Part 5

Part 5

Virat informed his parents that Sai don't have any problem with his and Pakhi's marriage. Ashwini and Ninad finally accepted their defeat as the last ray of hope of Sai objecting for their marriage died down. Virat was very disturbed since he returned after meeting Sai. He thought he knew what love is but after meeting her he found out how ignorant he was. That little annoying girl today proved how mature and understanding she is and how small she made him felt in front of her.

Virat declared that he wanted to get married as soon as possible. Virat wanted to leave this place as quickly as he can because he feared he wont be able to face Sai again. He asked Pakhi to call her parents tomorrow itself as he decided that they will do a simple marriage in the temple day after tomorrow and then get registered their marriage in Mumbai and will throw reception party there. Though Ashwini and Ninad had great plans for their only son's marriage but as it was not happening with Sai they were also not in a mood for grand celebration so they agreed to whatever Virat said.

"Yakeen nahi hota ye din bhi dekhna pad raha hai. Kitne armaan the Virat ki shadi ko lekar ab dekho, sab adhure reh gaye." Ashwini sighed in disappointment.

"Kya kar sakte hain? Virat ki aankhon par to mano jaise koi patti bandhi hai. Sai ke pyar ko nazarandaaz kaise kar sakta hai wo?" Ninad commented.

"Sai ke na aane se bhi jyada dukh mujhe us Pakhi ke hamare bete ki life mein aane ka hai. Mujhe wo ladki theek nahi lagti. Lekin kaise samjhaye Virat ko?" Ashwini was feeling helpless.

"Sab bhagwan par chhod do. Ab jo karna hai wahi karenge." Ninad gave up thinking after sometime.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the other hand, Sai was still trying to come to terms with the harsh reality. She couldn't believe her worst nightmare could come true like this. Her heart was filled with so questions regarding why all this is happening to her. She couldn't rest at home. She decided to visit the Radha Krishna temple where she went whenever she felt restless.

"Kya mere pyar mein koi kami thi? Kya main buri insaan hoon? Phir kyu mujhe mera pyar nahi mila? Kis baat ki sazaa mil rahi hai mujhe?" Sai complained to Krishna.

"Kabhi kabhi Ishwar hamari pariksha lete hai. Us par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye. Ho sakta hai Radhe Krishn ki koi leela ho. Bharosa rakho, tumhara pyar jarur tumhe milega." A young childlike voice answered Sai's questions.

Sai turned around to see a small boy of around 10-11 years was standing there and he was carrying a young girl of around 4-5 years as piggy back. Sai couldn't help but remember her childhood, when Virat had carried her like that, the day she had fallen in love with him. Sai smiled at them. She wanted to ask their names and ask whether they were talking to her, how they know her or her problems. But as she approached them, they ran away from her. When Sia had come here, she was restless but now somehow she felt relaxed. She didn't know why but she was not feeling depressed anymore now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pakhi's parents, Shailesh and Vaishali Mohitepatil arrived next day. All of them were discussing about the marriage when Ashwini asked Virat, "Virat, I know you want to get married tomorrow but at least stay here for sometime after marriage. Jaane ki itni bhi kya jaldi hai?  And what will you do in Mumbai now? You said that you wanted to join your baba's business that's why you left the job there right?"

"Yes aai, previously my plan was that only but now I have changed my mind. I am planning on to do something of my own." Virat informed.

"What is the need for that? Who will handle my business then? I also need retirement. No you will stay here. That's final." Ninad said with finality. He was tired of Virat's stubbornness in every matter.

"Baba, I am not interested in your business anymore."  Virat argued.

"Virat hum tumhe sab kuch apne mann ka karne de rahe hain iska matlab ye nahi ki tum hamari baat hi na suno. Tum apni marzi se shadi kar rahe ho na toh kam se kam hamari baat business ke mamle mein toh suno." Ninad taunted him.

"Baba, I have decided..." Virat tried to argue back but Ninad interrupted him.

"Virat is mamle mein main tumhari manmani bilkul nahi chalne dunga. Either you join our business or else you wont get anything from my properties." Ninad threatened him

"Fine! I dont want anything from you. Mujhe mere experience ke aadhar par Mumbai mein koi achhi job mil jayegi aur phir kuch saalo mein main savings karke apna start up plan kar lunga. Aapki help ki, aapke paiso ki koi jarurat nah mujhe." Virat replied back in anger while Pakhi and her parents exchanged tensed looks with each other.

"Virat, we agreed for your and Pakhi's marriage after making sure that you are financially sound. If you wont get anything from your father's property then we cant marry off our daughter to you now" Shailesh very clearly made his point clear.

Virat looked at him surprised by his attitude. He never thought them to be money minded. He looked at Pakhi, "Do you think the same?" he asked.

"Of course not Virat baby. Dad is just worrying about me. I totally support you. Waise bhi mujhe jis life style ki aadat hai wo is chhote sheher mein toh possible ho nahi payega." Pakhi replied.

Virat become relaxed but Shailesh and Vaishali exchanged a glance with Pakhi. Her dad again tried to say something when Pakhi gestured him to stay quiet. Soon everything was fixed and Pakhi's parents were in her room.

"Why didn't you let me speak there?" Shailesh asked.

"Dad, if you have said anything at that time then Virat would have thought that I am marrying him for his money." Pakhi explained.

"But this is true na. You only said that he is rich and only son of his parents, your future will be secured with him." Vaishali commented.

