NEW FF. UNBREAKABLE BONDS Chapter 43(UPDATED PAGE 44 - Page 16

Originally posted by: Sandy66

😊 Beautifully written Chapter 11 VINNIE dear. Enjoyed reading it.
You certainly capture the friendly bond between Vickram and Shanti in a special way.
Since birth to present Vickram's the only male presence in Shanti"s life, and she open up to him without reservation,cause Vickram present himself as friend, not as a foe.
He makes her feel special and loved.
Vickram's truly a gentleman, he know about Sugni's vulnerable position and taking advantage of her is further from his mind. He reassured her that she don't own him nothing.
Thank you VINNIE.
Looking forward to reading the next chapter.
Sorry about the late review. Time is limited for me at the present.

CHAPTER 14

The hospital room was quite except for the beeping of the heart monitor. Both Sugni and Vickram were sitting quietly her head resting on his shoulder.

"Thank you!" she said softly.

"For what?" He asked.

"Everything...but for staying. I know you probably have other things to do," She said.

"Not really...my evenings are mostly spent at home staring at the walls." He said.

That reminded Sugni of the collage she saw in his room of her. She still could not believe he did that. Sugni straightened as she looked at him. Again, she wondered how she blessed with this man in her life.

"What?" He asked looking at her.

"I - I don't deserve you." She said her eyes welling up. " I really don't . I misjudged you so much and yet you still.. I am sorry." She bent her head feeling so small in front of him.

"Hey ...no! Sugni... don't..." He said raising her head to look at him. "Don't say that. Whatever happened Sugni it was my fault. If I had not been so stupid...I was the one that pushed you in that direction...

"Shhh...please no!" She said cutting him off. "Don't go blaming yourself, please Thakur Mallick. I know now, that whatever did happened it was not because you wanted to hurt me. I realize that now, in fact I realized it the day you came looking for me afterward..." She said...As rested her head on his chest...

Sugni remembered it was the next day after her Sardakhi, she was sitting upstairs in a room in Vijay Singh's haveli curled up feeling horrible and disgusted about herself and what happened the night before. She felt sick. Part of her was cursing herself for not listening to Vickram when he told her not to do this.

This was not what she wanted. Another part of her was saying so what? He is back there with his wife, he is just upset because Vijay won the bidding instead of him. All his false concern was for nothing.' But she showed him...somehow she could not find satisfaction in that.

She looked into the mirror as she passed her hands over the marks on her arms that were turning blue, images of what transpired here last night flashing though her head.

A commotion downstairs caught her attention as Sugni herd Vickram's distinctive voice calling her name.. First, she thought she was dreaming but no he was really calling her name...

Getting up she came to the corridor where she had a view of the hall downstairs. Standing behind a pillar so she was hidden, she looked on, as Vijay made his way downstairs.

"What are you doing here at this God Forsaken hour Thakur Saab!." Vijay asked.

"Where is she?" Vickram asked.

"Who?" vijay said .

"Sugni...?"

"Tut tut tut! Where are your manners Thakur saab." Vijay said.

"You come into my house unannounced, walk in here and now instead of showing me the proper respect t you are enquiring about MY BEDNI... have some class man... wait your turn... when I've had my fill you can have her back!" he said

VIJAY SINGH..."

"AH AH AH ...Thakur Saab.. Lower your voice. This is my house not yours...What is your problem? I won her fair and square ...she came with me...She is mine. Although. I will say you are a real fool to have such a willing thing and not go for it...What's the matter ...are you having problems in that department...hmmm is that it I mean you wife did leave " He said eyeing Vickram insultingly.

Vickram stepped forward about to hit him ... "You would not dear touch me in my house you won't be so foolish...unless you want to return home in a coffin. Now tell me why you are here?" he asked firmly.

Where is Sugni? I want to see her..." Vickram said.

"I am afraid that is not possible! She had a long night. She is resting." Vijay replied. "As I said wait your turn.'

"Vijay...let her go...Sugni is not one of them...this is between you and me...leave her out of it. She does not want this ." Vickram Said.

"Excuse me? Are you mad? I did not show up there unannounced...She was the one who proclaimed she wanted to do her Sardakhi, You are telling me she did not want this? Come on man...get a grip...you are making a fool of yourself for a Bedni who clearly does not want you! Now do yourself a favor get out!'

"Not without seeing her." Vickram said.

