Please read the Author note at the end.

-----

Sai is a bit shaken up, running into Virat suddenly like this and that too when he witnessed her private moment with Sumit.

Sumit notices it and entwines his fingers through her and they watch the rest of the movie in silence lost in their own thoughts.

Later in the evening, when Sumit has come to drop Sai back at her home, he comes out and leans on the car, waiting for a hug, their goodbye ritual.

Sai, still lost in her thoughts, gets down and prepares to leave when he stops her.

"Sai..."

"Huhh?"

"Kuch bhul nahi rahi ho?"

Sai realises she missed out on the hug and comes near him.

She sees him peering at her, trying to read her mind and drops his arms on his sides and pockets them.

Sai, unable to understand his gesture, stares at him.

"Tum kab tak apne past se affect hoti rahogi?"

Sai avoids his glare and looks around here and there avoiding his eyes.

"Sai... I am not going to lie. I am a little upset with you."

Feeling worried, Sai immediately turns her head up and looks at Sumit.

"I am sorry. Maine achanak se unhe dekha aur mujhe pata nahi kya ho gaya."

"I know Sai... lekin kab tak? Its been more than a year since you separated. Its been more than 6 months since then that we are dating. Kab tak?"

Sai's cheeks redden and she finds tears pooling into her eyes.

"Mujhe nahi pata... I went into shock I guess"

"I can understand Sai but I am hurt too ... you saw him and you left my hand. Even after he left... you have been quiet all throughout. Why do you let him affect you so much? Do you not trust me? Are you not sure of this relationship yet?"

Sai quickly nods her head in denial.

"Nahi.. aisi baat nahi hai... I trust you more than anything."

"Phir??? Sai... aisa nahi chalega... you have decided to move on with your life. He has too. It is time for you to finally take the plunge. And when you do, you will find me there waiting for you"

Sumit removes his hands from his pockets, but without reaching for a hug, gets in the car and leaves.

The tears that had been pooling her eyes burst out and Sai realises the futileness of her actions.

She realises that Sumit has been nothing but supportive to her and it is indeed time for her to take the next step.

The next few days pass in aloofness. Where although Sumit is in touch with her, Sai feels him drawing himself in, she who has grown accustomed to his constant presence, for the first time imagines what life would be without him.

It is also the first time that they have had a disagreement of sorts.

Sai finally decides to reach out to Sumit and explain her position.

Sai has invited Sumit to her house. He arrives on time and is fiddling with the music system when it comes alive. Sai is stunned, as by coincidence the music is similar to what she has been thinking all this while.

Minnatan karaan main taan teriyan ve

Kareya na kar hera-pheriyan ve x (2)

Tere hi yakeen te

Main taan lagga jeen ve

Dil na dukhaya kar

Choti choti gal da bura na manaya kar

Je main manawan man vi jaya kar

Choti choti gal da bura na manaya kar

Je main manawan man vi jaya kar

Sai walks near Sumit and gives him a small gift box.

Sumit opens it and is happy yet stunned to receive the gift, the symbolism not missed by him.

It is a small cube shaped bedside night lamp, but made all the more personal because it has their pictures on all sides. He looks at Sai to see her being all apprehensive.

"I am sorry, Sumit" Sai says, looking at him.

"Dont be sorry Sai, even I was rude to you. I shouldnt have"

"Nahi... I understand where you are coming from. Its not that I doubt you or I dont have trust in you. Mujhe ekdum se unko dekh ke ajeeb laga. I was not expecting him there and ...."

"And??"

"And... he saw and heard our private talks. There are some things which should be personal. And out of all people it was he who saw it. I didnt like it. But I am sorry for causing you pain"

"No Sai... dont be. I am sorry too. I know you. I should have behaved better"

Sai reaches for a hug and he pulls her in, in the tightest hug possible, a warmth they had missed the past few days.

Sai tilts her head up to look at him and sees his eyes building up with passion.

A blush rises on her cheeks which he notices too.

He turns her around to face her and leans in.

Sai, feeling extremely shy, bends her down.

Sumit, trails his hands from her shoulders to her arms and steps back.

Sai looks at him startled, a question in her eyes.

"Mujhe laga tum comfortable nahi ho!!"

Sai feels her heart filling with immense love for this sensitive person in front of her. She replies, still blushing.

"Nahi... aisi baat nahi hai... baat ye hai ki I have never done this. I have never kissed anyone!" She whispers softly.

"How is this possible?" Sumit asks, surprised.

Sai looks at him and then she realises what he means.

"I mean... maine aur Virat Sir ne kabhi vo boundary cross nahi ki. It was just a deal marriage. We never shared something like this"

Sumit looks at her stunned and Sai cannot gauge his reaction.

"Kya hua? Are you okay with this fact? I thought aapko ajeeb lagega!"

"Mujhe kyun ajeeb lagega?"

"I mean ... I was married na... So you would have assumed we did stuff"

Sumit is now slightly miffed. In a bout of mild irritation, he walks up to her and holds her face in his hands, mere inches away from his.

"Sai... I dont care what you did or did not do in your previous marriage. I love you... You as a person. And I want to keep loving you, cherishing you and making you happy with all my might. Mujhe nahi farak padta ki tum kisi relationship main thi. It really doesn't. And anyway, I knew it already, right? I still jumped in. I did because I fell for you. You Sai... You"

Sai feels hot tears stinging her eyes, they start falling down when she sees him intently looking at her.

Sumit tenderly places his lips on her cheeks, drinking up her tears.

The gentle warmth immediately calms her apprehensive heart and Sai looks at him with all the love in her heart and whispers,

"I love you Sumit.. I really really do. Thank you for being in my life"

Sumit is stunned to say the least, hearing these words from her, something he had been craving for the last few months.

Now, exhausted with all the waiting, he pulls her in once again and softly touches his lips to hers and she responds, eagerly learning the tricks of the trade.

—

Author Note:

As a woman, I do not believe anyone and especially a woman should be judged for her relationships and the intimacy aspect.

But in the context of the story, Sai is a naive young woman, around 20-21 years old (3rd year of college). She has had no romantic relationship with anyone. All the experience she has had with the opposite gender is with Jagtap and Virat. I am presuming Aaba would not have had this kind of talk with her.

In that context and going by the conservative atmosphere of CN, where she was judged for keeping friendship with Ajinkya and Aniket, Sai may have this doubt about Sumit and whether he would be assuming things about her.

Her self doubt and apprehension is stemming from this.

Hope this clears why I wrote this and why this update took so long to complete.

Waiting for the responses especially on this aspect.

Song is Choti Choti gal (Jyotica Tangri version) from Motichoor Chaknachoor.