SPECIAL THANKS to SIMI for being the R.K. in my story..and I am sure most of you know WHO R.K. Stands for!!! Much love to Simi...
Chapter 22.
Vickram sat in his study, looking out the window as the events of this day replayed in his head. He walked away from her. How he managed that even he did not know. All he knew was the look on her face when she said she did not want to be a bedni hit him hard. And even though it ripped him apart to do it , he knew it was in her best interest if he did set her free.
The only solace in the whole thing was knowing that she felt the same way, she loved him. Would that knowledge be enough for him to fight his upcoming battles...he did not know, one thing he was sure about on the way home was that he would some how convince his mother that the divorce was in every ones else best intrest. How? He had no idea yet. But if there was a possibility for him to be with Sugni he would take it and right now the biggest block to that path was his farce of a marriage.
In the mean time he had to make sure that Sugni was as safe as she could possibly be with out him to look out for her. There was only one person he knew he could depend on to make that happen, a collage mate of his who was as close to him as a brother back in the day. Life after collage sent them in separate ways, Vickram concentrating on his father's business, and R.K. handling his own. They kept in contact through the years though. Vickram knew if Sugni would be safe with any one else it would be with him. Deciding to call him and inform him of the situation Vickram picked up the phone. After a few rings it was picked up by a familiar voice.
"Hello? R.K. bahi saab haow are you?" Vickram asked by way of greeting.
" Aree Arre Strange voice Yaar!!!!!!! Vikram Thakur Saab???? Haaye haaye..." R.K. Joked
"Radhe Radhe Bhai... You have abandoned me yaar... Where are you?
" I know ...busy busy... You know I am back in Mawhari...seeing about my lands...so...how are things with you?" Vickram asked.
" Yaar, what can I say. I got married a few months ago.. So what can I say... "
"YOU GOT WHAT?" Vickram asked momentarily stunned. "And you did not tell me? Who is the lucky lady?"
"Sorry man, it just happened so fast, her name is Mehima and what can I say...she is wonderful!." R.K. gushed.
" Congratulations! man I am happy for you!" Vickram said , happy in his friends good news.
"It has been a long time..." R.K. Said.
" I know. I have a huge favor to ask of you. If you don't mind" Vickram said.
"Sure, anything for you? What's wrong?" R.K. asked concerned. Since he knew Vickram he was not a man to ask favors! This must be important.
Letting out a long sigh , Vickram did not want to get into the entire story over the phone so decided to stick with the important parts. "Long story yaar...I'll tell you some other time. There is this girl, Sugni, she is from here, from the bedia tribe, you know about them. ...but she is different...She wants to get out of the cycle and to do that she needs to leave here. But you know she is not that educated formally, but she is smart, a hard worker. But you know it would be hard for her to get a job out there. So i thought of you. She will need a job...and I wanted her in a safe place! Can you help? " He asked. "I sort of already gave her your card" Vickram said sheepishly.
RK laughed at that. " Oh. Yaar you know I am willing to help you at any time. I will see to it that she is safe and well. YOU don't worry Is Sugni comfortable coming here?" R.K. Asked . Vickram closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief . He knew he had nothing to worry about but still...
" Thank you man!, Yes she will be fine there. She will be there in a couple of weeks..And R.K. I owe you one big time!!" he said
"Any time Vickram, Any time. " His friend replied.
Vickram ended the call. Knowing he did all he could without being there personally. He remembered asking her if she would wait there for him, and he wondered if she would. The thought occurred to him maybe she might find someone there, who would offer her the life she wanted, would she forget about him? He knew forget her was impossible.
Getting up Vickram went upstairs to take a shower and shake of his depressing thoughts and mood. The thought of Sugni with someone else was enough to suffocate him.
Wait ...let me get this straight... Sugni left because her Aunt is sick and she had to go take care of her, and you replaced her with Champa? Rattu's finace?" Maa Thakur asked as she looked at Vickram across from his desk.
"Yes Maa...it makes sense not so?...we needed some one and Champa was available." He said
That is not the problem...you said Sugni had no where else to go ...so how come all of a Sudden she gets an Aunt. And why did'nt she go there before?" She looked at him suspiciously ...something was not right here.
