“Virat Chavan” Pakhi screamed on the top of her lungs waking up the whole house.
“Mohit, is it 7 yet?” Karishma asked half asleep
“I think so, as they have already started to fight” he checks his mobile “It’s just 6:30 am. Why did they start early today? Sleep, we still have 30 minutes”
“That is why I say to not rely on them and set an alarm!”
Except for Pakhi and Virat, the rest of the family had gathered in the hall, all yawning.
“If this keeps going, we will have to make them sleep separately. They can’t disturb everyone’s sleep. Every morning the first thing they do as they wake is to fight which wakes up everyone. It is for the first time I feel that the house was quieter when that jungli mulgi was here, at least we all got to sleep properly. Why does Virat keep bullying that innocent girl? He can at least let her sleep and then fight” Bhavani said looking upstairs.
The whole family was now used to, to the sound of things breaking or the couple screaming.
“Patralekha” Bhavani screamed as loud as she could
Pakhi came running downstairs and acted like a victim in front of the family.
“Kaku, I will go and prepare the tea and breakfast for everyone. I woke up early today as these days, even Karishma is not able to help me with chores…”
“Masta….masta… Patralekha, you don’t need to worry about anything, you are the only one who cares for this family. Ninad, call the agency and ask for a maid. And Patralekha, you spend some time with Virat and try to end your misunderstandings, because, after all you will be the one who will give this family an heir!”
“And what about my child kaku?”
“What about it? I have many things planned for your child Karishma, you don’t worry. And Mohit, her delivery date is near, I hope you have taken a leave”
“Kaku….the thing is….that…. Iamtheleadoftheserialandtheywillnotgivemealeave” he said that in one breath
“What??”
“Iamthelead…”
“Slowly, we will have the breakfast ready in some time, don’t eat the words”
“I am the lead of the serial, so, they won’t give me a leave. But, I have requested them to shoot for a few days here in Nagpur only, so, I will only have to go for a few hours.”
Bhavani was about to say something….
“Ahhhhhh” Karishma screamed
“Karishma” everyone rushed to her side
“I think her water bag broke, Mohit take out the car, we will have to rush her to the hospital, Patralekha, call the hospital, Virat, help us take her to the car, Sonali, you bring the kit” Bhavani said panicking.
Mohit was driving, Bhavani was sitting in the front and Sonali was in the back with Karishma. Karishma was constantly screaming in pain and Mohit was panicking while driving!
“Mohit calm down! Your wife and your child’s life is in your hand, focus on driving instead of panicking” Saloni said stuttering.
Virat, Pakhi and Ashwini, were behind in another car. Ashwini was praying throughout, while Virat and Pakhi were silently following.
They reached the hospital, Karishma was taken inside while the whole family was waiting outside. After 2 hours, they heard the baby cry, the whole family rejoiced.
Nurse came with the baby draped in a soft towel
“Congratulations Mr. Chavan, it’s a boy!”
Mohit took the baby in his arms and started to play with him. One by one, every family member took him in their arms. The nurse comes back again
“Mr. Chavan, your wife has gained consciousness, only one person is allowed to go inside”
Mohit took the baby in his hands and goes to Karishma, keeps the baby in her lap and clicks a few pictures. He gets a call on his phone and walks aside to talk
“What is the report?”
……………..
“I still suspect, please keep me updated”
…………………
“I can’t meet you tomorrow, let’s meet after 2 days, on the shoot, come from the backside, no one will notice you.”
…………………..
“Yes! Thank you.”
He comes back and starts to play with the baby.
Soon the whole family is allowed inside, and they all surround Karishma.
“What name have you decided for my grandson?” Sonali said picking the baby from Karishma’s lap.
“Arush Chavan” Karishma said looking at Mohit, who smiled looking at her.
After 2 days, Karishma was discharged, they received a grand welcome in the family, the whole house was decorated beautifully and on the centre was a picture of the three that was taken in the hospital.
“Ummm..kaku I’m really sorry, but I will have to go today. Being the lead, they can’t give me a leave for more than 2 days.” Mohit said hesitating
“Earlier, you used to sit idly in the house for days and now, you can’t stay even for day. Why didn’t you chose for a better job? Where you can get to spend some time with the family. Last month, you didn’t come home for a good 10 days!”
“No matter how hard I work, you will never acknowledge what I do. Acting has always been my passion, so how can I think of anything else? I enjoy my work and I have reached this level with my own hard work! I’m capable to provide my family a living and if I remember correctly, you only challenged me to earn money and not about the kind of job I do. As far as I know, currently I receive the highest salary in this family!”
“What if you earn the highest salary? Does earning the highest salary gives you the right to talk back at me?” Bhavani fumed
“I never wanted to, but you are never satisfied with anything I do! Anyways, I’ll leave now, they have already shifted the schedule enough because of me!”
“What magic had that girl done on you that you started to argue in her way?” Bhavani shouted as Mohit walked away towards the door after picking up his car keys.
Virat came down with a suitcase wearing his official uniform
“Now where are you going Virat?” Bhavani questioned
“I have been called to Delhi”
“For what?”
“I and my team encountered Vitthal mane and his son last week”
“You went to Gadchiroli?”
