NEW FF ...THE UNEXPECTED updated page 39 - Page 28

CHAPTER 29

Sugni and Vickram sat in the back patio the next evening enjoying the cool weather of the clear night sky. Since Maa Thakur insisted that Sugni leave the kitchen and house work , she spent most of the day in the guest house, twiddling her thumbs basically . She did not like it one bit and most of the time she spent worried over MT, but Vickram and Amrita told her that MT would come around she just needed time. But how much time?

Sitting around here watching the walls had her going stir crazy. However Amrita came to them and said she thought it was time to put their plan in motion as she told them what they had to do.

"Don't worry ..it will be fine!" Vickram reassured her again as they sat on the small bench his arms around her.

"I know ..but I can't just sit around the guest house doing nothing..." She told him

"You won't have to ...from tomorrow you can come to the fields with me...hmmm...away from Maa Thakurs eyes, and wrath and in front of mine!" he said, smiling.

"That is not funny..." She said a bit angrily. Vickram sighed

"I know...I know I was just trying to lighten your mood.!" He sulked, turning away from her.

"I am sorry ..." Sugni said. But he still would not look at her

"Thakur Mallick?" She said .

"What?" he answered still looking away.

"Ohh come on...don't be mad. I am sorry...I know you were joking..." She said . She did not mean to upset him . Trying to pacify him she took her hand as she tried to turn his face to meet hers. He turned his head to look at her. He was smiling.

Sugni looked at him and blinked.

"You know I can't be mad at you!" he said softly holding her hand to his cheek when she was about to remove it.

"Then?" she asked .

"Ohh I was just teasing ..." he laughed. He removed her hand from his face entwining their fingers as he moved closer to her.

"why do you do that ...you like making me feel foolish...?" she said pouting.

"No...I am not trying to make you feel foolish...you just look cute when you get irritated is all..." He said as he rested his head next to hers. "besides you're the only one I can tease around here!"

"Oh really..is that so?" she said looking at him with raised eye brows...

"Hmm hmmm..." He said kissing her cheeks. She giggled. She could never be mad at him.

Amrita came out of her room and found Neeranjan heading down stairs.

"Where are you off to tonight?" She asked him

"Ohh just for a drive. You?" he told her. Smiling. She was a beautiful woman, but he knew way out of his league; although he would sure try if he knew he had a chance to get with her he thought.

"Oh just thought to get some fresh air...the air is cool...would you walk with me please?" she asked.

"Sure."

Amrita sighed saldly.

"Neeranjan...I am so sorry..." she said as she turned with him and began walking downstairs.

"Sorry? About what?" he asked

"I am sorry that because of me Reva got so upset...really I did not think she would not like my presence here we were always good friends in the past...I did not think she did not like my friendship with Vickram." She said

"Oh,,,no no...please don't be upset..." Neeranjan said. "You know how jiji is she can be a bit paranoid...I am sorry for her behavior." He apologized to her.

"so you are not mad." She asked

"Not at all..." he said.

"I just feel so guilty." She continued as they began walking outside. " I mean I feel like I am the cause of the rift between them.!" She said, as she touched his arm lightly.

Neeranjan looked at her arm as she touched him. Hmmm maybe he did have a chance...

"Ohh not at all.. JiJI and Vickram has been at loggerheads for a while now. You are not the cause." He said.

There conversation was interrupted by the sounds of laughter coming from ahead of them. Both of them looked ahead in shock to see Vickram with Sugni in his arms...

"Jeejaji!" Neeranjan whispered in disbelief at what he was seeing.

Vickram straightens up and looks at his brother in law.

"Neeranjan..." He said as though he was greeting him normally.

"What is going on here?" Neeranjan ask looking at them.

"nothing of your concern" Vickram said casually..."You can go..."

"Nothing of my concern? " Neeranjan asked. " how can you say that you bas***d!? What are you doing with her here?"

"That is non of your business, frankly...I don't ask you where you go to at night do I ...?" Vickram said

"Now excuse me please." He said as he got up . Taking Sugni's hand he went walked past Neeranjan and Amrita going making his way to the guest house. Leaving them staring behind him.