"Maa the Aunt is old , she can hardly take care of herself...If Sugni had gone there then...her uncles would have t taken her back ."
"And they won't now?"
"No...because ...because I told her she can return whenever her Aunt gets better. And they know she is under my protection...they have to be mad to touch her!' he said steely.
"Ok, I guess it can work..." Ghodavori said. She observed her son, since she came yesterday she noticed, to say he looked horrible was an understatement, he was unshaven, his eyes red, his head looked like he did not see a comb in a week.
Vickram was always impeccably dressed and carried himself with pride. The man in front of her looked like he could not care less.
She knew she gave him that ultimatum. She expected a fight from him but this. "Haai Sita miya!" She whispered.
"Vickram." She said
"Hmmm" he said . He seemed lost in his own world.
"Why are you looking like that, what's going on with you beta.?" She asked sitting next on the opposite chair.
"You really want to know?" He asked , a bit rudely.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said.
"I mean, you already made up your mind right, how I should live my life. Dose it matter to you if I am happy or not, how I look or not?" he said. Vickram knew he was being rude to her but he somehow could not bring himself to care anymore.
"Vickram..." Maa Thakur said, but was cut of.
"No no...no...stay married to a woman who could care less about me...stay in a miserable marriage...because God forbid we look bad.! It does not matter that I am suffocating in this place. This marriage should not break!' He said.
"Tell me something maa...Reva is close to you hmm more than me...it's ok for her to be stuck married to me and miserable ...hmmm..." Vickram said hoping to appeal to the fact that she and Reva seemed inseparable these days."
Maa Thakur looked at Vickram in shock. This outburst from him was very much unlike him.
"Fine maa...have it your way. I spent years here taking care of it all. Trying to make the business grow. But if I am doing such a crappy job and I am such a bad person why am I here? " he asked. "You want me to leave? Everything we worked hard for you want to hand it over to Reva and her brother, and you know what he is like. Go ahead. "
"Vickram what are you saying?" She asked, shocked.
"I am saying...I am done. I can't cope with this marriage any more and I will not be blackmailed into staying in it. If you don't want me here I'll leave...but I am not staying in this marriage."
Maa Thakur knew she was backed into a corner. Vickram was not a man to take lightly to threats. And she could see on his face he was not bluffing. He was really determined to get this divorce come hell or high water. If Vickram left she knew the business would suffer. She did not trust any one else with it.
A thought that she had during the wedding occurred to her and she could not help but voice it now.
"Dose this have something to do with another woman?" She asked . "Is that what's going on here?" She asked watching hi closely.
Vickram Sighed..."no mother... my decision to divorce Reva had nothing to do with anyone but me. I promise you that." It was the truth. He fell in love with Sugni after the fact.
"Vickram please won't you think..."
"Mother I have been thinking. There is nothing else to think about. I just want to hear from you now will you accept my decision or do you want me to leave?" he said. He looked at her directly. If she asked him to he would , but it was not what he wanted.
Maa Thakur was beginning to understand giving into your children's demands. Although she hated this she knew she was fighting a losing battle. He was not going to change his mind.
"O.K. since you are determined to do this...I can't change your mind. I won't stop you. But I want it known I may accept it...but I don't like it. " She got up .
"And Vickram...in the mean time as long as she is here...Reva will be treated like the thakurine...she will be treated with the respect that comes with it. And until the divorce is not final...she will remain here! OK?"
"Ok." He said, not wanting to argue with her any more.
She walked out of his office. His biggest hurdle in the whole process was gone. He knew he still had some months to wait but at least he can get it started!
Vickram wanted to share the news with Sugni, but he could not. He did not want to make this harder for her. It would be a long wait but he would wait until he was a free man to see her again, and what happens then he would figure out.
His decision to hire Champa was in part a selfish one, he knew she would keep in contact with her friend, and Vickram was hoping to know how she was doing via Champa. To know that she was alright .
"Here take this beti" Milli Kaki said handing Sugni a red cloth. "This is a small gift from me to you!" She said. Sugni looked at it .
