Chapter 13
Two days after Kuhu left, Vickram was sitting at his desk wondering what was wrong. Since that evening at dinner Sugni seemed different, she got all quite and brooding again'hardly talking , staying by herself. He knew Kuhu could be a bit strong willed at times but she had a good heart below that tough exterior. He tried to apologize for her behavior but Sugni said there was nothing to apologize for. Yet he had feeling something was wrong, but he could not know because she was not talking. He knew sometimes when her therapy sessions were rough she would stay by herself not wanting to talk to anyone he was beginning to read the signs of when she wanted to be alone, usually she come down and try to overcome it. In the past two days however she did nothing of the sort, no TV, no games , not even her favorite spot outside. It was like the first few days when she got here. Thinking he had to have a talk with Amrita about this he was about to reach for the phone when it rang.
"Hello?"
"UH..Hello? I am returning a call I go this morning from this number, about the apartment I have for rent." Said a man's voice on the other end.
"I am sorry I think you have the wrong number"
"oh! Huh I thought this was 378-00021, I must have misdialed.
"No that is this number 'but I did'nt call it"
"No it was a lady, she left a voice message,"
"Oh what name?"
"She didn't leave a name, just that she was interested, I busy all day and just got it so I called back."
"Where is this apartment?"
"Royal Road, a 1 bedroom deal, semi furnished. 300. Per month." The person said .
"Hmm'Ok'I'll pass on your message." Vickram Said
"Please do'I have some people coming over for 11 O'clock tomorrow to view , if she wants she can come see it, then."
"Alright" Vickram said as he ended the call.
Sugni came down the stairs as Vickram hung up the phone , making her way to to the garden he guessed.
"Sugni'. can you come here please?"
She came into the den . "Yes?"
"Come have a seat." He said , she came over and sat on a chair.
"I just got an interesting phone call, some one saying they got a call from this number inquiring about an apartment, you know anything about that?" He asked looking at her shocked expression, the ringing of her hands confirming that it was indeed her who made the call.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" He asked softly.
She looked at her hands "I;;I just um..I"
"Sugni look at me please." She did
"Did you make that call?" She nodded.
"Why?"
"I just think that it was time to..to..to 'start taking care of myself. I mean how long can I keep on taking advantage of you" She said
"Excuse me? What..Sugni what are you saying 'I never said anything like that did I? Have I done something to make you feel that way?"
She shook her head, no. Vickram looked at Sugni wondering where was this coming from, she was finally acting comfortable around here and now suddenly she wanted to leave. In the back of his brain he heard his sisters words'he also remembered her hearing his phone conversation the last time'but Sugni was upstairs she could not have herd what they were talking about 'unless'
"Did my sister say something to you?" He asked watching her closely
He herd her gasp ..as she shook her head vigorously looking the floor "N-No No 'No one s-said anything'I ' I Just think it's time to go" She was lying .
"Really?, Sugni I know this isn't you talking , I more or less had the same conversation with Kuhu'and I'll deal with her later." He could not believe she would do that, he thought angrily.
"No..pl..please she didn't do anything." Sugni said she did not want to cause discord between these two. She started to cry.
"Sugni'why are you so upset? 'hey" Placing his hand on hers to stop her fidgeting. Her head shot up looking at him.
"Ok 'I won't tell her anything'but this won't be the first time she tried doing something in my "best intrest" and it won't be the last I am sure. But tell me something are you unhappy here?"
She shook her head.
"Do you really think you are ready to go out on your own?" She started wringing her hands again. She said nothing.
"Sugni'I know that it is going to take you some time to adjust and learn to be independent. And I would love nothing more than to see you go out there on your own , with your own place taking care of yourself. But when you do so 'I want it to be because you are 100% sure of yourself, not because some one else thinks you should!. Sugni I am sorry for my sisters behavior'no please hear me out" He said when she was about to interrupt. "believe it or not she is a nice person, that being said, if I have no problems with you here, and you have no problems with you here then don't let the opinions of other people ruin that for you. You have a lot of other things to deal with and you staying here should not be one of them. Right?"
She nodded. "Besides I am I really that much of bad company that you want to leave?" he asked.
"No" She smiled. As she looked up at him. His words brought a sense of relief to her. But Still' "It's just well it seems like I am taking advantage of you, you've done so much for me since we met and I'"
"Sugni", He sighed'"No'you are not'you have nothing to feel guilty about. Look you work hard at the office, I've seen you. And if you really think you owe me something, which you don't then the best way to repay that is concentrating on your sessions with Amrita and giving your all in making a new life. And so far you've been doing that. And having you here dose have it's advantages, I got a chess partner, God knows I tried to teach Dhanuma but that failed., its nice having someone around to talk to" He smiled. Which she returned.
