CN under maintenance!
NOTE: Sorry, it was long pending OS. It started as a funny one but I had to put some reality into it after Sai was asked to be Just Bahu. I wanted to show that Sai will make really good decisions for the family, but people will want her to get out of the house and do well in her career 
especially BK.
"Ey Jungli Mulgi!", warned BK pointing her index finger at the bride "You decide who you want to be. If you want to become doctor then leave this house or stay here and be as the bahu of this house."
Virat is upset at how the things were turning. He just wanted to get the pheras done and take his wife to Bangalore the next day. None of the things his Kaku was talking made sense to him nor he intended to discuss them. He regretted for forgiving these people who dont deserve even a civilized talk. He was about to say all this when he heard the sweetest yet stern voice of his wife.
"OK Kaku! I will agree to your condition of leaving my career and being your bahu", Sai said confidently. She signalled Virat who was about to talk with one hand pointed straight to his face and continued "I am going to sacrifice my dream so you have to agree to my condition too?", she demanded BK.
"I dont have to listen to any condition. Who are you to put conditions?", howled BK.
"Sai Virat Chavan!", Sai clarified "The eldest bahu of this house now." he asserted looking at everyone in the crowd and challenging her status.
Virat looked at Sai squinting his eyes trying to read her. He is sure she is upto something. But whatever it is, he wanted to finish the ritual and get going with their lives. They have been in limbo for so long and he doesnt want one more night to get wasted in this drama. He looked at Sai with exasperation hoping to meet her eyes and ask her to let him handle this. But the Sai Joshi has her own plans he realized.
"So Kaku. I will agree to your demands only if you give up all the responsibilities and hand them over to me. Being the eldest one, it has to be me. Only if you agree to this, I will give up my career. Afterall I am giving up being a doctor which will earn so much money and reputation, so I have to get something equivalent to that? It is only fair", she explained. "Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what? Are you threatening me?", barked BK.
"Otherwise, I will have to ask my husband to take the transfer and leave with him. What we will do later should not concern you", Sai said casually
"And why will Virat listen to you?", smirked BK.
"He might not listen to me. But DIG sir will.", declared Sai rather confidently to which Virat nodded in amusement. His wife knows how to press the right buttons.
"Yes Kaku, Sai can influence DIG. We have all seen it." Virat said now being partner in crime along with Sai.
BK looked at Patralekha threateningly for unnecessarily riling her up and putting her in this soup. Not willing to lose Virat to the transfer, Pakhi interrupted.
"Badi mami, I studied Sociology. People like this will need constant support from the chamchas around to make them feel good. She is flying high thinking everyone in this house is on her side.", blabbered Pakhi.
"Pakhi didi. I have earned everyone with my own love. So they support me. If they need my supervision in this house, they can vote.", she suggested logically.
"OK let the CN people vote. Let me see how many will go against me!", BK looked menacingly at everyone. "No No, not you, your husband or Samrat. Only Chavanese should vote", reprimanded BK pointing to Devi's hand shooting already up in the air chanting Sai.
"OK I am ready.", said Sai.
Mansi bua started the counting and asked everyone to raise their hands for Sai or BK. 3, 2 and 1 Go.
She counted Virat, Mohit, Ashwini on Sai's side. And Sonali, Omi, Pakhi were on BK's side. Karishma's half lifted where she wanted to be with her husband and also with her MIL. Sonali pulled her hand up in the end. Ninad remained neutral saying that Sai and his Vahini are his two eyes so he could not chose one.
"Are you a Chanvanese, Pakhi didi?", questioned Sai rather mockingly "Your husband and MIL didnt even move their hand. Then why are you stretching your hand to reach the ceiling?
"So it is a tie, as both the parties got 3 votes each", declared Mansi Bua. "Ninad do you want to be a tie breaker?", she asked her younger brother who was waiting to vote for his DIL but could not betray his loyalty to his SIL.
"No need for that Tai", came along Shivani Bua from the back "My pheras are also not complete, so I am still a Chavanese. My vote is for Sai.", she concluded.