Sugni looked on as Vickram asked to see her. For the first time since the incident happened listening to him, Vickram she knew was a proud man, he was not one to bow down to anyone . A Thakur would never go to another one to ask for anything, yet here he was looking disheveled; perhaps there was more to the story, she began to think.

She turned to go downstairs but stopped as she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She was not the same as she was before. She was no longer his. It was over. He had a wife and she well she was now some one else's property. Sugni went into her room where she lay on the bed crying. She made a decision and she had to stick by it.

Soon it got quite. He was gone the door to her room opened and Vijay came in..

"Ohh I did not think this would be so much fun...Seeing Vickram Singh like that feels so good!" He laughed

"All thanks to you! " He said as he pulled her up to sit. Sugni cringed away but he tightened the grip on her arm. "You know what he said? He said that If I hurt you...he'd kill me...I'd like to see him try..." He laughed menacingly as shoved her back on the bed...

Sugni shuddered at the memory.

"cold?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her.

"No... I'm fine." She answered. Thank God, those days were behind her. There was something she needed to know though.

"Thakur Mallick..." She said.

"Hmm..."

"Why didn't you tell me about your marriage? Didn't you trust me?" She asked. She heard him sigh. She waited. Vickram made to move his arms but she stopped him.

"Stay..." She said she lifted her hand resting it on his shoulder. Silently telling him it was not an accusation any more but a curiosity. What went wrong?

"Why didn't you tell me about her?" She asked.

Because I forgot...Until my mother reminded me one day..."

"What?. How can you forget you had a wife?" she asked sitting up looking at him. Vickram looked at her, her expression was one of confused disbelief. Maybe he should start this from the beginning...

"Reva and I had an arranged marriage..." he began. " We were married for about a year before she left. But in that year we hardly saw each other...she had her friends, I was working. She loved the glamor world molding, acting, the nightlife. Someone told her she had the potential to be a top model. And it was what she wanted. " he recalled.

I told her my family was a bit conservative and would not allow that...late nights out away from home weeks at a time. We argued a lot about it, because she thought I would change my mind. Then one day she left, with a note saying she was going to pursue her dream. She was gone...years passed and no sign of her. five years had passed by the time I came back to Mawhari. I met you...I swear Sugni in all the time we were together I did not even think about her . I had been alone for so long I did forget. Then one day my mother and I got into an argument about us, and she asked me what I was doing with you...I told her I was going to marry you. She reminded me then I already had a wife..." He said. "It was a shock realizing it...but I was sure I was going to marry you. So contacted my lawyer who said I could get a divorce on grounds of desertion / abandonment. I told him to handle it. I was going to tell you but before I could, you came to me that day scared and crying ...

Sugni ran into to haveli, barefooted ...

"Thakur Mallick!!!..Thakur Mallick!!!" She cried

"Sugni?" Vickram came down the steps looking at her in alarm. She was very upset. Before he could ask what was wrong she ran to him as she hugged him crying.

"Calm down what is wrong?" he asked.

"I don't want to do it...they are going to make me do it...Thakur Mallick I don't want to please..." She said

"What?" he asked before she could answer her uncle walked into the foyer...

"Sugni...What are you doing here... come on let's go!" he said as he came up to them. Vickram raised his hand to stop him.

"Hukum!? What are you doing?" He asked As Sugni moved to stand behind him her hand was still clinging to his shirt.

"What am I doing? What are you doing Thakur Saab?" He said boldly causing Vickram to do a double take at his tone. Where was all this braveness coming from all of a sudden?. Vickram noticed then the three Thakurs that walked in behind Hukum standing by the doorway like an army.

"What is going on here?" he asked.

Sugni's Sardakhi is what is going on!" Hukum said. "Sugni come on let's go home. Enough of this foolishness!" he said as he moved to hold her.

"Stop it.! " Vickram said. "Sugni is not doing her Sardakhi!'

"Aare Wah!" Hukum Said. "Very good Thakur Saab...you know for the past few months I have been patiently waiting for you to make an offer for Sugni...but you have not. Instead,...I don't know what is going on here...but suddenly she does not want to go out and dance, she is refusing offers...and all because of what you have been putting into her head. This is Mawhari...we make our living by these girls doing their Sardakhi. I have had enough of it. Sugni I have three very good offers for you and you will take one of them now!."

"Hukum!!"

"Vickram Thakur..." One of the other Thakurs stepped forward. "Why are you being so difficult? She is of age...if you do not want her then step aside and if not join us and make an offer. You have no right to stop her...You know these bedni's are just here to entertain us nothing more...being that invested in one is not becoming of a Thakur as yourself..."

