SS: Case Files Chapter 1, 2 and 3 (Day 3 updated)

I started writing this SS during Sruthi track for some SaiRat fans and sending them over DMs. This story was lying in drafts much before this track but I edited and resurrected in this gloomy track. The main idea of this SS is to address some regular/normal events in day-to-day lives of SaiRat. I believe that being in extremely demanding professions and living in joint family and with pakhi around, they will have enougth drama to deal with. So each chapter is an event in their life or slice of life usually happening in a day or two.

Another idea behind this OS is that it is an open SS, where anyone can contribute a chapter. Or come up with ideas on what they would like to address in SaiRat's life. If I have time and connect with it, I can write up something. Only one condition is that it has to stick with the character arcs we have in ghum. In that way we could relate easily with what we see in episodes.

The first few chapters I had in my mind are listed here. I dont have imagination to spin up whole new characters or situations. I like the current character sketches and plots so I am sticking to them. This story starts one month into confession. Any writer needs constructive criticism and feedback to hone their writing. Feel free to give your feedback on what works and what doesn't. I feel bad when I cant capture the situations or dialogues that are not real. So if there is any artificiality or far fetched ideas in my writing please point out.

1. New beginnings: This deals with Sai Virat finding normalcy like married couple. Pakhi will be there because her life is somehow tied to Virat. So I will be discussing her too.

2. Career choices: I hate when Sai and Virat dont discuss their careers. Both are accomplished in their studies so they are bound to have these discussions. Once their relationship becomes normal, it is inevitable that they plan their future together.

3. Pakhi gate: Do you think Pakhi will be quiet, seeing Virat and Sai's conjugal life! No way. I cant stoop low to write fake pregnancy but she will do something to create MU. Her hatred for Sai is not something that goes away in a day. It will show up in their every interaction.

CASE 1: NEW BEGNNINGS

TIMELINE: 1 MONTH

CN Kitchen:

"Good morning Aai", Sai greeted her mil in her newfound upbeat squeaky voice which she often used since she got back to her husband.

"Good morning bada", Aai said returning with a kiss into the air. "Is Virat coming down for breakfast?"

"No Aai today he went for a run. He started preparing for that half marathon so...", Sai started her defence why she had to make separate breakfast for her husband which Aai did not approve of. "He has to eat healthy Aai!!", she explained to her mil's glare.

"You wife and husband do whatever you want. Don;t listen to us", Aai chided. "Just eggs and this avocado are enough for breakfast?. He has to go work till evening.", she reasoned out.

"Aai listen. This breakfast will be more filling and healthy too. Helps him with his muscles and all. I don't have time to explain. I will do it later." said sai snubbing her mil's questions.

"What are you eating by the way? You are eating what I made right?", Aai asked rather dramatically.

"Haan Aai. I dont have time to train for marathon nor I can resist your food", she said cheering her MIL up.

"Wow Sai. I didn't know you are slowly moving towards separate menus and kitchens...", taunted Pakhi as she made her way into the kitchen with Karishma.

Sai rolled her eyes and continued to peel boiled eggs for her husband.

"Sai bhabhi is becoming ideal wife, taking care of her husband's breakfast and all, dado sutto.", exclaimed Karishma riling up Pakhi even more.

"Ideal wife who did not trust her husband. Now she has to get into his good books right. So she will do all this drama", taunted Pakhi again. Not before glancing sideways at Sai's neck which has been her ritual ever since she found a huge purple hickey there few weeks back.

Sai learnt to ignore her so she did not respond to her taunts but sighed when she saw Pakhi glancing at her neck. Taking a deep breath and controlling her irritation, she went back to her eggs.

3 weeks back:

Pakhi had known that the inevitable would happen a month back when Sai brought Virat home after another deadly mission and a huge misunderstanding, that gave her some hope that Sai will be out of Virat's life forever. But they seemed to have born on Earth after marrying in heaven. "Match made in heaven", she gritted her teeth. She could not bear the sight of the two the next day and left for her parent's place, distraught and disillusioned.

Virat had no qualms from that day to openly show his love to his wife. He had been always like that but now Sai receiving his love openly made things even difficult for her. While others in the family cant get enough of them and their antics, she could not stand that Virat can do this in front of her, his ex love! She sounded delusional to herself every-time she thinks about his behavior, after all he had told her multiple times that he loved only his wife. But nothing hit her hard more than that day when they came down stairs hand in hand, Sai completely flustered in front of the family and Virat holding her waist pulling her closer when family joked about their closeness. She felt like bursting into tears, but Samrat's presence held the spillage. She had to leave that moment, get some time and space to think! If she had stayed anymore longer, she would have hurt Sai from the hate she was generating inside her.

Pakhi had to come back after a week. Everyone now knows her intentions, the reason for her disappearance. No one even BK did not plead her this time or object to her visit. Samrat was uncomfortable but he did not make a scene and draw pity on him. He had told her, once for all, that he cannot wait any longer for her to make a decision. Afterall it is effecting his and the family's mental peace. So he declared that she had to make a decision and let him know if she wants to work it out with him or not.

Samrat loved her truly, but he is not sure whether he is turning stupid in his hopes on her intelligence. Patralekha being with him, and her mind set on Virat is not something he will be able to deal with anymore.

Pakhi did not discuss anything with him, but only assured she will back, with all the sweetness only she could gather at any time she wished, irrespective of the atmosphere around her.

Pakhi did come back, after her father reproached her for her stupidity. He sternly gave her two options: either to compromise and learn to love Samrat as he is an able man or to come back to them to look ahead in different direction. He said he cannot pretend to ignore her life anymore and as her father he would support her in whatever decision she makes. He even expressed a wish to ask Samrat to take her away from CN if it helps them to start afresh. However Pakhi objected to this, citing that she will be seen as the problematic one in this entire scenario which will draw unnecessary attention to her. Her father ideally wanted Samrat to join his service, but his son in law had no intention to go that way. The only other hope he had was Virat's transfer which might take two more years. His heart had been restless for his child from the time she made the wrong choice to marry Samrat, but he trusted his upbringing that some sense would kick into Pakhi and she will become the same girl with a purpose in her life. He blamed himself for letting her stay in that house after Samrat went MIA. Fully understanding that bygones are written in sand, he gave an ultimatum to his daughter to make a decision this time. Pakhi, at last made her decision to return back as she doesn't have any energy to start her life afresh. She is lost now, and the only intelligent choice is to follow what her parents have decided for her. She did turn up at CN's doorstep a week later with a steel resolve to start her life again with Samrat. But alas, she never expected to see the conjugal life of Virat galore in front of her eyes.