"Sai I am so proud of you!", gushed Virat as if his wife won a real election in Nagpur.
BK looked at Pakhi for pushing her into this mess before the pheras ended. She was clearly put in a fix whether to lose Virat again or give this girl the power over her house. Not able to counter her in front of people and to save her image as the leader of the house, she declared that her next generation bahu will take care of the house while she decided to step down and train her.
"Thank you Kaku", beamed Sai "OK from this day the entire CN and its subjects will go under my maintenance. I will make sure they will all work to their potential" , she announced.
"Eh jungli mulgi why are you talking like we are all objects that need maintenance", rubbished BK.
"Oh that comes from my doctor training. I look at people like they need to be fixed. Mentally and physically. You can take away my career but not my training Kaku.", Sai chuckled. to which Virat parrotted "Well said my doctor Sahiba!"
After everyone agreed to end the fight amicably with voting, Sai and Virat, Shivani and Rajeev finished their pheras.
Next Morning.
BK is already sitting alone in Zillat unable to sleep the whole night. She is pretty sure Sai would turn the house upside down and also was not sure how she is going to handle this girl 24/7. While she was contemplating what her next steps are Sonali and Ashwini joined her but did not ask her for what to make for breakfast to BK's chagrin.
"Ashwini what are you making for breakfast?", she asked while Sonali took the seat next to her ready to open her gossip list.
"Vahini, I am waiting for my new boss, sorry bahu to give me orders.", she said rather calmly. "She is our new Mukhiya. So...", Ashwini hesitated a bit but drove the point home.
"Wah Mukhiya.Huh. It is 7'O clock in the morning and she did not come down still. The men will come for breakfast now", she said disapprovingly.
"Vahini! yesterday was her wedding. So they must have slept late!", giggled Sonali heartily but stopped abruptly when she met BK's glare.
Just then Sai came down yawning all the while. Ashwini hurried inside to make tea.
"Lo she is here. The new Mukhiya. If you dont wake up before everyone, how can you take care of the morning routine"', rebuked BK as Sai sat next to her.
"Oh! sorry Kaku. I had a pretty long night", she said winking at her. "5 stars for Virat Chavan!", she said showing her hand to which Sonali giggled.
"Chee! look how are you talking. Do you have shame?", called out BK.
"Why Kaku. I am just reviewing the product after using it.", she said jokingly. "Oh wait let me thank the manufacturer ", she said running towards her MIL. "Thank you Aai for giving me your son.", she said kissing her.
"Anything for you my bada", Ashwini said kissing her back.
"Chee Chee Chee. This is how the house is going to turn if this Doctor takes care of it. Khandoba!", said BK.
Pakhi also just then reached the Zillat, yawning lounder and wider.
"Patralekha's sleep must have been destroyed because of yesterday's tamasha. We missed her awesome Amrit chai and had to drink your MIL's", lamented BK.
"Pakhi didi's sleep must be disturbed. Poor thing had to stand and listen to our music whole night, right Pakhi didi?", asked Sai knowing where she was the previous night. "Actually you should try again today. Yesterday we were still figuring things out..Today you will hear better music.", she a thumbs up to Pakhi's shocked face.
"Battameez ladki, What are you blabbering? Look Badi mami, how cheaply she is talking", roared Pakhi at her act being caught.
"Pakhi didi, Kaku is under maintenance too. She cant help you. Or rather I will not let anyone interfere while I fix everyone. So you better keep quiet.", she put her off. "I would suggest you also should try the Salunkhe. Afterall he is half Chavan too. I can give you half guarantee that you will be pleased.", said Sai as a matter of factly.
"Chaan, Khoob, amazing", laughed Sonali.
"How dare you talk like this to me?", Pakhi lunged towards Sai.
"Mrs. Salunkhe! if you want to stay in this place, then behave as I say. Otherwise I will ask your husband to take you out. ", said Sai. "If you cant joke about things in this house, then you should leave. I dont like sulking faces in my house"
Mansi Bua and Samrat just entered Zillat, with wide grins looking Sai's happy face.
