CHAPTER 5.
Sugni sorted the piles of laundry into whites and colors, her mind began wandering from the mindless task. As it did, whenever she found herself unoccupied, her thoughts went to Vickram.
It was two weeks since he walked out her door. However, he by no means left her life as Sugni spotted his car outside her window one evening 2 days after and on occasion she would see it driving around. She wondered if he would come out and try to convince her again, but he never did.
Despite how hard she tried to forget him she was yet to accomplish the task. Part of it was because now she knew he was here and his semi stalking of her was not helping matters. Her heart was telling her she should have listened to him. Her brain was telling her not to make the same mistake twice. She had a child to look after she had no business crying over what was lost.
She tried hard to hold on to the hurt, and betrayal she felt when she first found out about Reva, the shock of seeing her, a beauty for sure. She was everything Sugni was not, tall fair, looks that could kill. Then there was Sugni, she was nothing special, she was dark, her hair was always in a mess, her clothes had seen better days. Compared to Reva she looked like a ruffian. Why would he want her when he had that? Her brain could only come up with one answer she was just a challenge he needed to conquer.
She had known Vickram for over eight months; she thought all was rosy in her world. With him around all her fears about doing her Sardakhi were gone.
She felt secure, safe in a way she did not before. She trusted him and believed him when he told her she was his world. Then when he held her hand I front of all the Thakurs and declared that he would make her his wife and invited them all to their wedding, in that moment he won over her completely. Had he asked for her life at that moment she would have happily given it to him.
Then when Reva showed up, at her Mehendi ceremony, saying she was the Thakurine and she wanted a second chance. In all the time they were together, he never mentioned a wife. She foolishly never thought he would have one. From the moment she met him he had always been honest and fair to everyone around him, she never thought he would hide something like that from her. Her shock and pain at the time was overwhelming. She felt betrayed and hurt worse than if someone had beaten her black and blue.
He showed up at her door a few days after, in a drunken stupor and said he never meant to hurt her, he begged her forgiveness. She was too hurt to listen. Then the people starting laughing at her, she became the laughing stock of the village, until her uncle told her it is best she do her Sardakhi , she knew Vickram was against the practice, and she figured why not show him ...so she agreed.
With the birth of Shanti though, Sugni's anger and hatred against him somehow diminished. She looked at herself and her life. Yes, it was his fault that her wedding was broken, but if she was honest, what happened after was as a result of her actions.
Her drive to hurt him not only hurt him but she too was not left unscathed either. All she wanted now was as she told him; live a quite existence with her child. She knew she would do whatever it took to keep her safe and away from the life, she had.
Now here he was, wanting to pick up where they left off. She wondered if she should confront him with his stalkish' behavior or ignore him. She instinctively knew that although he could go a bit over board he would never hurt her physically. She figured if she ignored him long enough he would give up and leave her alone; she was yet to see that.
The ringing of her phone in her pocket, snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Hello?" Sugni answered her phone. Wondering who was calling her at this hour of the day at work.
"Hello? Ms. Sugni Mathur?" A female voice asked.
"Yes?"
"Hey ...I am calling from the Super furniture store...I see you brought something from us..."
Oh darn.
"Yes..Ma'am . A stove. I know I am a little late on the payments this month, but I promise as soon as I get paid this week I'll make the payment.'
"Oh that is not necessary...Ma'am see..." Sugni closed her eyes it was just late on one payment surely they could understand.
"Listen...Please...I was going to make the payment, but my daughter needed some school supplied that were important. It's just a few days..."
"Ma'am Ma'am calm down I am not calling about the payments!" The caller assured her.
"Oh?" Sugni said confused.
"No Ma'am... our company's anniversary is coming up and are doing sweepstakes on all our current customers, and your name was picked out at random from our database. You won a brand new living room set, full payment of your stove and all new kitchen appliances. CONGRATULATIONS ! MA'AM.
"Are you kidding me?" Sugni asked shocked.
"No Ma'am.. I am very serious...I am calling you to find out a time that we can have the stuff delivered to your home."
"Oh I -I am at home by 3 each day." She said
"Ok that is fine...well we will be over at your place tomorrow to deliver your winnings...and congratulations again Ma'am.
"Uh Thank you...I can't believe this...Thank you..." Sugni was shocked; she never won anything in her life!