Present

Sai started to leave the dining table when Virat came back limping. He sat on the sofa greeted by series of questions from his dad and uncle. He sprained his hamstrings in the last lap that day and walking back home had made it worser.

Sai rushed to him, kneeling in front of him with urgency and kneading his calf muscles and enquiring about the pain points. She lifted his leg gently and placed on her upright knee while continuing her ministrations with a frown on her forehead. Virat was lost in her care, as it happens everytime she showed her 'special' concern for him. Every small thing she does for him now swells his heart with joy. Where did she hide all this for a year he wondered. She responds to his needs so spontaneously as if she sees only him around her. He came back to his senses, when BK started taunting her younger bahu with a hint of amusement.

"Look, who became Sati Savitri, our own jungli mulgi", she smirked. "Don't worry, he is a police officer and hatta katta man, you don't have to make him look like a chui mui.", she commanded.

Sai felt conscious and looked straight into her husband's eyes who is smiling at her and eyes dancing with mischief. Sai felt shy but recovered quickly by putting his leg back.

"Ok then, let him be a man and let it recover naturally.", she chided with a cute pout, while Virat rolled his eyes, knowing well how his wife can turn into burning coal within seconds. "I was only being a would-be doctor here.", she tried to justify her reactions.

"Wah wah, only doctor! only doctors don't show patient's pain on their own face", said Mansi bua who has been observing this new Sai and cant help coming to her rescue whenever she is put on spot.

"OK Virat sir, I am getting late to college. Your eggs and avocados are on the table.", she said while taking her bag and scurrying out.

"Wait, let me come and drop you to the bus stop. I can drive.', Virat offered, to which everyone rolled their eyes again knowing that these two have become inseparable now. Virat held himself from following her when the giggles from the family embarrassed him. 'OK OK i will come to pick you up in the evening and we can go to your car driving classes", he shouted to the retreating back of his wife who waved at him without turning her head.

Virat turned back to the glaring eyes of his family, who bursted out laughing.

Right then, Samrat came to the dining table and tapped on Pakhi's shoulder who seemed lost with a disgusted look on her face after seeing the morning 'drama' that has now become normal in her life.

Sai Virat's bedroom

Virat came into his room, which has become 'their' room in true sense. The colors of everything except the walls have changed. In this one month, he has known so much about his wife that she kept hidden from him. Every small thing in their room, has her choice involved. The bedsheets are deep pink now, which glares his eyes but he doesn't bother. The photos are placed everywhere now, on their side tables too. Her clothes are scattered around, which he had never seen outside the cupboard, not even once in the past one year. He realized now that Sai is not a great organizer when it comes to her belongings, while he is the opposite. He likes to find things cleaned up and placed in proper places, his mother said it came naturally to him. But Sai doesn't mind leaving everything, anywhere. Every small detail that he came to know about her, adds a lump in his throat thinking back to the whole one year where she had not been freely using that room!

He slowly strutted to their bed and cleaned it up, making the bed. He softly stroked it, the bed that had held their secrets for whole one year. From the time they first chose their places on it, made pillow forts to dampen the chances of any accidental touch, the longing to touch each other sometimes faking the accidental touches, glancing each other when the other is deep asleep, to losing in each other's arms and bearing the burden of their love making. He slumped on his back with a satisfactory glee stretching his arms wide reveling in the joy he found only in her arms. Every discussion they had in this one month, circled back to their hidden feelings for each other. It still seems surreal to him that Sai always loved him, bottled up her emotions for him and acted reticent to his affections. being 10 years younger to him and feeling alone, the pain she would have experienced brings him instant tears of joy and sorrow at the same time. It is all his fault, he cursed himself every now and then for unknowingly creating the walls around her heart.

"Virat! Virat. You are a stupid man!", he chided himself moving his hands on bed when he landed upon her discarded bra under the pillow. He pulled it towards him and turned on his belly smelling it closely.

He closed his eyes and remembered their first time. It will be always special to him, even after the countless number of times they may make love, he bemused. There was no hesitation when they first made love. There was only urgency in how they approached it, as if it has been delayed deliberately by both of them and that the world would end the next moment if they postpone it any longer. He always had plans for his first time, from the time he realized his love for Sai, hundreds of times he planned it. Always it has been a slow and calculated approach towards her owing to her age and his own inexperience. But contrary to that, they had made love as if they had been doing it all along. There was no shyness or hesitation but a purpose. The purpose to show each other what they mean to them, in the way only they both could show to each other. He was shocked, relieved and reveled in her desire for him. He realized his own worth once he had seen her love towards him. She expressed the same feeling later to him, because after their first time, she was unbelievably shy and conscious!

He smiled to himself how she acts all cute with him, teasing and hugging him and the moment his gaze turns deeper, she turns red. She had been an enthusiastic participant, to his delight in all their tete a tetes, but his young wife still has initiation problem which he can attach to her shyness. He is a kisser and she is a hugger in their marriage, otherwise. Her hugs are bone crashing always, pouring all her love into her limb muscles. He is lucky and there is no two thoughts about. Jumping joyously on to his feet, he placed her bra back in its right place and danced towards the bathroom. As his Kaku rightly pointed out, he gathered springs in his feet these days, that his energy just bounced off him and he could not deny it.

He came out and picked up his uniform which he now doesn't need to iron as his wife does it in the morning. Nor he needs to hurriedly polish his shoes which are spick and spank from his wife's diligent work. She said she always did this for her father and could not wait to do it for him when he first saw her doing it. She said it is her right to take care of him, in every way and he cant have a say in what she can do for him or not. So he wore his shoes, oh so carefully not to leave his fingerprints and spoil her care!

Sai's college cafeteria.

Sai packed her bags to meet her friends on the lunch table in the cafeteria. Divya and Shehnaz(Naz) have become her best buddies. She never had any true friends from school because of her constant changes to schools owing to her father's transfer. Even in first year of her college here, she has not been able to forge strong bonds with any of the classmates, thanks to her not so normal life scenario. But slowly towards the end of first and year and now this year, she bonded closely with these two girls apart from Aniket and Ajinkya (AJ). They formed a close group of five friends who would chat away during free time.

