, he thought pulling himself into starting his day.
Zillat Dining area:
Sai and Karishma are chit chatting and arranging the table for breakfast. They became good friends slowly and call each other fondly by their names. Kaku and Ashwini returned from their morning walk and joined them at the dining table. Omi and Ninad were already there at the table discussing the inflating prices and trying to figure out a way to save taxes on their family business. Mansi bua also joined them after her everyday visit to the nearby temple.
Virat turned up after few minutes, clad in his uniform and ready to make final arrangements in Nagpur head office before taking his 3 year transfer to Mumbai. He was promoted to DCP, which is quite an achievement at his age and hence transferred to the big city to take charge of some delicate areas there. While becoming a DCP is enriching experience, Virat took some time to accept the transfer. Only when Sai and he got convinced that moving to Mumbai will help them both in their careers, did he make the decision to move there first and Sai to join him after 2 years and start her MD studies in one of the best medical colleges of Mumbai.
He knows Kaku is struggling to accept this fact that they will be moving out of Chavan Niwas for a few years, but he could not compromise on their future. Now, added to that there is one more issue he wanted to convey his decision to her, even after multiple threats from his wife. When it comes to his own budding family, he will not listen to anyone but his own judgement. Preparing himself to use appropriate words that will trigger minimum backlash from the matriarch, he took his seat at the dining table next to her, greeting his Kaku with an extra large smile. Sai tried her best to meet his eye and warn him one last time while he waited for the right time to bring this up.
Kaku sipped the chai and started her list of tirades mostly targeted on Sai, who apparently everyone sees as her rival, but she herself sees her as her heir, but never says openly.
"Pch!", she choked on the tea. "What kind of chai is this? When Patralekha used to make the Chai, I used to wake up only to taste it. Now this is no less than a tonic. Kandoba! What days I had to see when 3 DILs are there and I am sipping the chai made by an outsider", she ranted. Not stopping there she picked on Sai
"I am sure this Jungli mulgi is behind all this. She does not want to work so she took the other two Kaam Chors into her confidence and brought in the cook", she chided.
"Kaku, to knock your memory, it is Pakhi didi who wanted to have the cook and the help. I just supported her decision", she defended herself, fully appreciating that for once Pakhi had made a good decision for herself and others.
To divert the topic from her apparently favorite bahu, Kaku picked up again on Sai.
"Dont act smart. I know you are behind all the changes that are happening in this family. You want to poke your nose in all the matters, is it? And escape the things I ask you to do?", she demanded.
"Kaku, if I keep doing all the things you say, I have to stop going to college and sip Chai with you", said Sai rolling her eyes and serving breakfast to all the elders to which Virat smiled fondly.
"See how she talks back! You are becoming a doctor doesnt mean you can behave as you want. You are a Chavan bahu first and you have certain duties towards this house", she reprimanded, fully knowing that Sai always does things that will benefit her familly but doesnt want to confide openly. "I was asking you to start family by last Diwali, but you didnt", she raised her usual taunt which has long back turned into a regular remark which no one feels exciting enough to latch on, not even Sonali kaku. "Now one more Diwali is coming and all you say is you are trying. How long will you try? Now, you are driving your husband away on transfer for 3 years or more. Kandoba only knows when you will become a mother now!!", she taunted Sai evoking no response from the duo.
Virat has mastered the art of deafness along with muteness these days, so he continued eating looking at his phone not flinching a bit, knowing fully that Sai will answer back.
"Kaku, there is one DIL bringing the same joy now, why are you after me? Why dont you enjoy that first and give me some more time", Sai said casually reminding everyone that Pakhi is now 4 months pregnant.
"I know Patralekha is carrying and you dont have to remind me everyday. But still, the child is a Salunkhe not Chavan", she stressed her point bringing gasps from Ninad and Omi who tried to cool her down saying Mansi is still there.
"Why are you guys looking at me like that", demanded Kaku. "I dont hide from stating the truth. Samrat is my son, I love him like one. But that doesnt take away the fact that he is not this Khandan's son. Love is at its place and tradition at its.", she spoke sternly without any hesitation.
"True badi mami", said Samrat helping Pakhi in climbing down the stairs and joining others near the dining table. He hugged Kaku from behind her chair and supported her stance "Yes your love has nothing to do with my name. And I fully understand that. I am a Salunkhe and I am proud of that", he said sitting next to Kaku and smiling assuringly at his mother.
"I am also glad I am a Salunkhe, now that we are finally getting Samrat's ancestral home back from his father's side after so many years of court battles. We should all thank my father for fighting the case out and bringing back the forture", Pakhi added taunting Kaku indirectly.
"Patralekha! What are you talking. If not for badi mami and Ninu mama, the case would not have stood this long. I agree your father did his best but we cannot trivilalize the efforts put by Badi mami. She always stood by me like a rock. I am not a Chavan by name but never felt any different also", he dismissed Pakhi bringing a gentle smile from Virat and others.
"Thats like my boy!", exclaimed Kaku smirking at Pakhi. She has started to realize the selfishness of Pakhi lately, but doesnt say much owing to her past bond with her, and now that because Samrat found happiness in her. She doesnt want to disturb the equation with her in any way and effect Samrat's relationship. While Sai and Virat have nurtured a strong belongingness between them, she can sense a kind of fragility in Samrat and Pakhi's. Moreover, given Pakhi's family background and support, she cannot deny the fact that Patralekha will be the face of Chavan family if not the backbone like Sai. She knows how to play this game well and maintain the balance in the family. So she did not given back on Pakhi's remark rather took Samrat's words and aimed them on Virat, for she is not very happy with him these days.
