HOPES LIGHT * NEW FF UPDATED Check PAGE 34 - Page 4

Chapter 6

"Listen doll, nothing in this world comes with out a price...when a man treats you well he usually wants something . In this life , you learn that quickly nothing comes for free.Trust no one" Amma's words resonated in her head as she stared at him. So far those words of hers proved true, yet she could not figure out what was his motive. Since she met him he has been nothing but kind to her, but in the back of her mind she was waiting for the ball to drop. She kept expecting that look , or that touch, or even that smile that would carry the price tag of all this "kindness" that he was offering, but there was nothing she could find.

"Trust no one" She was finding it hard not to trust him and she didn't know why. Her logical brain stepped in, so what? at least on some level he was much better than some of the characters she encountered in the past., and there would be nothing unexpected about what he might want in return, she needed a job and beggars could not be choosers. Taking a deep breath, she resolved her self for the inevitable..."Yes! " She answered.
"Good!... tomorrow I'll take you to the office and we'll find something for you." He smiled "Welcome to Reva's Treasure Land" he said stretching out his hand for a hand shake.
Tentively she returned his hand shake she had a silly urge to laugh and cry at the same time.

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"Any Progress?" Amrita asked Vickram as she sat in his office a week later.

"No she is still the same , she dose her job keeps to herself and hardly speaks. She's been here a week and I have yet to see her make friends, a few of the staff tried talking to her but other than a few word response she speaks to no one." Vickram said, he tried to encourage the her to socialize more with the others but so far no luck.

"What about at home?" Amrita asked.

" Pretty much the same.She would do what I ask of her , but making a conversation...I might as well be talking to a wall." That was putting it mildly Vickram thought. . After she accepted the job she again became quite. Keeping to herself. She would do her job have dinner and disappear to her room, saying nothing , unless asked. One evening he decided that had to change and called her into the living room after dinner, she came sitting quietly where he asked her to, it reminded him of a puppet on a string if he said go left she would move left, if he said move right she would , no questions, no complaints. Again he wondered what happened to this girl for her to be like this.

"You liking your job so far?" He asked

"Yes" She answered staring at the floor.

"Good, inventory can be boring but I think you would like it there" It was a job that she could do by herself, since she seemed to be uncomfortable around others. Since the regular girl was due to leave on maternity leave Vickram decided to let Sugni be the replacement.

He took a seat on the end of the couch facing her, where she was seated on the single chair, "if you have any problems let me know ok?' They sat awkwardly for a few minutes her staring at the floor, him wondering how to get her to talk..

"There is something I need you to do for me" he said. She closed her eyes and nodded, she looked like she was bracing herself for something.. Vickram got up, and he would swear she literally jumped. Walking over to his desk he pulled out a few papers, he came back and she hadn't moved a muscle. Seeing her like that for some reason filled him with an anger over that so called boyfriend of hers, who was responsible for this.

"Here," he said bringing his hand forward to hand her the papers, her reaction was shocking and baffling, as she scooted back as though expecting him to hit her.
Pretending not to notice, he kept what he hoped was a straight face although his rage was starting to boil, as he said, " I need you to full out these forms and give it back to me"

Tentatively she took the forms with out looking at them. . "O.Ok" she said.

"C-can I go now ...pl..please". Sighing he nodded. She got up and hurried out the room up the stairs.

"Sugni?" She stopped. "Good night" he said

"Good night " She replied. Going up the stairs leaving Vickram staring after her...

"Hmm...where is she now?' Amrita asked , bringing him out of his thoughts.

"The inventory room she seems to like it there, that is probably the only time she has shown any emotion."

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Sugni was sitting in the staff room, having lunch as usual by herself, some of the girls in the office tried to talk to her a few times ,Champa and another girl she could not remember, but after she had nothing to say to them they left her alone. One day she over herd them say she was acting like a stuck up prune because she was close to the boss, it did not matter she did not come here to make friends and she made sure she did her job. as best as she could. She could feel the stares of the people in the office wondering exactly what was her relationship with Vickram. She could well imagine what they thought especially since she arrived and left with him.

"Hey!" Amrita said, surprising her, "I am glad I found you here, I was about to go down to stores to look for you!" Sugni wondered how could one person look so happy all the time.

"Why?" She asked surprised.

"Well it's been a while since we met," Amrita said sitting down opposite her, " I want ted to see how you were doing. So you enjoying your work so far?"

