Sai walks into her home engrossed in her thoughts. Dr. Sumit and his friendly persona is growing on her. His behaviour today after knowing about her and Virat has been so rational.

Occupied with this, she walks in on an impromptu dance party with Sandhya. She sees Sai and pulls her for a quick jig. After having their fill, Sai and Sandhya then lie down on the floor exhausted.

Sai is looking positively happy and Sandhya wonders what it is. Propping herself on her elbows, she asks,

“Kya hua? Itni khush kaise hai? I was expecting you to come home irritated”

“Irritated… kyun?” asks Sai in amazement.

“Are.. chod jaane de”

“Nahi… bata na…”

“Are …. Mujhe laga vahan Virat Sir aayenge to…” Sandhya leaves the rest unsaid.

Sai looks at Sandhya and gives a gentle smile and then looking back at the ceiling says,

“Aaye the… but I have decided not to let him affect me. Aur abhi Sumit Sir ne aisi baat kahi ki man halka ho gaya”

“Sumit Sir ne???? Vo kaise?”

“Vo Virat Sir ke school friend hai… maine unko kuch nahi bataya tha par unko pata chal gaya.. Khud Virat Sir se… and he was so cool with me… bilkul bhi awkward feel nahi karaya. Last main he said ki 'It's better to stay alone than to stay in a relationship only for society’s sake”

“I know tu hai, Aniket hai…I cherish our friendship.. par unhone jis tarike se kaha acchha laga.. I mean he is a senior, humse jyada duniya dekhi hai.. Isliye shayad”

“Ooooo… to kisi ko Sumit Sir pasand aa rahe hai” teases Sandhya, winking at her.

“Oh ho… aisi koi baat nahi hai… I was just admiring his sensibility. See he is Virat Sir's friend. He could have easily taken his side aur mujhe hi galat samajh sakte the … but unhone aisa kuch nahi kiya… he was so practical … bas isliye”

“Haan to main kahan kuch keh rahi hun… vaise dikhne main bhi kuch bure nahi hai… McDreamy type”

Sai chuckles at the Greys Anatomy reference… something she and Sandhya have been binge watching recently and making fun of the medical inconsistencies.     

“Mc Dreamy jaise to hai.. But I am not Meredith… On a serious note… main abhi is sab chakkar main padna nahi chahti hun… jo hua acchha hua hai.. I can now focus on my career properly.”

Sandhya nods, understanding her perfectly well. Sai has seen a lot at such a tender age and yet has taken everything in her stride. Sandhya puts her arm around Sai and they revel in the comfort of their friendship.

A few days later, Sai has been asked to assist on a surgery with Sumit. They scrub in and it's a long operation. To relax the mood, Sumit asks the music system to be put on. Sai knows that many surgeons prefer having music played during long operations, it helps the medical team and patient relax. However, to see Sumit grooving to “Kudi nu nachne de” is a sight in itself. She thanks her stars that the mask can hide her amusement.

The operation goes on till almost 2 am and Sumit offers to drop her home.

Sai is feeling happy, having had a chance to observe and learn so much today. Humming the song to herself, she is also remembering how chilled out the atmosphere was in the OT. Dr. Sumit had made sure that the sincerity of the task at hand is not lost in all the fun they had.

Ho waddi waddi baat teri

Chhoti chhoti soch kyun ae ji

Oho paa ji

Ho ukhde ukhde kyun khade ji

Hans do to hans degi duniya bhi

Haan haan haan ji

Ho aaye jo on the floor kudi to

Khoob machaye shor

Tu bhi jhoom lena iski beat pe

Kudi nu nachne de

Haan nachne de

Tu aaj lagane de thumke

Haan jam ke

Sai is waiting for Sumit when she sees Virat driving by. He stops the car, equally surprised to see her alone at such a late hour. He immediately comes and talks to her,

“Sai… tum itni late yahan? Sab thik hai na?”

“Haan.. sab thik hai… Ek operation tha.. Abhi khatam hua… Ghar ja rahi hun ab”

“To chalo main chod deta hun.. Itni raat ko akeli kaise jaogi” Virat offers hesitantly.

“Nahi… it's okay… I will manage”

“Are … par kaise?” The question is left incomplete when he hears a horn, and sees Sumit in his car.

Virats face immediately contorts, his hurt visible. Sai notices this and in some way feels good at his irritation.

Sumit gets down and asks Virat,

“Are Virat.. Tum yaha is waqt? Sab thik hai na”

Virat is extremely angry at seeing Sumit, he flexes his palm, to calm himself.

He turns to look at Sai, who has noticed all this and then turns again to Sumit and says,

“Haan thik hai.. Yaha se guzar raha tha.. Sai ko akele dekha to puchne aa gaya”

“Par main akeli nahi thi… I was waiting for him and anyway aapko takleef lene ki jarurat nahi hai” Sai retorts annoyingly.

“Mujhe takleef lene ki jarurat nahi hai???” his voice at a significantly higher pitch drawing out each syllable sharper. “Chinta hui mujhe Sai isliye aa gaya puchne”

Sai laughs haughtily, his angry voice irking her further,

“Ye acchha hai.. Jab aapki marzi ho to chinta hoti hai… marzi na ho to bhul hi jaate hai”

Virat’s eyes redden, his jaw clenches.. He looks at Sumit who is standing there, unsure how to cool down the situation.

“Sai…aisa nahi hai… mujhe parvah tab bhi thi….” He tries to calm her.

His softened tone having no effect on her, Sai ignores the comment and looks at Sumit.

“Chale Sir??… mujhe koi baat nahi karni inse” 

Virat, upset at Sai preferring Sumit over him, asks again “Main chod sakta hun”

“Aap already chod chuke hai… ab aur kitna chodenge. I am fine and lets be civil next time. I don't want you talking to me like this in front of my colleagues”

With that, Sai looks at him one last time and goes and sits in Sumit's car. Sumit, witnessing this scenario for the first time imagines it like a bomb that was threatening to burst but was diffused. Eager to leave the scene quickly, he looks at Virat, passes him a thin smile, jumps in the car and drives off.

—-
Song is Kudi nu nachne de from Angrezi Medium. Though it is a song for a girl, for me it will always remain an Irrfan song.