CHAPTER 16
"Here drink this..." Rita offered Sugni and Vickram two days later as they sat in the waiting room waiting for the surgery to be over. Vickram a accepted the Styrofoam cup. "Thank you" He told her.
It had been a while Sugni sat on her chair bouncing her knees up and down as Vickram sat at her side holding her hand. She clung to it as she kept praying silently that all goes well in the operating room.
"No..thanks." Sugni said
"Sugni...you need to have something ...you did not eat since morning...and it is almost 2 PM come on."
"I can't not until this is over." She said. Her stomach was a bunch of nerves right now and nothing will be digested until she saw her baby's face again and know she is all right.
"Rita you must be tired. You been here since morning...you should go home and relax" She said.
"And leave you here? I don't think so..." She said sitting at her other side as she held her other hand.
"Thank you..." Sugni said as she looked at her. Their presence here making the waiting period much easier to take. If it was not for Vickram's silent strength and support and Rita's motherly mode, Sugni was sure she would have gone stir crazy in this room.
"No Need." She said.
"The ding of the elevator doors caught there attention as the watched the two people step out of it.'
"I don't believe this!" Vickram said as he looked at them. "Um Sugni I'll be right back" he said as she released her hand and got up making his way to the elevators.
****\\\\////****
"Adi , Amrita what are you two doing here?" Vickram asked as he walked up to them.
"hey Mamaji... we just came to see how things are going..." Amrita said. Vickram looked from her to Adi. He should have known she would tell him.
"I am sorry Mamaji but Amrita was acting so nervous all day today that I knew something was up...until finally she told me why you were acting so strangely. I still could not believe it that Sugni is here and back in your life. So much has happened in the last six years. She has a child!" Adi said., he could not hide the shock in his voice.
Yes she dose...Adi...Sugni's been through a lot, she has done a lot to make a respectable life for her and her child without help from any one. Doing it all on her own for six years is not an easy task!" Vickram said. Looking at Adi seriously...he would not stand for her being judged because of her past by any one.
"I know...I know ...I did not mean anything by that Mamaji I swear!" Adi said. "And I am happy that she is back in your life. I did mean what I said the other day...all I want to see is you happy...and I will support you...we are just here to lend some moral support to you two that is all I swear." Adi said. He knew his uncle could be testy when it came to Sugni.
"Um Mamaji can we meet her?" Amrita asked indicating Sugni.
"Of course of course... where are my manners "come" Vickram turned and walked over to where Sugni was still sitting with Rita.
"Hey Sugni, Rita...Um this is my nephew and his wife Aditya and Amrita... Adi , Amu you know Sugni and this is Rita Sugni's friend. "
"Helllo" Both Sugni and Rita answered as she stood up looking at Vickram and then at his Adi and Amrita. Sugni clasped her hand in greeting.
"They came to lend moral support." He explained.
"Thank you!" She said smiling slightly.
Amrita went in front of Sugni and took her hand. " I know this is a worrisome time for you...but I am sure all will go well. Your daughter will be fine!" She said.
They all stood there a bit awkwardly not really knowing what to say at this time. Until Vickram said
"Adi can I speak with you alone for a few moments?"
"Sure" he said as they stepped to the side leaving the three women there.
"Please have a seat." Sugni said to Amrita offering her an empty chair. The waiting room was basically empty apart from them.
"UH Sugni ...I'll go take a walk and let you two catch up." Rita said.
"Oh Please ...you don't have to leave on my account. Stay." Amrita told her.
"I know but I'll be back going to stretch my legs a bit." She said as she left.
"I know the waiting is killing huh? But she will be fine." Amrita said
"Yeah...it's the not knowing. And time has seemed to stop." Sugni said.
"Mamaji said she Is a very sweet child ...I can't wait to meet her." She smiled.
Sugni looked at Amrita, her genuine smile and concern on her face. Once again, she was struck by easily she seemed to have accepted her.
"Thank you."
"You know...sitting around here watching the clock will not make it easy. You just have to believe and trust all is fine...they are going their job , God is doing his...So you should not worry over something you have no control of. You can read...or talk about something to get your mind of it for now. May be listen to some music." Amrita advised.
