FF LEARNING TO BREATH..updated pg 25 - Page 18

Originally posted by: K.swati885

Vinne...the chptr was simply outstanding!!!! All Romntic moments were beautifully writtn...lovely:) i really liked it.

Chapter 18

Vickram ran out side , catching up to Sugni who was running like crazy down the two blocks.

What they saw when they got their was shocking , the entire building was ablaze, the fire men working furiously to control the blaze...

"Nooo!" Sugni said as she continued running forward, grabbing her around her middle he held her struggling form as she tried to move forward, into the blaze.

" Stop...stop!!" He said ..as she started struggling to get out of his hold.

"No this can't be ... Nooo this can't be happening nooo!!!" She shouted. They were joined by Champa and Ratu who were standing on the other side. Champa had tears running down her face as she tried to console Sugni, still struggling to break away from Vickram.

"Sugni, please clam down." He said, but he was sure she could not hear him. It took a few minutes for her to stop and when she did she stood staring at the blaze frozen again.

"What happened here?" He asked Rattu, who seemed to be the only calm one in the group.

"Well I don't know exactly, Champa and I were on our way back home from the movies, when we saw the smoke, when we got here the place was on fire and I called the fire brigade and then you."

"Saw any one?"

"No surprisingly nobody. The place was like a ghost town, look all over locked up.!' All the windows and doors were locked tight. No one wanted to get involved, so no one saw anything he was sure.

Only one person could do this, Jwala. He failed to get his grubby hands on the diner so he decided to destroy it. Even after being warned to stay the hell away from her. He just made the biggest mistake of his pathetic life, because one thing Vickram never makes is false promises or false threats.

Controlling his urge to march over to Jwals's house and strangle the daylights out of him, Vickram forced himself to remain clam. Watching Sugni who was still standing like a statue in his arms.

*********////////////************

Barging into the office of Jwala Singh, he grabbed him off the chair slamming him into the wall. "I told you stay away from her and the cafe, I warned you! I'll kill you!" he growled , .

"Oh My God!" he herd the secretary say. She had a look of horror on her face that never left as Vickram Walked into the office against her protest.

"What are you talking about??!" Jwala Singh said as he pushed Vickram off of him , causing him to stumble back.

"Oh you know damn well what I am talking about the fire...you sent your goons to do it !'

"What?" You think I had something to do with that? You are crazy." Jwala Singh said.

"Listen..Vickram..is it...? Jwala said as though he was talking to a child.

"I really am sorry that the diner got burnt, and I know that must be hard for her...I had nothing to do with it. And the ones that are responsible well when the police find them they will pay.In the mean time, you can tell Sugni that my offer still stands and when she is ready she can come work for me...after all she needs work to survive na" He said with a nasty smile. Causing Vickram to attack him again.

"Call the security!" Jwala shouted at his still shocked secretary who hurried out the office to do as he said.

Grabbing Vickram by the throat, he said.

"Listen you! I don't know who the hell you think you are, coming in my town and threating me, but I have had about enough of you. Now you go tell that little bitch to accept my offer or she might just end up on the streets! Got it?...and you can go shout to whomever you like you will never prove I had anything to do with it" He said smugly, releseaing his hold on Vickram.

Vickram's fist connected with Jwala's Jaw sending him crashing towards the table. Befor he could recover he was on top of him squeezing his neck in a choke hold,

"I know you had everything to do with it, and believe me when I am through with you you won't only be spending time in jail, you won't have two pennies left to rub together" He said, he released him , straightened up and walked out of the office before the security arrived.

Not one to sit around and wait Vickram snapped into action, first by asking his bother to send him over everything he had on Jwala singh. He then remembered the Security system he had installed and thanked his lucky stars that they had a video feed to their home. Reviewing the tape of that day Vickram watched as a black car pulled up around 4 PM two men got out...Digvijay and some other guys with containers of liquid...an old man was walking the street he noticed them and he walked up to them but was beaten and chased by Digvijai. The doused the building from the outside, then set it ablaze quickly getting back into the car and leaving.

*********////////////************

"Sugni please, just a little bit you need to eat, Please" He watched as Champa tried to get her to eat a bit of soup she brought over. It's been two days since the fire. Vickram was worried about her, in the two days she was in a daze, not talking, staring of into space, refusing to eat. The doctors said she was in a state of shock from what happened and for the while all they could do was watch her to see if she would snap out of it. Not the answer he was looking for.

Champa caught sight of him as he entered the bedroom door, silently asking her if she eat, she shook her head. Taking the tray from her, he motioned for her to follow him.

"So what happened?" She asked, they were now in the kitchen.

"What we expected , he denied it...but he offered her a job" He said sarcastically. Champa had a disgusted look on her face that he was sure mirrored his.

"Don't worry...How is she? Did she say anything?"

