Part 8
Once back to Mumbai, Virat is sceptical that it may not be an accident. He decides to talk to Priya once Ram is better.
A few days later, Virat is at the cafe waiting for Priya when Sai walks out from the kitchen.
“Virat Sir… aap yahan?”
(Virat Sir, you?)
“Haan vo main Priya ji se milne aaya tha…”
(Yes, I came to meet Priyaji)
“Okay… thike aap wait kijiye vo aa rahi hongi … meanwhile aapko kuch chahiye? Tea/Coffee?”
(Okay… while you wait do you need anything? Tea/coffee?)
Virat looks up at her and with a studied gaze answers,
“Green tea milega?”
(Can I get a green tea?)
Not expecting this, Sai involuntarily smiles but then quickly regaining her impassive face moves to the kitchen to get it for him.
Sara walks in and sees Virat, enquiring about him. Just then Sai comes out and depositing the tea on his table and asks Sara,
“Aapka kaam ho gaya Sara di?”
(Are you done Sara di?)
“Haan Sai… thank you for helping me out… ab tumhe jaana hai to ghar nikal jao. Aur jaane se pehle vo subah wale apne extra cupcakes leke jaana”
(Yes My dear… and you can go home now. Just don't forget the cupcakes I left aside for you)
Sara gently cups her cheeks and winks at her.
Sai smiles at her and excitedly moves to the kitchen.
Priya walks in and sits across Virat.
“Mr. Chavan… Thank you for helping out that day. You went out of your way. I will be forever grateful to you.”
“It's my job Priya ji… glad I could help. How is Mr. Kapoor?”
“He is doing fine, bedrest pe hai to irritated hai kaafi but other than that healing well”
(He is doing fine. He is on bedrest and healing well)
“Aapse kuch poochna tha… Although ye Gujarat police ke jurisdiction main aayega, Do you think it was just an accident? Or was it something else. I mean Mr. Kapoor itne bade businessman hai.. To aise attempts is not unheard of. Do you feel so?”
(I wanted to ask you something. Although Gujarat police is investigating this case. Do you think it was a deliberate attempt?)
Priya regards his question with hesitation, throwing a glance to Sara in between. Virat notices Sara giving a gentle nod to her and Priya acknowledging it, the interaction so minute that it might have not been noticed had it not been for his training.
Turning to him squarely, Priya in a stern voice says,
“Actually Mr. Kapoor pe pehle bhi attempt ho chuka hai. Isliye I would like it if you can investigate further. But don't mention it to him. I would prefer you discuss it with me first”
(Actually this has happened before. That's why I called you here. I want you to investigate more. But don't tell him. Tell me first)
“And any specific reason for that, Priya ji? I mean wouldn't Mr. Kapoor will be more aware of his enemies, better than you”
“Nahi.. agar mera shaq sahi hai… to he will not suspect this person”
(No… because if I am right.. then this won't be the person he will suspect)
Saying this, Priya throws a glance at Sara.
“Do you have proof on this person Ma’am?”
“Nahi…” (No)
“Can you tell me the name?”
Priya is unsure about this, Sara goes near her and holds her hands. Priya looks at her, the sisters deriving strength from each other. Priya closes her eyes for a moment and with a stoic face looking straight into his eyes, answers,
“My father… Mr. Mahendra Sood”
Virat is stunned, he is unable to comprehend the contradiction in that statement.
Feeling pale, he gulps down the cold tea but recovers from the shock and gets Mr. Sood’s contact information from Priya.
Sai walks out of the kitchen ready to go home but halts her steps when she notices the expressions of all of them. Feeling concerned, she reaches Priya and questions her by raising her eyebrows. Priya smiles and assures her the same way.
Virat notices this interaction and feels isolated for himself but he is happy for Sai though that she has found such loving and caring people for herself.
He excuses himself and starts walking out when he realises Sai too is going home.
Excited to take a chance, he asks her,
“Sai… agar chaho to tumhe drop kar du?”
(Sai… I can drop you if you want?)
Sai who would have scoffed at this suggestion a few months back, feels like taking it up this time, glad to see the change in him and the help he provided to her friends.
Seeing her take so much time to respond, Virat feels hopeless but his face lights up the moment she says “Yes”
Waving goodbyes to Priya and Sara, Sai moves out with Virat.
He asks her about her hostel to which she mentions her flat accommodation address.
The ride commences but Virat can't shake off the overwhelmingly confusing accusation Priya has laid for him.
Seeing him engrossed and pensive, Sai asks him,
“Virat Sir.. Kya hua? Aap disturbed lag rahe hai? Priya di aur Sara di bhi pareshan lag rahi thi… sab thik to hai?”
(Virat Sir… what has happened? You look tensed. Priya di and Sara di also seemed worried. Everything is fine right?)
Brought to the present by her query, Virat mentally reprimands himself that he did not focus on Sai. But he wonders if she can help solve his confusion.
“Sai.. tumhare paas thoda time hai kya? Kuch baat karni thi?”
(Sai… do you have some time? I need to talk)
Sai is immediately taken aback and thinking it is about them, says,
“Kis baare main? Hamare baare main mujhe koi baat nahi karni!!”
