Chapter 5: Symbol of love
Timeline: 2 years into Samrat's death
1.8 years back:
Sai found about the complication involved with Pakhi's surrogacy and the impending pregnancy. Going through the report, the earth under her feet shattered. A deep pain that originated in her womb travelled through length of her body and reached the heart. She had the heartbreak before while losing her husband, but that was nothing compared to this pain! It felt like her heart stopped for a second. If this is what mother's love is for her child, she felt it and in that moment even her husband felt nobody in front of it. She was wronged! Her child if it had taken the life already was wronged. And she will not keep quiet.
Virat is relaxed these days, a sense of completeness filling him every passing day. But there is some discontent, which even the child may not fill. He knows deep inside that the empty gap will never be filled. That part was created when he went against his wife and made Pakhi the surrogate. How much ever he tried to reason it out, he cannot convince himself that he went against his wife's wishes and worked around the law. He would hate himself if he pondered more on this issue, he knows. And he cannot do that when welcoming their 'symbol of love'. There is some unaddressed stress inside him which he could not articulate. He named it 'anxiousness' at the arrival of their baby to feel better.
Convincing himself with his half luster answers, he walked out of the bathroom to find his wife standing near the open window, staring into the space. She has gone through a lot, she still is! He had been cruel to her when he ignored her after their child's loss. He distanced her from him when he should have given her the comfort of his words, support and touch. Only when she asked him whether he wanted to replace her for the child, he came back to his senses. Never ever in his dreams he imagined that a day would come in their life where she would think she is replaceable in his life. Things went on roller coaster after that. He is still not sure whether they (he?) made right decisions rushing for a child, but here they are trying to get back to normal, hoping that the child will fill the void that was created by these chain of events after Samrat's death.
They are definitely back to normal in bed, both needed that comfort. That they still feel the same for each other. But they both know, there are uncomfortable things that if discussed might break their new found comfort and hence avoiding.
Virat walked towards her and circled her waist tightly, drawing her into his body and breathing into her neck. This has been their routine to avoid talking. All they talk is about Pakhi's pregnancy, their work and end up cozy in bed. It worked!! So with the same protocol, he nestled more into her neck, kissing her. Finding no response from her, he sensed something was wrong but was not in a mood to confront it either, so he hurried. He moved his hands upwards from her waist, only to be stopped and pushed away. Then he saw it in her puffed up reddened eyes, the anger and the pain which he knew that she has been hiding. "This is it! They need to talk", he understood. And surprisingly... he was glad.
Present:
Virat entered CN which is now a days bustling with chirpiness. Even BK's voice is always cooing and gibberish. The cutest version of her 'mast ha mast' and the cute giggles that follow is a vision to behold and endearing to hear! That evening was no different.
Virat entered into the living room which had the happiest version of the faces of his family members he had ever seen since the time he was born. The only reason being the little human sitting on the ground in her playpen, innocently doing her thing, at times confused by her cheerleaders around who guffawed and made loud noises whenever she does anything out of routine. That day she was blabbering 'baa baa' and everyone around her prodded her to repeat more and more till she stopped making a sound. That is her way of saying she is done with madness of the adults when they cross the boundaries of pampering and start irritating.
"Savi...", called Virat in his version of cute voice triggering the routine of the most cutest and endearing events.
His baby daughter, instantly recognizes his voice and crawls with jet speed towards him where she meets him midway and lifted up into the air. This is her favorite part of the day, where her father makes her fly a bit before taking her into a snuggle, their kind of private conversation on how their day has been. Him rubbing his cheeks against her fluffier ones and she caressing his stubble softly yet purposefully trying to grab the things that are prickling her.
After Savi cooed to her father in her gibberish which only he seemed to understand, the family was more enthusiastic than usual to tell him about the big news that day..
"Virat, godu, Virat dada...", everyone is after him to listen to the news...while Savi chewing her index finger glared at the animated adults who are now behaving like her.
"What happened Aai..", he asked his mother, obviously choosing her among the lot.
"I will tell", commanded BK's voice from the back which rendered Ashwini speechless.
"Haan Vahini, why dont you tell", Ashwini said communicating warmly to his son through her eyes.