"Ok are we good now?'" he asked .
"Yes'we're good." She smiled.
" That's better!" he said.
********************************************
A few days after
Sugni knocked timidly on the door of the bedroom. . but could hear no response, she stood there for a few minutes wondering what to do, should she go in, she had never really invaded his privacy before. But today was different. He did not really seem himself. Lost in thought all day, he hardly said a word, and even at therapy he did not even bother to come in and say hi to Amrita, which he normally would. When they got home he said he was not really hungry and left for his room. She thought he would come down for their nightly chess game, but at the clock approached 9 he did not come out.
She wondered if he was mad at her for some reason , but he didn't seem angry, he was cordial enough. Knowing he skipped dinner , she decided to try again, going downstairs she prepared a tray and brought it back upstairs., she knocked again softly with no response and tried the door it opened to reveal the light on, but the bed was empty, looking around she found him, sitting by the window seeming in deep thought.
"Vickram?" She called. At her voice he turned his head to look at her.
'Hey" he said smiling , noticing the tray in her hand ...'You didn't have to do that I would have been down for dinner on time " he said.
"On time? It's nine PM" she said. he looked surprised to hear that.
Walking up to him with the tray, she placed it on the small side table at his side.
"You should eat." She said simply.
"Thanks" he said , making no move to even look at the food.
"What's wrong?" she asked
"Hmm nothing!" he said
"Something is bothering you, you have been lost all evening. Want to talk about it?" She asked. She did not know if he could help him with what was wrong , but if she could she would.
"I-it's nothing" he said
"Then why did you miss dinner? " She asked. "Please eat " She said.
Sighing , he turned his chair towards the tray, only then placing a picture frame he had been holding onto the edge, before it could be settled , it wobbled onto the edge an began to fall, reflexively Sugni reached out and grabbed it. She looked at the wedding picture of a very smiling Vickram and a beautiful lady who from other pictures she knew was his wife late Reva. She knew that his wife had died a few years ago, and that his business was named after her, she saw the pictures around the house , but he never mentioned her, and she never thought to ask him such personal questions.
"Thank you" He said as he reached for it.
"It's ok, you eat I will rest it over there" she said indicating his bedside table.
"She's was very beautiful!" Sugni said, as she placed it.She felt a pang she could not explain as she stared at the happy couple.
"Yes she was."
Walking back to him, she placed her hand on his shoulder, "If you want to talk about it..." She again, she did not like seeing him sad. he looked up at her for a few seconds, then her hand, which she removed belatedly.
He sighed sadly "I guess I am feeling a little sad. Today would have been her birthday. I miss her" He said as he closed his eyes. He had an absolute heart broken look on his face, that tugged at her. On inspiration Sugni pulled up the other chair and sat down.
"I;m sorry "She said He simply nodded. As he started to half hardheartedly picked at the food.
"how would you normally celebrate it?" She asked.
"Oh nothing elaborate", he smiled , She didn't like big parties or anything, normally we would just spend it quietly with each other, either here or some where else." He smiled
"She was pretty special!" Sugni said.
" Oh yes she was, her idea of a perfect birthday was a dinner for two"
'Really? " he nodded.
"How long were you married?" She asked, talking about things made her feel better, maybe if he did, he would to.
"Twelve years, I but we've known each other since we were sixteen, when she moved here with her family and we were in the same class. I was enticed by her beauty , she thought I was cute!" He smiled remembering the first time he laid eyes on Reva. "I guess we connected from then , we were inseparable, then at 18 we got married, we both knew what we wanted, and out parents thought we were mad, but since they couldn't stop us they agreed...I remember her dad..." Sugni listen as he told her stories about his wife, how much they loved each other. Her dream idea that they turned into a business together, even how she died, contracting a deadly flu on one of her trips abroad for new treasure.
It was clear to her that the two of them shared something , she never thought could exists, a love that did not hurt but helped each other grow, a respect that was mutual. Listening to him, she wondered if that kind of relationship was real. She was just the unlucky one, her life was totally different, and men like Vickram were few in number, and nonexistent where she came from.
She listened indulgently as he shared his stories , and she watched the light comeback to his eyes as she spoke about her. His love, dedication and faithfulness to one woman for over sixteen years , was astounding to her. He was really a special person."Oh My God look at the time!" Vickram said , glancing at the clock. It was midnight. , apparently he had finished his dinner and kept talking all this time. "Time to get to bed!"
Raising from the chair , she took up the empty tray.
"Leave it I'll take care of it" he said
'I can do it, " She insisted walking to the door.
"Sugni?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks , for listening."
"Thanks for sharing!" She said simply
"Good night Vickram."
"good night Sugni"
Edited by Vinnie79 - 12 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
