Aniket has arranged a car for all of them and they alight right on time.

The boys too have dressed up in traditional kurtas taking suggestion from Sandhya.

As they walk in, they are greeted at the door by a pleasant middle aged woman, hands folded in namaste, her salt and pepper hair giving her a worldly aura. They greet her and Sai and Sandhya look around when Sumit joins in,

“Are Welcome… mil gaya ghar sahi tarike se?”

Sumit asks, though his eyes are stuck on the beauty in the peach saree in front of him.

Aniket replies in affirmative and Sumit then turns to the older woman next to him.

“Meri Aai se milo. Dr. Sushila Pathak, Prof. of Sociology at Govt. College Aurangabad”

The students greet her with a namaste and Sai and Sandhya pass the bouquet and gift they have brought with them.

“Congratulations Dr. Pathak and Sumit Sir”, Sai cooes.

“Are … please call me Mavshi or Kaku… itna formal mat bano… hum ghar pe hai” Sushila replies, passing a smile at Sai.

They move inside and take a round of the house with Sumit towing behind.

A huge bookcase with all genres of books catches Sai’s eyes and once done with the house tour, she quickly places herself near it and starts going through the collection.

Sushila sees her and goes to talk to her.

“Koi book pasand hai to le jao padhne ko… I love to share them with anyone who seems interested.”

Sai smiles and replies, “Kaafi unique collection hai aapka… mythology, poetry, literature and obviously medical” throwing a glance at Sumit.

Sushila smiles, “Haan hum dono ka collection hai isliye… vaise aur bhi hai Aurangabad main… next month retire ho rahi hun main… tab yahan leke aaungi”

“Oh wow… Congratulations… phir to aur options milenge padhne ko”

“Bilkul!!!” Sushila replies and lightly touches Sai's arm.

Sumit is standing afar and is absorbing the scene in front of him. His mother and Sai, deeply engrossed in a conversation. The light from the nearby window is creating a halo around them but the spark of intelligence in their eyes is hardly missable.

Two women to whom he is attached to!!!!

Just as this thought comes to his mind, Sumit catches himself and comes out of his reverie. He realises that his subconscious mind has equated his attachment for his mother to Sai  and that somehow that thought has pleased him immensely. A slight blush appears on his cheeks when he imagines the direction of his thoughts.

Sumit Pathak has just fallen in love with Sai Joshi 🥰🥰!!!

His thoughts are broken by a slight tap on his shoulder and he turns around to see Virat standing with Ashwini.

They hug each other and Sumit is still occupied with his own thoughts and is half heartedly aware of his surroundings.

Ashwini sees Sushila near the bookcase and goes to talk to her.

Just as they greet each other, Sai turns around and a smile plays on her face seeing Ashwini but vanishes in an instant when she sees Sushila.

Seeing her reaction, Sushila lightly touches Sai's cheeks and replies,

"It's okay Sai.. tumhe awkward hone ki jarurat nahi hai. Sumit ne mujhe bataya hai… tum dono baat karo .. main baki mehmaano se milke aai"

The evening passes by quite quickly with even a small smile between Sai and Virat.

Sumit meanwhile is in a happy daze and while he is the host of the party, all his attention is focused on the one guest he has suddenly realised is so important to him.

Oblivious to him, Sai catches him staring once in a while and passes a smile. Sandhya whispers something in her ears and she averts her eyes blushing a bit.

About a month later, Sai is occupied in an intense discussion with someone on phone and Sandhya is ambling about worried.

Sumit sees them and comes near them. Sai gestures to him in exasperation and continues her talk while he gets the update from Sandhya.

He is lost in thoughts when Sai ends her call and comes to talk to him.

"Sai, Sandhya..  achanak kya hua?"

"Sir vo naya variant ka outbreak hua na to hamare landlord ko tension ho gaya hai. Now he wants us to leave the house on immediate basis"

"Lekin aisa kaise kar sakta hai vo? Main baat karu?"

"Koi fayda nahi hai Sir.. he is adamant. Ab hame urgently naya ghar dekhna padega" Sai replies morosely.

Sumit then hesitantly looks at them and says,

"Ek suggestion du… if you are both okay with it?"

"Bataiye na Sir??"

"Tum dono kuch dino ke liye mere ghar aa ke reh sakte ho!!"