"You are welcome and enjoy your winnings...Good bye."
"Good bye!" She smiled.
"Is this what I am paying you to do chit chat on the phone?" Mrs. Flam said as Sugni hung up.
"I am sorry madam, it was the furniture store...I won a sweepstake they had new furniture!!!" She smiled.
"OH...Hmmm... well does that mean I can get back the ones I lent you?" she said, effectively bursting Sugni's bubble.
"Yes they will drop it off tomorrow I guess...and thank you so much for being so kind to us..."
"It was not about kindness, If my niece did not insist on lending it to you, it would have stayed in the storeroom. That furniture has been in this family for years and I hope you did not let that child of yours destroy it..." She said
"No Ma'am" Sugni said taking a breath to quell her irritation. Mrs. Flam had her own judgment on Sugni being a single mother, and it was not a nice one. "Excuse me I'll finish the laundry." She left before she had to listen to her rant about children created from sin.
"So did she buy it?" Vickram asked his secretary as she hung up the phone.
"I think so , she sounded excited...but sir...won't she find it strange? I mean she won all of this and it is not advertised." She asked.
"Cha, No cause tomorrow you are going to go over there with the delivery, have her sign the delivery slip with the stores logo on it so it looks legit, ask her for the installment contract and bring it back for me. I know the manager it'll all be fixed." He said
"Ok Sir...but why not just tell her?"
"Because if she knew I had anything to do with this she would never agree. So it has to look like it is genuine" Vickram said.
Vickram thought a lot about how to help Sugni out, and he remembered seeing an envelope form the furniture store, with a bill in it. Looking at her shabby furniture he knew she could use something a bit more sturdy, it was the most he could do for now if it was up to him she would be living in a much better place than she was but he could not do anything about that without her finding out.
As Vickram had been doing for the past two weeks, he would pass by her house, looking on from far; compelled as though by some invisible thread to just to get glimpse of her. She led a very simple life he saw , she left in the morning with the child dropped her to school , then went to work. Came out picked her up and came back home. Sometimes spend some time out in the yard as she watched Shanti play and chatted with the neighbor.
But after that there was nothing, no social life, no visitors. She was truly on her own. He wondered how she took that step. He wondered what happened after the Sardakhi. Normally that was the end for the girls as after that they were fair game to all the leeches out there.
Whatever it was, he was glad that she was no longer a part of that. He was tempted on a number of occasions to go over and knock on her door again. The only thing stopping him was her words. Although Vickram wanted nothing more than a second chance with her, he also knew he did not want to cause her any more pain. However, knowing she was here and not seeing her was also impossible for him.
Today she he even saw her smile a bit no doubt she was happy about her "winning" that sweepstakes. Vickram was glad he was able to do something for her, and he hoped it all went smooth tomorrow and without her finding out the truth.
Looking at his watch, he saw it was getting late. He sighed she was not going to come out; it did not make sense sitting here.
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He drove up to his apartment as he came out the car, Vickram noticed a shadow sitting on his door.
"Adi?" Vickram said as he walked toward him. "Something wrong, son?" He asked wondering if something happened at the house that would bring him here at this hour.
"Hey Mamaji, no, no nothing is wrong. I just thought I'd just pass by..." he said
Vickram opened his door letting them in.
"Uhh huh...Your grandmother sent you to check up on me didn't she?" Vickram said knowingly.
"Ummm.." he said sheepishly.
Sighing Vickram walked to the bar at the corner of the room. "Fix you a drink?" He asked Pouring two shots of whiskey he handed one to Adi as he took a seat.
"What?" Vickram said.
Adi was his elder sister's son. After his father left her for a bedni, she moved back home with her baby boy in tow. Although Vickram was only 12 years older than Adi he took on the responsibility of taking care of him as best he could. More so when unable to deal with the pain and humiliation of her husband leaving her, she succumbed to the pressure and committed suicide leaving behind her five year old son, having lost both his parents at such a young age Vickram stepped into the role of father figure making sure that he wanted for nothing. Watching Adi today though he was proud of him, he turned out all right.
"She is worried about you. She says you have been and I quote "restless" for the last few weeks. And I have to agree with her. Is everything all right? Is something bothering you." Adi asked concerned.
