Marriage gift
All the ladies seated for the haldi ceremony gasp and cup their mouths watching the sight of the haldi on Virat’s face smearing onto Sai’s face. The ladies mumble, “Just now Ambe Bai said that it is the haldi applied on the groom which is to be applied to the bride but here see what has happened…” Virat takes his head out from Sai’s shoulder and sees the haldi from his face smeared onto Sai’s face. They both remember their marriage and keep looking into each other’s eyes sadly. Ambe Bai asks Virat to get up. Once he does, she tries to remove the haldi smeared onto Sai’s face with a tissue but the stain of the haldi remains on Sai’s cheek. She angrily tells Virat, “If you don’t mind will you please excuse us to carry out the ritual?” Virat nods and sorrowfully leaves from there. Sai looks on.
After the Haldi ceremony, Sai notices Virat standing in a corner and waiting for her. She goes to him and asks, “Why are you waiting for?” Virat tells her, “Tomorrow is your marriage and I thought I should give you a gift. Yesterday, I pondered the whole night on what I should gift you and finally came to a conclusion.” He takes out an envelope from the pocket of his kurta and gives it to Sai saying, “I couldn’t think of a better gift than this.” He hands over that envelope to Sai. Sai asks what it is. Virat asks her to open and see. When Sai opens the envelope, she was surprised to find a set of will papers. She was taken aback on reading them. It read, “I, Virat Chavan in my right senses give the full custody of my children Vinayak Chavan and Savi Chavan to the hands of their mother, Miss. Sai Joshi.” Sai was shaken off the ground on reading the will. She asks, “Virat, are you giving me the complete custody of Vinu and Savi?” Virat nods his head in agreement. Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein sad tune plays in the background. Sai in tears asks him, “But why Virat?” Virat in his mind, “Because I love you Sai” Sai asks again, “Why Virat?” Virat coming out of his thoughts says, “Because I do not want my children to stay away from their mother and their mother to stay away from her children.” Sai cries on hearing it. Virat continues, “I hope I have given you the best marriage gift ever. Wishing you a happy married life.” Tears rolled down Sai’s cheek as she heard those words from Virat. She wanted to give him a tight hug but stopped herself from doing it. After saying that, Virat quietly leaves from there while Sai falls on her knees crying, “I’m sorry Virat. I know you truly love me but fate has played such a game that I can never unite with you because you belong to someone else.”
Evening
Virat is sitting on a stone bench on the road thinking about how he gave away the custody of his children to Sai, Kya dekhna tha…aur kya dikha hai…kismet mein jaane meri kya kya likha hai..thama bhi nahi tha meine aur haath chuta…ek aayne ke jaise har khwaab toota…milne se pehle mili judaai…apni kisseyka kyun hai yeh anjaam..Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein plays in the background. He says, “I have given my last precious token of love, my children to you Sai. I hope now you forgive me for whatever mistakes I have done knowing and unknowingly to you.” Just then a chaat vendor comes there and tells him, “Sahab, all types of chaat Panipuri, Bhelpuri, Papri chaat, Sev puri are available please buy one.” Virat tells him that he doesn’t want any, The chaat vendor insists, “Sahab, please buy one for your wife and children, they will be happy.” Virat remembers Sai and her love for chaats. He gets thinking, “I will buy chaat for one last time for Sai because I may not be able to do it hereafter as tomorrow she will become someone else’s wife.” He asks the chaat vendor to pack a plate of each chaat item.
Sai’s house
All the ladies had retired to their houses after the haldi ceremony. Vinayak and Savi were playing with each other in their room unbeknownst to the fact that their Baba had left them in their Aai’s house to be with their Aai forever. Sai was seated on her sofa staring at the will papers which declared her to be having her children’s complete custody. Usha comes there and see her staring at the papers and asks her, “Don’t you think you should have given another chance to Virat ji?” Sai hearing Usha’s voice quickly keeps away the will papers. Usha continues, “I know Virat ji gave you the complete custody of Vinu and Savi. Do you know why he did that?” Sai, “Because my children deserve to live with their Aai.” Usha, “And what about their Baba? Don’t you think they also deserve to be with their Baba?” Sai, “Their baba himself gave their custody to me. Moreover I’m not going to keep him completely away from his children. He can come and meet them whenever he wants to.” Usha, “But do you think it will be easy for him to live without his children?” Sai, “What do you mean to say Maushi?” Usha, “See even though it was a very difficult decision for Virat ji. He decided to give you the custody of Vinayak and Savi. In that case didn’t he deserve a second chance to mend your relationship?” Sai, “It’s too late Maushi, there is someone else in his life now so it’s better for me not to interfere in his relationship and move on.” Usha sadly, “But will you be able to do that Sai?” Virat comes there as Sai was still talking to Usha. Sai to Usha, “Satya is a great friend Maushi. I promise I will never allow Virat or his memories to come in our relationship nor will I ever be dishonest or disloyal to him. I will never cheat Satya nor do all those things to him which Virat did to me.” Just then she notices Virat standing at her doorstep. Virat was deeply hurt with Sai’s words as he felt he held no more importance in Sai’s life. Ghum hai kisikey pyaar mein dramatic tune plays in the background. Usha goes inside on seeing Virat. Sai asks him, “You here again? Did you come to meet the kids?” Virat nods. Sai calls out Vinayak and Savi. The kids come running and were excited to see Virat with a packet. They curiously ask, “What is it Baba? You bought something for us?” Virat opens the packet and gives them some of the chaat items. The children were delighted to receive it and happily go inside to relish it. After the children go inside, Virat looks at Sai, takes out a plate of chaat and tells her, “I have bought some for you too. Remember how I used to bring when we were…” He stops himself and then continues, “I thought this would be the last time that I would be able to feed you your favorite chaat because tomorrow you are going to be of someone else.” Sai looks away. Virat takes a spoonful of chaat and forwards it to her mouth. Sai continues to look away and unmoved by Virat’s gesture. Virat keeps the chaat on the table and says, “I think you no longer consider me even as a friend that you deny to eat food from my hand.” Sai keeps looking away without saying any word. Virat wipes his tears and says, “Wishing you all the good luck for your marriage tomorrow.” On saying that, he instantly goes out of the house and leaves. A few minutes later, Vinayak and Savi come there and ask for Virat. Vinayak, “Aai where is Baba? We want to thank him for bringing us such tasty chaat.” Sai, “Baba has gone home baada” Savi, “But why did he go all alone without us?” Sai hides the truth, “Savi, Baba has left you here so that you can stay with me for some days after that he will come and pick you.” Just then Savi notices the plate of chaat on the table and asks, “Aai there is more chaat? Can I have it?” Savi is about to have it when Sai stops her saying, “No baada you already had enough of chaat. Now if you have more you will fall sick. Both of you go inside I will get you food.” Savi disappointedly goes inside along with Vinayak. After the children go in, Sai looks sadly at the chaat kept on the table. She remembers her moments with Virat and takes the chaat. Tears roll down her cheeks as she reminisces the sweet bitter moments she had with Virat and gradually she starts gobbling the chaat. She continues to gobble more and as she does, she chokes and feels nauseous. She runs towards the sink and pukes out all that she had.
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To be continued.