"Samraaaat, see what your loving sister is saying. That she will send me out along with you because you are a Salunkhe?", Pakhi instigated Samrat.
"She is saying the truth right Patralekha?", said Samrat coolly. "If she doesnt want us in CN, we might have to leave. Afterall she is our Mukhiya."
Sai got up and made an announcement as the rest of the CN wasis assembled except for Virat and Shivani/Rajeev. Let us all discuss my expectations of you all, at the breakfast table she declared.
Everyone followed her promptly except for BK and Pakhi.
Zillat Dining Table:
Sai took the head seat of the dining table without blinking her eyelids. BK came there storming but not wanting to repeat the argument, she took the seat next to her.
Sai asked everyone to take the seats and started her speech
"OK without further adieu, let me set the rules for this family. I am not a dictator like Kaku, so if you have any questions you can interrupt me and ask. I will be more than happy to answer", she said beaming to the audience where half of them are amused, some are exasperated and one is fuming, her chest heaving as she just finished the marathon. Unable to control her obsession towards Virat, she anyways started
"Badi mami, should'nt we wait for Virat? Only he could control this girl", she said frantically looking at the stairs.
"Pakhi didi! My husband is tired from the wedding proceedings yesterday. So are Shivani Bua and Rajeev. So you mind your own business and things that concern you", she said pointing to Samrat with her eyes. "And leave my things to myself. " She then continued.
"So, folks! My main guiding motto would be to make every body in this house to work optimally to their best and contribute to the prosperity of our family.", she announced.
"See how she is talking as if we are all objects", scorned BK.
"Kaku, I am a doctor so I know how human bodies and mind work. From that perspective, I will be evaluating people here as some'body' and expect them to work their age and strength. If you just eat and sit, the mind will become like say Pakhi didi, always plotting. Or say Sonali Kaku, who talks more and works less.", she said to the incoming ooh and aahs. Samrat and Mohit let out huge cries of appreciation.
"So, I will set some expectations to each one of you and evaluate every week. This is my way of making sure people are used at their capacity and functioning well. Afterall I am doctor. So followups are needed", she chuckled.
"Ok what are my expectations. Let me hear", mocked BK folding her hands, challenging her.
"Kaku, I will come to you later after going over the ones that actually add some value to this house", Sai said candidly. "I mean you need maintenance and care, while others need oiling and fixing.", she clarified.
While BK was shocked and trying to comprehend what Sai said, Sai moved on to Samrat.
"First! Samrat Dada. You have to make a decision quickly whether you are going to join army or work for NGO.", she said as if forcing him to take a decision. "Your age and youth are wasted in something that might make you older faster. The stress is not worth it.", she said pointing to a fuming Pakhi. "And my husband is already overworked and I cant see him losing his efficiency.", she said placing her hands down as if prodding Samrat to answer.
"N...G....O", stammered Samrat. "I will work on my NGO. Make few trips to MB now and then.", he asserted feeling suddenly good.
"And..what about your dependents here?", she pointed to Pakhi. "My expectation is that, like your career you need to fix your life too. I cant let the people sit here like furniture."
"Sai. How dare you?", raised Pakhi's voice.
"I am coming to you only Pakhi didi!", Sai said rather casually "You have been the reason that most of the people here are broken", she said pointing to her temples. "If you dont correct yourself, I might have to call your manufacturers and return you. I am sure dada and mansi bua agree with me here. ", she asked the opinion of the two silently.
"Barobar!", came the voices of Mother and Son in sync.
"Samraaaat", hissed Pakhi covering her mouth. "I did so much....."
"What did you do for us?" again spoke mom and son in sync. "Oh Amrit chai? It messes up with our brains", confessed Mansi Bua.
"Pakhi didi! you dont have to do anything else. Make your own music with your husband. Samajla?", said Sai to some bewildered faces but Pakhi got it right away.