"Ya mom its true but we cant make it obvious on their faces." Pakhi made them understand.

"But now what? Virat does not want to take anything from his father." Shailesh asked.

"Wo to Mumbai mein jakar naukri karke struggle karne ki baat kar raha hai. Aise mein tu bhi kya uske sath dhakke khayegi meri bachhi? Aur uska business nahi chala toh?" Vaishali shared her worries.

"Dad mom, don't worry. Aisa kuch bhi nahi hone wala. Virat ko jo karna hai kare lekin is shadi ke bandhan mein bandhne se pehle main apni financial security ka itezaam pehle hi kar lungi." Pakhi tried to assure them.

"Par kaise beta?" Vaishali inquired.

Pakhi shared her idea, "We will get them to sign legal papers of their properties in my name.

"Lekin kya wo manenge?" Shailesh inquired.

Pakhi elaborated her plan, "Talk to our lawyers. Get the papers ready by tomorrow in which all of their property their everything their shares, assets and even this bunglow will be in my name. This way if in future if Virat wants to divorce me also, he won't be able to do it because he will be left with nothing. Virat's parents wont agree if we try to pressurize them now but tomorrow is the wedding. All their relatives, family, friends will be there.  Exactly before wedding you will ask Virat's parents to sign the papers or else will threatened them to cancel the marriage. In logo ko jitna main samjhi hoon ye bahut seedhe saade izzatdar log hain. Inhe paise se bhi badhkar, sabse badhkar apni izzat pyari hai. Emotional fools! I am sure jab hum inhe sabke samne shadi todne ki dhamki denge, inki izzat ulchhalne ka dar dikhayenge to ye hamari har baat maan lenge. They will sign it to save their name and reputation in society." Pakhi had a smirk on her face at the end.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next day as per Pakhi's plan, Shailesh and Vaishali got ready with the legal papers. All of them left for Radha Krishna temple. Pakhi instructed her dad to find a perfect opportunity where Virat's parents would be alone then ask them to sign papers and keep in mind that Virat shouldn't see them. Kamal and Alka also came there to attend Virat's wedding.

Ashwini noticed Kamal and Alka, "Why you two have come here. Don't make us feel more guilty. Stay with Sai. She needs you now."

"Virat ki shadi hamari Sai se nahi ho rahi toh kya hua par Virat bhi hamare bête jaisa hai....iski shadi kaise miss kar sakte hain aur Sai ki tension mat lo...wo itni bhi kamjor nahi hai...usi ne hume convince kiya yaha aane ke liye."  Alka replied.

All the relatives, friends, family and people from society had already come. Pandit ji called Groom first. Virat came and sat in mandap. Alka looked at him. He was wearing blush pink color sherwani looking as handsome as ever. She remembered how many times she has seen this in her dreams where Virat comes and sit in mandap then panditji calls bride and her Sai comes in beautiful bright red color saree and sits with Virat. Everything was happening just like her dream but only bride was not her Sai. Alka wiped her tears.

"We are here for Virat's happiness. Don't cry and ruin his day." Kamal hugged her from side as he too was becoming emotional.

Shailesh thought that this is the right opportunity. Virat is sitting in mandap. He wont know anything now. He found Virat's parents and gestured them to come with him in a secluded corner. "Mr. Chavan, I am giving my daughter to your son. But he seems impulsive to me that's why yesterday he didn't agree to take his share from your properties but I am a practical man. I have to make sure that my daughter's future is secure. So I have asked my lawyers to draft a legal contract which says that you are willingly giving your properties to my daughter. In future if Virat divorces her also you cannot take her properties back from her. Before marriage I want you to sign these papers then only I will call my daughter to mandap." Shailesh said clearly.

"Aapka dimaag kharab toh nahi ho gaya? Aap apni beti ki shadi kar rahe hain ya uska sauda?" asked Ashwini angrily.

"Think what do you want but we want secure future for our daughter or else we will take our daughter back." Vaishali threatened.

"But guest have already arrived here now if you cancel the wedding all will laugh at us. Hamari izzat to mitti mein miljayegi."  Ninad stated the obvious.

"We don't care about that. Hume bas apni beti ki khushiyo se matlab hai." Shailesh answered.

"Ninad, I think they did this on purpose to blackmail us today. Agar inki intentions theek hoti toh ye baat ye log kal hi sabke samne kar sakte the." Ashwini said to her husband.

Meanwhile panditji called the bride. But Pakhi's parents and Virat's parents were no where to be seen. Virat looked here and there in concern but he couldn't find his parents or even Pakhi's parents. Kamal and Alka saw this and went near him.

"What happened Virat?" asked Alka.

"Aunty panditji is calling Pakhi but her parents or even my parents are not anywhere to be seen. Can you please find them and ask them to bring Pakhi." Virat requested.

Kamal and Alka went to search for them and finally located them at far corner of temple garden. Pakhi was also standing with them and looked like they were arguing over something. They went near them, "Ninad whats happening here? Panditji is calling for bride to start the rituals." Kamal asked.

Ninad told him everything. Kamal and Alka were shocked to listen to the demands of Pakhi and her parents. They also got involved in the argument. Virat was becoming nervous and edgy sitting alone in mandap. He was constantly feeling that something is not right. He looked at the guest all of them have now started gossiping as to why bride is not coming and where are the parents. Finally frustrated with waiting Virat decided to go and look for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

to be continued.....