Note: The following piece has been written purely for fictional purposes, to create a connection between the characters. Personally I do not support this action. The topic is controversial and I am neither a trained doctor or a lawyer so please do not take these as some official POV.

Trigger Warning : Suicide/Depression.

Kindly, do not read further if you feel it is not appropriate.

Reader discretion is advised. Those under 18 should skip. I can post a summary if you want. Post a message and I will do it.

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Sai takes care of Mansi throughout the night and she is getting better. Samrat and Pakhi have been staying the night and Virat is back, now sober. He wants to talk to Sai and apologise for his drunken behaviour but she pretends to be very busy.

Sumit is on rounds with Aniket when they come to Mansi. Sai updates him about the case and he goes over the treatment accorded. Satisfied with the result, Sumit passes a smile to Sai who reciprocates and looks relieved.

Pakhi is keenly observing all this but then notices Samrat and Virat also looking at her and averts her gaze towards Mansi.

A while later, Sai is sitting in the cafeteria with Aniket, Ajinkya and Sandhya. They are engrossed in an intense discussion when Sumit, who has dropped in for a coffee, joins them.

“Aniket.. Acchha hua yahi mil gaye.. Vo Mr Gupta ke reports ka kya hua?”

All four of them are startled at seeing Sumit suddenly and end their discussion.

Noticing the hesitation, Sumit asks,

“Kya hua bhai? Ekdum se sab chup kyun ho gaye? Aur Sai tum ghar nahi gai? Duty to khatam ho gai hai na tumhari?”

A flustered Sai replies, “Haan Sir.. bas ja hi rahi thi”

“Ek minute ruko.. Kya hua hai tum logo ko? Sab aise strange kyun behave kar rahe ho?”

Sandhya, Aniket and Ajinkya look at each other and an unspoken signal passes between them.

Aniket speaks, “Sir … vo hum log kuch discuss kar rahe the… aur thoda argument ho gaya Sai ke saath”

Sumit takes a good look at Sai hearing this, sees her avoiding his gaze and Aniket, Sandhya and Ajinkya looking worried for her.

“Acchha batao… kya hua?” He asks.

Aniket again looks at both Sandhya and Ajinkya and responds,

“Sir.. vo hum log Euthanasia ke baare main discuss kar rahe the… and we three dont support it but Sai does.. To thoda argument ho gaya. Aapka kya point of view hai Sir?”

Sumit is suddenly tensed, he contemplates for a moment and notices all of his students intently studying him. He finally speaks,

“As a Doctor, I cannot have a stand but as a human I support it”

His reply stuns all of them and Sai looks up at him, her eyes full of surprise.

Ajinkya then asks, “Sir.. aapko nahi lagta ki ye galat hai? Phir Euthanasia aur suicide main morally kya difference hai?”

Sumit smiling slightly, “I think you are confusing between voluntary and involuntary Euthanasia but yes, I understand what you are trying to say… But I will stand with my view. As a human, I understand why anyone would want to end their life”

Unknowingly, a slight gasp escapes Sai and the rest of them look at her in surprise. She quickly composes herself and leaves immediately making all of them dumbfounded by her behaviour.

Sai comes home, occupies herself in the chores and later lies down to catch up on her sleep.

Late in the evening, Sai suddenly wakes up, her hands clammy and sweat lining her forehead. Sai had been dreaming about Aaba’s death and her suicide attempt and how that singular event has changed her life. The conversation from the cafeteria ringing in her mind, Sai is unable to calm herself and spontaneously types a message to Sumit.

However, as soon as she realizes what she has done, she wishes to delete the said message only to see the blue ticks and his reply that he will contact as soon as he is free.

Sumit calls later in the night, Sai by now has decided to apologize for bothering him and ending the conversation.

Sumit, on the other hand, had noticed something odd in Sai’s behaviour and decides to ask her.

Sai picks up the call and starts by saying sorry.

“Isme Sorry ki kya baat hai? I am your teacher. Mujhse discuss karne main kya problem hai”

“Nahi Sir.. vo jara ye sensitive issue hai na aur koi mera point of view nahi samajh raha tha tab and aapne suddenly mera side liya isliye mujhe laga ki aapse jaanu ki aapko aisa kyun lagta hai”

Sumit, trying to read her unsaid words then asks,

“Ek baat puchu Sai.. kya tumhara experience hai suicide ke saath.. Koi apna jisne aisa kiya hai”

Sai, stunned to hear this, whimpers slightly but then relays her story of Aaba’s death, her own attempt at suicide, Virat and their marriage etc. By the time she ends, her voice is laced with sobs.

Sumit, now realising her predicament, decides to share something personal with her.

“Sai.. tumne vo gaana suna hai?