"Thakur Pratarp mind your own business Sugni is not for sale..." He said.

"I am minding my own business... and it is for Sugni's uncle to decide. Which he has..." Thakur Partap said angrily...

"You do it...please you do it..." She said softly behind him so only he heard her. Vickram turned to look at her. He could tell that she was scared, this was serious as it was obvious Hukum was about to make the choice if she did not.

"I don't want to go with them...you do it." She pleaded crying

"Sugni? What...no!" he said.

"Why? You said you loved me." She said confused.

"Yes I do..."

"Then? I don't want to go with them...you do it!"

Vickram took her hand in his as he stepped forward with her at his side. He looked at every one standing in his foyer watching them. He looked over at Sugni who was standing with her head bent looking at the floor.

"NOBODY is going to be doing Sugni's Sardakhi..."he said clearly. "I love her and she loves me... and in a month from now we will be married. You are all invited. As of this moment, she is my fiance..., SHE WILL BE treated with the respect, and dignity as any other Thakurine around here is that understood?" He looked around as everyone looked at him in shock. Sugni's head shot up as she stared at him wide eyed.

"Now I suggest you three carry on with your business and get out of my house." He told the other Thakurs who left no doubt to go spread the word that he had gone mad. Releasing Sugni's hand Vickram stepped in front of Hukum, who had suddenly lost all his confidence it seemed.

"You listen to me and listen good...Sugni may be staying under your roof for the next month, and you will no longer try to sell her off or make her do Raai. If I see her upset one time, you'll see the worst of me you understand?" He said.

Hukum nodded. "Yes Thakur S-Saab..." His bravado disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Good ...now get out!" He said as Hukum made a hasty retreat.

Vickram turned to look at Sugni who was standing in the same spot he left her.

"Hey Sugni?" He said going up to her. Suddenly she dropped to her knees in front of him as she tears still running down her face.

"Hey what is wrong?" He said alarmed kneeling in front of her as she looked at him

You...you will marry me?" She asked in a dazed voice. "You just said that so they would leave. Right?" She nodded.

"No...I said it because I meant it." He said. "I will marry you Sugni." He said looking at her.

"Thakurs never marry bedni's ...," she said.

"Well you are not a bedni to me are you?" He answered as he smiled.

"You really mean it?" she asked still in disbelief. He nodded.

Sugni hugged him as she buried her face in his neck as she cried.

"I thought you'd be happy with that!'" He said.

"I am ...I just can't believe it."

"Why? I said I loved you didn't I ... what did you think I was going to do?"

"I don't know..." She said. "I love you...and I promise...I'll be a good wife...I'll cook and take care of you a-and I promise I'll do whatever you say and you won't have to complain if you don't like it I won't do it . But you won't take it back na? She said quickly pulling back to look at him.

Vickram chuckled at her whirlwind speech. "No I won't take it back. I promise you as long as I am here; you have nothing to worry about Sugni. Now you can stop crying hmm? smile...there is a lot you have to do... prepare for this wedding," he said as he wiped her face. This time her smile was genuine as the fact began to sink in she was going to get married. She nodded.

"Good that is better. Everything will be alright," he said...

"It was supposed to be alright...my lawyer was seeing about the divorce he put the notices up in the papers and by that month if she did not show up the divorce would have gone through smoothly. She saw it, her modeling career did not take of as she hoped and now she saw she was about to lose her marriage so she came back here and saw that I was about to get married." Vickram scoffed. "She could never do anything without drama, so she came in and made a show about being repentant and wanting to get back with me. When I told her that it was too late it was over the date was set my hearing was the day before the wedding it should have gone smoothly. "

"But no...she did not want to accept it so she came at the Mehendi ceremony where she made a scene about being my wife who I left behind in the city. She convinced every one that I was the one who wronged her, including you. ..." He closed his eyes as he remembered Sugni's face after she heard Reva's sob story. Her heart broken expression as she realized he was already married. Vickram sighed as he took her hand in his and looked at her.

"It was not that I did not trust you Sugni...I guess I somewhere thought I could handle it and do the right thing. You were so happy I did not want to spoil it. I thought I would get the divorce before the wedding and it would all work out. I was wrong! I should have told you from the beginning. There is not a day I have not cursed myself for that. " He said.

She shook her head. Listening to his side of the story for the first time.