"Oh My God..." Amrita said looking at him...

"I'll show him ..." Neeranjan said as he made to follow him

"Wait where are you going?' She asked him

"I am going to get him out of there...he can't do this to my sister." He insisted.

"He won't listen to you!" Amrita said stopping him. "If I know Vickram he won't come out of there...but maybe if ..." She stopped eyeing him slyly

"Maybe if what?" he asked her

"maybe if Reva were to find out...she won't let this happen would she?" Amrita said

In practically no time at all, there was insistent banging on the door of the guest house. Vickram opened the door to the faces of Neeranjan and a very angry looking Reva.

Very calmly and coolly he looked at both of them. "What is the matter? Why all this noise?" he asked them.

Brushing past him they entered the living room , looking at Sugni who was standing next to the couch.

"What's going on here, Vickram?" Reva asked . Looking from one to the other. Very nonchalantly Vickram walked over to where Sugni was standing as he put his arm around her. Confirming Neeranjan's report that there was something brewing between Sugni and Vickram.

"What's going on where Reva?" He asked . "nothing ...that concerns you." He said.

Reva took a moment to look at them, she was in shock...what was going on here? When Neeranjan told her he saw Vickram and Sugni in an intimate embrace she laughed in his face, thinking he was making some sort of joke.

She heard the rumors , and for a moment entertained the possibility, but dismissed it as Vickram was nothing if not adamant in his distaste for the practice of Raai and Sardakhi. She also know he was soft hearted towards Sugni because he was also sympathetic to the plight of the poor .

But this she could not understand.

"Oh please Reva don't come here acting all indignant, we both know you don't really care "what I do and who I do it with" right? after all you told me as much!" Vickram said looking at her. He walked up to her as he continued.

"But as you are here...let me tell you this. Whatever you think is going on between me and Sugni here, well you are right. "

"Huh?" she said looking from one to the other. Vickram smiled. As he sighed.

"See Reva I am tired running after you. We both know there is no love lost between us. So from now on it stops. I am fed up of trying to explain to you that this marriage is over. Now if you want to end this amicably I have the papers ready for you to sign. If not well I guess my lawyer will be dealing with you. In the mean time you can do as you please for my dear I no longer care. And I know neither do you, so you can quit pretending... Now why don't you go along back to bed and get some rest hmm. Good night" he said, turning away from her.

"WHAT!?" Reva said "Are you out of your mind?" She asked him.

"No ... you are...right? See sometimes I am not sure!" He retorted.

"Vickram you can't do this ...you..."

"Ohh I am afraid it is done..." he said

"A Bedni...n- n- no...Maa Thakur will not allow it...! " She said confidently

"Oh...let me worry about that...as I said this is not your concern." He said coolly.

"YOU...!" Reva said turning to Sugni... "So this was your plan all the time huh? To come in here fulfill your calling as a bedni..hmmm. So you set your eyes , and whiles on my husband...you little home wrecking bitch!" Reva said scathingly.

"REVA!" Vickram said as he raised his hand to slap her.

"No...!" Sugni said . Vickram stopped clenching his hand into a fist.

"are wah!!!..." Reva said ..."She sure worked her magic on you...she talks and you listen huh? Seeing this Neeranjan? What a couple we have here!" She said laughing.

"what Vickram? You raise your hand on me for some cheap wh**e? Hmm is that it...go ahead, I am no one's fool...I know my rights. You want a divorce...you have to come better than this. " she said.

"Are you ok?" Vickram asked Sugni after they left. She nodded not saying anything.

"I am sorry!" he said hugging her. he knew Reva's word were hurting her.

"You don't have to apologize...she will try to strike back ...just don't lose it with her, no matter what she says." Sugni said as she looked at him.

"I won't stand her being mean to you. I won't stand any one being mean to you!" he said fiercely.

Reva made her way into her room, trying to stay calm. No NO nO !!!! this is not happening... This was not part of the plan.

"This is not good Neeranjan...no...if he gets busy with that little tramp all our plans are lost!!!" Reva Said.

"I know...but how can we stop it???...she is working her magic on him..."

