FF LEARNING TO BREATH..updated pg 25 - Page 3

Originally posted by: ash_arti

vinni its fabulous 👍🏼

i love the way sugni talks and vikram's slowly trying to open up to her.
Good to see a strong sugni and an equally strong Vikram.

Originally posted by: octopie

Lovely chapter, Vinnie ! I also love the dialogue between them, and again - the thoughts of Vickram !

and lol - the part where she said ppl are questioning whether he owns one suit, hehe. those parts were funny and ironic, hehe

loved ending to the chapter, that for the first time in a while, it didn't hurt to breathe and he may start taking care of himself a little better now.

and great that you recapped and explained what happened in those past 2 weeks! I wouldn't have doubted that you would ^-^

you're on a role, keep it up ! loving the build up of your story 😳

CHAPTER 4

"No!" He said for the hundredth time since morning

"But Why?" She asked pouting like a child..."Please...Pretty please" she batted her eyelashes

Vickram stared at her , trying his hardest to keep a straight face...he was failing miserably.

"Hey Bhagwan! Sugni, it is not going to happen, now can I please enjoy my coffee in peace"

"At this rate naa... lice will start infecting your face , then end up in my food then they will come here and shut down my diner and it will be all your fault...I am telling you. Just because you to scared to visit a barbershop!"

With a dumbstruck look on his face, Vickram looked at her , blinking a few times tying to process her argument. He snapped his mouth shut, realizing he was probably looking like he was about to catch flies.

'What...How..Wh..How exactly did your brain come up with that.?? , asked dumbfounded ," Hey Bagwan , Sugni I swear you are enough to induce a small migraine in a rock!'

"Really?" She asked smiling like she was just given the biggest compliment in the world.

"look you been here almost a month, and you still continue to hide behind that hideous beard of yours. I am not saying get rid of all but trim , it shape it, mark it , please do SOMETHING, ANYTHING with it. You had no problems getting a hair cut!'

"Yeah well I hate long hair"

"And I hate that beard!" She retorted, His eyes snapped to her face. " I mean I ammm...I" for the first time she looked flustered. Her face turned red and she snapped her mouth shut. An awkward silence filled the air. " I need to go " she said suddenly running off to the kitchen...what was wrong with her now he wondered?

Being around Sugni and this Diner for the past three weeks was having a weird effect on him. He realized that he was starting to feel again. He began smiling again, laughing again. Sugni had a profound effect of the people around her and he was not immune. Sometime he felt as though she understood him in a way no one else did. Some times better than he knew himself.

She know when his mood was turning melancholy which was not as often as before, and she would pull him out of it by her simple gestures.

She knew when he wanted solitude and would let him be..Until he was ready come out again.

It was comfortable around her, and with out a word she some how managed to make him feel better.

Although this feelings of slowly being alive again was followed by a deep feeling of guilt that why should he be any type of happy . It was a vicious circle he was trapped in.

Like last night.

His nightmares were becoming more frequent. He demons torturing him even in his sleep. Last night for the first time he dreamt of him...Adi calling to him...he could here the voice echoing in his head but try as he might he could not reach him in time...he was running as fast as he could but Adi was so close yet so far away.

He awoke in a cold sweat, shaking. The rest of the night passed by with tormented memories of the past. He would have killed for a drink just to numb the pain..but he was alone in a diner , in a town that goes to sleep at the stroke of seven P.M.

He had a urge to wrap his arms around himself and just bawl like a baby ...but no he did not even deserve that much. In the midst of his personal torture, he was pulled out of it by the ringing of the phone. The clock on the wall told him it was 2 A.M. who was calling here at this god forsaken hour.

Only one person would.

"Hello?" he answered

"Is everything ok there?" she asked

'Uhh yeah" he answered. He said looking around. The diner was fine, the only problem here was inside him.

"What's wrong? " he asked, something had to be wrong for her to be calling at this late hour.

"Nothing I don't know I just had a weird feeling! Are you Ok ?' she asked softly

He sad nothing

"Vickram?"

" No" he had no idea why he said that...but has not, and he really did not have the strength or inclination to lie.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked

"I...ye...No...I can't" he said

"Ok"

"It's late you should , go back to sleep...I'll be fine"

"You sure?"

"Yes"

"OK"

Ten minutes after there was a knock on the door, making his way to the door he opened it. He should have known.

"I told you I was fine!" he said, sounding exasperated, but inside he was grateful for the company

"I know but I was wide awake, and scared of the dark so i thought i would come keep you company, made you some coffee!" she smiled as she placed the tray on the table.

"Come on drink up before it gets cold!," He stared at her , unmoving like a statue.

Reaching out she grasped his elbow, "come on have a seat!" She said softly . tugging him in the direction of the tables. "you like cards? I am a pro at jinn rummy!' Taking a seat she removed a deck of cards from the box. "Your deal or mine?"

Silently he reached out his hand palm out stretched, indicating she hand him the cards

Silently She handed him the cards staring at his face intently, looking for what he did not know.

Methodically, never taking his eyes of the deck he slowly began shuffling the cards. Softly he said

"Thank you,Sugni", His voice cracked under some emotion he did not want to dwell on right now. But in this moment with this simple gesture, this simple girl was like his saving grace.. One phone call pulled him from falling into a bottomless pit of despair he was not sure he could get away from.

"Whenever you're ready to share , I am here! " She said, smiling reassuringly, throwing him a life raft in this sea of despair he found himself in. "Come on deal!" .

After a few games of rummy all if which she lost in flair, Vickram's mood was a lot lighter. It was after she lost the 5^th game she started back her campaign to get him to remove his beard . An Argument she continued all through out the next day!