(About what?? I don't want to talk about us)
The stern reply feels like a searing pain to Virat but understanding her hurt, he mutters,
“Hamare baare main nahi hai… kuch aur hai”
(It's not about us… it's something else)
Sai, feeling relieved and hurt in equal parts, asks him to take the car to a nearby cafe.
“Bataiye… kya baat hai?”
(So tell me… what is it?)
Still contemplating whether it is appropriate, in carefully guarded words, Virat asks,
“Sai.. tumhe kuch idea hai kya? Priya ji aur unke Baba ke rishte ke baare main?”
(Sai… do you have any idea about the relationship Priya di shares with her father?)
Wondering at the direction this question is going, Sai answers truthfully,
“Jyada kuch nahi pata… haan par vo in logo ko pasand nahi karte… kyunki ye ladkiyan hai… unki doosri family hai… vo Meera Maa ko kai saal pehle chod chuke hai”
(Not much… but he doesn't like them. He left Meera maa because she gave birth to all girls)
“Aur kuch?”
(Anything else?)
“Nahi.. aur to pata nahi… unka us doosri aurat se ladka jarur hai… almost mere jitni age hogi uski. Lekin aap ye sab kyun pooch rahe hai?”
(No… but he has married again and has a son with the other lady. The guy must be my age. But why are you asking all this?)
“Kuch nahi…. Aise hi”
(Just like that… nothing to worry)
Sai realises he is not disclosing the whole truth to her and decides to let it go.
Quietly nibbling on the food, Virat is deep in thoughts and Sai is observing his changing emotions.
“Mujhe pata hai… aise log hai aaj ke zamane main bhi par phir bhi kitne dakianusi khayal hai… ki ladkiyan hui hai”
(I find it difficult to believe that there are still some people who believe in this discrimination of a girl and a boy)
Virat mumbles to himself.
Unable to control herself, Sai lets out a soft chuckle, startling Virat.
“Tum has rahi ho?”
(You are laughing at this???)
Sai stops laughing instantly and looks down, occupying herself with her food.
Grasping her involuntary chuckle, Virat calls her,
“Sai… I know mere ghar wale bhi aise hai… purane khayalat ke hai… par itne bhi bure nahi hai”
(Sai… I know some of my family members are also like that. But they are not so bad)
Her chuckle returning, Sai almost chokes on her food.
Virat is hurt, his anger rising, he glares at Sai.
“Dekhiye Virat Sir.. ab to mera aapka koi rishta nahi hai… jaanti hun jo main batane wali hun usse aapko bura lag sakta hai… par agar maine nahi bataya to aapko kabhi pata bhi nahi chalega”
(Now that we have no relationship with each other… I have to tell you something. It will hurt you but it's time you knew)
Virat looks at her surprised wondering what new information is going to be presented to him.
Air quoting “Itne bhi bure nahi hai”, Sai explains to Virat the circumstances of Pulkits kidnapping.
“Aur mujhe to lagta hai vo jo fake letter tha, vo bhi kisi ghar wale ne hi likha hai… I am not sure who though”
(And I think the letter too was fake… written by someone in the family. I am not sure who though)
Virat is yet to recover from another shock when Sai says,
“Aap chaho to Pulkit Jeeju se pooch sakte hai… vaise unhone hi mujhe mana kiya tha kisi ko batane se… aur sirf isiliye vo koi case nahi file karna chah rahe the”
(You can ask Pulkit Jeeju if you want… he told me not to mention this to anyone and hence he is not filing a case)
Feeling sad that she had to hurt him like that but also discerning that he needed to know this, Sai feels empathy for him. Carefully observing his agony, Sai gently puts her hand across to his, making a startled Virat look up at her.
“Aapko bura laga uske liye Sorry… par aapko jaisa lagta hai vaise sab nahi hai… Family ke naam, jhoothi shaan ke liye log bahot kuch kar jaate hai. Kaku ne ye sab kiya aur jab maine awaaj uthayi to uske baad aapko pata hi hai kya hua… I don't want to create a bad impression of your family members for you… but it is time you knew”
(I am sorry if you felt bad but it's not how you think. They did all this to keep up the family name. And when I voiced it out, I was silenced. Who knows it better than you?)
Putting his other hand over her, Virat bows his head down and sits quietly for a few moments. Tears pooling in his eyes, he looks up at her and in between the stinging pain, he whispers,
“I am sorry Sai… for everything. For not believing in you, not listening to you, for not reflecting upon your words, for not trusting you and not using my own brains when it concerned you”
“Basically for everything that happened to you in that house. Maine tumse shaadi ki thi. I should have kept you first, but I didn't. I failed you. I failed Kamal Sir. And uske liye kitni bhi baar maafi maangi jaaye kam hai. I know now why you can't forgive me. I understand.”
(I am sorry for everything. I had married you. I should have kept you first. I didn't. I failed you and I failed Kamal Sir. And how much ever i apologize for … it won't be enough)
Quickly getting up and moving to his car, tears pricking his eyes as they sit in the car.
Burdened with the heartbreaking revelation, Virat drops off a stupefied Sai at her place and goes away to his cold, lonely house tormenting himself with the memories of their time together and lamenting his loss.
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