Part 9

Part 9

During the day, Virat went to his baba's office with him. There he thought that the moment is right to talk about his future plan. He told Ninad about his startup plans and that he wishes to go to Mumbai as soon as possible once the wedding functions are over.

"What? You still want to go back to Mumbai." Ninad asked completely shocked.

"Yes and what is there to feel shocked about it. I told you already right." Virat replied.

"Yes But I thought you were doing this because of that Pakhi. I thought she only had put that idea in your mind." Ninad replied.

"She had nothing to do with my start up plans. She might have her own selfish reasons to support me but I was working on it before I met her." Virat clarified.

"Look Virat, I am growing old and so is your Kamal uncle. We are finding it difficult now to handle all of this business. We were expecting once you will returned you will share our responsibility and ye sab tumhara hi toh hai phir tumhe aur naya kya karna hai?" Ninad tried to make him understand.

"Main apni tarah se sab kuch handle karna chahta hoon baba." Virat argued.

"Haan to main kab mana kar raha hoon. Tum isi business ko apni tarah se handle karo na." Ninad suggested but Virat was still adamant to go back.

"What about Sai? She has taken admission in her PG course only this year in Nagpur and now how can she leave it in midyear? Ninad tried to give more reason to him to stay.

"What? Why she took admission here there are better colleges in Mumbai." Virat asked.

"Because unlike you she is not selfish. She knows that her parents are now old and they need her. In your absence she used to take care of us also. She never differentiated between her parents and us. We always used to tell her that why she is wasting her time on us , she should live her life and fulfill her dreams and she could be with you if she goes to Mumbai but you know what she used to say? She always said that maa baap toh kabhi apne sapne pure karne ke liye bachho ko akela nahi chhodte toh phir bachhe kaise unko akela chhod de." Ninad said as he smiled remembering Sai.

Listening about it Virat felt he really was being selfish, the last line hit him really hard. He always thought about his dreams, his ambition only. Thank God Sai was there to look after his parents. If she could do this much for his parents then he can at least fulfill their one wish. Virat gave it a thought then  was finally convinced to stay. He told his baba that he will not go to Mumbai now and will join their business. Ninad was on cloud nine and he immediately called Kamal Joshi to share this news. All these little details Virat was slowly learning about Sai was making him realize how ignorant he was about her existence.

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In the evening, Virat was already on the stage set up for their reception party. He was wearing maroon color sherwani with indo western pants and matching embroidered stole. He was already getting irritated by the increasing number of guests. He didn't like being center of attraction and today he was just forced to stay in limelight so that some distant relatives and random neighbors and people could meet and greet him, he was hating every bit of it.

Ashwini noticed his irritation and went near him. "Virat, chehre par zara smile rakho. You are being so obvious about your frustration." She whispered in his ears.

"Aai, kya zarurat thi is sab ki? Aapko pata hai mujhe ye sab achha nahi lagta. Aur mujhe to yakeen hi nahi hota ki ye wahi log hain jo shadi wale din hamare bare mein tarah tarah ki baatein kar rahe the aur aaj sabke sabke party ka mazaa lene aise aa gaye jaise kabhi kuch hua hi na ho. Such a double faced society." Virat started his rant.

"Zarurat thi beta is sab ki, Sai ke liye." Ashwini gave her reason.

"Sai ke liye? Main kuch samjha nahi." Virat was confused.

"Jis tarah se tum dono ki shadi hui, aise mein kahi koi Sai ko galat na samjhe, usse tumhari second choice ya hamari majburi mein kiya gaya samjhauta na samjhe isliye aaj ye shandar party rakhi gayi hai. Main aur Ninad sabko dikhana chahte hain ki Sai ko hamari bahu ke roop mein pakar hum kitna khush hain, tum dono ke beech sabkuch theek hai." Ashwini explained.

Virat nodded in agreement. Even though he was frustrated but he could never have anyone look down upon Sai, he would rather stand here and be center of attraction for sometime. "Where is Sai? She still hasn't get ready?" Virat inquired as he suddenly realized its been more than half an hour since he was standing alone here.

"Offo! ladkiyo ko taiyyar hone mein samay lagta hai, wo aati hogi...arre wo dekho...Sai aa gayi." Ashwini said and went to receive Sai at the entrance of the party hall. Sai was coming in with Alka and Kamal and some of her friends.

Virat eagerly looked at the entrance to catch a glimpse of Sai but his view was obstruct by guests who had come in between. He became impatient as he couldn't see her. He realized he hasn't seen her since morning. There was this sudden urge in him to see her and have her by his side. When after few minutes also his view wasn't clear, he couldn't stand still. He came down from the stage and went towards the entrance. He excused himself from all the guests who came in between to meet him and kept walking towards the entrance, gently pushing aside everyone till he reached her.

"Sai....itni...itni...der kar di tumne. Main kab se intezar kar raha tha." He almost whispered as his breath got caught in his throat when he looked at her.

Sai was wearing champagne color net work saree with sleeveless blouse. She had teamed it up with elegant diamond jewelry and minimal makeup look. Her hair were left open with just side partition but sindoor was announcing its proud presence in the middle of her hairline on her forehead. She was looking epitome of grace, beauty and elegance.

"You are looking beautiful." Words slipped out of Virat's mouth on its own as his eyes traced Sai's form up and down.

"Thank you. Aap bhi bahut handsome lag rahe hain." Sai replied shyly.

Virat extended his hand for her and she placed her hand in his while looking into his eyes. They both moved towards the stage where they greeted guests. Later, photographer asked from them for some pictures and suggested some pose for it. Virat was feeling awkward while doing so. Photographer suggested some poses where they almost had to hug each other. Since everyone were present around them, he couldn't refuse also. Hesitatingly, Virat put his hand on Sai's waist and pulled her towards him. Sai looked into his eyes and put her one hand on his shoulder while other on his waist. Photographer took some pics and then asked them to change pose which was even more intimate.