"Yes, she just kept saying sorry to that we lost our jobs, saying it was her fault. Then she got quite again, can you believe it she is worried about us even now." Champa said tearfully. Yes he could believe it because that was just they type of person she was. That reminded him that , Sugni was not the only one who was at a loss here. Taking a piece of paper he wrote down a telephone number and an address and handed it to her.

"Listen, give this to Rattu, tell him to call this number...some one will help him find a temporary job until the diner gets back in order." He said.

She looked at it.

"Oh Vickram that is not necessary I am sure we can make out until...we can help Sug"She started

"No..you have a daughter to see about and expenses , it might take a while to get back on track. At least this way you have an income, besides you can help her while Rattu works." He said

Accepting the paper , "Thank you" she said. Impulsively hugging him.

"No problem!" he said patting her on the shoulder.

"Why don't you go home... your daughter must be waiting." He said

"Ok, but call if you need anything. She did not eat but I did manage to get her to take a bath. Maybe you'll be luckier" She said sadly. As she walked out the door.

Walking back inside the house, he was suddenly aware of how different it was now, in this same living room two days ago, they were right here having a light- hear ted conversation on the pro's and con's of self defense, sharing laughter and kisses. Looking around he could not remember a time when this place was this silent, if she was not chatting about something ridiculous, she was humming some tune on the radio. Amidst all her worries over the diner, she never let it bring her down, cause somewhere deep inside she had that faith that it was all going to work out.

Walking into the room, he found her asleep curled up, and it was heart wrenching. It seems that all that faith she had was gone. And he did not know how but some how he would have to help her get it back again'

H e was awaken to the sound of her blood curling scream. Alarmed he got up and turned on the light. Turning he found her sitting upright on the bed, her breathing shallow.

"Sugni?" he said sitting in front of her "Hey"

"I did this...I ruined everything...its all my fault" she whispered, she was talking as though to herself.

"What?" He said confused , touching her shoulder to get her attention She looked at him.

"Yes...she told me...Sugni...don't do this...Sugni that man is trouble...but no I wouldn't listen...Up the that last day she kept saying I made a bad choice! And now it's gone, her dream, her life everything I ruined it all. My fault ..all my..." She said as tears started welling up in her eyes.

" no...It wasn't your fault...Jwala Singh is the one responsible" he said.

"But why?, because of me...if I did not go to him, if I had only listened to her none of this would have happened. It was all my fault...Everything she worked hard for her dream I lost it. "she said as she bent her head.

Wrapping his arms around her , he held her as she cried for the first time since the fire.

Originally posted by: ramkideewani23

superfantabulous Vinnie. the drama was so intense 👏. O my I feel so sorry 4 Sugni😭 TVS is so caring and pacifying🤗 TJS and TVS fight was awesome. I'm just imagining them right now. Serves him right. That licks was long due👏 Waiting to see DV's share😈

I'm sure TVS will help her build bk Right Vinnie Di?

Waiting 4 next installment. 🤗

Originally posted by: JulieD

I loved this chapter because you did not just deal with Jwala previously and make him disappear. I love how you had him come back for revenge because after all he is a goon and rich, right?

Great job Vinnie with keeping all your characters and their personalities in tact.⭐️⭐️👏 I am waiting for the next chapter.

Ah!Vinnie,me bad😭

Originally posted by: rose.lavender

Ah!Vinnie,me bad😭

I did read the last 2 chapters,but I was rushing to read the other threads.Do accept my humble apologies for not giving my review and thoughts!

Well,I must say,I do love all the drama,suspense,romance and thrills of it all.

Just the correct amount of it 👏

Vinnie,the chapters were excellently and brilliantly written,also fantastic and fabulous.

I guess Vikram will be rebuilding Sugni's diner,this time it might be a state-of-the art restaurant which might become a franchise,eh?😉

What did you say to Simi?

You are almost to the end?

Oh!God!I hope not.

Please don't end it because you are busy with your FF on face-book!😭

Gosh!I just cannot wait for more!

Chapter 19

"Shhh...I am so sorry!" he said as he held her, while she cried heat wrenching sobs, that he desperately wished he could have prevented.

She cried for a long time, kept saying it was her fault.

"Hey, listen to me," He said finally when her sobs subsided. Wiping her tears, he looked into her eyes.

"This was not your fault, what ever you did you did it because you did what ever it took at the time to help your mother, right?"

She nodded.

"He took advantage of the situation" Vickram said, trying to control his rage that always boiled when he thought of Jwala.

"Your mother's dream is not lost Sugni, and it will always be alive and well as long as you keep it so"

"But the diner.."

"Can be rebuilt, her dream was not just a building...her dream was making people happy , her passion was in cooking, right?"

"Yes she loved too."

"Something she passed on to you, now the only way that dream would die is if you let it . I know right now it seems like everything is lost, but it's not. Everything you need is right here", he said resting his hand over her heart. "Now you can either let him defeat you or you can raise up...and keep her dream alive..better than even she thought."