Now for the past few weeks, she has been hearing only complaints from her friends. Why will they not? Whatever time she gets, she will be chatting away with her husband or lost in daydreaming fully oblivious to her surroundings. She and her husband used to exchange texts even in all those days when all is not well between them. Now she remembers how it was always him who texts her first, after any fight or disagreement they had. He always tried, tried to show his love for her. And she has not been blind either, just that she made herself not to respond to him. Now when she knew each and every action he did in the past had always been his love: sometimes not expressed at right time and right spot and other times expressed in a wrong way. She cursed herself for her inability to see him past Pakhi. The circumstances were unfortunate too. Now when she listens to all his heartbreaks and complaints on her behavior in the past year and half, usually post their love making sessions at night, she chides at her own stupidity.

Feeling the urge to see his face immediately, she glances at her wallpaper which is adorned by his handsome face. Nowadays, her wallpaper which changes almost every day, is mostly the pictures of her husband that she casually clicks. She was always attracted to him, to his smile and his sharp features. He always induced butterflies in her stomach from the time immemorial. And when she told him the same one day, they ended up on bed making love. It has been like that for the past one month. Whenever she expresses the feelings she hid from him all this long, he would go crazy and kisses her non stop, ending up in a session! She giggles to herself, running her fingers on his nose in the picture. She remembers every single detail of their togetherness. What still surprises her is their first time!

Her toes curled when she remembered it vividly in front of her eyes. The way she just let herself free that day, relieving the burden from her shoulders, shedding off the hard skin that covered the scars from their misdeeds and filling it with joy and confidence. She wished she knew he loved her all the while, they would have saved so much pain and distress in their lives. That day when they faced each other in their room, the only natural thing that they thought was to make love and forget their pain. She never imagined herself with her husband in that way before. She opened to that thought several times in the past year but never went ahead with her imagination because it would have only increased her expectations which she feared would be never fulfilled. But she was a fool indeed.

That day when they truly became wife and husband, all her fears and worries were washed away once for all. She felt lighter and unburdened. He took care of her selflessly in that one year, but the anxiousness associated with her future never left her. But on that day, she realized she need not take care of herself anymore and that there is someone whose priority is she! Heaving a big sigh of relief, she checked her whatsapp hoping to see any messages from her missing friends. Everyone responded "in 2 min!" and she went back to her wall paper slipping into day dreaming again when she heard the shrilled voice of her friend Divya.

"Oye topper! enough of admiring your husband. Another new photo on whatsapp status! Is this the same photo", she asked peeking enthusiastically at Sai's phone." Kya yaar, we are all stuck with Hrithik's photo on our wallpapers, hmm, you have your handsome husband's.", she sighed disappointedly.

Sai is now used to their friends's puns whenever they get personal about her marriage. She gives them back equally without divulging much, but sometimes she feels the urge to brag about her special status when everyone around her are single or unmarried.

"My husband is my hero. I am happy with his wallpaper", came Sai's reply quickly.

"OK OK Sai Joshi, but come out of your small bubble of CN and look what we have for the weekend. I booked some movie tickets for all of us. Lets go out yaar. You never come!", Divya complained.

Sai is in no mood to meet her friends these days. Her weekends are even busier, as she spends most of her time either in kitchen pleasing the elderly folk or go out with Virat to have their private time. However, she knows she has been a spoilt sport in her friends plans for so long, and she doesn't want that also.

"OK I will ask Virat sir, and let you know. I think he might have planned...", she was explaining while Shehnaz cut her talk from behind.

"Virat sir! Why dont you bring the ACP also. We will also have some pleasure of talking to him closely", she gushed which earned a death glare from Sai.

"OK Ok cool down jungli billi, we will not eat your husband", reassured Divya calling with her nick name they use among the girls.

"Ok do you know this!", exclamied Naz in low voice. "AJ is planning to take hospital management courses from next year as electives. He might do MS in the same", whispered Naz.

"Why not!', said Divya casually. "His dad has big hospitals in Nagpur so he has no choice, does he?".

"But he said he wants to do MD surgery", pointed Sai sharply. "And how good is he with the precision, Don't you remember what Pulkit sir said to him in the last class!"

"Arre yaar, poor guy, sorry rich guy", correct Naz, "Does he have a choice! Someone has to take care of the hospital management right? I feel bad for him.", added Naz with deep thought.

Divya and Sai looked at each other and giggled.

"Oh so someone is feeling sad about AJ's future", Divya teased Naz, bringing the latter from her thoughts.

"Nothing like that. Why will I feel bad? He is a good student, he will excel in any field", she said as a matter of fact with a hint of shiver.

"Ohhh he will excel in any field?!!!", Divya teased again gaining a rebuke from Sai.

"Naz, why dont you tell him that you like him? I am saying this with my experience. Never postpone to express the feelings in your heart. When it is the matter of heart, there is no right time. Now is the only right time." Sai said animatedly which made her friends stare at her with disbelief.

"Oh did your Virat sir say this also?", they giggled. "What else did your Virat say about LOVE?", they asked her with dreamy voices.

"Shut up, you two. These are my words.", Sai said with a proud look before giving them back some food for their thoughts. "Why would I tell you what Virat said about L...O...V...E", she stretched at the last word making their eyes turn into big circles.

"Sai Sai tell na", we are single beggers here. "Give some hot stuff. Not fair yaar.", they both begged.

"I will let your thoughts run wild while I get going for my Forensic class", she lifted herself up, after gathering her lunch boxes, one each from her friends' hands.

"Ok don't show off so much. We will also get married one day and will not share a single thing with you", they rebuked her.

"By then I will have a book to write", Sai laughed at them and winked to their burning faces.

CASE 2: CAREER CHOICES

CASE 3: PAKHI GATE

Case 2: Career Choices

Timeline: 4 months

Nagpur Medical College

Sai finished her Forensic Science lab that evening. She along with few students had the opportunity to work on a live dead body that came in that morning which was suspected to be either suicide or murder. The person has fallen from a tall building and broken his neck fatally. Sai along with her few classmates had to make notes on how bad the injury could have been if it was a freefall(mostly suicide) or if it is a deliberate push (murder). It was not easy as they had to deal with the mechanics involved in calculating the impact force that could have taken the life.

