FF LEARNING TO BREATH..updated pg 25 - Page 16

Originally posted by: JulieD

Hi Vinnie, I love how you incorporate Sugni's childhood memories at the Carnival. Great to see Rathu and Champa around as well. Great job👍🏼

☺️☺️☺️ at the end 😆

Originally posted by: rose.lavender

Oh!God,Vinnie,you have my head spinning😃!

I might fall down,I'm seeing doubles at the moment!😭

Gosh!Just the correct dose of romance.

Sugni ia getting bold,isn't she?😉

Very good again,Vinnie.

Now,I just can't wait on the next chapter😉

Originally posted by: tulipdaisy

Wow Great part loved the romantic night out...
Waiting for more

Originally posted by: Sandy66

😊 Vinnie, each chapter gets better and better, and chapter 15 is no
exception, it's absolutely mesmerizing.
The arrival of Bhushan and Suman's baby girl is heartwarming.
Sugni and Vickram's mother get along splendidly, she fits right into
the Family.
Love each time when Vickram and Sugni say "I LOVE YOU" to each other.
Beautifully written Vinnie. Keep it up 👍🏼

Originally posted by: K.swati885

Wow!!!Vinne... Amazing chptr!!! I loved...it. I am happy for Bhushan...finlly he become fathr... PSh me nhi kam se kam tumhare FF me to ban paya...hahaha...
I love that Vikram sugni part...truly outstng...!!:)

Chapter 17

The bedside clock read 3:30 A.M., he looked around the strange room, as it took him a minute to realize where he was, Sugni's room. He recalled the last few hours, spent in each others arms,a smile automatically spreading over his face. Vickram never thought that he would feel this close to anyone again in his life, but here he was. He knew it took a lot of courage for her to take this step in their relationship, her innocent faith, and trust in him was humbling. He knew he would spend the rest of his life just to make her happy.

He was startled awake for some reason. Looking around he saw he was alone. Not a good sign. Worried now, he went in search for her. He found her in the kitchen. She was standing at the stove, a pot of water bubbling furiously on the fire. She seemed lost in thought. That worried feeling grew a bit more. Oh God did he mess this up.

Tapping her on the shoulder to snap her out of her daze, "Hey?" he said.

"Hey!" She said, blinking. "Just making some tea", Turning around she reached for a couple of cups that she managed to drop, luckily it did not break. Obviously she was nervous. Silently reaching over he took the cups.

"Have a seat, I'll make it" he said pointing to the kitchen table. She did. Making the tea, he placed one cup in front of her, pulling a chair up to sit next to her. She was staring at the contents of her cup, her hands wrapped around the mug. Taking a deep breath, he had no idea where to begin here, but had to find out what was wrong.

"Are you alright?" he asked

She nodded, still staring at her cup.

"Sugni look at me please!" He waited until she complied

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing" He raised an eyebrow , he did not believe that. She went back to staring at her cup. He waited. She sighed.

"I don't know. I feel confused... all mixed up again, happy but yet...I don't know" Just as he was afraid of.

"You weren't ready for this." He said. Cursing him self for not listening to his better sense and wait.

"No...its not that" She said removing her hands from the cup, to hold his. "That's not it"

Now he was confused.

"Then what is it?"

"I guess I... I am scared"

"Of what?" He asked confused

". That you'll go away . That I'll loose you" . She whispered, "It took me a long time before I learned to stay alone after my mom and she was the closest person to me, and…and now you are.. If you leave I don't know if I can handle it. That scares me." She finished never once looking at him , her small hand clinging to his.

He always saw Sugni as a strong independent, self confident person, she was self assured. But right now he was seeing a different side of her, her insecurity, her venerability. She was strong because she really had no other choice. She trusted him with a very precious part of herself. She handed him her heart with out making one demand in return. In that moment he knew, she never would. Even if it was killing, her she wouldn't. It was just not in her nature. The love he felt for just grew tenfold and he did not think that was possible. Her simplicity and her honesty were mind blowing.

"Come here," he tugged her hand,urging her up, onto his chair where he hugged her. Burying her face in his neck, she hugged him tightly. He felt moisture on his neck and realized she was crying

"Hey..Shhh. You really think I'll do that?...walk away after all the trust and faith you put into me?"

"No..I don't know I just got this feeling" Her voice was muffled, .

"Sugni...I love you. You mean the world to me. The only reason I started living again was because of you, I spent the last year just existing. I am not going any where. You don't have to be alone, you won't because I have no intention of leaving you.."

"Promise?" She asked in a small voice

"I promise..Unless you kick me out then I guess I'll have to sleep outside! "

"That will never happen!" She said pulling back she looked at him.

Looking into her eyes he said, "I won't break your trust, you believe me?"

"yes" she nodded . "I'm sorry, I'm not normally this emotional.. I don't know why…" She said wiping her eyes , giving him a watery smile.

"Well it has been an emotional night, so it's natural".

"So are we ok now?" He asked.

She nodded, smiling, he kissed on her forehead gently, watching the blush creep back into her cheeks. Placing another soft kiss on her cheeks, the sound of the alarm clock going off in the quite morning interrupting...

"darn!" he said, she giggled.

"Time to get up!'

"Wait! " he said stopping her.

She looked at him curiosly.