"Ohh no Kaki..you don't have to..."
"Take it!" She said . Sugni took the piece of cloth and opened it to reveal a pair of thin silver vracelets intricately designed and very beautiful. "Oh.." She said
"I know it is not much, beti but it is the least I can give you for taking such good care of things around here and me for the past few days!" Milli Kaki said.
"Oh kaki...you did'nt have to do that...it was my pleasure! " Sugni said.
"You know you could stay here...I mean...going to the big city. All alone...I don't like it!" She said.
Sugni smiled, after twelve days in the hospital , Milli Kaki returned home feeling much better. Sugni helped her readjust and made sure she was fully recovered, and then told her about her plans to move to the city. She told Sugni she would not mind her staying there.
Sugni however told her she was going as she wanted a fesh start away from here. She accepted it , but still tried to get her to stay. Truth was Sugni was going because she told him she would. Although facing the big city , Mumbai was a scary thought Sugni was determined to go there and try her best. And a part of her...a deep part of her heart said to wait!
"I will be fine Kaki don't worry!" Sugni said. She smiled as she held on to her key chain...yes, she'll be fine.
Three days later Sugni stepped off a train in Mumbai City, a crowded bustling place. A strange place for sure. She had no idea so many people could move this fast. The sights , the sounds all were new and dauting to her. Up until now she had never been out on her own like this. Her mother would always accompany her. And in a small village like Mawhari...were every one knew every one. Here it was different. Holding her meager belongings in her old beat up suitcase, as she clung to the key chain, and call card Sugni made her way out of the station.
After asking for directions on the card from a few people Sugni was finally directed to a tall concrete building, with the sign board Singh & Kapoor Group of Companies. After speaking to the guard who was looking at her in a funny way, Sugni was told to wait. Five minutes after arriving she was shown upstairs to an office that was huge and lavishly furnished. Sugni's eyes went wide at the beauty of the office. The colors , the furniture.
At the desk sat a man who looked to be about fourty, with a handsome face, a heavy set man with a pleasant smile and slightly graying side burns.
Sugni folded her hands in greeting " Namste Mallick saab."
RK looked at Sugni surprised at the address, but if he was not informed by his secretary he would have instantly recognized Sugni by this and her attire. She was beautiful, intrigued as to what made her so special to Vickram, he smiled
"Sugni Ji. Come in... Sugni before you say anything else, I have a request. Can you not address me as Mallick or Thakur please? I am not a Thakur like your Vikram Saab... Okay? You can call me R.K." he said
"S-S-orry." Sugni stammered. What should she say now? "um...Thakur Mallick said you would help me find a job..."
RK. Seeing Sugni tense state, tried to put her at ease.
" Sugni relax. No need to be afraid. Yes. Vikram has explained everything to me and I understand. I'll try my best, Promise.. to get you a job. And don't worry you're safe here." He assured her.
Sugni sighed with relief as she smiled, she did not know what to expect. But she knew her Thakur mallick would take care of her. " Thank you Thakur...I mean thank you...R.Kji"
R.K : smiled " No Sugni. No Thank Yous as well.. Okay?"
"O.K."
Now that she was here, he had to find something for her to do, but for now he knew she would be hungry and exhausted from her long trip, and thought it would be best if she got some rest. "
Okay. So you will be staying at my place. I know you are tired so I'll let you go and rest. My driver will take you home. I'll call my sister to inform her of your arrival" He picks up the phone and makes a few phone calls . After a few minutes a man in a white uniform enters the office.
"You go with him Sugni. I will meet you when I come home." R.K. tells her, as the driver takes her suitcase and leads her out.
Sugni made her way downstairs. So this was it... she was here in the big city. she thought as she sat in the back of the car. She closed her eyes as held on to her key chain. As the face of her Thakur Mallick came to her tired mind. She wondered how he was doing? "haai sita maiya... " She prayed. "Watch over him..." Sugni resolved that she would be sure to write a letter to Champa as soon as she could, to find out how he was doing, to know that he was alright!.
Edited by Vinnie79 - 12 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