All this while Virat's heart was beating with jet speed. He couldn't stop himself from getting a feel of Sai's waist while posing for the picture and his heart was shamelessly demanding more. He couldn't believe he was feeling like an adolescent who got to touch a woman for the first time.

"Why so nervous? Dude, she is your wife. Come on touch that waist again." His devil side provoked.

"No way! Behave yourself you pervert." Angel side reprimanded.

"You are entitled to have her in every way, this is just getting a feel of her skin, you can definitely do that." Devil side tried to lure him again.

"Dude, this is not cool. You got to keep your hormones in check." Angel side tried to warn him.

Virat was busy facing his inner conflict when someone called out from public for a dance and everyone started cheering up for them to have their first couple dance. They couldn't resist much when everyone including their family started to encourage them. Virat led Sai in the middle of the hall for their first dance together.

"I am not much of a dancer, I am warning you in advance." Virat whispered in Sai's ears.

She laughed, "Dont worry, I'll have you covered."

A romantic song started playing and both of them started swaying to the beats of music. To Virat's surprise, Sai was really covering up for him as she was gently pushing and gesturing him about the moves. Virat noticed Sai was a graceful dancer, he gladly followed her lead.

Dehleez pe mere dil ki

Jo rakhe hain tune kadam

Tere naam pe meri zindagi

Likh di mere humdum

Haan seekha maine jeena jeena kaise jeena

Haan seekha maine jeena mere humdum

Na seekha kabhi jeena jeena kaise jeena

Na seekha jeena tere bina humdum

Sai turned around and pushed back her head making it rest on Virat's shoulder while Virat hugged her from behind while holding her hands in his. For Sai, it was dream come true, she had always dreamt about their first dance and it was exactly happening like it. She was totally into it, forgetting reality, all the people present. Virat was enjoying their serene, blissful moment. He had no idea why he felt complete when Sai was in his arms.

Sacchi si hain yeh taareefein

Dil se jo maine kari hain

Jo tu mila to saji hain

Duniya meri humdum

O aasma mila zameen ko meri

Aadhe aadhe poore hain hum

Tere naam pe meri zindagi

Likh di mere humdum

Haan seekha maine jeena jeena, kaise jeena

Haan seekha maine jeena, mere humdum

Na seekha kabhi jeena jeena kaise jeena

Na seekha jeena tere bina humdum

Both of them came out of the trance when the song ended and everyone clapped for them. Later, they had their dinner with family and reception party ended after a while. By the end of it, both of them were so tired that they just wanted to have some sleep. But the awkwardness returned to Virat when they realized that as per their morning conversation, they both had to share the bed.

Sai was quite normal about it. She loved Virat and once Virat himself asked her to sleep on bed, she had no reservations about it. She was getting ready for bed and was engrossed in her daily night routine, totally unaware of Virat's predicament.

When Sai went in bathroom, Virat came out in the balcony of their room to take some deep breaths to calm his heart. There he got lost in thoughts about how his life changed so much so fast. He couldn't believe it only one day passed after his marriage and how his major decision to settle down in Mumbai has changed.

He was not an emotional guy, he always used to move quickly from any breakup but he thought he loved Pakhi and this time it was going to be difficult for him to forget her but since yesterday he has not even thought about her except for some moments where her name was specifically mentioned. Now he had a doubt did he even love her?

He didn't know Sai that much but due to her involvement in his family since childhood and her love towards his parents, she fit perfectly in his household and life. She didn't have to go through that phase where any new girl takes time to know about his likes and dislikes. Sai already knew him inside out so she surpassed that phase and came directly into the comfort zone with him but he didn't know anything about her. He was still struggling to find that comfort zone with her and on top of that their physical proximity was affecting him more than he had thought. He had agreed to share bed with her but as the night came, he was nervous about it. Somewhere in his heart the image of that little girl was still stuck and now suddenly seeing her as his wife was messing up his brain big time.

Virat came out of his thought when he heard the sound of bathroom door. He came inside the room and what he saw made him forget everything else. Sai was standing there in black satin nighty. Although it was very simple and not revealing at all but the way its semi shining material was hugging her figure, it gave Virat a very good idea about the curves of her body. Virat kept looking at her for sometime.

"Stop it pervert. You are ogling at her again." His angel side admonished him.

"Don't listen to him. Look at the beauty in front of you. Come on...make a move...I know you want to touch her." laughed his devil side in his ears.

"Did you forgot she is that same little girl from your childhood in whom you were never interested." Angel side made his point.

"But she is your wife now. She is no more little girl but transformed into a beautiful woman." devil side argued.

"No, remember her innocence." Angel side reminded.

"Look at her body...man she got filled in all the right places." devil side said in sexy drawl.

"Don't you do anything stupid and scare her away." Angel side reminded.

"Didn't she say in the morning that you have all the rights over her." devil side fought back.

His inner battle continued and finally Virat shut his eyes to stop the banter. "Will you two just shut up." He screamed.

Sai looked at him confused, "Ye aap kisse baat kar rahe hain?"

"Apne aap se...I mean I was thinking something and blurted out loudly." Virat covered it up.

Virat lie down on bed and after sometime Sai also came towards bed. She looked at him nervously. Virat shifted a little to make space for her. She came on the bed and the moment she lied down Virat realized this was such a bad idea. When bed was pressed down by her weight, every fibre on Virat's body come awake. He was fighting the inexplicable urge to move towards her and touch her, caress her.  He somehow controlled himself as he realized this night is going to be the most torturous night of his life.

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to be continued.....