"No...we both made mistakes, we both made the wrong decisions. You were right that was not me, but I was to hurt and angry to hear anything you were saying when you told me not to do my Sardakhi.. I have a lot of regrets." She said as she looked at the bed..."but she isn't one of them, Thakur Mallick ...I just have to know one thing..." She said looking back at him. She knew Vickram was not the type, but she needed that reassurance as all her decisions impacted on Shanti's life, and the maternal instinct in her to protect her child.

"What is that?"

"You know who her father is, and I know you two have a history. He lost not chance in saying how much he hated you. I mean ...I- I know you're nothing like him...but still she has nothing to do with any of tha..." She stopped when he put his finger on her lips.

"Sugni... I know what you are trying to say. There is nothing like that from my side. Believe me all she reminds me of is you. And I am not one to hold an innocent child for something she has no control over."

She sighed. "I know you're not. I just wanted to let it out. It is a new start for both of us. From now on the past is in the past Hmm?"

"Yes a new start.." He said.

"I love you."

"I love you." They embraced each other, making a pact to start over afresh.

They sat in silence for a while, holding each other both feeling much lighter now after that conversation.

The arrival of the nurse coming in to check on Shanti and informing them that it was against hospital policy to have two overnight visitors.

"I better get going then..." he said after the nurse left. "Get some rest alright"

"Ok ...you too." She said

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he left.

Sugni looked at him as he disappeared into the elevators, then making her way back to the couch where she lay down. She closed her eyes where she managed to fall asleep with a smile on her face for the first time in a long time.

Originally posted by: ronshaan

thanks vinnie it was a good chapter... they finally sat together and spoke about their past

u know when vikram said he forgot his marriage.. i remembered pammi falling in love and later on remembering she was engaged to rohan 😆

any ways ... seems that happens... dev forgave pammi for that but sugni took long time to forgive because when he said that that time she could not handle that and she felt he was fooling her !!

over all it was good chapter

enjoyed reading it !!!

Originally posted by: payal7

Hey Vinnie

You have excelled yourself. that was a fantastic chapters. The passage of time has allowed them to calmly face their past mistakes, mis-understandings, hurt, pain.

The one thing that you bought out (apart from making Sugni actually be like the honest street smart girl that she always was😆) that one mistake however big does not take away the many good things that that person did.

CHAPTER 15

"OK So what should I do with the advertising project? They will be waiting for our answer" Chan asked as she took instructions from Vickram.

"Umm...give that to Amrita she will see about it. It's just to look over some proposals we have...I'll finalize them later...is there anything else pending?" He asked.

"No sir nothing important." She said.

"Good! You can call me any time ok..." He said.

"Will do!" she said. As she stood, up and made her way out the office. Vickram too stood up and gathered his keys and phone as he prepared to leave the office. He had not seen Sugni since he left her last night and he wanted to get back there. However, duty called and he had to show up at the office to make sure all was going well.

The door to his office opened and Amrita came in with the advertising file in her hands.

"Hey Mamaji...uhhh going out?" she asked seeing that he was putting on his jacket.

"Yeah...something wrong?" he asked noting the file in her hand

"No...Chan just gave this to me and I thought I would say hi!.." She said looking at him.

"So...are you going to tell me who the lucky lady is? "She asked smiling.

"What? What are you talking about?" he asked her.

"Well for the past week you have been erratic...hardly at home, disappearing suddenly...nothing here is amiss...Adi has been worried about you...Naani Maa is wondering what is bothering you. But I think...it can only be one thing you met someone right? And you don't want to let the others know yet? It's ok.. I I understand you might not want to tell them...but you can tell me!." She told him as she smiled.

Vickram looked at Amrita and could not help the smile. She always said what was on her mind regardless of whom she was talking to, and he liked that about her.

"Ohh so you are taking relationships classes as well as cooking classes now? Hmmm" he asked

"Oh Mamaji I am not...but unlike the rest of them I don't think something is bothering you as much as maybe someone is...and I am dying to know !" She admitted. "I am right aren't I ?" she asked .

"Maybe..." he said vaguely...

"WHAT...really? You met someone?... Oh My god that is so great!!!!" She said as she hugged him.

"Who is she? Where did you meet? ...how did you meet? you don't go anywhere." She wondered aloud. "When do we get to meet her?"

Vickram laughed looking at her you would think she just won the lotto or something.

"Relax Amrita I did not say that I did meet any one...I said maybe..." he said.

