Her body clock had woken Sai up at her usual wee hours of the morning. But today, she did not have the household chores. She got dressed, took her suitcase and went down to the lobby. She needed to eat something and not get into any conversation with Virat Sir; there was no point. Enough was said and done the night before. 'Was I out of line?' Well, I think this is best for all of us. Pakhi didi is still madly in love with Virat Sir. With Samrat Dada freeing her, everything will be all right. Two people who love each other should be together. And no false or self-imposed worldly obligations should keep them apart. She was determined, and her goal, clear. She sent him a quick text. 'Virat Sir! I am downstairs in the lobby restaurant. Ready to leave when you're ready.'
The alarm woke him up. When he turned off the alarm, he noticed that Sai had sent him a text. He checked her side of the bed. She was missing. Half hoping for an apology for her last night's accusations, he smiled and then read the text. 'Who the hell does she think she is? Ready when you're ready!!' Now she does not even want to be in the same room as me? She thinks of everyone's feelings—how she sympathized with Samrat, my Jeeva, last night. But for me, my feelings, she keeps road-rolling over them, and I keep ignoring that, but not anymore. I am ready to leave, too, Sai Joshi!
The journey back to Nagpur was quiet. Perhaps all were introspecting their own messed-up worlds.
Sai would have preferred going straight to college, but she was the one who had convinced Samrat dada to come home with them, so she thought it was her responsibility to see it through. What was most important was Samrat dada returning home. At the moment it was all that mattered.
On entering Chavan Nivas, Sai was expected the usual—she knew somehow this trip would be all her fault. She was looking forward to the berating, but it was too soon for Dada. "Samrat Dada's entry must be grand. Please wait here Dada. Let us first prepare them for this big surprise, especially Mansi bua." Mohit agreed. Virat did not object.
Sai walked into a series of insults, Virat Sir a horde of questions, and Mohit bhaiya, accusations from the wife. Poor Sunny Bhaiya was also not spared. She let them all vent. "I have a surprise for all of you! A treat for your eyes Mansi Bua, and answers to your many questions Pakhi didi!" She ignored the insult-full retorts from the Chavan parivar. Grabbed Aai and Mansi bua by their arms to lead them to the one person Mansi bua had been yearning to see for over a year now. Samrat was back in Chavan Nivas. Her job here was done. Virat Sir had told her last night to not interfere in his family matters, and she was going to do precisely that. As the family started gathering around their long-lost son, brother, nephew Sai quietly took herself out of the commotion and into her, no Virat Sir's room to start packing to begin a new chapter.
Virat saw her leaving. He wanted to stop her—Sai, you are part of this family, but he had forsaken all rights on her last night. 'She is really going away.'
He could not even follow her. He had to stay right there, try to talk to his Jiva. He could not lose his brother, not because of a woman who turned out to be worthless. So he stood there, listening to Samrat's accusations, and then his final decision. "Thanks to Sai, I am here to fix my mistake. I am sorry Patralekha; I should not have walked out the day after our wedding without any explanations. I should have made it clear then. But I hope it's not too late. I am here to free you so you can live the life as you choose and with whom you choose. I am happy, and I want you to be happy too. Yes, I am here to give you a divorce."
"Have you asked Patralekha what she wants? One year, things have changed Samrat. What do you want Patralekha?" Bhawani kaku looked aghast at the thought of a divorce. What would the world say? She had to stop this at all costs. So she put Patralekha on the spot, and Patralekha decided to run away from the room instead of being honest.
