Chapter 16
The next day Vickram and Adi made there way to town. After his meeting, they browsed through the town shops looking for the "perfect" gift for Sugni. While looking through one of the windows Vickram's eye fell on an outfit that had Sugni written all over it. Knowing that he would not leave with out that one he walked into the store.
"This is nice don't you think?" he asked Adi casually.
"Wow…very pretty…yeah lets get this one…!" he said excitedly. Vickram had to bite back a smile at Adi's expression. Chuckling softly he ordered the outfit packed.
While waiting he observed Adi , his innocents his carefreeness. He was still untouched by the harshness of life. Vickram hoped that he would remain that way for a long time to come. As he collected the parcel they made their way back to the jeep and home.
They got home and Adi seemed to be shaking with excitement or was it nervousness?. He kept asking Vickram what he was going to say…
"I don't know yet Adi, what I am going to say…but I'll make sure she knows how you feel!" Vickram said as they walked into the house.
"look she's coming!" Adi said spotting Sugni walking out of the kitchen to the living room . "Go on!" he said …impatient.
"Don't you want to wait until later?" Vickram asked. Now that he thought about it, he was afraid he might let something slip.
"NO….I mean why? She's right there , later she might go and then you can't talk to her!" he said.
"Are vah…you have no problems pushing me into this fire do you!' Vickram mumbled, looking at Adi.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing!" he sighed, turning towards the dining room. "Sugni!, will you come here for a minute please!" He said . he turned behind him to find that Adi wa s gone!
"Yes Thakur Mallick!" Sugni said as she entered the room.
"Come have a seat" he said , indicating the couch. Dutifully Sugni sat watching him curiously. What was this about she wondered.
Vickram sat next to her, but he seemed to be distracted by something as he kept looking back towards to staircase.
"Umm is something wrong Thakur Mallick?" She asked
"Huh? Ah no..no." Sugni looked at him confused by his behavior, his eye caught something and he smiled a bit. Sugni looked to where he was looking but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. The house was quite, every one was upstairs busy with something.
"Thakur Mallick what's going on?" She asked. Farrowing her brow. Something was weird here.
Vickram looked at Sugni , who had an expression on her face that was comical…she was looking at him as though he lost his mind. He could see her eyes darting to the corner where he was looking. Stifling the urge to laugh out loud her turned to her trying to maintain a serious stance …but not sure he was. The irony of this situation was just too funny.
"Well Sugni…it seems that um…you have an admirier" He said
"What?" Sugni said , even more confused.
'Yeah..he likes you…a lot…in fact…he's even thinking about marrying you." He said looking at her. The shocked expression on her face almost did him in.
"This.is .a gift from him , a way of saying how much he likes you." He said holding out the gift to her.
Sugni looked at it then at him. What was he talking about. Secret admirer…marry? On closer look at his face, she wondered if he was playing some sort of crazy joke on her. cause he looked as though he was dying to laugh.
"What is this? Who..I don't know anyone..?" She said
"That's not true you know him very well…in fact…he's your friend and he likes you very much" He said softly, no longer laughing but looking at her seriously.
What? A friend the only person she called a friend was…."Thakur mallick?" she said staring at him. What was he saying? That funny feeling again started in her stomach, with her heart beat increasing there seemed to be a lock holding there stares together and neither was looking away. It could have been minutes or hours the sat staring at each other, neither willing to move.
Vickram was the first to blink, he looked away taking a few shallow breathes to compose himself and control his emotions , as he remembered why he was there.
"Yes…umm…yes he wants me to give this to you" he said .
Sugni shook her head. She did not know what was going on her but she could not accept this.
"No…I can't accept that…Thakur mallick there is nobody.." She said , trying to explain that there was no one , she thought of as…
"Maybe …he should give this to you himself huh?" he said.. "Yes that will be better…. I'll go get him."
"What!" Sugni said shocked, as Vickram stood up. "Thakur Mallick Noo"
"Shh ..wait….I'll be right back" He walked towards the staircase as Sugni looked on horrified as she realized the person was actually in the house!. She looked as Vickram said something, to the unknown person, was he stooping behind the plant she wondered?. Haai sita Miya! Again she got a feeling she was the subject of some sort of prank or joke. But why would he do that…?
Vickram stepped back and began walking back, and as he moved Sugni saw exactly who was hiding . She looked at him then at Vickram who was nodding,with a slight smile on his face.
"Chotte Thakur Mallick?" She said, as she laughed softly as , she breath a sigh of relief , that it was not some sort of weirdo. Sugni 's heart melted a bit as she looked as Adi walked behind his uncle , almost as though he was hiding, his face was all red. And he just looked so adorable.
"Adi…is there something you want to say to Sugni?" Vickram said as they go to where she was seated. Adi looked at Sugni then at Vickram as he shook his head vigorously . No. Suddenly the carpet was the most fascinating view in the room.
Vickram knelt in front of Adi bringing his face level with his nephew. "What's the matter buddy, hmmm …come on you're a brave boy!" he said. For once Adi was acting like the five year old he was. He shyly glanced at Sugni , then leaned forward and whispered something in Vickram's ear.
"No she would'nt" he said.
Again he whispered something.
"Alright…" Turning to Sugni Vickram said.
"Sugni…Adi here thinks you are very beautiful…and from the minute he saw you he liked you. And he just wants you to know that! Right Adi.?" Vickram said looking at him. He nodded looking at her.
Sugni looked at Adi she was touched. "And to show you just how much he thinks of you he got you this." Vickram continued. He handed the box to Adi indicating he give it to Sugni. Adi walked up to Sugni , as he very shyly handed her the box.
"Thank you." She said as she took the gift wrapped box. She could not break his haeart.