"Your ladli said baba today", BK chuckled. "Yes her first words!", she beamed looking at her nephew's teary eyes.
Virat lifted Savi making her face him and asked her to repeat after him. "Savi..This is baba", he pointed her little hand towards him. "Say it baby!", he prodded.
"baa baa baa ...", Savi blabbered, giggling everytime Virat kissed her cheeks. "baa baa", she repeated asking for more!
The newly pregnant Karishma captured their moment on her phone and sent the video in their family group now named 'Little Savi's family'. She is being well trained to handle her baby by taking care of Savi.
"Savi is an easy child, like Virat. Dont expect yours to be this easy!", warned BK while Savi almost follows all the commands of her Kaku Karishma making her gush about his abilities as a mother unlike Sai who leaves the baby to the family and goes to the hospital.
"Vahini, Mohit was also less fussy. Remember, not an incident with him", reminded Sonali.
"Yes, you fed him so much that he was fluffier than fussy. Sat at one place and played for hours.", rebuked BK. "Still is lazy and all he does is writing stories!"
"Kaku.., he is writing stories that are reaching people. Thats the important", corrected Virat trying to be as supportive as he could be to his brother like his wife has always been.
Virat took a break from the rest and went to his room to start with their evening routine. He had to sneak out from his daughter's vision for sometime till he freshens up otherwise she will not let him go easily. Later he gave little Savi a warm bubble bath and dressed up in the clothes her mother has nicely sorted them out. She has weaned off from her mother's milk only last month and started drinking rather unenthusiastically from the bottles of frozen milk that her mother pumps up in the morning. She gulped down all in a jiffy so she gets to eat her new favorite home made food that her dad feeds while he eats, a few morsels of aloo vadi will bring joy to her face!
Savi looked exactly like her mother when she was little. Same features except for the smile that she stole from her father. Any stranger could easily say who the mother is if they see Savi with Sai around her. Virat was not at all complaining of this aspect initially, but later he used to feel left out when people dont accredit him much for his daughter's looks. So he decided to brag about her qualities, especially eating habits when anyone broaches about Savi's genes.
"Yes she looks exactly like her mother, but she behaves like me", he would latch on. "The other day she ate an entire aloo wadi. I used to do that when I was little", he gushed once when a neighboring aunty went on praising her cute looks inherited from her mother. Sai rolled her eyes, yet again.
So they are here, dad and daughter getting ready for bed as Sai is going to be late that day. She is doing her MD residency in a reputed hospital and at times stays late into the night. She drives back home when almost everyone was fast asleep.
Virat read some picture books to his daughter while she cozily slept on his chest. Few moments later, he laid her over the bed in the center and checked his phone for any messages from his wife. Not finding any, he assumed that she must be busy and updated the happenings with her ending with a good night. Suddenly, the reminder popped on his phone that tomorrow his daughter would complete 9 months and they might have to do her Mundan ceremony for her in the nearby temple.
Sai and him were having arguments over piercing her ears too which he was dead against. He almost cried when she was poked for vaccines and insisted only his wife give her the injections. Later he even snapped on Sai when he thought she poked Savi too hard. Sai had to remind him that she is the baby's mother and a doctor and that he need to shut up before she calls someone to take him away from the room. He gets too obsessively protective over the baby which doesnt sit well with Sai and most of their arguments these days revolve around their parenting methods.
So the reminder freaked him out, that they might have to pierce her ears along with Mundan ceremony. He looked at his daughter and gently touched her ear lobes wondering how pretty she would look with the earrings but not wanting to do it yet. He cant let anything prick her when he has a choice to avoid it. Not with her, his baby, their baby...symbol of their love. If he believed in miracles, that is only after his daughter is born.
Virat moved onto his back bringing his one arm on his forehead and one around surrounding his daughter and drifted back to the day when things changed for them, in a bitter better way, and this miracle must have happened.
1.8 years back, the same night.
"Sai.. what happened", asked Virat cautiously.
Sai though shaking with anger and disappointment, calmly went and took the reports and shoved them in Virat's hands.