Sandhya smirks and lets out a chuckle whereas Sai goes into a shock.

Sumit feels immediately apologetic.

"Listen… please galat mat samjho. It was a suggestion… aur tum dono ko ajeeb na lage isliye ye bhi bata du ki ab meri Aai retire ho chuki hai. She lives with me. Tum dono ko awkward bhi nahi lagega. Jab tak tumhara alternate arrangement nahi ho jaata… you are welcome at my home"

Sai and Sandhya look at each other and Sai realises that Sandhya is finding it desperately hard to control her laughter.

Sumit understanding their predicament leaves from there.

As soon as he goes, Sandhya tickles Sai and whispers,

"Yaar ye McDreamy to bade fast nikle… seedha Ghar pe!!!!"

"Shut up yaar Sandhya… rehne dete hai acchha nahi lagega. Kuch aur sochte hai!"

Sandhya chuckles and they do look for options but finding nothing suitable, Sai begrudgingly calls Sumit and informs him of their acceptance.

Sumit feels a relief washing over him and a strange excitement building in him.

Sai and Sandhya come with their luggage in the evening. Few cartons are sent off to the storage room and a spare bedroom is all set for Sandhya and Sai to occupy. They quickly freshen up and go to the kitchen to help Sumit’s mom when hot piping food is already set on the table.

Sai and Sandhya exchange their gratitude for letting them stay and help out clean the table once they are done.

Later, Sumit has put on the music system and a song from Laila Majnu is playing on it.

Sai has occupied herself in an armchair near the bookcase. Sandhya is scrolling on the phone with her friends whereas Sumit is lying down on the sofa watching a cricket match with the TV on mute.

Sushila has retired for the night and has left the youngsters alone.

Tum milo roz hi

Magar hai yeh baat bhi

Mere hona aahista aahista

Mere hona aahista aahista

Sumit turns himself to settle more comfortably and Sai is now within his peripheral vision. A slight tilt of his head and he can see her directly. Pleased with the angle he has set for himself, he continues looking at the TV screen until he hears Sandhya clearing her throat.

Tum mere ho rahe…

Ya ho gaye

Ya hai faasla

Puche dil toh kahun main kya bhala

Dil sawaalon se hi na de rula

Hota kya hai aahista aahista

Hona kya hai aahista aahista

They both look at her and see a smirk on her face. Sandhya pretends to be laughing at something on her phone but Sai realises what Sandhya is implying. She attempts to bury her face more into the book and glares at Sandhya from behind it which earns more chuckles from her.

                      Doori ye kam hi na ho

           Main neendon mein bhi chal raha

                        Hota hai kal bewafa

                    Ye aata nahin, chhal raha…

       Laakh waade jahaan ke jhoothe hain

          Log aadhe jahaan ke jhoothe hain

                       Mere hona ahista ahista…

                       Mere hona ahista ahista…

As the verse ends, another bout of smirk and scoff makes Sai turn to Sandhya.

“Tujhe kya hua hai?”

“Kuch nahi… mobile pe kuch dekh rahi thi!”

“To thik se dekh na… ye hase kyun ja rahi hai” Sai asks, a bit irritated.

“Are McDreamy pe joke tha!!”

“Sandhyaaaa….”

Hearing her shriek, Sumit sits up and wonders, “Kya hua Sai?”

Before Sai can answer, Sandhya juts in, “Are Sir… vo Grey's Anatomy show hai na.. Sai ko usme McDreamy pasand hai… use kuch kaho to ise bura lagta hai”

Sai can only glare at her in embarrassment and throws a cushion at her, whereas Sumit, blissfully unaware laughs at their antics.

“Main sone ja rahi hun Sandhya, tu aa rahi hai?” Sai asks, her hands on her hips ready for confrontation in the privacy of their room.

Passing a sheepish glance to Sumit, Sandhya quickly follows her.

Sumit, still chuckling, looks at their retreating figures with the verses in background, proclaiming his unsaid feelings.

Maine baat ye tumse kehni hai

Tera pyaar khushi ki tehni hai

Main shaam sehar ab hansta hoon

Maine yaad tumhari pehni hai

Mere hona aahista aahista…

Hota kya hai aahista aahista

Hona kya hai aahista aahista

----

Song for this part is "Aahista Aahista" from Laila Majnu.