Part 6 - 'Rehna Tu'
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Early in the morning, sunlight is streaming through the balcony. Virat wakes up and sees Sai peacefully sleeping in his lap. The morning light is making her face glow. He threads his fingers through her hair and keeps on caressing her head. Sai stirs a few minutes later and realizes the position they are in. She is feeling shy and embarrassed at having spent the night like that and avoids looking at him.
The doorbell rings and Sai proceeds to pick up milk and newspaper. After freshening up, Virat is reading the newspaper while Sai is making tea. In their minds, both are struck by the domesticity of the whole situation and how comfortable it feels.
“Ek baat puchu aap se Virat Sir?”
“Hmm…”
“Aap aise kyun hai?”
“Matlab?”
“Aapko maine ek baar bataya tha ki aap ke andar do insaan hai .. ek gusse wala aur ek caring, sweet sa… kal aapne us ladki ke liye blood donate kiya jaise mere liye kiya tha… selflessly…aap baki sab ka bhi kitna dhyan rakhte hai... lekin phir vahi aap mujhse kabhi kabhi itna bura bartav kyun karte hai… kya meri zid, mera bachpana aapko itni takleef deta hai ki aapka vo gusse wala roop sirf mere liye bahar aata hai?”
Sai finally asks him, dreading what the answer would be… her eyes betraying her impassive face.
Virat is looking at her and understands her trepidation.
He stands and goes near her… takes her hands in both of his, puts them near his heart and closes his eyes; while busy formulating the response and taking strength from her.
When he finally opens his eyes, he sees Sai looking at him intently.
He makes her sit on the couch and sits on the floor near her.
“Sach batau to mujhe bhi nahi pata Sai ki main sirf tumhare saath hi aisa kyun karta hun”
“Lekin kuch chije hai jo mujhe samajh aa gai hai aur shayad usi se tum kuch andaaja laga sakogi”
“To tell you truthfully, I was seriously impressed with you… Gadchiroli se.. Jaise tumne Jagtap ko handle kiya tha.. Your dedication towards your dreams.. your innocence and naivety... Sab kuch”
“Uske baad Kamal sir ki death hui aur hamari shaadi hui; mere us stupid vaade ko bhi tumne accept kar liya… lekin main hi nahi samajh raha tha ki mujhe kya ho raha hai”
“Zimmedari se tum kab meri aadat ban gai mujhe nahi pata chala… aur isliye jab bhi tum kisi aur ki baat karti ya jaane ki baat karti to mera dimaag kharab ho jaata tha..”
“Main ye bhi jaanta tha ki tumhe meri jarurat nahi… you are capable enough to manage on your own.. Lekin mujhe tumhari jarurat mehsoos hone lagi thi.."
“Aur is sab main maine ye kabhi realise hi nahi kiya ki tum par utne se waqt main kitne saare zakhm hue hai.. Jagtap, Kamal sir.. Aur upar se jis tarah meri family ne tumse bartaav kiya… main to tumse bada tha.. Mujhe samajhna chahiye tha…"
By now, Virat is extremely morose and tears start flowing from his eyes and he puts his head in her lap and stays like that for some time. He later looks again at Sai and says,
“Aur ek baat, maine Pakhi ko lekar tumhare saath jo kiya vo sabse jyada galat tha… I gave her the leeway to do and say whatever she wanted”
“Tumse jyada use, uski baato ko priority di.. Ye meri sabse badi galti thi… lekin main insecure tha.. and Pakhi manipulated me.. I wanted you in my life but I was not sure whether you wanted that… aur ye sab maine kabhi tumhe khul ke bola nahi… bas jalebiyan banata raha”
“Pichle 5 saal jaise main nahi tha… bas apni saari galtiyan yaad aati thi.. lekin ab mujhe ek mauka aur mila hai.. main ise khona nahi chahta”
“I admire your strength Sai and your bravery.. Aur tum immature nahi ho… shayad mujhse bhi jyada samajhdar ho, tumhare andar ek bahot pure aur innocent insaan hai.. Use kabhi mat badalna. Kal tumne apni takleef ko apni strength banakar us ladki ki aur meri madat ki… I want to learn that from you … You make me better, you give me hope”
“I want you back.. Hamesha ke liye… and on your terms…jo bhi tum decide karo… but please give me a chance.. Please be my friend again”
Sai who had been listening to him patiently unburden himself, has a range of emotions coursing through her. The morning light is penetrating in the room and even though Sai is unsure how to respond, it feels as if all the darkness has lifted and everything is brightened up quite literally and figuratively. Overwhelmed by emotions, Sai touches her forehead with his and they spend a quiet moment together.
Later during the day, Sai receives a message from Virat.
“Aaj ki subah mere liye sabse khaas hai Sai.. Thank you for listening and gracing my life”
“Ek gaana hai jo tumhari yaad dilata hai…"
Rehna Tu, Hai Jaisa Tu
Thoda sa dard Tu, Thoda Sukun
Rehna Tu, Hai Jaisa Tu
Dheema Dheema jhonka, Ya phir junoon
Thoda sa resham, Tu humdam
Thoda sa khurdura
Kabhi daud jaye, Ya lad jaye
Ya khushboo se bhara
Tujhe badalna na chahoon
Ratti bhar bhi sanam
Bina sajawat milawat
Na jyaada na hi kam
Listening to the song and reminiscing on how beautiful the morning was today, Sai is content and at peace after a long long time. She decides that she finally needs to move ahead and give Virat a chance and types a reply to him.
“Aaj aapne mere kafi saare doubts clear kar diye.. Now I have hope too.. Thank you Modak!! See you in the evening 😊”
On receiving the reply, Virat hesitantly opens up the message only to see the one word he is not expecting to see and almost does a cartwheel in his office.
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I wanted a reconciliation of sorts before SaiRat moved ahead, hence the story. Also, the word ‘jalebiyan’ might seem out of place and comical in the overall serious conversation. But I went ahead and included it as a tribute to the GHKPM Fandom. Enjoy it with a bit of salt. 😊
Song is Rehna tu from Delhi 6.
Edited by Moor278 - 4 years ago
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