"we can't let that happen... we need to come up with another plan to get rid of him...think.. think... In the mean time we need to put a stop to this relationship as soon as possible.!" She said

She could not allow all her hard work in the past year to go down the drain just because Vickram's suppressed hormones were suddenly acting up. She knew very well there is nothing more unpredictable than a man who is in lust!.

One thing was for sure come hell or high water ...she was going to be his widow one way or the other...if not naturally like she planned ...well accidents do happen...they just had to do it the right way.

CHAPTER 30

"What are you doing Vickram? How dare you bring a bedni at this table, and that to in front of all of us!!!" Maa Thakur stood up from where she was seated and looked at her son scathingly. "Have you lost your mind...Sugni...????" She said looking at her. "No no I will not allow this and the gall you have coming her to tell me she is staying with you now...Wha beta..you crossed all your limits of decency na...today...God Why did I not die before seeing this day!" She lamented.

Reva Looked at Maa Thakur tearfully, gleefully waiting for the words she wanted to here...that v of Vickram being told to shape up or ship out and get rid of that bitch! She was initially shocked to see Vickram waling into the haveli with her and her suitcase and saying she was moving into the haveli...She wondered what magic this two bit tamp had that overnight Vickram seemed to have lost all his brain cells behind her!! She had to admit the girl seemed smart...she played the innocent flower well...but in this show she was the heroine and there was no room for another greedy bitch here so to bad... For now she would sit back and watch the fire works and do her best to be the poor heart broken cheated wife.. for good measure she wiped her eyes on her pallu.

"didn't you for once think about this family and your wife??? " She asked

"Wife...what wife maa???"Vickram said. "That woman here is no more wife to me, than Neeranjan here thinks he is a real Thakur!" Vickram said. "Every one here knows this marriage is over...she is just living under this roof as a permanent guest as far as I am concerned.! Is this how wives treat their husbands...??? Tell me..." he said "I have been telling you all for months now I am getting a divorce... I am doing that. Yes I love Sugni and she loves me. And you know something I am fed up of trying ot convince any of you anything. So I won't . What Family reputation you are talking about...Maa we live in Mawhari here there is not a Thakur who does not have a bedni...as a fact it is a matter of pride and tradition around here naa...!!! I was a laughing stock because I did not follow that tradition...so there is nothing surprising here is it...!? As for the family I will always do what is in our best interest and take care of my responsibilities. But I am going to follow my heart and to so from now on!." He said holding Sugni's hand and looking at all of them.

Maa Thakur looked at Vickram for a few minutes... closed her eyes for a vew moments then opening it she looked at Reva ...

"Reva beta...can you take me to my room please..." She said

"Yes maa ji..." Reva said sadly... as she got up and held her hand as they began walking out the room .

"Vickram...today you proved to me that a thakur's blood is after all a thakur's blood and no amount of me trying to teach you the right thing changed..." She shook her head sadly as she went upstairs.

WHAT??? That was it...that is all the woman has to say about this?? Reva could not believe her ears.

After leading MT into her room Reva was about to ask her when in shock she looked as Maa Thakur Held her hand tightly and burst in to tears.

"Reva...Beta...What are we going to do...? Reva..." She cried. She was asking her?

"maa ji I don't know... he can't do this..."

"He can...and he knows it..." She said "he has the upper hand..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...Vickram invested a lot into this clothing project with the fields and now with talks of the factory...I saw the paper work...If it was up to me I would tell him get the hell out for this...but if I do all that money is lost...and if we lose it because of this...well we stand to lose a lot. And I can't loose everything because of this... He knows that very well. This was what Iwas afraid of reva...This is what I was warning you against... Pay attention to him as your husband"

"you are blaming me?" Reva said incredulously.

"Forget It beta...it's no use to blame anyone now..." she sighed sadly..."but what can we do???"

She was asking her? Ohh this who situation was not going as she expected, Reva thought. What happened to the strong no nonsense MT...who had a grip on Vickram??? Why was she giving up so easily?

"well Maaji I am not about to sit around and let him run wild with that girl!" She said..."I will have to get rid of her!" she said.

Maa Thakur nodded..."Yes we have to stick together on this...come here..." She said patting the space beside her.