"I can't do this alone" she said dejectedly "I don't have the strength anymore"

"You're not alone, I'm here, Champa , Rattu , Twinkle. What ever you need." He said. "Sugni we can do this together. You're stronger than this. I won't let you give up, cause that's not my Sugni . I won't let you fall. Whatever it takes , you're mothers dram will live on…trough you! Right?"

She stared at him as silent tears kept falling from her eyes.. She nodded.

"On one condition...' she said

"Yes I know...you pay me back" he smiled

She hugged him,

"It's going to be ok, we'll get through this you'll see" He said gently rocking her.

Both fell silent for a while lost in their thoughts.

"Thank you" She said after a while."Vickram?"

"Hmmm?"

Two weeks later they were sitting at the kitchen table, discussing plans for rebuilding the diner.

"You ever thought about expanding?" he asked. The Fire department, finally gave them the go ahead to start the rebuilding process, the insurance investigation was also done and She received a check, which would go towards restarting her business.

"Hmmm?" She said looking over a price list of hardware supplies. "I did once. We went into this five star restaurant I think it was my 16^th birthday...and found it so elegant...I asked my mom why we could not have a place like that.!"

"Why did'nt she?"

"I think she was a bit scared, Mom loved cooking , but she was'nt much of a business type, not being highly educated, she was afraid to take the risk I guess. Then I mean it's not exactly a hot and happening town, most of the customers are people who work around the area and just want a quick bite to eat."

"I see..." he said slowly

"What are you thinking?" she asked curiously ,

"What if we turn it into an exclusive, exotic type high class restaurant" He said

"I am thinking.." He said

"That sounds nice and all..but...what about my regular customers , who come in here all hot and sweaty for their lunch time meal...I can't abandon them" She said

" Yeah you have a point!'

"It would be nice though!" She said wistfully.

"Maybe we can combine it...cater to both crowds.'

Taking a piece o f paper he drew out a sketch of a mock restaurant.."See look we can section it off so that you have here like the regular diner and then over on this side we can have the exotic section.

We would need two kitchens, I am sureChampa can handle one side and you the other extra staff of course and a lot of advertisements, and a good marketing strategy …hmmm…. but I'm sure I can work that ..."

"Wohaa...hold it there Thakur Maklic!" She said staring at him with wide eyes . Sugni was looking at him as though seeing him for the first time.

"You are essentially talking about two restaurants in one, need I remind you I already owe you enough money than I can probably payback in my lifetime."

"That's ok ...you can continue in your next life time!' He said "what is it they say...we have seven together?" He said. He said nonchalantly. Looking at her she was still staring at him.

"What?" he asked

"Umm n-nothing." She said her face red.

He was about to ask her about it when the voice on the radio took his attention.

"In breaking news... Famous business man Jwala Singh was arrested a few minutes ago on charges of arson. Although details are unclear at the moment, it is believed that Jwala Singh masterminded the arson of a small town diner a couple of weeks ago, as confessed by one of the men caught in the act.

But that is not all the trouble that Mr.Singh is currently facing, according to sources, Mr. Singh is caught in a land grabbing and fraud controversy, where he reportedly received millions of dollars from a foreign company by selling them property to develop their factory, however he was not the owner of all the land he claimed was his. It is reported that the yet unknown company is in the processof taking legal action agains Mr. Singh, which could cost him more than he is worth plus some jail time! Investigations are continuing ...and we will be sure to bring you the details as they unfold. For now all we can say is that Jwala Singh is facing some very tough times ahead.

Vickram smiled as he herd the report..alot of tough times ahead indeed. Sugni was staring at him again.

"What did you do?" She asked.

"Me Nothing." He answered innocently. She raised her eyebrows.

"Well see the police did their job, by catching Digvijay and his accomplice. It did not take much to get those two to spill the truth." He said. He did not feel she needed to know that he promised then to tke care of their families if they spoke the truth.

" And as for the deal... that is why he was adamant on getting you to sell him your diner plot, after some digging I saw he was making offers to other people in the area as well. Only problem is he some how managed to convinced this company that it was indeed his land, taking prepayment from them in order to hold it exclusively for them, since they were still in the planning stages of the factory project. I think he figured he had enough time to buy out the area befor the deal was fully closed. All I did was pass it along to who it concerned"

'Wow" She said looking stunned .

"Don't worry...he is not coming out of jail anytime soon, and when he dose ...well maybe you can offer him a job as a window washer . I think he'll need it" He winked, wickedly

"No way...I don't want that man any where near me!" She replied.

Suddenly she laughed, that tinkling carefree sound that was so missed the past few weeks, he joined in her laugher...as the their was a knock on the door signally the arrival of Champa, Rattu and Twinkle who came to celebrate .