"Sandhya … uth na … hum McDreamy, I mean Sumit Sir ke ghar pe hai. Acchha nahi lagta der se uthana"

"Hahaha.. tu bhi unko McDreamy bulane lagi" Sandhya mumbles half asleep.

"Vo chod… uth ja ab.. subah ho gai hai"

"Bas 5 min"... Sandhya replies by pulling the duvet over her head.

Sai chuckles at her antics and moves out of the room…

"Asa nahi… asa" (no… not like this… do it like this)

Some voices from the kitchen make Sai halt in her steps. She feels a bit ashamed that maybe Sumit’s mother is already up cooking breakfast for them and she has been taking advantage of their hospitality.

But as she reaches the doorway of the kitchen, her feet stop on their own at the sight.

"Ata bagha.. thik aahe ka?" (look at this now, is this okay?)

Sumit is seen asking a lady.

The two are engrossed in making dosas and Sumit seems to be learning the tricks to make a perfect round and crispy one.

The lady looks up and lightly elbows Sumit.

He looks at her and then at the door… to see Sai looking at them, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Hi kon???" (Who is she?)

Sumit seems to be in a trance, majorly on seeing Sai in his kitchen, a sight he has imagined quite a few times in his mind and forgets to answer the question.

Sai, assuming his silence to be his predicament answers,

"Me yanchi maitrin!!!" (I am his friend)

Her reference as his friend makes him go wide eyed and he quickly comes out of the trance to see him being eyed with a naughty smirk by Kusum Tai.

"Sai… ye Kusum Tai hai… roj mere liye khana banane aati hai… aur kabhi kabhi sikhati bhi hai. Aaj mera perfect dosa banane ka lecture chal raha hai"

Sumit elbows Kusum back and she leans towards him and whispers,

"Sundar aahe haan" (She is so pretty)... Which earns a blush on his cheeks.

Kusum chuckles and goes on to do her job with Sai and Sumit helping her out in setting the breakfast table.

With time, the new residents of the guest room and the house owners have settled in a nice comfortable routine with days spent at the college and relaxed evenings spent in reading books, listening to music, carrom and UNO sessions before winding up for the day and Sai and Sandhya back to their studies.

Right on day one, teams have been established, Sumit and Sandhya in one and Sai and Sushila in another. It doesn't help matters though that once in a while and especially in UNO Sandhya too joins the opposite team and helps defeat the minority member. When it happens one too many times Sumit catches them doing eye contacts, silent hand signals and he catches them cheating on him, he storms off like a petulant child leaving the three women rolling on the floor.

A week has passed and it's a lazy Sunday morning. By now, Kusum Tai is also accustomed to the presence of these two and teases Sumit when she catches him eyeing Sai a bit longer than necessary.

Sushila is busy in her Sunday Times, Sumit on his mobile and Sandhya studying in the armchair in the veranda.

Sai is busy watering the plants while humming a song.

Tere haathon ki taraf

Mere haathon ka safar

Rozana, rozana

Teri aankhon se kahein

Kuchh to meri nazar

Rozana, rozana

Rozana main sochoon yehi

Kahaan aajkal main hun lapata

Tujhe dekh loon to hassne lage

Mere dard bhi kyun khaamkha

Hawaon ki tarah

Mujhe chhoo ke tu ghuzar

Rozana, rozana

A sudden quiet makes her turn around to see all four including Kusum looking at her mesmerized. Sandhya comes out of her stupor and runs and hugs Sai. Unable to understand, Sai hugs her back but pulls her apart to see tears in her eyes.

"Sandhya … kya hua? Ro kyun rahi hai?"

Amidst her sniffles, Sandhya replies,

"Tujhe pata hai … aaj tujhe kitne dino baad gaate hue suna hai???"

"Huhh??? Tu isliye ro rahi hai ki main gaa rahi thi?"

Sai makes a half hearted attempt at humour, still surprised at Sandhya's reaction.

Sandhya smiles and taps her forehead,

"Pagli… isliye nahi ro rahi… maine aaj itne dino baad tujhe relax hokar gungunate suna… jaise tu bhul hi gai thi kuch dino se… ya yun kahu saalo se…. Tujhe yaad hai tune Aniket ke gaane pe kaise dance kiya tha??? Vo wali carefree Sai aaj kitne dino baad dikhi mujhe!!!"

Sai looks at her and realises with pain what Sandhya has implied. Her smile disappears and she turns her face away.

Sandhya also realises what she has blurted out and quietly comes back to her seat and resumes her work.

Kusum leaves after setting the refreshments on the table and an uncomfortable silence hangs in the air.

A while later, Sushila noticing everyone's discomfort says,

"Sai… ek baat share karu tumse?"

Sai, lost in her memories, suddenly looks up to her. She finds equal surprise registered on Sumit and Sandhya’s face.

Sushila continues,

“Sai… I know very well the situation you are in. Sumit’s Dad died in an accident when he was just five years old. I was a graduate but I was not working. Circumstances pushed me out of the house. For his sake… for my sake. I got this job on Compassionate grounds. But I had to prove myself every step of the way. And it is difficult for a single mother to live like this. Aisa nahi hai ki kisine koshish nahi ki kareeb aane ki… ya maine uss baare main socha nahi… Lekin mere pass Sumit tha… I had to think about him. And when weighed in comparison, something always fell short.”

She pauses, gauging for reaction from all three of them, while Sandhya is listening rapturously, Sumit seems to be engrossed in his thoughts and Sai is lost in her own.

“Lekin tumhare pass aisa kuch nahi hai Sai… In a way you are more free… to choose just for yourself. So don't hold back if something comes your way. I am not saying you need someone in your life…. But it helps if you do… I had him (she puts her hand on Sumit and he passes a loving smile to her)... He was more than enough for me!!!”

A few moments later, Sandhya clears her throat and that brings everyone's attention to her.

“Aapki baat se main 100% agree karti hun Mavshi… main bhi ise yahi samajhati rehti hun ki ab ise aage badh jaana chahiye… lekin iski baat bhi thik hai… dudh ka jala chaanch bhi phoonkh ke peeta hai… aur zamana kitna bhi badal gaya ho… abhi itne progressive log kam hai jo ek divorcee ko apne ghar ki bahu bana le”

“To yahi baat to badalni hai na Sandhya… aur logo ka kya hai… unko to bolne ke liye kuch na kuch chahiye hi…. Agar do insaan saath main khush hai to koi farak nahi padna chahiye kisiko”

Sandhya smiles at her response and in those flicker of a second, Sushila can read immense gratitude in her eyes.

Smiling back at her, Sushila replies to Sandhya but her gaze is directed to Sumit.

“Kal ko agar Sumit ko koi aisi ladki pasand aati hai to mujhe koi pareshaani nahi hai… as long as he is happy”

Sumit hears the response but his mind seems to be stuck and so is his body, for his hand is holding the juice glass halfway to his mouth, stuck in limbo. His mind is desperately trying to make sense if his Aai has learnt about his feelings for Sai and is giving her tacit approval for it. He immediately worries if Sai will misinterpret this and the thought terrorizes him. The questions jumbling in his mind, he lowers the glass and walks away awestruck leaving the women stunned.

Sai on the other hand is equally worried about how this came into picture suddenly. She too makes an excuse and leaves for her room.

Sandhya has tears pooling her eyes and a silent conversation between the two is enough to convey the message.

Back in their respective rooms, Sai and Sumit close the doors and lean on them, their hearts pounding in their chests…. One with anticipation and excitement and other with anxiety.

The teams that had been formed on day one are now changed forever.

—-

Song is “Rozana” from “Naam Shabana”