Mere tere naam naye hai.. Ye dard purana hai… jeevan kya hai tez hawa main deep jalana hai”

Sai responds with a no and Sumit smiles slightly,

“Accha phone rakhne ke baad sunna… lekin filhaal main jo bol raha hun vo suno”

“Sai.. I understand what you must have felt in that moment and why you did what you did. To others it may seem a weakness but at that point, the person who is taking their own life, is so overwhelmed with emotions that he/she is in a way strongest in their resolve. Hume choti se chot pahunchti hai to hum ro dete hai.. Lekin us waqt koi insaan apne aap ko jaan bujh ke dard de raha hota hai. Haan ye tarika galat hai.. Par use judge karne ka haq kisi ko nahi hai”

He pauses, hearing her growing sobs but continues ahead.

“I believe in the right to self, taking their own decisions and deciding what's best for them.. So in that sense I cannot decide what is right or wrong for another person. It is purely their choice. Haan lekin I am not promoting it. Vo insaan agar successful hota hai to khud to chala gaya par piche bahot dard chod jaata hai”

“And I want to share something with you.. Quite personal… isliye because I know you will understand and right now you need to hear this”

“I had a friend, Kanu.. I used to like her, MBBS main saath main the, but then she got diagnosed with depression. Usne jyada kisi ko bataya nahi but she was asked to focus on something that gives her joy. Usko dance sikhne ka man tha, needless to say I offered to be her partner. Kal yaad hai mall main Aniket ne pucha tha”

Sai has by now composed herself and is distracted by Sumits story and replies with a hmmm. Sumit continues,

“I had met her that day…. Aur nahi samajh paaya main.. I had started falling in love with her but phir bhi nahi hint laga mujhe ki vo aisa kuch karegi”

Sumit’s voice is now cracking and Sai is feeling the pain at her end.

“I could never tell her that I liked her.. That I wanted to help her. And… She was gone … mujhe chod gai… hamesha ke liye. But later when I thought about it.. I realised I was thinking it from my side only… main, mera dard, meri takleef, mera adhoora pyaar… uska kya? Why was I judging her on the basis of my pain? Jis din mujhe ye samajh aaya na Sai.. us din samajh gaya.. Ki usne aapne baare main soch ke kiya… haan aisa nahi karna chahiye tha.. Par isliye nahi ki mujhe ya uske gharwalo ko takleef hoti balki isliye ki ye tarika galat hai. You cannot run away and this is not how you should leave.”

There's a silence in the call and both can hear each other's breath.

Sai finally speaks, “Thank you Sir.. aapki baat share karne ke liye.. Aap sahi keh rahe hai.. Us moment maine kuch nahi socha.. Aur mere liye to rone wala mera apna bhi koi nahi bacha tha.. But I was wrong. I now know better. That was an easy way out, which is not how my Aaba raised me. I am fine now and to some extent thanks to Virat Sir too. Phirse aisa kabhi nai karungi”

Sumit smiles at this, realising that Sai has calmed down. He too feels relieved and a certain kinship towards Sai. They talk for some more time when he says,

“Thike chalo phir.. Ab aaram karo.. Jyada socho mat.. And you can call me again in case you feel like talking”

Sai thanks him and ends the call. A while later, her doorbell rings.

She opens it to find a food delivery guy with a small note.

“Itni saari heavy baatein karne ke baad kuch lightweight sa khana chahiye. And chocolate icecream se kisi ka mood acchha nahi hua ho aisa to hai nahi. So enjoy!! - Sumit”

Amazed at this sweet surprise, Sai feels happy, but the butterflies in her stomach are signalling a new attachment towards Sumit. She smartly realises that is something different and not exactly platonic and it is definitely more than professional. Composing herself, she quickly types a simple thanks to Sumit. She puts on the song he suggested and starts attacking her ice cream, the perfect competition to the velvety voice of SP Balasubramanium.

dukh ki nagari kaun si nagari aansu ki kya jaat

dukh ki nagari kaun si nagari aansu ki kya jaat

sare taare door ke tare

sare tare door ke tare sabke chote hath

aaha aaha aaha aaha

apne apne gum ka sabko sath nibhana hai

mere tere naam naye hain, ye dard purana hai

jivan kya hai tej hawa me deep jalana hai

mere tere naam naye hain

mere tere naam naye hain

Sumit on the other hand, is worried whether he overstepped his boundaries in sending her icecream is nervously pacing the room when her message lights up his face. Unsure whether he is happy that she is not offended or whether it is because she accepted it wholeheartedly Sumit remembers her situation with Virat and mentally makes a note to maintain some distance until he is clear about her motives. He realizes though that inspite of everything, he has started falling for Sai Joshi.

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I am dreading the response for this part more than ever. It might not suit the palette and some people might think it was unnecessary. Please respond with your detailed comments.

Song is "Mere tere naam naye hai" from Is Raat ki subah nahi.

Also, correct me if I am wrong but apart from GC people and Virat, nobody knows of Sai's suicide attempt right?