"Mamaji...come on..." Amrita said as she sat down at his desk. " We love you and we are worried about you...is that so wrong?" she asked looking at him.

"No...no it's not." Vickram sighed as he sat at the edge of his desk and looked down at her. "I know you guys are worried...but really there is no need...and no nothing is bothering me I promise you ok...and no I have not met any one new either!" he said

"Ohh" she said looking like someone just took away her favorite toy. "You didn't?" She had the most disappointed expression on her face.

"But there is someone I have been seeing " he said "Well not seeing in that sense, at least not until very recently...but.." He could not help the smile on his face

"What?" Amrita said confused by his cryptic comment. "Mamaji what? Who...what does that mean..." She asked confused.

"You are a smart girl figure it out!" He laughed.

Amrita looked at him, really looked at him he seemed to be in a good mood and for once he did not seem to be pretending ; there was a light in his eyes she never remembered seeing. He seemed lighter. It was as though he was... but they all knew the only person he ever loved was Sugni...so.. She replayed his words in his head ...

"Oh My God...Sugni???" As it dawned on her that is the only person who could probably put the light back in his eyes. The smile on his face told her she was right...

"Wait ...wait wait... how what when...?" She asked

"A few weeks ago...I was driving around and I met this little girl she was lost and crying. So I took her home only to find out her mother is none other than Sugni...they had just moved here..." He began as he told her about his meeting with Sugni...

"Oh My God WOW...that is just amazing. And now you are going to give it another chance. That is wonderful!' She said as she smiled softly..."I am so happy for you and don't worry we can handle the office for a while...I am sure she needs you now this must be a scary time for them."

"Thanks Amrita. Yes it is...but I am confident she will get better. They have the best Doctors working on the case"' She nodded. Looking at her seriously though he said.

"But Amrita, listen I told you...but I don't want Maa to know anything yet ok...I don't know how she is going to take it. Let things get settled. When the medical crisis is over..I'll tell her myself...can you do that much for me please...?" he said

"I understand...I promise I won't tell her...if she asks I'll just say you're preoccupied with office work. When is the surgery?'

"Within a few days they are just waiting for one of the Doctor's to return"

"Ok...Well I'll get out of your hair and get these sorted..." She stood as she left.

"Amrita...thanks ...for your support." He said

"Always...Mamaji always." She smiled as she left.

****\\\\////****

Vickram came into the Hospital room to find it empty both Sugni and Shanti were nowhere in sight. Walking out to the corridor he found a nurse to en quire about them and was told that they had taken Shanti for some test.

She suggested that he wait as they should be back any moment. A short while later they returned. Shanti was being wheeled in by a nurse her face broke into a smile as she saw him...

"Uncle Vickram! Guess what. I saw my bones!!! It was tiny..." She said as she lifted her arms indicating that he pick her up, which he did. Placing her on the bed.

"Really??..."

"Yep...and you know what...I was not afraid and it did not hurt at all" she said proudly..

"Very good...I know you are a very brave girl..."

He turned as Sugni was standing there looking at them.

"Hi." He smiled

"hi..."
"What's going on.?" He asked. She looked a little worried

"They are going to do the surgery on Friday...the doctor is back...they are just doing all the pretest they need.'

Two days from now. No wonder she was scared.

"you spoke to the doctor?" He asked.

"He came this morning...he said everything so far was good and Friday is the day..."

"It will be alright...don't worry." He said. She nodded but that did not stop her from worrying.

"Mummy can I eat now I am hungry..." Shanti said

"Sure baby..." Sugni moved to get her breakfast.

As usual Shanti spent the time chatting with Vickram about her adventures in the hospital today she had lots to say about the machines and the nurses and everything. He listened until she got tired and went off to nap.

"Did you eat breakfast?" He asked her. Looking at his watch it was almost lunchtime though.

"I am not really hungry " She said.

"oh No you can't do that...You need your strength... come on let's go to the cafe...take a little walk."

"If she wakes up..." She said looking at the bed.

"She won't. She will sleep for a while... We'll let the nurses tell her we will be back soon. We won't be gone long. Come on." She nodded as she followed him out.

A few minutes later having purchased their breakfast they sat at a corner table a bit secluded from the rest of the cafe. Sugni was picking at her sandwich lost in her thoughts.

"Hey..." Vickram said reaching over to hold her hand. "She'll be fine. You can't worry yourself like this it won't serve any purpose."

"I know ...but I can't help it...she's so small."