'Yes" She said honestly, Amrita smiled, "I am glad. So listen Saturday I was thinking we can go shopping, you and me, there is this new little boutique opened and I am dying to try it so be ready Ok I'll pick you up about nine...after that maybe we can go catch a movie or something.! " Amrita said

"What.?..I can't .." Sugni began shaking her head.

"Oh please , you need to if you are going to be working every day you definitely need some new clothes and a new hairstyle is definitely in order. " She continued . "After all those clothes i gave you are not the right fit!' Sugni did not know how but some how she was railroaded into a shopping trip she had no interest in really, but could not really refuse with out sounding extremely rude. Amrita seemed like a really nice person , and she was Vickram's friend she should be safe.

At nine A.M. sharp that Saturday Amrita showed up at the breakfast table, waiting for her to finish eating, talking about the plans she had today for her and Sugni, words like shopping, manicures, pedicures and what not... She looked at Vickram helplessly hoping he would tell her no, but all he did was smile and wished them a good day as he left after telling Amrita she was having dinner with them that evening.

Three hours later both ladies were sitting outside a cafe having lunch, and Sugni had to admit she was feeling alot better. Amrita was a hard person to resist, and despite it all Sugni found herself smiling and laughing at her antics as she made faces at some of the items.

"You know your remind me of a butterfly" Sugni told her over the table.

"A butterfly really why?" Amrita asked curious.

"Well you are constantly moving, but some how look peaceful and you look really pretty" She said referring to her clothes.

'Aww that is so sweet, Sugni, you know you are very pretty yourself especially with the new hairstyle"

Sugni had long dark tresses, that was now a few inches shorter, and layered in a way it framed her oval shaped face.

"How old are you Sugni?" Amrita asked suddenly .

"Twenty two" she answered

"Can I ask you a personal question, Sugni?,

Sugni looked down at her glass suddenly uncomfortable. " why are you so sad? what happened before you came here ?" Amrita asked her gently

She really did not want to talk about her past , she just wanted to start over and pretend that none of that happened. This job was her ticket to that. But if they found out, if they knew where she really came from she would loose this little hope of a fresh start.

Sooner or later they would start asking questions, she knew that , she thought as long as she did her job well and not bother any one they would leave her alone . But now...she could feel her panic raising, she did not want to talk about it.

'Hey it's ok...if you don't want to tell me" Amrita said holding her hand."Relax it's ok, but you know what, I am here for you and I am hoping you consider me a friend, and some times we need that one person who we can talk to and let it out. Who would not judge but jut listen...and I promise you I won't if you want to tell me." Sugni stared at her , she seemed sincere. As with Vickram she felt a strange comfort level with Amrita, like she could trust her. She had no idea how to deal with this .

"Hey we better get a move on if we are going to catch the movie." Amrita said changing the subject, abruptly, making Sugni blink. With that she felt she could breath again.

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Sugni removed her bags from the back seat of the convertible as she got out of the car. "Tell Vicki babu, I'll take a rain check on dinner Ok?."

"Ok...thank you " Sugni said "It was a nice day."

"Oh don't you start with that thank you business, I had a wonderful day as well and we will do it all again soon.! Sorry I need to rush, but the hospital needs me!" She said. Sugni nodded. She was fascinated that Amrita who looked like a model was actually a physiologist, yet she was such a fun person. She waved good bye as Amrita drove off.

Turning she made her way up the short walk from the drive way to the house. Belatedly she noticed a few guys who were busy doing some work on the fences., one of them kept staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable, she began walking even more quickly only to trip on her own two feet stumbling and spilling her bags an it's contents all over the walk way.

"Dammit" She mumbled. as she bent to pick up the clothes.

'Hey sweetheart, haven't seen you around here before" She herd voice say as some one stepped in front of her, looking up she saw it was the guy who was staring, she ignored him and continued placing the items in the bag her hand started shaking uncontrollably and she could not seem to stop it, her mind started racing, she was about to stat panicking.

"Her let me Help you", he said kneeling next to her he handed her a blouse , his hand brushing against hers in the process.

"No" she yelped as she finally got to her feet.

"What?" he said looking confused . "Are you ok?, hey!!?" He asked as she quickly moved around him, literally running into the house trying hard to control her breathing. She kept moving until she collided with something solid, causing her to stumble again, but before she could fall a pair of hands steadied her.

"Sugni ?...What's...hey Sugni?"

She started at Vickram's face for a few moments before hugging him as she continued shaking...he won't let them get her..he wouldn't...