Virat read the reports, top to bottom, several times ...sometimes clearing his eyes to see better and to make sure he is not misreading anything. Panic struck him like jolt as he realized that the paper carries the doom of their child that he tried to save!
"What is this saying Sai? I know as a doctor you understand better", he asked hoping that his wife will say otherwise.
"Oh! Now you remember I am a doctor?", Sai rebuked him holding back her tears. "No I am not a doctor now, I am a mother and I am asking you who gave you the right to cause this damage to my child.", she cried.
"Our child Sai..", Virat corrected her, going near to pacify her only to be pushed again.
"No! if it is our child, you would have been with me together in bringing this life. But no!, it is either your child then or my child now, but was never OURS.", she shrieked.
"Sai, please control yourself and tell me what is going to happen?", he asked again though he knew things are out of control. "Please Sai", he pleaded holding her by her arms.
"The embryo is not developing. Either the implantation went wrong or the fetus is not growing properly", Sai said detachedly looking straight into Virat's eyes.
"So what will happen now?", Virat asked, his voice trembling.
Sai moved away a little, cleared her nose and eyes and said "The fetus is not growing properly. The body might reject it..", she gulped a bit and continued.."and might terminate itslef. Or..."
Virat was shocked to hear this but hopefully prodded "Or...?"
"Or even if it grows it causes complications to Pakhi Di..Pakhi. In short this pregnancy is not going to be successful", she clarified.
Virat stumped on the bed dejectedly looking at the report again.
"How...Why did this happen? We did everything right", he murmured.
"Everything right?", shouted Sai. "What right did you do?"
Virat never saw his wife this angry before, so he just listened looking up.
"Tell me Virat, what right are you talking about? Still you dont see what went wrong?", Sai prodded not without reducing the intensity in her eyes. "You are solely responsible for this situation.", she declared.
"Sai...", Virat nodded his head in denial. "I tried to save our last chance of having the child...", he defended himself.
"How,? by giving it a womb that was not ready. that was not legal and most importantly not nurturing?", Sai shouted.
Virat could not comprehend what his wife was saying. He tried to gather words to present his case.
"Sai..Pakhi was preparing for this procedure according to Kaku. She is hale and healthy. And..in that last moment ...I ....I ignored that she was not pregnant before.", he reasoned out "But...But she is healthy. She has all the reports.", he justified.
"And why was she preparing for the procedure?", Sai interrogated. "Did she forsee that Geetha will not come? huh?"
"Now you are diverting the topic Sai.", Virat raised his voice when he sensed where Sai was going.
"I m not diverting Virat. I am coming to the actual point.", she shouted back throwing daggers with her eyes at him . "You ALL...yes you all wanted this to happen and in a way managed to implement it successfully", Sai now pointed her finger directly to him.
"Shut up Sai! shut up!", yelled Virat. "Enough of your accusations. What do you mean you all. Did you mean I made Pakhi the surrogate intentionally", he questioned.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. You have left no option for me to think otherwise." yelled back Sai giving raise to a momentary silence. "Otherwise after so many times I denied having Pakhi as our surrogate, you still gave permission to her. I knew you wanted her as surrogate. You yourself asked me whether we should consider her...right here", she said pointing to the window again. "Remember?"
"Stop cooking up stories Sai! There is a limit to misunderstand me", Virat screamed. "Yes I did suggest Pakhi's name. And that is because...I wanted a safe option for our child. And when Pakhi said she is willing to help us so she can find meaning...", he was trying to connect his reasons and only now figured out how selfish both were..his meandering statements were intercepted by his wife.
"So you went around the law?", Sai questioned back.
"What is your problem Sai? that I went around the law or that I let Pakhi become the surrogate. First be clear.", yelled Virat again, clearly not understanding what his wife wanted to say.
"BOTH. I meant both. And they both are tied together. I don't know how you cannot see this. It is so clear to me!", Sai said with disbelief. "Why do you come under Pakhi's spell so easily? After all that happened, why cant you see who she is after?", beseeched Sai.
"What do you mean by who she is after? Sai, dont go back to the same mantra you chanted.", warned Virat pointing his index finger. "You know how she was devastated with Samrat's death and how...", he tried to explain when he was cut short.
