HOPES LIGHT * NEW FF UPDATED Check PAGE 34 - Page 22

Originally posted by: ronshaan

this one is so true about sugni and vikram

Originally posted by: sara1993

Amazing chapter Vinnie👏. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially loved the intoxicated Sugni😆... it was such a sweet and funny moment between her and Vikram. Again, you surely emphasized Vikram's character and the trust Sugni has in him, i mean even though they were soo close... well you know what i'm trying to say😆😳. I am happy to see that everything is working out between Champa and Rattu... and Sugni, wow, i'm soo happy for her, finally we are seeing this side of her and i'm so glad that she stood her ground and thought Uma a lesson. I can see that her defense classes are surely paying off...lol... and slowly but surely she is definitely becoming a stronger person. I'm sure Vikram will be very proud of her and may be the reason he ordered everyone into the lunch room is probably to make his and Sugni's relationship clear to everyone...well it's just my assumption... can't wait for the next chapter to see what happens.

Originally posted by: ronshaan

Wow Vinnie chapter 26 full of entertainment

1st the drunk sugni .. was funny scene 😆😉 it was so funny i was thinking its the real sugni who is drunk and we know vikram wont do any thing at that time he wont take advantage !! so hats off

2nd scene - i liked was uma and seema's fight

sugni could protect seema

can u think.. a girl who needed help

helped another person

that's very nice

well.. i can't wait for next chapter because i wanna see what vikram does .. !!!

Thank you ron for your review on all the chapters, I am glad you are enjoing it. Thanks for the quote.It is true... Some times all we need to know is that some one cares...Sugni has grown and continues to..as I hope to show...she is no longer the scared girl but is growing into who she would have been other wise! Keep reading and reviewing!

Originally posted by: rose.lavender

Another great chapter,Vinnie.👏

Surely I enjoyed all of Sugni's antics when she was intoxicated, and the drama that followed as well.

You have done an excellent ,superb and magnificent job of your FF so far.

I am looking forward to this,VIKRAM'S big announcement/statement to follow.

Can't wait for the next one!👍🏼

Chapter 27

Vickram looked around the crowded lunch room, which had turned into an impromptu staff room. His company was a small one , with he had around one hundred employees. A little less that of them were his administrative staff.

He looked around at the faces of everyone here, as they all looked at him nervously. It was not usual to see Vickram loose his cool, but on the occasion that he did most knew from experience it was best to stay out of his path. .

" Those of you who are here, I want you to listen clearly, and for those who are not here, you will pass it on. This is my Company, it carries with it a certain name, reputation, and stature. And I will NOT STAND for ANY ONE tarnishing that reputation, by acting like a bunch of barbarians." He said looking at the four of them behind him. Three of them were standing with their heads bent like school kids being punished and one of them stood defiant. "There are certain ways things work around here, people get promoted on merit, hard work, and dedication. Because they deserve their post. Not because of who they are friends with.'

Behind him he herd Uma let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Do you have a problem Ms. Persad?" He asked her.

"Yes" she said looking at him.."We all know you're lying!" There was an audible gasp in the room.

"Who is we? Ms. Persad, so far all I am seeing is you." He said

"so you think I appointed her unfairly?" He said looking at her.

"Of course."

"Hmm tell me something when was the last time you put in a full weeks work, Ms. Persad?'

She looked at the floor.
"I'll tell you'six months ago. You are the last to reach this office , the first to leave, you always find a way to pass on your duties to other employees who are underneath you resulting in countless mistakes. You think I don't know that? Had I wanted to I had enough reasons to fire you months ago, but I didn't because I knew you have a family depending on you. But because I am willing to keep you around here, dose not mean I will pay you for doing nothing, so I promoted the one who did the work.! You get paid for what you do! Now I want you to go to your office take your bag and don't come back'You are fired. Some one please accompany her to get her stuff." Uma left the room, with Vickram's assistant.

"Now'the other issue, My personal life, is exactly that MY personal life,'who I associate with, who I go out with , who I choose to see or don't see is none of your business. I do not interfere in yours please don't interfere in mine. Any ONE who has a problem with it, take your stuff and leave now . because I swear to you I hear anything on this again I will fire you on the spot. I am not running a gossip magazine here. Do that on your own time. I expect every one of you to treat each other with common courtesy and respect. What happened here to day will never be repeated again. Am I clear.

"Yes sir." They murmured. "Ok get back to work!, except you three." He said indicating Sugni , Seema and Champa.

As the rest made there way back to their respective offices and stations , Vickram turned to them.

"What kind of behavior is this?" he asked.

"I am sorry..but she started it" Sugni said she stopped when he raised his hand palm out.

"I don't want to know who started it" Vickram said sternly..'Never in my years here, has this happened. If she was being aggressive you should have called security not engage in an argument! This is an office not a barn yard." Sugni blinked at being scolded . He was mad. Another side she never saw.

"I want you three to go home, for the day, get your bags and I'll have the driver drop you." Sugni looked at him in shock, why were they being sent home, this was not their fault. Looking at him however she knew she could not argue.