Sai had come to terms with seeing dead bodies day in and day out. It was not easy for her in the beginning to see the patients in pain but she had to train herself to look beyond their pain and think so she can come up with a solution to relieve them off it. Forensic lab, otherwise had not been very difficult as she was dealing with corpses mostly. But today, dealing with a fresh corpse made her feel little jittery, but her husband's name in the police file made her equally excited. She saw her husband's name written against "Zonal Head SP" where he will sign the forensic documents if he feels it is reported correctly. So she made extra effort in understanding what is going into the file, mentally noting down the points she would want to discuss with him tonight. Her husband does not want to discuss any crime stories with her, unfortunately. Whenever she brings up any forensic topic, he would divert the topic to his daredevil missions in which she is least interested and more terrified because of the trauma associated with her father and himself. Today, however she made up her mind to discuss every detail that went into the report.

She called him to check whether she needs to pick him up from his office on her way back home. These days, due to the labs her college ends late in the evening, so she picks her husband while driving back home. She has gotten her driving licence and started driving his car.

Not getting an answer from the other end, she tried to text him when she received a message from the other end. "Late today. You leave" it read. Fully understanding that he might be busy with this murder mystery, she did not ask him for any more details and left home alone, all the while wondering about the case and coming to conclusion that it could only be a murder.

Sai and Virat's bedroom

Sai is deep in her studies, when the door of their bedroom opened.

Hoping to receive her usual back hug and a kiss, she smiled to herself without turning the head from her books. And then within few minutes, she heard a loud gag from the bathroom which made her rush there, almost toppling the entire pile of books stacked on the table.

"Virat Sir!! What happened", shrieked Sai, closing his ears as he gagged more into the commode. There was nothing that came out of his stomach except for some mucus, but he was trying hard to control his reflexes to vomit. After struggling for a while, he lifted himself up while Sai worriedly washed his mouth with the corner of her Kurta.

"Dont worry Sai! nothing major, just some nausea", he reiterated looking at her concerned face."Terrible day at work! you know.', he explained.

"Ok why dont you have a warm bath. I will get you some food.", she said before turning to him again and asking "You are okay to take bath right? otherwise let me wash your face", she came back leading him to the sink.

"No I will take shower. I need it.", he said. "And yes I am super hungry".

Half an hour later, both husband and wife sat in their personal dining space where Sai fed him, while he started complaining about his work.

"I hate to see dead bodies", he started. "How I wish I am transferred from this Crime branch", he said with exasperation.

"Oh are you talking about today's murder that was initially suspected to be a suicide?", asked Sai casually, but purposefully.

"How do you know it is a murder?", Virat asked in shock, and fully recounting that he did not discuss his insights yet to anyone in his team. "Which murder are you talking about?", he prodded her with one eye raised, typical to a police officer.

"The forensic file that you might have signed today is prepared by me and my classmates. And thats how I know it is a murder", explained Sai forcing the morsel of Roti into his mouth.

"Oh!", mused Virat. "So you too know it is a murder? Why do you think it is!", he questioned her, amused at her deduction.

"Oh I did not know the math and numbers involved here, but my professor said there was some large impact force involved, you know, that could crack his neck the way it did" and she proceeded to explain how the nerves and cartilage in the neck were destroyed."

"Sai, could you please stop explaining this in detail", Virat frowned "I had to puke two times already at work unable to see the dead body", he confessed.

"Are you serious Virat Sir!, I did not know you are scared of dead bodies", laughed out Sai looking at Virat's troubled face and pushing the final morsel of food through his throat. "IPS Virat Chavan, cant handle blood.", she teased him loudly.

"Haso Haso, I did not expect that I had to deal with dead bodies in this detail before joining the force.", he defended. "Later I thought I would become comfortable. But no!", he nodded his head with disapproval. "I dont know how long will I be able to handle this. It seems to mess with my head badly."

"But Virat Sir, how can you avoid this process being a zonal head", Sai asked with concern. "You have to make yourself stronger to deal with this", she said understanding fully how her husband could be sensitive. "Wait, how could you go and shoot people if you are so scared to see the dead bodies.", Sai asked rather ruefully drawing a sharp look from her husband.

"What do you mean Sai!, I dont go and kill people just like that. And for your information I have not killed anyone if you could recall. I try to injure them as far as I could", he defended sitting on the bed with great difficulty.

"Arre, I am not saying you should'nt shoot anyone.", Sai tried to explain who is clearly misunderstood."Aaba says police officers are protectors of the society, equivalent to fathers who punish their children of misdeeds.", she explained calmly, kneeling down at the bed side and placing her elbow crossed on his legs. "I am trying to understand what is troubling you and whether there is any solution for it.",

"Only solution is to move to Security and Safety department, which I love to do", he said enclosing her face with his palms and rubbing her both cheeks with his thumbs. " I am planning to ask DIG sir, to move me to one of those Departments. He has already made me head of women's safety which comes under the same department.", he explained.

"So what does security and safety involve?", asked Sai curiously. "Will it not be a boring desk job?", she quipped.

"What are you saying?", Virat shrieked taking it as an insult. "It is such a responsible job. I should plan for the entire city's security protocol. Who is entering the state, how they are entering and leaving etc etc. And safety involves mostly planning strategies to reduce crime in general, educating public etc etc.", he continued explaining her animatedly. "But yes, bigger the city bigger will be challenges."

"And...smaller cities?", Sai asked curiously as if she has also some plans in such places.

"Smaller cities are even better", said Virat thinking deeply now. "You see, officers like me have much more control in smaller towns where we can freely operate on behalf of the people. Say for example, being in GC has exposed me to the crimes faced by Tribals there. An upright police officer like me can be a good fit there", he boasted invoking an hearty smile from Sai. "So why do you seem interested in smaller cities? I was planning to get my transfer to Mumbai in next two years so you could study your MD there.", he blurted out his plans which he had been weaving in his mind for sometime now.

"Mumbai?!". Sai said lifting herself up and moving towards her study table. "Yes, Mumbai has good medical colleges for MD Virat Sir!. But will I get MD in Gynecology?", she asked worrying a bit.

"Why not? Virat pulled himself up and joined her near the study table. "You are a state topper and had been topper all this while. I am sure you will get whatever you wanted to study. But why only Gynecology? I was thinking you should take surgery, Cardiology, neurology, ..and ...", Virat continued trying to get all the specializations..."And yes oncology....correct?" to which Sai nodded in sync with her husband's head.