"Yes she was devastated but not for Samrat dada, but for her dreams that shattered. She never loved Samrat dada. I can write it and give it to you. Otherwise she would not use your biggest loss, both your brother and your child to come closer to you, tied to you in an irrevocable way. By giving birth to YOUR child!", she spoke right to the shocked face of Virat quoting YOUR child.
"Enough Sai", shouted Virat even louder. "You are insulting me and my love for you. The child is ours, only ours!"
"This is the problem with you Virat. Why do you think I am talking about you. I am talking about Pakhi, not you. When will you see things from other's side", yelled back Sai. "She is not over you! not yet. May be she decided to move on with Samrat dada and things turned out otherwise. Now when she found an opportunity to stay close to you, she forcefully placed herself when we were rendered helpless.'", she explained to her husband patiently. "She is not normal Virat Sir. She is turning criminal. And we have to stop her.", she begged holding his fists together.
Virat pushed her away unable to comprehend still.
"See Sai, I dont understand what you are saying. Why you are saying. But I have seen her crying for Jeeva in this room. She was missing him. And in the police station, she begged me to allow her to be surrogate so she finds meaning in her life. You have seen her pleading me that day. Didnt you?", he questioned her back hoping that Sai would change her opinion.
"Just like she was pleading to you in the cafe that day?", countered Sai. "You never clearly told me about what she was pleading with you the other day, but by the looks of it both looked similar to me.",
A jolt of realization passed over Virat but it evaporated as quickly as it triggered.
"That was before she and Samrat shared a life Sai!", Virat corrected her. "This is after he passed away! Her husband PASSED away." he stressed. "Do you think she will behave like that when her husband died.", he stressed again. "There is a limit for hatred Sai. I never thought you would talk like this about another woman.", he rebuked.
"Wah, you see logic and sense in everything that woman does but not your wife who you claim to love more than anything. ", said clapped sarcastically. "I dont hate her. I am scared of her now", Sai shouted. "Seriously. Because she is a criminal now! You cant see it unless you prove that she conspired all the events on the surrogacy day. Virat, she is not the woman who you are thinking!! When will you start seeing me more than a jealous wife and take my words seriously?", Sai rested her case with exasperation not without adding. "You know what Virat, I am done with explaining things to you. I am going to the doctor tomorrow and even take legal help to terminate the pregnancy.", she said in finality.
"How dare you Sai! How can you terminate....", Virat revolted.
"Yes I will. I will terminate it. Because I am THE mother. I have the sole right to chose who the surrogate should be and I am the one to chose to terminate it.", Sai roared. "You took away the first right of me and I wont let you repeat the same with the second one."
"That is my child too!", Virat shouted back. "you cannot terminate it just because....", he realized it is not about Pakhi but about the fetus and cut short his words.
"This is the main problem Virat. your obsession to have this child has taken over your sense of judgement. Otherwise, how can a man who willingly gave his name to a fugitive's son, a man who selflessly kept everything he has at stake and a man who went against the rules to protect someone else's child can risk the wellness of two lives in his obsession to have HIS OWN child. It IS bound to fail", Sai said morosely but stressing at the right words.
"I wanted to have a child with YOU. I was not selfish. You dont know how things were on that day. I didnt have time. Your phone was not reacheable. They said it was our last chance to have our child. I didnt want things to happen this way Sai. Trust me. If there was any other person willing to give womb on that day other than Pakhi, I would have chosen her too. Believe me", he pleaded with his eyes. "Have you not done the same? Tell me. What if you were in my situation?", he questioned back feeling hopeful that his wife would now agree to his decision.
"I would not let the procedure to happen if I was in that situation.", Sai said in a clear tone. "Yes. If I were in your place, and if you had not chosen Pakhi or any other woman as surrogate, I would have respected your decision.", she said calmly. "Because you and your decision matters to me more than our unborn child.", she said whimpering in pain that doesnt seem to ease.
Virat took back few steps and slumped on the chair nearby. Sai knelt down and took his hands into hers.