“Yes! That is still my area. They were trying to run away, after injuring seven police officers, so I had no other way than killing them! They were a threat to the whole nation as a few records state their involvement with terrorists during the previous attacks on nation and hence, they had declared a reward of Rs. 50 lac to whoever caught them!”
“And what connection does it have with you going to Delhi?”
“They will felicitate me for bravery. Our department will get the reward money that I will go to collect on their behalf! They will also handle the hospital expenses of the injured policemen and ensure they get the best treatment.”
“Virat you never fail to make me proud. Why don’t you take Patralekha along? She will also go outside, then you can go to Agra with her.”
“Kaku, I’m going for official work and not honeymoon. I will take Pakhi some other time. And Karishma just gave birth, I think Pakhi should be here as my representative!”
“Virat is right kaku, this house is my responsibility in the absence of Virat.” Pakhi as usual jumped in between the conversation
“Pakhi bhabhi you don’t worry about this house, I will take the full responsibility”
“No Karishma, you just gave birth, you will have to feed the baby, so someone must be here to take care of the family.”
“Patralekha, I’m sure I would have fed 1000 priests in my past life to get a diamond like you in the form of daughter in law.” Bhavani said putting her hand on Pakhi’s head
“Then, I should be the one to call myself lucky, to be able to get married in such a loving family.”
“If you guys are done, can I leave? I have a flight to catch…” Virat interrupted the family drama!
Ashwini fed him curd-sugar. Virat left after touching the feet of all elders and kissing his nephew on his forehead and hand.
*********************************
Sayi and Rishika reached Delhi.
“Do you remember what I taught you?” Sayi asked Rishika as they wait for their luggage near the belt.
“Yes! I need not step out of my room while you are in the conference, I need to behave myself in the after party, I need not talk to the strangers and I need to buy myself a lot of dresses.”
“I didn’t teach you the last one!”
“But you taught me to learn certain things by myself” Rishika said pouting
“True that. I guess that’s your bag. Check the tag before you take it.”
They picked their luggage and head outside. A car was already waiting for them to take them to the hotel!
Virat’s flight land the moment their car drove off.
They reached the hotel, Rishika was amazed to see everything in the hotel. The moment they got inside the room, she ran over the whole place and started to jump on the bed.
“Rishu…behave! The bed may break”
Rishika kept jumping
“Rishika Rastogi, you will break the bed if you keep jumping like this and we may end up sleeping in some inn.”
Rishika stopped immediately and sat down panting. Sayi offered her water “You know your heart is weak, then why do you always keep jumping and running around like a monkey?”
“I’m hungry, please order some food, and then scold me as much as you want.” Rishika said huffing
“What do you want to eat?”
“I want to eat Chole bhature and pav-bhaji, it’s been so long since I had them! My mouth is already filled with water just by the mention of it.”
Sayi recalled how Virat once bought all her favorite street food when she got angry at him for misbehaving with her.
“Sayi di, where are you lost?? Order fast na, else these rats will do a riot in my stomach” Rishika said holding her stomach
Sayi placed the order and went to freshen up.
Virat on the other hand, reached the same hotel as them, talked to a few officers in reception and took the key to his room.
His room was on the left side to the room where Sayi and Rishika were staying! The waiter got into the elevator with him.
He was opening his room and the waiter rang the bell to the room on his right. Rishika opened the door and took the tray, she peeped outside and smiled at Virat, who smiled back at her.
“Sayi diii, the food is here, how many more years will you take to shower?”
“Sayi?? Did I just heard Sayi?” Virat exclaimed
Before he could check, Rishika had already closed the door. He was standing in front of their door.
“Should I ring it or should I not. What if it isn’t her? But what if it really is her? What will I say if it is her? Shall I question her? But with what right? As a police officer? But, she hasn’t done any crime that makes me question her as an officer. But what if it is not her and I offend the other person? But why am I thinking about her? I hate her, yes, I hate her and she has no place in my life, I don’t care where she goes, whom she stays with or whatever she does. But, shall I ask her where did I lack that made her commit that crime? Why shall I question her? I should ring it once, at least I would be able to see her, and it has been long since I heard her voice. But, why should I? She was the one who cheated on me and not the other way around! I was always clear to her about my feelings! Or maybe I was not? I never told her I loved her! But, I don’t love her now, I just hate her. Yes! I hate Sayi Joshi and she has no place in my life. I don’t give a damn about her.”
He quickly opened the door to his room and lied straight on the bed.
Sayi and Rishika had their food. While Rishika was enjoying the food, Sayi was lost in her own thoughts.
“Rishu, I feel a little tired! I’ll take a nap and then we will decide what are we supposed to do next!”
“Even I feel tired, my shoulders literally hurt from all the travelling! Can’t they make an airport in Mussourie?? And who decided to make the airport at Dehradun on the outskirts?”
“Stop nagging, come, you also sleep, I will set an alarm!” They turned off the lights, pulled the curtains and fell asleep in no time!
Virat too fell asleep in the same position.
When I talked about the family respecting Mohit like never before, forgot to exclude Bhavani from the list. She can never side anyone who favors Sayi 😉