"Yeah but I want to do Gynecology Virat Sir", said Sai with determination. "My mother passed away during my birth. Aaba was not even aware of the reason fully why she died. It pains me that a natural process like birth could not be handled well in small towns. That worries me. Also women's biology is so complex that it needs lot of dedication and effort to understand it in its entirety, you know. Healthy lifestyle and surroundings also promote good health for women. So I wanted to be a specialist and also be of some service in bringing these practices among the women in small towns.", she spoke to her attentive listener.

"Agree!", he acceded to her with pride. "But before that lets go to Mumbai and complete your studies. I will move into safety and security division. I hope they give me what I hope for and not ask me to plan security for these stupid politicians. I cant handle them, and might lose control ending up in premature transfers. I cant risk moving places when you are studying", he said getting back his frown.

"Why do you think so much Virat Sir! why dont you just concentrate on Nagpur till then? And make sure you don't get these murder cases which rob you of your sleep", Sai said playfully wrapping arms around his neck. "And yes women's safety!", she stressed in an undertone.

Virat who was about to attack her neck, pulled back and looked at her with one eye raised. "Women's safety!" he imitated her voice and asked "Why that deliberate undertone Sai? Didnt you see how I handled the eve teaser at your college once. Ask anyone in Nagpur how the eve teasing has reduced in numbers after I took control of that department.", he boasted expecting an agreeing nod from his wife.

"Ofcourse Virat Sir, when did I say you did not achieve what you said.", Sai pulled herself back and cleaned up her books for the day. "I was just, you know, trying to see where your concern was when you ousted me in the middle of the night that day", said sai softly not knowing how her husband would take this incident now. She has been wanting to discuss this issue with him ever since they became close. That is one incident she could not imagine a police officer like him could do. She wanted to know what made him forget his basic duty as a protector and throw her away that night. It does not fit him, her husband, who is her hero.

She saw Virat bending down his head and turning back not able to face her. Sai hugged him from behind and he wrapped his fingers around hers.

"Sorry Sai!", came the words instantly. "I am not sure if sorry could redeem me from that mistake. I was overpowered by rage that you could take such a big decision when I had forbidden you. I did not trust you enough. I was also thinking you played with my emotions, you know. I was about to confess to you that day that I cannot live without you.", he smiled turning around and taking her into embrace. " I was all over the place, but I should not have behaved like that. sorry." he repeated.

"Its ok Virat sir. I should have also confided in you but things went too fast that I did not have time to convince you, I was not sure whether you will trust me..you know if I had told you about...", Sai swallowed her words before spilling out Pulkit's kidnap to her husband. "about...Devi tai's deteriorating health", she covered up. "But that is not the reason I brought it up today. If something had happened to me that day, would you be able to forgive yourself?", spoke Sai, before which virat covered her mouth, tears ready to pop out from his eyes.

Hoping to divert the topic that she now blamed herself for bringing it up, Sai quickly stole a peck on his lips and asked. "And what if I was wrong in that decision with Devi Tai. Anyways you would have sent me away right?", sai tried to be devil's advocate.

Virat smiled and said "NO", with a big nod. I would have still come to fetch you, after sending Pulkit behind the bars. "I was into you already by that time, so there is no way I would have lost you. Remember I was the one who was going to confess on that day?", he pulled her even more closer.

"Yes, yes you would have but in a big jelebi form which I could not have understood.", she laughed kissing him again squarely which evoked a huge gag from him. "Oops sorry!", she said but Virat tried to get back to her lips when she pushed him back. "Now go to sleep Virat sir. you are not well.", she pushed him and went back to setup her books for the next day.

"I know, if not for that bullet you would not have come back to me that easily", complained Virat. "I had to put my life at stake for you to consider me. How is it fair?. I mean my love has no value?", prodded Virat placing his hands on his hips as if demanding an answer.

Not able to say "Yes and No" for this question, Sai tried to make his mood lighter.

"Dont worry virat sir, I would have anyways come to you without any incident. Do you think Usha maushi would let me live in peace. According to her, you are made for me, exclusively", Sai said turning her hands and rolling her eyeballs. "She was always after you from the time she saw you for the first time,".

"Oh thats why you kept coming to my quarters at the pretext of giving food?!", chuckled Virat. "Not bad Sai. You are not that innocent. You are into me much before I knew", he said attacking her again with a back hug.

Sai pushed him with his elbow and blithely said "Yes I did stalk you, only to find you talking to Pak....", and she stopped..looking back at the angered face...It was a serious pact with her husband that she would not bring the name again and there she goes "Old habits die hard", she cursed galloping behind her husband who already was quite upset and was retreating to his bed.

"Sorry Sorry, it is a mistake", pleaded Sai like a child and climbing on top of him, with her legs on both sides of his waist. She bent down and kissed his cheeks saying cutely "Chorry..Its my michtake".

Virat is easy to melt when she baby talks, so he curled his lip into a sly smile, moving his hands under her kurta, and raising his hip little up with a purpose, when Sai stopped his hands from pulling down her chudidaar.

"Virat sir, you puked twice today and gagged your liver out few minutes back. Now dont spend anymore time wasting your energy", she chided him, mounting down to her side of the bed and adjusting her pillow. "Sleep now", she commanded.

"Yes, definitely I dont have energy to pull you out of this packaging", mocked Virat pointing at her night dress. "This is one more thing that you never heeded to me. Who sleeps in this "breathtaking" nightwear. Seriously Sai, cant you wear something simple, airy...and easier to remove.", whined Virat trying to bring her head on to his chest.

"How can I change my night dress suddenly Virat Sir! What will everyone think. It is so embarassing", sai said shaking her head violently and then resting her head at the cranny of his neck. "I will change it slowly."

"When?", demanded Virat expecting a clear date.

"When Sahi Waqt comes", Sai said laughing loudly and looking at his reddened face. "Offo, I was joking modak!, I will soon change into something simple....", she promised and "easier...", she chuckled, hugging her husband into sleep.

This chapter spans across 3 days. This chapter was envisioned much before Virat's accident and the draft was ready. Day 1 is litle drama but Day 2 and Day 3 will have Pakhi's bezatti by Sai for sure! I was so irritated with her in yesterday's episode that I am going to increase her bezatti. Hope it will give you all some relief before the episode airs on Monday.

Feedback of all kinds is welcome.