"You always said we are together in this. But not on that day nor in that moment you took this decision. Pakhi was not prepared for this procedure. She was not a mother before. Not only that, her intentions are not good with giving her womb to our child. She was never the right choice for our baby. If not as your wife, you should trust me as a doctor. This implantation has failed. It will not grow into proper fetus. If you get this delayed and if something happens to Pakhi due to complications, she will hang around our necks for rest of our lives for which I dont have patience or time to deal with. I trust you as a police officer if not my husband to do the needful and be with me in this decision. Otherwise, as a doctor and most importantly as a mother I will do what is morally right for that embryo that is struggling to find life in that unfavorable womb. And to do this, I will even go against you.", Sai concluded tearfully, raising to her feet and walking away.
Next day evening
Virat entered the CN living room that evening. Everyone who looked at him can easily say that he cried. For a long time. His eyes were red and swollen. He was in his civil dress though he appeared like he was coming back from the police station.
He asked for Sai whether she is back from the hospital. At the same time Sai almost ran downstairs when she heard the car park few minutes before. She wanted to talk to him from the very next morning after their altercation. She felt bad that she had used all those words on him. She was anxiously waiting for him to reach home and comfort him for the same loss she is also going through.
So when she found him there in the living room dejected, she immediately asked him to come to their room as she wants to talk. Virat asked her to wait a bit as everyone gathered there. His blood boiled when he saw Pakhi walking into, rather casually. He observed now, in the light of his own realization how she changed her facial expressions as she slowly came into the presence of family members. Tears pooled in his eyes, tears of disappointment on himself and his lack of trust on his wife. He looked at Sai, who was keenly observing him with a worry laden face.
Pakhi is surprised to see her mother arrive there without any notice.
"Pakhi beta! Are you fine?", she inquired to which everyone including Pakhi was surprised.
"Haan Aai, I am fine but why are you here. I didnt ask you to come today?", said Pakhi casually. These days she doesnt want her mom around her so she could hear less of her warnings.
"Virat asked me to come saying it is urgent so I had to rush. Your dad is also coming in a while", she said anxiously.
Virat went to his Kaku, who is seated along with his Mom and Aunt Mansi. His dad and uncle, one seating beside and standing behind their sister-in law as her guards were also there now alarmed. Virat placed few photos, documents on the coffee table in front of them. He gestured to his wife through his eyes to come and have a peek.
"Virat, what are these photos?", BK asked not able to connect head or tail. "They look like road side goons. And what is this list of numbers. Looks like they are cell phone numbers!", she wondered taking a peek at one of the documents.
Sai quickly connected the dots and looked at Pakhis' dumbfounded face for confirmation.
"Kaku, these are all the proofs and paper trail to show Pakhi's involvement in getting Geetha delayed for surrogacy procedure on that day.", Virat said calmly to the eager audience. "I had to interrogate few cell phone shop owners to recognize the regular offenders in the area where Geetha stays. Thats all I needed to do.", Virat paused and concluded. "And ofcourse trust my wife."
"Virat, what are you saying? I dont understand.", BK asked glancing back and forth towards Pakhi and Virat.
"Kaku, the shopkeeper identified the person who attacked Sai on the day of surrogacy. In interrogation, he identified this woman as the person who gave them money to assault Sai and take her phone away.", he said pointing to Pakhi.
"Viraaat, how can you put such a big accusation on me! Just because your wife says so, you will come under her influence?", Pakhi scowled in her usual tirade.
"Kaku, these are the phone call records which show her presence in the area. She was present there couple of days before too in that area. She did a recce in that area prior to implementing her plan.", Virat continued ignoring Pakhi's interjections. "And these are the papers she asked Geetha to sign on that day which are not legal papers prepared by any attorney. Here is the report from the attorney that says these papers are as good as trash.", Virat continued still not paying heed to Pakhi's ifs and buts. "And this particular phone call", Virat pointed to the circle marked around the call records. "This one you will find out who this person is", he said dialing the number from his cell phone which rang on Pakhi's mother's phone.
"Sai! you can stoop this low to make your husband do all these things behind my back?", Pakhi bounced towards Sai menacingly but stopped by Virat's thundering voice.
'Thaaam!", he shouted without turning towards her. "I have enough proof to arrest you for assaulting my wife. and forging the legal documents and misleading a legal procedure."