"Seema, you alright?" he asked

"Yes I just want to go home." She said. Of the three of them she looked the most hurt.

"The car will be downstairs" he said as he left them. As he walked out the room Sugni realized that he was mad at her..He was mad at her for embarrassing him by being in the middle of this, even if she was just defending them, the fact was they were a spectacle for the rest of the office by acting like some school girls. Sugni closed her eyes and sighed sadly.

"What am I going to do, I've never seen him like that before. He was so mad." Sugni said as she sat at the kitchen counter chopping carrots helping Dhanuma prepare the evening meal.

"Relax, I am sure you're worried for nothing, besides he is not one to be mad for long, I am sure by the time he gets home he will be calm."

Sugni was skeptical, she came home and all she could see was him walking out the lunch room from her. He did'nt even tell her bye, or looked at her. His speech about reputation and not standing any one acting like barbarians, kept running through her head.

Wanting to take her mind off it, she came in here to talk to Dhanuma, who Sugni considered her mother figure. She treated Sugni no less than a daughter. " I don't understand why he was so angry, though. I know it should not have happened 'but still'"

"Sugni'I'll tell you something, " she said looking at her. "This business is Vickram's way of staying connected to Reva, I remember when she started it she had a lot of dreams , plans where she wanted to see it. And after, she found out that she could not have kids, it sort of became their child. When she died, Vickram vowed that he would make all the plans she had for it a reality. And he works hard to see that it , become successful. And he is fiercely protective of it, and if he thinks that his business is being affected in a negative way, he won't stand for it."

Sugni nodded as she chopped. "I know what happened today was not your fault..but in future, just remember that. I know that would'nt be easy knowing that bu..'"

"No!" Sugni said. "I know how much it means to him and believe me I would like nothing more than to help him make that dream come true.I know she'll always be an important part of his life, and I would be crazy if I had a problem with that, because I know he loves me to." She said sincerely.

Dhanuma smiled."That he dose!' At that moment, they herd the jeep pull up. Sugni jumped of the stool she was sitting on and stood behind Dhanuma..,"Hide me" she said with a panicked look on her face. Dhanuma laughed.

"Calm down, it'll be fine.

"DHANUMA!!!" Vickrams voice was heard in the kitchen. Sugni let out a pathetic whine. Dhanuma turned to her.

"Stay here!" She said somberly.

Dhanuma walked out of the kitchen, she took one look at Vickram and saw that Sugni was not over reacting, he was very upset. How big was this fight? she thought.

"Where is Sugni?" he asked.

"Ummm she is helping me with dinner," she said lightly.."Why don't you go freshen up and relax."

"Sugni' please come out here'.stop hiding!' he said loud enough for her to hear.

"Vickram, please, it wasn't her fault." Dhanuma interjected, "Come on I'll fix you a snack and you can relax!' she said

Vickram ignored her,

"Sugni, come here please!' he said again louder. Before Dhanuma could say anything Sugni walked out the kitchen. Her steps were slow, as though she was walking to her execution , she was wringing her hands.

As she reached where they were standing, she looked up, Vickram was staring at her, his hands on his hips, his expression umsmiling. Dhanuma was looking at her kind of sadly. Befor either could say anything Sugni took a deep breath and said.

"I know it all look bad and we should not have done this but really we did not have time to think about anything it all happened so fast, she just came up to the table and started saying all these mean things and then she throw the cola and I well, I could'nt sit and watch her hit Seema so all I did was try to stop her honest but she would'nt stop saying all those things and I got mad bacause she called me a hoochie!" she said all in one breath. Both Vickram and dhauma was looking at her dumbfounded.

"What did you just say?" Vickram asked.

" Uhh'I am sorry" Sugni said shrugging.

Vickram let out a laugh at that, as he walked up to her.

"Sugni I know what happened today was not your fault, I am not mad at you."

"You're not?" She asked, he shook his head. "Then why did you send me home?" she asked

"because I knew you would be upset, and thought it would be best if you just relaxed' he said

Sugni let out a sigh of relief , as she smiled..thank God! The ringing of his phone interrupted them as he left her to take his call. Sugni followed Dhanuma into the kitchen where she helped make dinner in a much better mood!

However as the evening wore on Sugni was beginning to wonder if he was still mad, he hardly said a word to her during dinner, after dinner when he would normally relax, she saw him at his desk in the corner, she tried asking him if he wanted to watch a movie or play chess but he said no. After a while he walked out into the garden leaving her sitting alone in the living room.

Since meeting him Vickram has always been attentive to her, moreover so now that they were together. With simple gestures, no matter how busy he seemed or what he was doing , he always made her feel that she was more important. So having him basically ignore her all day and after at home hurt. He said he was not angry at her, but why was he acting like this she wondered.

Glancing at the clock she saw that it was almost 10, and he was still outside. Getting up she went into the kitchen, to make their evening cup of tea, as she came back out she herd the sound of the television. Vickram was sitting on the couch, his head back and his eyes closed, not paying attention. Walking up to him she rested the tray down taking a cup she called him. He opened his eyes slightly accepted the cup with a slight smile and a sigh.