Chapter 3: Pakhi Gate

Timeline - 8 months

Day 1

Sai and Virat's bedroom

It is close to 6 AM which is already an hour past the usual wake up time for Sai. She moved in her slumber when the sharp morning sun rays pricked her eyes. She nuzzled her face into the cranny of her husband's neck trying to hide from the rays. His smell that she she now shares with him, made her fondly squeeze him more towards her while she gently kissed his jaw bone. She always snuggled him while asleep, but they were only snuggling for the past one week owing to her midterm exams. Every night in this week, she had been coming to the bed way past midnight to her already snoring husband while dragging her own slumber ready weight. She would just fall on his chest, his heart's rhythm putting her to sleep readily. Today is the last day of her exams and that made her excited little early.

Sai started placing soft kisses around his jaw bone, fully knowing the repercussions of her act. Virat did not take much time to move towards her and join his lips with hers. The initial discomfort of morning breath turned quickly into comfort of familiar scent that always acted as a catalyst to their early morning desire. Quickly, the starving bodies were feeling each other in a frenzy, forgetting the time altogether. They stopped having the 'time sense' long back when it came to their love making. They don't usually find time in the night due to their busy and exhausting day, and they had already passed the 'shy' phase to schedule the act in the darkness of their room. Gone are the days, when Sai felt conscious around him the morning after, escaping the room before he wakes up. Now a days, it has become customary to just find 'any' time to be with each other in this way. It is always quick, frenzy and fun when they make love. The necessity has become the need, that nourishes and prepares them for the hard day ahead. So this morning is also one such time, and Sai initiating made it even more exciting for Virat.

So in his frenzy, he turned her over on her stomach and placed half his body on her murmuring into her ears.

"Is this way okay today?", he asked cryptically to which she nodded rigorously and pulled his head towards her as if giving him full permission.

Thats all he needed from her, when one hand reached the skin under her top garment while the other one removed the necessary clothing.

10 minutes later, the morning felt even warmer than it started.

"I have to move now Virat Sir", said Sai still panting and getting out of the bed.

"When is your exam today? All the best.", Virat wished her while gaining control on his own breath.

"Afternoon, but there are few lectures in the morning", she squealed while closing the bathroom doors.

Virat drifted back to deep sleep again when she came out. She dressed up quickly and gave a hard kiss on his forehead before heading downstairs.

Pakhi and Samart's bedroom

It is 7:30AM now and Pakhi is drying her hair when Samrat came back from his workout and hugged her from behind. She was so breathtakingly beautiful in the wet hair that he could not resist.

"Stop it Samrat! You are all sweaty", Pakhi jerked from his touch almost instantly which disappointed Samrat.

"Patralekha! I was just being little romantic", Samrat defended, more with an accusatory tone.

"Oh oh Samrat, dont be a teenager.", she rebuked drawing more hurt on Samrat's face. " I am already late and badi mami will be looking out for me", she said clearly in a rush to leave the room when Samrat caught her hand.

"Whats your problem Patralekha?", he asked which has been his usual question to her still.

"Not again! Samrat", said Pakhi rolling her eyes "Neither I have patience to indulge in this argument again nor I have time to discuss these things", she said pulling her hand from his hold.

"These things? why are these things trivial for you?", Samrat questioned her calmly even though his mind was raging with questions.

"Yes these are trivial because we already passed this level Samrat. We are husband and wife in true sense. Dont you remember yesterday night? We are not teenagers or new in marriage to indulge like this", she told him off in an accusatory tone.

"Having sex is not enough Patralekha", Samrat said as a matter of factly. "And I dont want just this".

"Oh initially you wanted to have this. Now you want something else?", accused Pakhi.

Pakhi had decided to move on with Samrat 6 months back when she came back from her parent's house. Afterall Samrat was a good man and she started liking him for the support he always showed her. She could clearly see that he loved her. And felt bad that she was keeping his life in limbo. It was not an easy decision for her to get close to Samrat but she wanted to try. Slowly they started to talk more and interact more like friends. Even though she still is guarded around him, she did let her inhibitions down when it came to their physical relationship. She felt it easier to deal with Samrat's expectations when she provided him with this comfort. She also moved her mind from Virat in this aspect even though she could not disentangle with him emotionally still...Still she searches for him in the morning when he comes late. Still she humiliates Sai in front of him only to make him talk to her even if it is in wrathful tone. She chides herself for this kind of cheating with Samrat, but she also exempts herself from the guilt. Afterall, she has moved on at one level, didnt she? she thought.

"This is not the only thing I wanted. I thought you understand me", yelled Samrat unable to control his temper when she relegated his love to just sex.

"So what else do you want?", Pakhi questioned him casually folding her hands against her chest.

"Sex is just a part of our relationship Patralekha! Where is the intimacy?", he questioned back "Where is that closeness? Where is the comfort?",

"Oh what is intimacy now?", Pakhi rebuked again. "You come up with these lofty terms everyday which I dont understand Samrat. We are just doing fine. Why do you want to ruin it all", Pakhi questioned, fully understanding what Samrat is hinting at.

She definitely is not close to him, close to him in a way that she can share every small detail with him. She knows she is capable of behaving like a complete stranger to him whenever she wanted. And she is aware that it hurts him. But she could not act so much, she has done enough of it she thought.

"Intimacy is to talk after you have sex. Intimacy is when you show affection for the person, stay close and allow them to come closer to you. Intimacy is when you plan for your future together, laugh at each other and care for each other. Intimacy is when you correct each other without the fear of hurting. And you know we dont share it.", Samrat declared knowing fully that she would not have any answers.

Throwing the towel away to show his exasperation at her, he went into the bathroom to calm himself down lest the fight might turn ugly. The last thing he wanted is to bring Virat in their discussion because every time they fight it will end up on him.

Pakhi stood there, fully aware of the issue Samrat is having. She is trying, but she also knows she is testing Samrat's patience. The only solution to her problem would be to move away from CN, but it is not easy. It will probably be easy if for once, she creates the same rift they have in their marriage in Sai's marriage. She is still extremely jealous of Sai, that one thing she has fully accepted.

"Let her heart break once again, I will heal myself and my marriage", Pakhi thought to herself and went downstairs with strong resolve.

CN dining table

Sai was in a rush, she is already late by 30 minutes. So she grabbed a paratha in one hand and juice in the other and tried to gobble up as soon as she can.