"Thank god, atleast one boy of the family is not Jhoru ka Ghulam like this one", she pointed her hand at Virat which made him come back to the real world from his phone. "Virat, tell me one thing, what do you hear in your wife's words so enchanting that you say yes to her all the time!!", she started. "Not that she talks sweetly. When ever she talks it is raining bullets. So tell me what filters you use in your ears to turn them into sweet talk. We will also try once", she taunted, smiling sarcastically.
"True badi mami, " Pakhi latched on readily. "Everyone knows how he feeds his wife breakfast while madam is running to college.", she said mockingly which earned a rebuke from Samrat. But not stopping there she brought up the topic of contention, " Now he wants to buy a car for his dear wife. not a small one, but a big one!", she ended doing her bit to add ghee to the fire.
Virat was flabbergasted and Sai heaved a huge sigh knowing that the war is going to start so she stood up to leave when Virat started off in his stern voice.
"Sai will get a car.", he declared. "And I am buying one. Yes". he said ignoring Sai who asked him to not talk about the matter since last night.
"Kaku,", he said calmly. " I have discussed this with you already. I have applied car loan in my office and I am going to order the car soon. Sai's night shifts are increasing and I am leaving to Mumbai. I dont want her to ask her friends to drop at odd hours or take a cab. nor arrange some random driver to pick her up.", he stated his reasons for the decision.
"Wah Virat! you have reasons for everything!", Kaku hit back "Mohit can drop and pick her up in the available cars. We have 2 cars for godsake.", she yelled.
"No Kaku. I want her to be independent and not rely on anyone. She will have her hands full with work and I dont want her to make her schedule around other's availability. I know Mohit will help, but not everyday. He has become busy in his own work now.", stated Virat not willing to consider any more suggestions.
Sai has been observing her husband all the while and her heart swelled with love for him even more.. Last night they fought cats and dogs on this issue whether they will go ahead with buying the car. Sai has made peace with several things in the family that she cannot change, one such thing is not to push Kaku too much to change her views on her DILs. Because according to her there are bigger things to fight for. She recently encouraged Karishma to start on her interest in fashion and jewellery designing which takes away most of her time. Kaku was obstinate with this idea and she had to fight it out with her. Now Karishma started a small online business where she sells fashion jewellery designed by her. Sai herself wears most of the designs to her college to fetch some clientele. Keeping all this in mind, she didnt want one more war with Kaku and loose her peace of mind.
But her husband, put her safety beyond her personal request and fought for it. It is true that having her own vehicle will help her a lot. But she was not expecting a car. Virat reasoned that a decent sized car is good for her safety. He tried to explain her that Kaku will not have to comprise on anything, even on money as his contribution to their monthly fund will remain the same. The extra pay he got on his promotion will go into repaying the car loan. However, Sai wanted to avoid this Zillat drama and therefore fought with him last night too, in vain. It is surprising that they ended up making love after the fight. But thats been the case with them always. They fight and make it out somehow. She was going to kiss her husband there if not for the presence of the whole family. Virat caught her beaming with pride when he met her eyes and they exchanged the kiss with their eyes only to be interrupted by another taunt from Kaku.
"If I agree for this, the other DILs will also come up with their demands. I cant keep allowing this manmani anymore in this house. If you want to stay united in this family, you have to make some compromises otherwise this family will not stand.", she fumed.
"Kaku, the car is for me doesn't mean that nobody can use it. Ofcourse anyone including Pakhi didi and Karishma also can use it if needed.", told Sai matter of factly instantly earning a disapproving nod from Virat but Pakhi cut him before he could respond.
"Dont worry Sai, I will not take your car. My dad already bought a car for me that I used to drive but after coming here, I did not get a chance to go out much. So thanks! I will use my own if I needed", said Pakhi not willing to become one in the family even when offered to. Samrat smiled to himself at her antics. He has now learnt to deal with her eccentricities in the public and explain her patiently in the confines of their room, especially now that she is pregnant.
"Dado sutto. we can both use it Sai!", exclaimed Karishma. "We both can go shopping, to movies. and .." , she stopped seeing Sonali's widened eyes.
"Ofcourse ofcourse, you two are unreigned by your husbands that you can roam around the streets of Nagpur shamelessly", rebuked Kaku again bringing smiles on everyone's faces. They have all come to accept that Kaku's ideologies cannot be changed but her will can be definitely bent to their advantage.
With that, Virat brought himself to his toes, ready to leave finally asking Kaku to chose the color for Sai's car as if ending this topic forever.
"White", declared Kaku plainly as if she has already agreed to this without the hour long confrontation they just had.
Virat and Sai went out happily when she kissed him goodbye near his jeep and left to her college by bus one last day.
Virat smiled to himself thinking how the breakfast confrontations used be filled with bitterness before but now the same taunts and confrontations evoke laughter and peace, only because of this human who is his wife!
Note:
Ok the idea behind this OS is definitely to show that Sai's goodness is rubbed on everyone. She is going to change the dynamics in the family with her behavior. I also wanted to show Virat and Sai has their own small family in the making and Virat with his maturity always makes decisions when needed, with full authority. It is not one way, where he just listens to Sai all the time. I wanted Karishma to really do something for herself and become independent so added that part. At the same time, I also wanted to show joint family will have power struggles no matter what so brought that up in Pakhi. She is difficult to change though with Samrat's influence she will try to reign in her vileness, I hope.
Basically wanted to show a modern working couple in joint family setup, so every small issue will be discussed openly. Hope you guys enjoyed.
Also, writers here one advice is to not attempt Zillat. The writing will not end. It is simply difficult to fit in every character in the story. No wonder it drives us crazy in the episodes also 
Hindi TV Shows
Web Series
CID
0