"Is something wrong?" She asked

"Hmm" He shook his head.."it nothing"

"It's not nothing, you've been upset all day'what is it?"

"Just one of those days where everything goes wrong.." He said. He shook his head condensing, "the people you think have better sense and understanding turn out to be the most ignorant, the ones you think you can rely on don't really care and run around acting life fools, being an embarrassment to themselves and me. God!" He sighed angrily, closed his eyes. He seemed despondent and disappointed. Sugni recalled Dhanuma's words in the kitchen earlier. He said he was not mad at her, but judging by the way he was acting he was not pleased with her behavior either. If their was one person in the world she did not want to disappoint , it was Vickram.

"I am sorry.It won't happen again I promise." She said softly staring at her hands trying not to cry.

"What?" he asked, confused. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

" I never thought she would act like that, I was just trying to stop it'." Sugni stopped when Vickram turned to face her raising her face to meet his. She swallowed

"Hey' What are you saying?.I told you I was not mad at you. What ever happened in the lunch room was not your fault, if fact you did what any one else would have done. I am proud of you." He smiled. He hugged her. "My mood is off cause its just been one of those days, Sugni'it has nothing to do with you or even the luch room incedent really."

"What happened?" She asked pulling back to look at him.

"I got a visit this morning form one of our 1^st and oldest clients." Vickram began.."accusing me of being a fraud and a cheat'"

"What? Why?" Sugni Asked. Taking a deep breath to stay calm Vickra leaned back and told her what happened.

"See he's one of the most rich and powerful people in this area, and he and his wife has a liking for exotic stuff. He dose'nt, care really the cost of the item just as long as it is one of a kind piece.He could be very difficult at times and usually Reva dealt with him, cause I honestly can not stand him. Anyways, a few months ago we had an exotic looking figurine in our catalogue, and he wanted it as a gift. He paid $25,000." (Sugni raised her eyebrows at that, wow) "Today he comes in, all upset apparently he went to Equador last week, and what did he find? The exact same figureine on a store shelf being sold for $50. A pieces he even brought back one to show me. I kept trying to tell him it was a mistake, some mixup. But he won't hear anything. Now he is threatening to expose me and my company."

"Maybe if you gave him his money back, he would not do it?" Sugni said.

"Oh offered I was willing to even get him something else if he wished, no because he looked like a fool in front of his wife.. That is exactly why I have a research department, to make sure what we get are indeed of a kind items, not everything that looks authentic is.They are supposed to check , double check and make sure before purchasing something like that' So I am in in there trying to figure out who was responsible for it, you won't guess" he says.

"Uma?" Sugni said, She up to stand behind the couch gently massaging his head and the tension lines that were on his forehead.

"Hmm" he said leaning his head back'"Uma!..not only that I also see it was not the first time this happening, which meant if he did some digging he would have proof. Somehow I got him to give me some time to find out what happened before taking an drastic measures. Then only minutes after he leaves I see Ron running down my hallway to tell me there is a brawl going on in my lunch room'" He opened his eyes to look at her. "I go in there to see you physically twisting the arm of the person I was feeling like twisting the neck of!" He smiled 'taking her hand from his head, "Come sit." She sat back down next to him, he was still in a somber mood.

"Sugni if this gets out, my name not only gets removed from the nominations, let alone the award. This business is going to face some bad publicity, my name, reputation everything could be ruined'." He said. Sugni sat quietly at his side, wishing she could make this better. Vickram was such a strong person, that she never imagined he had problems. Which was silly because like everyone else he was human, who had ups and downs. Not everything was about her. He was always there for her, making things better, and right now she had no idea how to make things better for him.

Sugni was startled out of her thoughts when he lay down resting his head on her lap. Automatically she started massaging his head again, silently offering comfort. Her eye caught the newspaper that was sitting on the center table, an idea struck her.

"What if'" She mused

"Hmmm?"

"What if, I mean its just an idea, you know how, like when they make mistakes, the newspaper print an apology?"

"Yeah"

"Well, what if you do that?'Issue a public apology to him admit that what happened was a mix up by you but it was not something the company is known for and for all the hurt that was caused you apologize.!' She suggested'"See that way if he dose go to the press or anything, he really would have no complaint as every one will know what happened, but it was a genuine mistake! And'. She stopped when she saw him looking at her'"It was just a suggestion'" She mumbled

He smiled, "It was a brilliant one'infact I think'you are right..If I do that he has no basis to defame me'there is nothing wrong in admitting I was at fault'" He said as he thought about it. "So simple yet effective"

"Really?" she said.

"Yes!...thank you, first thing tomorrow I'll get it done," He sat up, as he hugged her.

"You have no idea, how relieved I am , and it was so simple. Thank you!"

"You don't have to say that, I just hope it works." She said,

"It will I am sure.!" He said. Sounding much like his old self.

"I love you" She said.

"I love you to" He said kissing her. Sugni smiled Thank God ! She thought. Everything was back to normal. One thing she learned from this day, sometimes even the strongest person, has their moments at times, and not to take everything to heart. And most importantly being there for each other is all that matters.