"Moving on...", squealed Sai so not to hear Pakhi's protests. "Mohit Bhaiyya!. I know you are working but not trying hard. I want you to make sure you get atleast one show for us all to attend every month. If you cant get it, then you might have to focus on other areas of interest.", she said coldly but with an encouraging tone. "And Karishma...", she walked to her.
"Bhaabhii...", Karishma backed off in fear hiding behind Sonali. "Why are you approaching me when you just stood there for others. "
"Thaamb, stop, ruko!" sonali shouted at Sai.
"Sonali Kaku your list of expectations is too long. Should I add one more to not defend Karishma", Sai asked pointing her finger to her.
Sonali pulled Karishma from her behind and shoved her forward towards Sai.
"Karishma! you should stop talking and start working.", that is the only expectation. "You either work in kitchen, or apply for a job or give a waris to BK.", said Sai as if she had made the decision already. "OK?!", she stressed expecting an answer.
"Dado Sutto! All 3 are easy.", Karishma said to everyone's surprise. "But all the 3 are not in my hands, are they!. Ashwini Kaku will do all the work in the kitchen, no one gives me a job and Mohit doesnt want babies yet.".
"Dont worry. I have solution for all the 3. Aai is not going to come into the kitchen from tomorrow. I will give you a job and pay you too. Mohit bhaiyya will be happy if you keep up the practice towards the babies. Make some mood. and all...", she said leaning in close to Karishma. "And dont put him down every now and then. You will see the magic. ", Sai said winking to her.
"Haaa. ", Karishma closed her mouth while Mohit tried to read their banter.
Now going towards people that need maintenance.
"Aai and Mansi bua, you both should rest more and get yourselves fit to handle next generation. Every morning and evening you both should go for a walk. Every day", she stressed to which both women nodded their heads as if taking orders. "And Aai no stepping into the kitchen. Pakhi didi and Karishma will handle the kitchen", she ordered.
"And what will maharani do?", howled Pakhi.
"Maharani will make sure everyone is working as expected. Thats what Kaku did. Ho na Kaku?", she asked. "And moving on to Sonali kaku and Omi Kaka".
"You both should go together and manage the Santra business.", she commanded. "Sonali kaku, I am sure you are not too old to be sent to walking along with Aai and Mansi bua?", asked Sai putting Sonali into dilemna. "Virat Sir mentioned once that the accounts are not consistence anymore. If you could make your husband correct the accounts, you can take 10% of the extra income. barobar, besh, good?", Sai said successfully hooking Sonali against her own husband."
Omi looked really troubled as he knows his wife can go any lengths to get that extra 10% commission. Not willing to poke new Mukhiya anymore, he praised Sai's decsion as he used to parrot for the old Mukhiya.
BK was curiously looking at Sai now as if dying to hear what she planned for her. Before Sai could 'punish' her with any burdens, she preemptively suggested something.
"I dont want to handle this torture anymore. I am going to Devi's house", she declared. "Pulkit has been begging me to come and stay with them", she lied.
"Na na. Kaku. It is my responsibililty to fix you. I dont want outsiders to question my leadership that I discarded you", Sai said in finality. "So Kaku, your duty is to take care of Bappa and other deities in home. You have to get up and prepare bhog for Bappa and do early morning and evening Pooja", she commanded.
Everyone was looking at each others faces not knowing what to say. They were all expecting BK would get toughest of the toughest task. Ashwini intervened and asked the same.
"Aai, Kaku keeps saying Khandoba every now and then, but never intended to know who Khandoba is. It is time she knows him better", said sai jokingly. "Ho na Kaku? After pooja you can sit and watch TV serials where you can find your mirror images. That is all you have to do."
Pakhi wanted to put oil in the fire one last time so she poked again "Wah Sai you have give Badi mami also some task but what about you and your husband? What are Virat's expectations?"
"Pakhi didi!! My husband is already providing enough so you all could eat and talk like this! He will continue to do the same but with increased performance because" she said striding close to her and whispered. "I am personally taking care of his maintenance with my own hands.", she winked leaving Pakhi in splinters.
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