"How will you handle a patient when you cant handle yourself", taunted Bhavani. "Cant you manage your time? Past few days I have not seen you in the kitchen also." she rebuked.

"Kaku I told you I have exams and therefore sleeping late in the night.", Sai answered without meeting her eyes and feeling guilty for being extra late today.

"Bada, here is your lunch box. Eat well. Best of luck for your exam", wished Ashwini handing over her lunch bag.

"Ashwini mami if you pamper her this much, she will not even come downstairs once she becomes doctor. You might have to take the breakfast and lunch box to her room", taunted Pakhi unable to control her jealousy which always spills without any effort.

"Pakhi didi, why dont you make yourself busy instead of keeping your brain idle and lease it for a devil", scoffed Sai.

"Ofcourse Sai! I will very soon and thanks for your suggestion.", mocked Pakhi, planning something in her devil's workshop already.

Nagpur Medical College, Cafeteria.

Sai finished her exam and joined her friends in the cafe for evening tea. They were all discussing animatedly about the question paper, when her phone beeped continuously with messages.

Hoping to see the regular 'after test' enquiries from her husband, she opened her whatsapp to see bunch of messages from an unknown number apart from the expected ones from her husband.

There were couple of pictures in those messages that read "Nasik Yoga Retreat" and "Beautiful couple" . Sai did not want to download anything from an unknown number, to which her husband always warned against, but the words "Yoga retreat" blurred her judgement.

Her heart sank at the first picture where she saw her husband sharing a hearty smile with Pakhi didi, both sitting, not very close but next to each other. Her heart sank little more when she saw the second picture where her husband's one hand was wrapped around Pakhi's waist and the other hand was holding her hand.

Tears pooled in her eyes as the sharp pain stung her heart. She closed the phone almost immediately not at all willing to give the pictures more attentions lest they would tear her heart apart.

"No Sai! dont even let this affect you anymore", she calmed herself with repeated affirmations."This is past. This is not happening now. He is your husband and that is the truth.",

After few minutes, and after she took leave from her friends on the pretext of calling her husband, she came to a secluded corner and opened the messages again.

They came from an unknown number, and with some purpose. There is her husband's best friend, who is now more of her brother Sunny in the first picture. But not in the second one. So he must have taken the second picture, she reasoned out. But he will be the last person to send these pictures to her. So the only person who could send her these pictures, knowing that they will hurt her should be none other than Pakhi didi! But why will she send these to me now?

Sai knows that Pakhi had moved on with Samrat. Though not sure how fully she moved on, but she heard the elders discussing about them 'doing it' during their regular gossip sessions in the kitchen. Why will she want to disturb me with these pictures then? Did she send these to Virat sir as well? Or is there anyone else who is just playing with them not knowing the current status of Pakhi didi's marriage? She wondered. she doesnt want to come to conclusions either way. But one thing she wants to feed herself is this that whatever is in those pictures is the past and hence it has no relevance in her life now. And that she should not get carried away and hurt herself and her husband.

Will she be able to? she did not know herself.

Few hours later

Sai waited in the car outside her husband's police station, lost in her own thoughts about the messages she got few hours back. She is debating whether to talk about them with her husband or not. She is pretty sure that Pakhi is behind it but the phone number from where it was sent appears new. There is no image of the person on the whatsapp profile too though the flowery image there suggested that it must be a female. She was engrossed in her thoughts when Virat came and knocked the window repeatedly.

"Where are you wandering Doctor Sahiba?", Virat asked while taking the passenger seat and wearing his seatbelt. "Could not forget this morning is it?", he flirted, slightly grazing her cheek with the back of his palm.

Sai returned his gesture with glaring eyes, clearly deflecting the anger on the source of those messages towards her husband.

"Ooo. Some one is hot!", exclaimed Virat retreating his hand back. "What happened Sai?", he asked calmly taking back his hand to her cheek.

Instead Sai pulled the clutch into first gear so hard and started moving the car almost jerking him and his hand off from her.

"Will you stop flirting with me Virat sir", she chided. "Dont irritate me please. I had enough".

"What did you have enough? What happened? Oh didn't your paper go well?", he enquired although confident that his wife would have given the exam well.

Seeing her not responding, he thought of diverting the topic.

"OK today I am in my civil dress and your exams are also over, let's go and eat outside, please", he begged even before she considered the idea.

Sai had to ask him some questions for her own peace and knowing fully that her husband would flare up with those questions and invite a full fledged fight at home, she decided to go with his proposal.

"Hmm", she nodded without elaborating.

Relieved but not expecting any regular banter from his wife, Virat went back to looking at his phone not wanting to earn her wrath with more flirting or unnecessary topics. He was sure she was throwing him angry glances now and then, which he tried to ignore not sure of what he might have done to upset her so much.

They took a corner seat in Sai's favorite restaurant that sold Mumbai streetfood which he also developed an appetite for. He remembers their usual order by heart, and so he ordered them without taking a breath. But when he ordered two scoops of vanila ice cream with gulab jamun, Sai objected right away.

"Sorry we dont want it.", she told the waiter sharply to Virat's amazement. They usually take one bowl of ice cream and share it. He was now pretty sure she is upset about something related to him.

"Why do you not want it today.?", he probed her.

"Because I don't want to get FAT.", screamed Sai to which Virat had to look around to see if someone heard her.

"What happened baby!. I don't mind if you get fat. Afterall I am the one who has to bear your weight", he said grazing her fingers again, going back to his flirting self.

"Are you like this always Virat sir? Do you flirt with everyone like this?", Sai hissed with gritted teeth obviously clearing her way to bring the topic she wanted to discuss.

"What?! why do I flirt with anyone else? Sai, what happened. why are you angry with me?", he asked with concern now.

"Tell me one thing. Virat sir. Did you flirt with anyone else before?", she asked pointing her index finger directly at him.

Virat was taken aback with the question though he knows the answer is a big NO.

"Noooo.", he squealed. "Why would I?", he defended while trying to gauge her reactions.

"Wah, so you are claiming that you did not flirt at all till you met me? This is such a big lie", she declared.

"Why are you spinning jelebis Sai? What are you trying to ask?" he questioned back now visibly irritated.

The waiter brought one plate of vada pav and one plate of pav baaji. Usually he eats vada pav and she eats paav baaji, but today she pushed the other one towards virat and grabbed vada pav, quickly grabbing a mouthful. Virat had to settle down with his lesser favorite. Without complaining, he started eating with single minded focus to not indulge in any conversation with his wife.

