Whom to choose?

Surgesh hospital, Sai’s cabin

Sai tells Satya, “Oh its just that when I was arranging books in my shelf. Some of them accidentally fell unto my shoulder and left a mark there.” Satya smiles, “Of course it should be that, how can you even have a love bite on your shoulder when a love bite is a symbol of love.” Sai felt nervous and tells him, “Dr. Satya, I’m a bit tired after attending a really long list of patients. Would you mind me taking a break for a few minutes.” Satya puts forth the condition “Sure only if you agree to have coffee with me in the evening.” Sai half-heartedly agrees. Satya happily leaves thinking about his coffee date with Sai. After Satya leaves, Sai gets up, goes towards the mirror in her cabin, slides down her dupatta and affectionately embraces the love bite on her shoulder.

Nagpur Police Station

Virat was stunned to realize that he bore the impression of the passion that he endured with Sai right behind his ear. He asks the inspector to leave and takes out his mobile phone and looks at the reflection of the love bite. Virat, “Oh god, how can I be so ignorant? What if Pakhi had noticed it before me.” He quickly takes out the first aid kit from his desk, pulls out a band aid and puts it on the mark. Just then he hears someone clapping, he turns around to see his alter ego clapping in front of him. The alter ego asks him, “What are you doing DCP Virat Chavan?” Virat, “What am I doing? I’m hiding the impression. Pakhi would not happy if she sees it.” The alter ego, “Are you going to hide from her about whatever happened between you and Sai that night? So the DCP of Nagpur has become a coward?” Virat, “No I’m not a coward. It’s just that if I reveal all that happened between me and Sai to Pakhi she will not be able to bear the truth.” The alter ego, “But will she be able to bear it when she somehow comes to know about it someday?” Virat gets thinking. As Virat kept thinking, the alter ego circles round him saying, “And don’t you think it’s high time for you to choose between Sai and Pakhi?” Virat tells, “Sai is my love while Pakhi is my duty.” The alter ego tells, “But you will have to choose one. You can’t eat the cake and have it too!! How long will you keep swinging between two women?” Virat asks, “But how can I choose one?” The alter ego leans forward and whispers in his ear, “Close your eyes and ask your heart, you will get the answer.” Virat closes his eyes while the alter ego disappears. Virat reflects upon all the events which passed in his life in the 7 years he stayed separated from Sai. All the events including Vinayak’s adoption, his marriage with Pakhi, discovering Sai, Savi’s truth….to the passionate moment between him and Sai that night. Soon his mind wanders into a dream where Pakhi calls him saying, “Come Virat come and catch me.” He runs behind Pakhi calling, “Pakhi wait!!” Pakhi keeps running forward and finally stops at a dead-end. When Virat goes and catches her shoulder, she turns around. He was astonished to see that it was not Pakhi but Sai. Virat quickly opens his eyes asking, “Sai?” Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein tune plays in the background.

Evening, Surgesh Hospital

Sai has packed everything and is about to leave when Satya comes to her cabin and says, “Coffee time Dr. Chidku” Sai stares at him. Satya nervously “I mean Dr. Choshi… no…no…no…Dr. Joshi” Sai laughs at his nervous antics. Satya gets lost in her laughter and tells her, “You have the most innocent laughter Dr. Joshi.” Sai was taken aback by those words as she remembered Virat giving her the same compliment in his inebriated state during Holi. She tries to drive away the thoughts of Virat from her mind and tells Satya, “Shall we go?” Satya cheerfully signs her to lead the way. Sai goes forward with Satya meekly following her. As they reach outside, they find Virat waiting there. Both Sai and Satya were irked to see him. On seeing Sai, Virat comes forward and tells her, “Sai I need to talk to you please.” Satya interferes and says, “Excuse me DCP Sahab didn’t you understand when she left your house that she is no longer interested in you or your family matters. Then why are you bothering her?” Virat closes his eyes and angrily tells Satya, “I’m talking to my wi…he stops himself and says I’m talking to my ex-wife Sai. Who are you to talk in between us?” Satya starts, “I’m her….” He stops himself thinking, “What is my relation with Sai?” Virat continues, “If you don’t mind can you please excuse us.” Virat pulls Sai’s hand to take her while Satya pulls Sai’s other hand to stop her saying, “Sai is not going anywhere with you.” Sai was left in the middle to choose between the two men. Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein dramatic tune plays in the background. Both Virat and Satya wait anxiously for Sai’s response to know with whom she wanted to go with. Shortly, Sai takes off her hand from Satya’s and tells him, “Its alright Dr. Satya. I will have a word with Mr. Chavan if he wants to.” Satya was surprised while Virat felt relieved. Sai asks Virat, “What is it that you want to say?” Virat looks at Satya and tells, “Not here Sai, can we go somewhere?” Sai agrees. Virat motions her to get into the car. Both Virat and Sai get into the car and drive off. Satya keeps looking at the moving car from behind and says, “Today she chose you over me Mr. Virat Chavan but I will make sure that some day she will choose me over you.”