"And she is brave and resilient and optimistic and a fighter just like her mother...she'll pull through with flying colors "

"You're right... She is...thank you" She said squeezing his hand.

"Thakur Mallick...I want to go to the temple...since she came in here I wanted to go but could not leave her alone... Will you go with me?" she asked

"Of course I will." He reassured her.

"Thanks...'

"Sugni come on you don't have to say thank you for that! We are in this together and I will support you in any way I can." He said. "Now finish your breakfast and we can go back upstairs"

She smiled as she nodded.

******\\\\\/////******

"You told her?"

"Yeah ...I knew they would not let up until they found out why As she put it "I was acting weird" . It did not take her long to figure it out!" He smiled recalling Amrita's reaction. They were back in the hospital room sitting on the couch talking as Shanti was still asleep.

Vickram told Sugni about his earlier conversation with Amrita. She was surprised that his niece in law seemed to be supportive of the fact she was in his life again, a drastic change form the last time.

I did ask her to not tell Maa though...I'll do that but after . I have no idea what her reaction might be." He said . "I just need to do it delicately with her health and all one crisis at a time.'

Sugni was silent for a while contemplating what he just said. This was supposed to be a new beginning for them, but something's from the past seemed not to have changed.

"What is it?" He asked seeing her expression.

Sugni looked at him again feeling as though she was about to be the cause of more upheaval in his life. She did not want to be.

"Thakur Mallick... I - I..."

"What is it Sugni say it."

"I- I know your family means a lot to you, I already caused problems with them before and I don't want to do that again I just..." She stopped trying to find the right words.

"What are you saying?" He asked.

" I am saying that if I am going to cause a rift between you and your family ten maybe this isn't such a good idea."

"WHAT? Who says you are causing any problems Sugni? I have not talked to her yet. And you know something maybe in the last six years she has changed her mind about things. Sugni listen to me," he said looking at her seriously.

"I love you...and I am not saying that things will be fine and easy with us. Before you go on to make a decision on what is best for me just know this there is only one person in this world I will be with otherwise I will be alone and that is you. It is my job to convince my family and I will do that. Sugni a relationship is based on a few things, trust, faith, understanding and support. All of which we probably botched up the first time around, but if I have learned anything it is this making a decision because you think it is for the best for the other person is not only foolish but unfair. When people love each other Sugni, they stick together no matter what. They don't leave at the first sign of trouble." He said. "We decided to give this a fresh start... because if it isn't..."

"No!" she said . "It is...it is ...I am sorry." She said realizing that her words hurt him.

"I don't want you to be sorry Sugni...I just want you to be sure. For both her and us. .." They looked at each other or a moment then Sugni leaned forward and hugged him.

"You are right...I was going to make a wrong choice...I just want you to be happy." She said softly.

" And you think I'll be that way without you? You think we will be happy with out each other?"

"No..."

Then...Sugni we can face anything...but together...and I don't want this to be an issue between us..'

"It won't..." she said pulling back to look at him. "I promise from now on...we are together no matter what...I'll always be here for you ...I' am sorry I hurt you."

"No you don't have to apologize...but I think we can stop walking around each other like we have to watch our every step. If we are really going to put the past behind us and move forward."

"What do you mean?" She asked confused.

" I mean there is nothing we have hide from each other, or nothing we can't say to each other or nothing we can't tell each other. There is nothing you have to feel ashamed of or guilty of or think you can't tell me..nor is there anything you can't ask me about. "

Sugni stared at him her eyes welling up with emotion, looking at the sincerity in his face. He really did not care about her past despite knowing it was with his sworn enemy.

" I love you..." She said, she lifted her hand to caress his face. "So much..." Sugni brought her head closer to him the urge to kiss him with all her heart strong. Their heads came together and just as they were about to kiss they herd a sound from the bed.

"Mummy..." Shanti said groggily.

Sugni gasped as she pulled away her face red. Vickram was smiling as he turned to see Shanti still lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

"Mom..." She began to cry. Alarming them

"Yes baby I am right here..." She said getting up to go to her. "What's wrong baby..shhh mummy's right here"

"I had a bad dream. You left me and did not come back" She said.

"It's OK honey ...it is just a dream...I'm right here... Go back to sleep." She said as she took her on her lap and began to gently rock her back and forth.

Vickram looked on as Sugni made Shanti sleep. She was a natural as a mother he thought. She looked at him and furrowed her brows lifting her head in silent question. He shook his head, nothing as he smiled.