"Reva there is only one Thakurine bahu here ...and that is you...I will support you in getting rid of here! And if it is possible I hope after this phase passes you will forgive my son!" She said looking at her.

"I don't know Maaji...but one thing I know I am not going to let her destroy my home..." She said. She would not.

"You won't mind bunking with Amrita for a few nights , she will be going back soon and the room will be all yours..." Vickram said as they sat in his room. It was night time and they both returned after spending the day out of her house. Sugni spent the day accompanying Amrita around the village where she was taking some picks of village life, she found fascinating. Vickram had a few meetings to attend to that he did after she assured him she would be fine as she did not think they were crazy enough to try anything so soon especially in front of Amrita. He met her back at the fields where they returned home.

"It's fine Thakur Mallick..."Sugni said. Sitting on a small couch in the room.

Vickram sat next to her. As he took her hand, "Sugni can you o something for me?"" he asked

"What?" she asked looking at him.

"Can you stop calling me Thakur Mallick please...I think we passed that stage don't you?" he said bringing his head closer to hers. She blushed.

"Bu...but you are Thakur Mallick na..."

"not for you...come on..."

"What do you want me to call you then?" She asked

"Vickram?" he said

"Haai Sita Miya!!...no no!!" she said shaking her head..."I can't take your name!"

Vickram looked at her incredulously... "What...why?"

"Because...because...you don't take the name of your...your..." She stopped as she blushed

"Of your what??? Hmmm say it..." He said smiling mischievously...

"You know what I mean..."She said embarrassed.

"Well my name is Vickram...and I think it is a nice name...so why not use it? Look Sugni I don't believe in all this nonsense , respect is shown through actions not by wheather or not you call some one by there given name. I call you Sugni...does it mean I don't respect you?" He asked. She shook her head.

"But that is different!"

"How?" He asked. "because I am a man? Or because of who I am? " She nodded.

"Sugni listen...if we want things to change it has to start with us...I don't want anything between us like class, status, rich , poor or anything like that. Because what we have is beyond that. But when you address me as Thakur Mallick it sounds as though I am your boss or lord and master and I don't like it". He said.

Sugni laughed at the as Vickram looked at her confused ..."What's so funny?"

"You are my boss..." She said. Vickram smiled.

"You know what I mean..."

"V-v-vic..vic..."She shook her head. "I can't say it." She blushed. " It feels weird taking your name like that.." She said Vickram sighed.

"Ok How about a compromise..." he said.

"Hmmm?"

Putting his arm around her he settled on the couch comfortably. "Well call me something else other than Thakur Mallick...how about that..."

"Like what?" She asked confused.

"Hmm I don't know I will leave that up to you.!" He said..."but if you use the name Thakur Mallick once more I will pretend I did not hear that!" he said.

"That's not fair!" she said . He shrugged. Sugni groaned. She was discovering he can be very stubborn when he wanted something sometimes. But she had to admit he made sense somehow, still calling him by his name felt funny. She recalled in the city Mehima madam would call her R.K. sir by his name. Maybe...

Closing her eyes she tested it out.."Vickram..." she mouthed softly without sound... "Vickram." She said a whispered. She was sure her voice was shaking.

"Hmm...thank you!" He said placing a soft kiss on her cheek. She hugged him...

"It still feels weird, she said.

"You'll get accustomed just give it time. ...say it again na..please..." He asked.

"Vickram." She said. They sat in silence for a while just enjoying each others company. After a few minutes Sugni got up.

"I better go now...it's getting late..." She said

"Hmmm...OK..." he said as he walked her to the door. Opening it he saw that the house was quite ...by this time it usually was, he watched as Sugni walked into Amrita;'s room. Vickram closed the door and sat on the bed with his laptop as he decided to do some work , having some proposals he had to get to. He began seeing about the documents .

Suddenly his door opened and Sugni and Amrita came in.

"What ???" he asked

"Neeranjan just pulled up...he will come in just now...make it look good ..." she said hurriedly as she left... Them alone deliberately leaving the door ajar.

Not long after they herd the door downstairs close and his footsteps... moving behind her Vickram embraced her in a back hug as he turn towards the window, clearly giving him a reflection of the door behind him.