Outskirts of Nagpur City

Virat and Sai reach a place where there was no human race in the vicinity. Both Virat and Sai come out of the car and stand facing away from each other. An awkward silence filled between them. Both knew they had to face each other after whatever happened between them that night but didn’t know how to do it. Finally Virat breaks the silence and tells Sai, “Sai I know you left Chavan Nivas to avoid me because you are disturbed of whatever happened between us that day but do you think I’m staying peacefully without you? Every minute I’m living in fear of thinking how I will face Pakhi.” Sai angrily asks him, “You think only about Mrs. Chavan!! What about me? I am unable to sleep since that day. My whole body feels filthy when I remember that I had unconsciously let Mrs. Chavan’s and Aai’s words come true.” Virat tells her “I’m sorry for whatever happened that day…” before he could finish Sai turns around catches his collar and starts slapping him left and right asking, “Why did it happen? Why did it happen?” Virat catches her hand tightly and stops her saying, “It happened because I love you!!” Sai was freezed to her position. Virat continues, “This is the truth Sai. I love you and have always loved only you all throughout my life. I was never able to fulfill my promises of marriage towards Pakhi as I had only you in my heart.” Sai frees herself from Virat’s clenches and stands a distance away without facing him. Virat tells her from behind, “And today I am ready to break free from all my relations of farz (duty) and vaade (promises) and unite with you Sai. To start afresh our family of you, me, Vinayak and Savi. So will you be mine?” Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein happy tune plays in the background. Sai’s heart fluttered with joy, tears filled her eyes and a smile passed through her face. She knew that she always wanted to hear those words from Virat but soon somewhere within her heart she felt a tight pull remembering her promise to Pakhi. Virat asks her, “What are you thinking Sai? Don’t you want to forget all that happened between us in the past and start afresh with our children?” Sai wipes her tears, turns around facing Virat and tells him, “I need time to think Virat.” Virat, “Fine, is one week enough for you?” Sai nods. Virat, “Next week same time, same day, I will be waiting for you and your answer at Nagpur park.” Sai looked on.

Days passed, Virat did not try to meet or bother Sai anymore but he waited anxiously for the day and time when he would hear Sai’s reply. Both Virat and Sai were seen tensed in their respective places thinking upon on how their one decision would change the life of many.

A week later

Virat dressed up handsomely and took a bouquet of roses to meet Sai. Pakhi stops him and asks, “Where are off to all dressed up?” Virat tells her, “If I have dressed up it must be for someone special.” He swiftly moves out without answering to any more of Pakhi’s questions. Pakhi annoyed gets thinking, “I hope he has not gone to meet Sai.”

Nagpur Park

Virat reaches there and looks around for Sai. He spots Sai seated on a bench and makes his steps towards her. Gustakh nazron ne dekhan hai tumko…Khushboo fizaki kare bekaraar humko…dil ke sune toh raha jahe na…kehna jo chahu kaha jaye na…jab tumko dekhu lagta hai yeh…kehke hi tumko milega raah…hmm..Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein plays in the playground. But before Virat could reach Sai someone calls her out. Sai turns around to see Satya kneeling down, he takes out a ring from his pocket and asks Sai, “Will you marry me Dr. Joshi?”

 

Whom will Sai choose? Virat or Satya?

——–

To be continued.

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