"this is vey sweet of you," She said . "Can I have a hug?" She asked opening her arms and enveloping him in a hug. Adi sat on Sugni's lap as she hugged him. " You know what, chotte Thakur ," Sugni said as she looked at him. "I like you to, and I am very happy that were are friends and I promise you will always have a special place in my heart." She said she smiled as Adi's face lighted with a bright smile.
"Really?" He asked
"Of course, but you know something?" She said " When you go back home…I am sure you must have some other girl you like..hmmm? She said teasingly.
"No no…" He said, seriously. Shaking his head
"Aditya! Adi!" Uma called from the staircase as she looked at the trio in the hall. Her face was unreadable.
"Come here please."
"Yes mom!" Adi said as he jumped off Sugni lap and ran up the stairs to meet his mother. Leaving Sugni and Vickram staring after him.
"You handled that very well! Thank you for not breaking his little heart." Vickram said smiling.
"that was sweet ..but why did he…I mean all this…" she said indicating the gift.
'Well Adi is a little mature for his age. He likes you because I am guessing you are nice to him. And giving him the attention he probably not getting these days . Children are clear on who they like and don't like."
"True!" She said.
"Most of the time he is around is my sister, he's home schooled so his interaction with others are not as normal as other kids. I believe children should be treated like little people. So when he's with me he gets treated as though what he says matters. It's easier to get him to do what you want, if you treat him like he is a thinking being and not some oneto be ordered around." He said
"Ahh I see…he is a lot like you, the way he walks , just like a Chotte Thakur mallick!" She smiled.
"Well I try ….I am not around him all the time…but when I am I try to give him all the attention he needs. It's a shame his father is really missing out on the best years of his life." Vickram mused.
"He is such a sweet little boy… and he is lucky to have someone like you as his uncle. And he adores you."
"Apparently I am not the only one he adores!" He laughed. "Your face was priceless just now…who did you think I was bringing to meet you?" He asked
"Haai Sita Miya you scared me!!!...I was wondering who in the world..that is not possible…and from here…?" Sugni shuddered. "Thank God…otherwise I am telling you…after today I would have been gone" She said.
"You really think I would hand you over to any kind of fluke that says he likes you!" he said. "Don't you trust me that much?"
"I trust you…" She said
" Well tell me. Is there any one you would fall in love with?" he asked looking at her. Why was he asking this? He did not know but now that the question was out he wanted to know.
"Love? What is love mallick? Sugni said. "Love is just a pretty word…" She said shaking her head. From what she saw of this world , there was no such thing!
"You know when I was younger….I thought about it …love and marriage, I thought he would come from far away, step off the train…some unknown face he'll take me away…life that "respectable" life." But no there is nothing like that is there?" She asked.
"That's not right Sugni…don't sound so bitter…I know it is probably hard for you to believe this…but I am sure there is some one who would like nothing more than to make you his world." He said, looking at her. He is right infront of you ….He said silently.
"Really?" She took a deep breath and shook her head as she smiled." You know what…if it is to be it will be…and if Sita miya has some one in my life…I guess I will know. But until then I am good by myself. Besides…" She said lifting her gift…"I already have some one who likes me…and the man who go me this..well he already stole my heart…I don't think any one else has a chance!" She said.
Vickram smiled mysteriously as he leaned forward …"You know what…the man who got you that would do anything to see you happy…that I can guarantee!" He winked as he walked away, leaving Sugni staring at him…Some how she did not think he was talking about Adi. "Don't be stupid Sugni!" she mumbled as she walked into the kitchen to finish dinner.
******
Vickram was in his room when there was a knock on his door… he turned towards the door to see Uma standing there.
"Ji ji hi! …How are you?" he asked smiling at her.
"Fine Vickram…I wanted to talk to you!"
"Sure what's up"
"What was all that about downstairs…I mean…Why was Adi sitting in that girl's lap…? And that gift?" She asked
"It was nothing Jiji…" Vickram smiled "Adi has a little crush on Sugni, it's kind of cute really. Sugni was just humoring him"
"Vickram, what is this…" Uma said she was not happy about it. She did not want her son to be manipulated by some servant. "I wish you would stop encouraging him…and she should know better than to take advantage of a little boy!" She said
"Wait wait ..hold up…what are you talking about Jiji?" Vickram looked at his sister , and he could feel his good mood dissipating.
'No body was manipulating any one here. Why are you acting like this?. Adi formed a bond with her, there is nothing wrong with that!" he said
"Bond?…maybe he dose not know better …but Vickram you should know. I never would have thought you would allow a bedni to…"
"Stop!" Vickram said. Of course he was not allowed to be in a good mood in this house. "Sugni is not a bedni, she is a girl under MY protection. I don't know what crap you've been hearing from Reva and her brother. There is nothing wrong with her, she dose her work perfectly, she bothers no one. In fact you should be thanking her."
"Excuse me …thanking her?" She looked at him incredulously.
"Yes ..thanking her… you've been here , busy helping Reva and Maa. You know Reva can't stand Adi for more than five minutes…so what happens you all tell him go out and play. I am not here so he found some one who would keep him company. " Vickram sighed. "Jiji don't judge her just because of where she came from. And I would beg you as long as you are here…please treat her with common courtesy ! Stop looking for trouble where there is none!" He said frankly.
He was becoming utterly fed up with every one passing judgement on Sugni for no reason.
"OK…Ok" She said as she backed down. My that was a swift response!. She never knew Vickram to be a short tempered guy. Maa Thakur was right …something was changing in Vickram…and from what she saw as she looked at them in the hall way today she was getting a feeling that bedni had something to do with it. She had to do something! She would not let a bedni destroy her brother's life !
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