"So, Virat sir. Who all did you flirt with before?", Sai prodded clearly not willing to drop the topic.

"Who all? you are the only one.", said Virat innocently.

"And Pakhi didi?", Sai asked casually but bracing for the complete opposite reaction from him.

Virat flared up instantly. He glanced at his wife not hiding his full anger given his surroundings. And Sai though got intimidated, tried to maintain straight face. She wants to know the answer. The messages disturbed her quite so.

"Will you not change?", Virat asked her in a menacing tone trying to control his anger. "We decided not to bring her up between us. When will you stop taking her name for god's sake", he fumed at her, keeping his voice low. "How did she come up suddenly after so many days?".

"Dont threaten me with you looks. I am not the one who will fear your words Virat sir.", Sai retorted back, "I asked whether you flirted with her....and whether you touched her.", she added the extra question, so that she can deal with his reactions in one go.

"Unbelivable!" Virat said raising his arms into the air, clearly estimating that Sai must have been provoked by Pakhi in some way. Otherwise, they have cleared everything between them. He told his wife all that happened in those two unfortunate days in his life. After that she never questioned him about these details before so he wondered whether Pakhi has cooked up some stories to play with his wife's mind. And even if she does, as per her nature why should his wife fall for her words!. Virat is hurt now and he was losing his control. Before he could lose himself and yell at his wife, which he promised himself he never would, he looked intently at her beautiful face to calm himself. He learnt to understand her insecurities when it comes to him. The frown on her face conveyed only her hurt, not nonchalance. But her bringing up Pakhi and ruining her mental peace has to be addressed with his anger only he thought. He bent forward so only his wife could hear and spoke to his wide eyed beauty.

"This is the last time I am letting it go. Listen carefully. I have cleared about Pakhi before and I am saying this again. I had not started anything significant with her in those two days to open up to her or flirt with her. She was a two day infatuation as I described to you clearly. I thought you understood. But...", Sai tried to cut him "But Virat sir, I just wanted to know how close you were to her...", when she was cut again by Virat.

"Let me finish.", he growled "I know where this is coming from. If that woman is playing with your mind, I will not tolerate anymore. She has tested my patience enough. I cannot excuse her anymore. Either you ignore her for two years after which we will take the transfer or I have to talk to Kaku and Samrat so they will handle her antics in their own way." he spoke with conviction not before stressing "If you want to know what I have for her now, it is only anger and disappointment. Dont you turn that into hate, I am prepared to show her place in front of the entire family. Dont blame me later that I spoiled the peace in the family.", he warned his wife.

"Virat sir, you will not do anything like that.", scowled Sai not wanting to start any war in the family. "Samrat dada has finally moved on, we dont want any drama again.".

"Oh yes, Sai Joshi, I will do what I said now. I will deal with her once for all if she is playing or hurting you again.", he reiterated stubbornly and getting up to pay the bill. "I will meet you at the front and I hope you will not bring this stupid topic again."

Her husband addressing her "Sai Joshi" is an indication that he is extremely angry. Usually he uses that name only when he is extremely angry or extremely besotted with her. So Sai was left there with no option but not to extend this discussion anymore. Berating him under her breath for not answering her questions in simple yes or no answer, she decided to deal with Pakhi didi in her own way. She is now pretty sure that if she reveals anything about these messages to Virat, he will not spare Pakhi anymore and this will destroy the peace in her family.

Both husband and wife drove back home silently. They were bombarded with usual taunts for eating outside and coming home late, which Virat deliberately ignored and left Sai to face them. He walked to his room not before throwing a disgusting glance at Pakhi who is immersed in serving dinner to her husband. Sai joined others at the dining table trying to behave as if nothing happened.

However, Pakhi noticed the gloominess between the two and instantly figured out that her plan worked.

"Sai! What happened? You look exhausted after dinner date with your husband. Didnt your exam go well?", she enquired mixing her barbs and fake concern.

Sai tried to control her nerves and decided to give it back to her in her own way of derision.

"My exams always go well Pakhi didi. Whether they are from my studies or life. I learnt to give them well. You will see.", she sneered to Pakhi's confused face. "You take care of dada. I have to take care of my sleep which someone is desperately trying to ruin.", she murmured to herself.

Sai found her husband sleeping already, so close to the edge of his bedside that he could fall even if he moved his finger. She rolled her eyes at his antics, which sometimes look too childish for his age but endearing. She freshened up all the while thinking about the lady who might have sent these pictures to her at the behest of Pakhi. Not knowing fully how to deal with this issue and not willing to discuss this with her husband, she laid on her bedside trying hard to summon the sleep that alludes her without snuggling with her husband.

Few minutes into her tossing and turning in her bed, her husband's hand pulled her into his embrace. While she adjusted herself into the cocoon of his warmth, she heard him say in his half slumber.

"I havent touched her anymore than you saw with your own eyes Sai. Yes I did save her from falling into the campfire once, when in yoga resort. If that is considered touching..", he murmured.

Sai was not expecting any answer from him but this information did relieve her agitation. Not that this detail mattered to her, but him giving importance to her question and clearing it gave her immense joy. She snuggled him tightly in response to his answer and drifted into deep sleep almost instantly.

Day 2

Tagging Sagi. otherwise she would kill me. 😲

Tagging few regular visitors who liked my stories earlier

Sorry if I forgot anyone. Nothing intentional

Ofcourse Nethraa 🤗 Wildy and shipissailing

Girls day 1 of chapter 3 is updated. The DMs failed somehow: may be my inbox is full?!!

Enjoyed the continuation of chapter 3. Look forward to reading how Sai copes with the nuisance called pp.

Wow, you write so well 👏 Thanks for tag and writing this ss.

I always like reading such stories and want to see such scenes an day to day activities in the show in between all the dramas. I will just imagine these with show actors 🤣

Hope you can update once or twice a week, will read it instead of watching episodes for a few days

PS - My fav bit was sahi waqt joke of Sai

Third chapter is too good, loved the 'matured' way Virat and Sai handled it all

Thanks yaar! yeah they could show so much with these two . Simply spoiling them with too much drama and repetition 🙃

Nice update👍🏼

I'm a little confused by the end bit.....does Virat know of the pictures?