"Viraaat, you will arrest me?!" Pakhi asked in disbelief.
"Yes I will!", Virat screamed meeting her eye to eye for the first time that evening and turning away his head immediately.
Everyone was shocked, still unable to find head or tail. Still unable to see the motive and formulate words to ask the right questions. Just then BK spoke, as if nothing happened or not willing to confront the ugliness that happened right under her nose.
"Virat!.bada what can we do now? I will talk to Patralekha on this. She will have to answer this for sure. But what can we do now. Your child is in her womb. Can we do anything? hmm", BK said taking Virat's bereaved face into her palms. "Dont do anything that will cause more damage to our family reputation", she pleaded tearfully. "She was bereaved as we all know after Samrat's death. She came to me personally and said she wanted to help our family. You know my reasons for suggesting her. ", BK argued morosely still not willing to see things clearly.
Ashwini was disgusted but looked out for Sai to see if she was okay. Surprisingly she looked unperturbed by this revelation. Her gaze was fixated on her husband's back with a frown, unable to gauge his next moves. She did not anticipate him to reveal the events in this manner.
"Kaku, I am not finished yet. ", Virat said looking into his BK's eyes and then going back to another document. "This one is the ultrasound taken on the day of hostage crisis at hospital. Please read.".
"What is this?", BK started reading and all the elders came closer anxiously. "This...says...that the pregnancy is not successful?", BK muttered with horror.
"Badi mami!", Pakhi came forward to answer and was stopped by Virat's hand.
"Kaku, when I showed this document to Geetha..", he paused a bit and continued "she broke down and confessed how they were manipulated to not say anything about her visit to their house. She could not bear the fact that they were somewhere responsible to this mishap.", Virat explained trying to reign in his anger. "But this lady here, has not revealed to you, nor anyone till now. It has been 48 hours! Now tell me what could be the reason Kaku?", Virat questioned his Kaku who is as perplexed as him still...
"Stop it Virat. There is a limit to come under your wife's spell. Geetha is her accomplice in framing me. Sai is just jealous that I could bear the child while she cannot. She cannot give you the one thing you desired. It is me who is fulfilling your dream. And you are accusing me!!", yelled Pakhi not ready to give up.
"Enough!" roared Virat. "Who are you to say anything between me and my wife? Think before you talk".
"You think before you talk Virat", she roared back as her ego was hurt. "Think who needs whom? You child is in my womb."
"Not my child", yelled Virat unable to control his anger anymore. "Our child", he said pointing his finger from Sai towards him. "OUR CHILD"
"Yes thats what I meant." Pakhi gritted her teeth before speaking "Then you should be careful how you talk to me. You come under your wife's spell..." Pakhi started accusing agian.
"I came under your spell", Virat shouted again. "Your crocodile tears that ...that I dont know where you evoke from", Virat choked remembering all their conversations.
"Oh now mine are crocodile tears!", yelled Pakhi back "Badi mami! i am leaving this house. I cant tolerate these accusations from this couple anymore", she said to which BK didnt say anything. After a pause, she asked.
"Patralekha, just answer me one question. When you knew about this pregnancy, why did you not inform us.", she questioned sternly.
"Badi mami!", Pakhi closed her mouth. "You are also suspecting me?",she said in accusatory tone. "I tried to help this family at your request..."
"I did not request you. You came to me and offered yourself.", BK screamed raising up. "Answer my question. Why you did not disclose such a grave matter?"
"I did not want to upset you...", said Pakhi now taking a back foot.
"Tell me one thing, why did you want to help so badly that you bent backwards to stop Geetha from coming there?", BK asked, now convinced at Pakhi's willful intrusion.
"You also believe these stories Badi mami?", Pakhi cried tears flowing down as if on cue "Geetha's house is nearby the temple that I visited that day so the cell phone records must have shown it and I talk to my mother almost everyday. what is the big deal?..." Pakhi spoke without a break prompting her mother to speak for her.
"Yes...yes..Pakhi calls me almost everyday. That day she called me from the temple." Pakhi's mom tried to provide an alibi for her daughter though inside her mind she was praying Bappa to expose her daughter once for all, for her own good.