"What?"

"Well I did all the hard work of placing a tea bag into a cup, the least you could do is drink it!"

********\\\\\\\\\\//////////***********

Life was good. Vickram could not remember the last time that he felt this contented and happy. Since that special night, one week ago. This was as perfect as it could get. The diner was now debt free which made Sugni happy...things were back to normal, the guards were called off . For all intents and purposes his duties here were over and he was free to move on...not that he planned on going anywhere. But he was not really some one to sit around doing nothing, he spent his time now helping Sugni with her office work , which she gladly handed over since she would much rather cook than see about accounts. Although the diner was doing good business, Vickram again saw the potential to become more, and again he resolved to talk to her about expanding.

For now though he was just enjoying spending time with his lady love, being in love was really a heady feeling one he did not want to wake up from.

"Come on you can do it...come on" He said.

"No...I can't"

"You did well so far, you wanted to do this remember, so what's the problem?"

"I can't"

"Yes you can! Come on"

She looked at him, took two steps towards him, brought her hand up, then dropped it. Letting out a sigh

"I can't"

"Sugni...this was your idea...now.. come on .Hit me"

She shook her head no.

"Well how do you expect to defend yourself if you refuse to hit your attacker?" he asked.

She spent most of their Sunday morning pestering him about lerning to fight.. he finally gave in teaching her some basic moves, which she picked up rather quickly...problem is when he asked her to hit him no hold bared she refused.

"See that's the problem, you are not an attacker and I don't want to hurt you!"

"Hurt me?" He chuckled, "Sugni, so far all you've done is throw mock punches at the air, you won't be able to do anything unless you test out your moves on something a bit more solid than that. So come on Hit me." She shook her head.

"hey Bhagwan!'

Seeing this won't be easy, he tried something else.

"Ok close your eyes," she did. "Breath in, let it out, again, good now think about Curly sue, he walkes into the diner, youre standing behind the counter all alone." As he spoke he kept circling her slowly. They were standing in her living room with the furniture pushed to the walls, giving them the space they needed.

He continued speaking putting the image in her head. Suddenly he grabbed her hand above her elbows pulling her towards him, .

Using her right heel she stomped on his foot as hard as she could , while jabbing her elbow in his gut, knocking the wind out of him, he small fist connected to his temple and within a few seconds Vickram was on the floor. OK so she packed a punch.

"Oh My God I am so sorry!" She said as she knelt beside him, 'Are you alright, did I hurt you? , you din't break any thing did you? , should I call the doctor?, Oh ! water.I'll get you some" She was taking with the speed of a fright train, Vickram was staring at her , he never knew any one who could say so many words in so little time. He couldn't help it he burst out laughing loudly. This got her to shut up finally.

"Sugni I am fine , just winded...by the way...you passed the test...remind me never to make you mad!' He was still laughing.

She had that cute pouty look on her face again that was simply irresistible and he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Hey! What are you doing."

"Well, rewarding you for a job well done!'

Pusing him back with her hands she said, "Oh no you don't, you were laughing at me...I was really worried."

"Awww sorry, but you know I can't help it...you are funny' He said placing his hands around her

"Oh so now I am a joke!" the pout was now accompanied by mock anger, as she tried to get out of his embrace.

"No I think you are quite cute trying to be all angry, your cheeks get all red...your eyes all round , and your nose naa gets all twitchy.?

"Twitchy? Twitchy!!! Ewww, what I look like a witch, how dear you! let me up!' She said struggling to get up.

"Nope!" he said kissing her cheeks.

"Now...or else' She warned

"Or else what? You going to hit me again?" he asked tounge in cheek,

"Yes!" He ignored her.

"there is only one way to get up...you have to ...'

"what?" she said eying him suspiciously

"Kiss me"

"No" She shook her head from side to side, like a petulant child

"fine I can stay here all day, I don't mind" he said

"Vickram...seriously I need to get up!

"well get up..just... kiss me first" He stared at her waiting. she leaned forward, kissing him on his cheeks. "Happy now?" She asked making to get up. He did not budge.

"Uhh Uhh...nope, come on you can do better than that!" He said

"Hey ! No fair!" she said

"Well everything is fair in love and war," He said winking wickedly.

Realizing she was fighting a loosing battle, putting her arms around his neck, they stared at each other for a few seconds before she brought her face closer to his kissing him softly on his lips... holding her closer deepening the kiss

The ringing of the telephone interrupted the mood.

"Leave it"

"No" She said pulling back.

" Great timing " He mumbled as he got up following her to the couch, he was not going to be defeated, sitting next to her , placing butterfly kisses on her shoulders upwards making her giggle.

"Hey the phone! She said

"Answer it" he said continuing to kiss her.

"Hello" She said trying to sound serious, but failing.

"What??!Calm down..Champa I can't understand you... Champa what's wrong..Cham...Rattu??? Wha..." Vickram sat upright, as Sugni seemed to freez after listening to what was being said.

"Sugni? What's going on?

Suddenly she dropped the reciver and shot out of the couch as she ran to the door. What happend to Champa? Hurriedly he picked up the phone from where it fell, Rattu was still talking on the line.

"...They are trying to control it but it is raging" He said

"Rattu? what going on?" Vickram asked.

"The diner..its on fire!"