"You know Sugni I am so happy it is out in the open now...we don't have to hide any more." He said. He saw a shadow but no movement and he knew that Neeranjan was indeed eavesdropping on his conversation.

"He's here" he whispered softly in her ear.

Yes...me two...Tha...I mean Vickram...but did you mean what you said about the divorce?" she asked aloud.

"Of course see..He said moving to the bed he picked up some blank sheets of printer paper he had in his briefcase..."See all she has to do is sign it..." he said. "then she and her bother can leave !"

"Hmm...but what about if she does not sign, you know Neeranjan is... " She said

"Don't worry, love...I will deal with him...and if he makes you uncomfortable I will make him leave tomorrow...if you want..."

"No..no...he is not bothering me...besides he has to be here na in case she gets one of her attacks?"

"True...but if she dose... I have had enough of her craziness the next time she has an episode I swear I will have her admitted!"

"Yes...really you should." Sugni said.

"Hmm why are we spoiling the mood talking about them...don't worry love they will be out of here soon...then it will be just us..."

"Promise?" She asked

"Of course..." He said..."come here" he said...

"Wait..." She laughed

"Why?"

"At least lock the door!"

"Oh yes..." Vickram laughed...he moved slowly waiting till he saw the shadow move then he closed the door.

As the door closed behind him Vickram looked at her

"What will he do?" She asked

"ohh go to her...I am sure...if he thinks he will be kicked out... I bet we will see a drastic decrease in her "episodes" from now on." He predicted.

Sugni nodded. Her yes caught his laptop on the bed.
"you weren't going to sleep?" she asked.

"Naa I had some stuff to do...I thought I'd draw up some documents on the laptop and print it" he said. He moved over to the bed as he printed the finished document he was working on before Sugni came in...

"Oh can you get that for me please ?" he asked her motioning the printer he had situated on his desk at the corner of the room.

Sugni looked around for a few seconds wondering what he was talking about then herd the whirring of the machine. Walking over to it the took the documents and brought it back to him.

"Wow how did you do that?" She asked "Where are the wires?" She was confused .

"It's wireless!" He said . He explained about the way it worked.

"ohh wow...you know in the office there was one but it was hooked up to the computer." She said.

"OHh you used a computer?" he asked, impressed. They never really talked about what she did there.

"Well a little, and it was the other one...not like yours." She said

"Well it's not all that different." He said..."come I'll show you" He said patting the space beside him. She sat, and he placed the computer in the space between them. "Ok basically it is the same concept, this is your keyboard, and this here is used in place of the mouse ..." he said showing her . "Try.. open word." he said

After a few fumbling attempt she managed to open a blank page. "Good. Now type something." He said.

"Um what?" She asked

"What did you did in the office?"

"umm...I was learning letters and memo's ...but I did not get to do much."

"Can you recreate this?" he asked showing her the proposal he just did. She nodded. "I"I think so ...it doesn't look to hard." She said.

"It's not. Did you like using the computer?'

She nodded. She smiled "it was fun...I think the girl teaching me probably thought I was slow though...but I liked it."

"Hmm...well then...I'll teach you, and since I really don't like typing much...you can help me with my proposals. How about that.?"

"Me...but ...I don't know ..." She said nervously as she looked at the document he handed her.

"Why...What is wrong?" he asked

"Well ...I mean...some of these words I don't know and what if I mess up...and..."

"Shh...you can do it...I have confidence in you. Besides you can learn right here just like you were learning there. Don't worry you won't mess up I will double check it all before I print it and make the necessary corrections OK...besides...this is much better than having you out in the fields all day. Cause there is so much more you can do. So will you help me?" He asked.

"OK.." she said.

"Good!" he smiled.

"First thing first you need to master this!" he said indicating the laptop. Vickram spent some time teaching her how to use the various programs on the laptop. Sugni was eager to learn and caught on quickly. She had a unique way of understanding stuff that had Vickram laughing . He could say it was one of the best evenings he had in a long long time

Meanwhile Neeranjan and Reva disturbed by the laughter and sounds coming out of his room.! This had to be one of the worse evenings they had in a long long time!