"OK whose number is this?", Virat asked in exasperation at her lies. He showed one more number that was neither BK's nor her mom's. Without waiting for another lie, he called the number which was lifted by one of his constables who confirmed that the number is the goon's who is currently locked up.
Pakhi had no defense so she turned to her usual emotional blackmail, wailing at the top of her lungs now.
"Yes I did it. I wanted to help this family. After Samrat's death, I want to find meaning in my life and I thought this baby can help me find the purpose again.", she lamented. "My mother wanted me to move on but I came back here ....",
"Suddenly becoming friendly with Sai!", clapped Virat now fully realizing his stupidity in believing her. "The woman who cursed my wife just few days before and wished for her death is suddenly transformed into her well wisher. wah!. Pakhi. Wah. You tell stories...and I believe.", he said nodding his head "Not anymore."
"Virat!! So you are blaming me for your wife's miscarriage?" Pakhi blurted out the truth that her left over conscience has been troubling her with.
Virat kept mum for a second and got up from his knees. He realized it is utter waste of his time to argue with her anymore. He quietly walked upto Pakhi, with a menacing look. Sai rushed to his side, trying to stop him
"Virat Sir! leave it. Just tell her what needs to be done.", she tried to stop her husband from revealing anymore harsh truths that might embarrass the elders.
Virat gestured her to stop by raising his hand.
"Virat! just watch what you speak.", Ashwini reprimanded. "Mansi Tai is here."
Virat looked at his bua, tears filling his eyes. He commanded a lot of will power to stop talking from what he intended to initially. He mentally summarized all his realization into few words that might finally bring this woman to reality, if at all it is possible.
"See, Patralekha!", he started showing his index finger with an intention to warn her. Pakhi just stood there now panicked to her core but not willing to give up. She looked straight into the man's eyes trying to find any compassion for her. She used to see it before. But not now. It is filled with anger as the red color in his eyes signified. "I now know the reason behind all this crime drama you unveiled in past few days. I have told you multiple times before, and I am telling you again. You are my brother's wife and DIL of this house. I believed that you also felt the same. That is the only reason, I gave you benefit of doubt several times. And the only reason for that benefit is that you cant be a criminal. That you are a normal girl from a good household. And to me, you were never ever more than a wife of my elder brother.", he stressed on the last lines before he continued further. "So holding on to that respect still, I am reiterating this to you AGAIN even though I expressed it in multiple ways several times before.", said Virat despicably.
Not heeding to elders' suggestion to stop going any further Virat glared at Pakhi one last time before turning his face away from her forever.
"This woman here, ", he pointed to Sai without turning his face but taking everyone's attention to Sai "Even if she leaves me...", he paused, gulped and rephrased himself "Even if she dies the next day and I survive it, I will live with her memories till I can."
"Godu! What are you talking?", Ashwini reprimanded at the words used.
Pakhi's ego broke loose and without caring about her impression in front of the family, she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"If I am just your elder brother's wife, why dont you. call me Vahini...Why do yo call me Pakhi....if not...", Pakhi was cut short by Virat's thundering voice.
"I dont address you with that word because you are not like my Kaku who became the man of this family when my Kaka Saheb left us suddenly, neither you are like my mother who digested daily insults from the family and still nurtured the children to be better human beings...nor you are like my wife, who brought happiness to this house when she was not even my wife. Leave all these aside! you could not even be a WIFE to my elder brother which is foremost thing to be considered as one!", he scowled revealing more than he intended to, and composed himself. "You could not even fulfill your basic responsibility to be called one! Do not instigate me with any frivolous talk. I might have to reveal what all you spoke to me in our private conversations. I owe that much to my deceased brother that I should keep his wife's respect in front of his mother.", he concluded saying sorry to sobbing Mansi bua.
Pakhi started again, only to be stopped by a loud slap on her face. Pakhi's mom unable to withhold her contempt for her daughter and to protect her from further disgrace slapped her. "I should have done this much earlier, on that day when you decided to take this step...or much before that when you decided to marry Samrat for being close to...", she stopped herself from doing the opposite of what she intended to with that slap. She composed herself and spoke "Your dad is disgusted with your behavior and stopped talking to you already. However, he is coming now to take you back. No one could stop us now.", she said looking at BK who is rather despised at these turn of events.