Vickram stared at Adi. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I don't now leaving the office unexpectedly, being lost all the time, wandering around after dinner...it's unlike you.."
"So what I can't go for a drive now?" Vickram asked a bit defensively. He did not know his family was recording his actions!
"No...No Mamaji that is not what she means...if something is bothering you, you can talk about it. We are just a little worried about you." He said.
"Adi...I am not a child. I did not know I had to report all my actions to you people! How many times do I have to say I am fine? Maa just likes to worry. Nothing is bothering me." He said
"I am sorry Mamaji. She did not mean anything. And I know you, you like to deal with your problems yourself, but I am here and I think I am old enough to help you in any way I can now. So if you want to talk I am here." Adi said.
Vickram smiled. "Thank you, I appreciate that but really nothing is wrong." That was true. His past made a roaring entrance back in his life, and he was trying to deal with that. He knew if they knew that Sugni was here they would not take too kindly to it. It was not as if they approved of his relationship with her before.
Although Adi being away in collage was not around at the time to know what was going on, and when he did find out he was confused as to how his uncle could allow a girl, a bedni of all people to "ruin "his life. He did not come out and say he did not approve of it, but he did say it was good that he was out of there and away for "them!'
Vickram finished off his drink, feeling the warmth of the alcohol as it slid down his throat.
"I just need a break from things once in a while and need to clear my head, is that so wrong?' He asked as he got up to refill the glasses.
"No...It's not." Adi accepted the glass taking a sip of his drink. They sat in contemplative silence for a while. Adi looked deep in thought.
"Maybe I should ask, is something bothering you?" Vickram asked him.
"No it's just..." Adi looked at Vickram as though he was going to say something then shook his head. "Never mind. He sighed.
"Adi what is it?" Vickram said.
"Nothing...I don't want to upset you."
"You can never upset me ... go on what is it?'
"Well you remember what you told me, when Amrita was going to marry that guy her parents choose for her...you said if you love someone enough, you should have the will and the courage to fight for them.."
"Yes...I remember." He said
"So how come you gave up...I mean I never understood it, but in the past five years looking at you, it obvious that what you feel for her is very, very deep. So why didn't you try after the divorce to make things right? Why didn't you fight? You walked away and never looked back." He said looking at his uncle.
"You're right. I left, not because I did not want to fight. God knows I tried I even went to his house to try and talk some sense into her again." Vickram remembered Vijay Singh coming out and gloating in his face that he beat Vickram at his own game. He got what Vickram could not. Try as he might he could not contact her.
"She refused to see me, and Vijay made sure she did not. I knew if I stayed there, I would end up crazy. Watching her destroy herself...then when Maa got sick I knew I had other responsibilities. So to take care of her properly I moved concentrating on my duties as a son. I thought from time to time to go back see if things changed. But I knew if I did that your grandmother would not handle it well and I did not want to risk her health again.." He said.
"Naani Maa is much stronger now...and I am here..." Adi said. Vickram looked at Adi.
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying that you sacrificed a lot for us, you've always been here for us. Six years is a long time, things change, people change. If there is a chance, Mamaji, I think maybe you should go back and try to make things right. She might listen to you now. It's better than pining away here, wondering about what could have been and what should have been. Maybe you should fight."
"Adi..." Vickram was speechless he was not expecting that.
"Mamaji all we want is for you to be happy, like you made us happy. And if she is that for you, you should not give up. As long as I have known you, you have always been one to get what you set your mind to. At least you should see if there is a possibility for you and if there is go for it."
"Wah beta, you really have grown up eh...giving me advice!" Vickram said.
"Well I learned from the best!" He laughed, then he said soberly, " At least think about it. If love is true it will find a way right? And if your love is not true then nothing is. Anyways," Adi said as he stood up to leave. "Whatever you decide we will support you and if I know you, you would not give up without a fight!"
Vickram stared at the door after Adi had left. He digested the fact that he had gotten advice from Adi. He chuckled. "Oh Adi if only you knew!" . He was right. He would not give up without a fight that was for sure! Especially now that it seemed that he had been given another chance.
Vickram went upstairs to his room, where he looked at the pictures of Sugni, as he marveled at the realization that maybe this time around he had one less obstacle in his path. His family. That was a relief to him..."Oh Sugni...we are meant to be together aren't we?'...