"One minute!" Virat said to Pakhi's mother."I have to tell one more thing. The important one.", he said making all the tirade before that, insignificant to him. He kneeled in front of BK, and said softly yet rigidly "Kaku, this pregnancy has to be aborted. The implantation has gone wrong. The foetus is not developing, it is struggling. It might cause complications to the surrogate. I made a terrible mistake by not adhering to rules, just because it is my child. Lets not do that again." he said taking her hands into his. "We both made a mistake, in selfishness and arrogance. Now lets take this forward in a legal way. The hospital will sue us. We might have to pay some fine and issue an apology to the hospital.". Then he turned to Pakhi's mother and said "Please get this done for the sake of her health. The doctors will recommend the same. Sai will help you in this matter. Dont postpone any further", he said curtly when BK broke him with her sobs.
"Virat!! bada your child...this family's chirag. Khandoba! What a difficulty you have bestowed on us", she wailed.
"Kaku! I dont want a child..if it is not from Sai. I wanted a child, rather desperately because I could not take another loss and made these wrong decisions. I was just fine with two of us before Samrat passed away. I will be fine now too with... Just her! I caused her so much pain already.", he paused and looked at Sai who is nodding her head sideways rigorously. He smiled with ever present fondness for her in his eyes. "We all will be just fine with her presence around us. Coming to Chirag, dont you think we all went overboard with this obsession? Is it not unfair to Mohit or even Devi tai that you keep talking about my child all the time?! What kind of enviornment we provide for our children Kaku, if we ourselves differentiate them before they are born?", Virat reasoned out with his Kaku trying to put some sense into her, the same sense he realized a day back. He hated himself for not realizing it earlier.
"But you are the eldest son of this house...", BK explained.
"That makes me more responsible to change this mindset in our family. That should make me more prepared for being a bade Kaku when Mohit's child is born in this house. That should prepare me and Sai to shower all our love on Mohit's kids, Harini and if we still have love to be shared, then we can adopt a child like Sai suggested. Just think without any of your age old impressions, everything looks so simple.", he said, finally understanding what being a parent meant.
Sonali and Omi looked at each other and despised themselves for being so mean to Sai all the time while she was struggling with miscarriage. Just then as if Virat read their mind, he spoke to BK.
"And Kaku, please dont taunt my wife for her childlessness. If she is childless, I am too! I am not saying this emotionally, it is the truth. I could not stand by her when you all blamed her for Samrat's death and protect her from miscarriage. Later, my obsession for this child has spiraled out into these events losing my another chance.", Virat said with the relief that comes with surrendering to the situations. "If we are childless today, it is because of me. Only me! So next time when you taunt Sai about being childless, dont forget to add me", he smiled ruefully to the shocked face of his Kaku.
Not wanting to continue this discussion anymore or to be in Pakhi's presence, Virat hustled towards his room, followed by Sai.
In their room, he broke down standing in front of the mirror. The enormity of the issue dawned on him while explaining to BK, that they might be childless and he was the reason for it, in some way. He sobbed when the tender hands of his wife embraced him from behind, rubbing her cheek to his back and kissing him.
"Everything will be okay.", she said. "You spoke so bravely! I am proud of you Virat!".
Virat turned back and hugged her tightly "I am so sorry Sai. It is not that I dont trust you, I believed in her tears more than your words. I dont have any other feeling for her...", he explained earnestly but was stopped in between.
"I know Virat sir!", Sai said taking his face into her hands, and wiping his tears. "I am sorry for saying those words to you. I was so hurt last night, I dint know how else to make you see things. I love you.", she said hugging him back tightly. "And dont let this loss consume you again. As you say always, these are only experiences that will make us richer. Bappa has taught us parenthood before blessing with a child. Who knows he has better plans for us!.", she said with tinge of hope and positivity in her voice.
Virat smiled at her positivity and gathered her more closely into his arms, appreciating the abundant love he is already blessed with!
Epilogue (TBD very soon)
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