"You are right I guess." Sugni said. That is what she was doing all just watching the minutes pass and worrying. It really was not helping..
She looked at Amrita for a few moments and decided to try out her advice.
"So you're the one who has been trying to fix Thakur Mallick up with all those ladies." She said.
"Amtia looked at her rather surprised.
"He told you about that!" She said
"Well yes...we have been talking a lot. " Sugni laughed softly. "Thakur Mallick says you are one adamant child." Sugni could see why Vickram liked her so much. "No I just wanted to see him happy and stop pining away by himself." She said. Sugni looked down at her lap at the reminder of how miserable he was.
"But I can see why it did not work...since you two were ment to be together." She said smoothly moving on form the awkward moment.
"Hmm but things are so much different now...I mean with Shanti and all..." She said.
"Listen Sugni, let me tell you something." She said looking at her. "We have all been watching the way he was for the past six years. If it was not because of his duty towards his mother and her health he would probably have sunk himself somewhere in a black hole and never come out. He did what he had to do but basically he stopped living. And watching that more than anything just broke out hearts." Sugni looked at Amrita as she spoke About Vickram and saw that the respect and love ran deep here.
"I know things have changed. But what is more important to us, to me is that you do love him. It dose not matter what happened in your past as long as he is happy, because he deserves that. As for Shanti...she is innocent here. " Sugni looked at Vickram who was talking quietly to Adi at the other side of the room. She was really lucky., and happy that he had people around him whi did care about his wellbeing.
"Thank you Amritaji..."
"Just Amrita...and I mean it. You may have some work to do where Maa Thakur is concerned...but between all of us I am sure we can get her to come around." She said.
"I don't want to be the cause of a rift between them." She said
"You won't be...at heart all she wants is for him to be happy and like any mother she might put you through the fire test...but once you pass it she'll accept you!." She said.
Thanks..." Sugni said sarcastically. Amrita laughed.
"Are you prepared for that?"
"No..but I am willing to go through it. His happiness means everything to me...and for that I'll do what it takes." She said.
" That's the spirit...Welcome to the family." She said as she hugged her.
****\\\\////****
"Adi..." Vickram said as they moved to the corner. "Sorry if I was a bit rude...but thanks for being here and your support...I really do appreciate that.!" He said.
"Mamaji...Please you were not I understand , and I did mean what I said. You have my full support and as long as you are happy so am I." He said.
"I am ...Just as I told Amrita...Let this phase just pass through and let her get well before Maa Thakur finds out. We will tackle that after."
"Of course ...don't worry we won't tell her. When the time is right for you you can."
"It might be a while after the surgery and recovery...we haven't told Shanti yet..." he said.
"Oh I am sure she will be fine with it, and you do have a way with kids," He said confidently.
"Oh really? You speak as though I am surrounded by children."
"No ...but speaking from experience...you did a good job with me Na..." He smiled.
Vickram smiled back relieved at he had some genuine support from Adi and Amrita, which ment a lot to him.
He spent a few minutes discussing some important pending project from the office.
"Well Mamaji we better get going... We will come back when she is out of surgery."
"Ok..." Turning they made their way to Amrita and Sugni where Amtira was hugging Sugni.
Well well you two are getting along!" Vickram said.
Of course we are ! " Amrita said.
"Amrita we should be going now."
"Ok...Sugni we wil be back and remember don't worry."
"I won't.' She said.
After they left Vickram turned to Sugni.
"What was that about.?" He asked.
"Hmm nothing...she was just being supportive...you know she really loves you." She told him.
"Hmmm?"
"Yes..." She said taking his hand as she sat down..."I guess I am one lucky girl...I mean what would happen if she had found someone for you that you liked." She pondered.
"Oh...who knows I might have been off miserably married somewhere..." He said.
"Ohh and suppose I make you miserable?" She said
"Well I'd rather be happily miserable with you ...than unhappily married to some no named stranger..." She laughed.
****\\\\////****
Three and a half hours later the door opened and Shanti's doctor came into the waitng room.
Sugni and Vickram stood up as he put his arm around her. The doctor made his way to them.
He Smiled.
"The opration was a successes. No complications. She is responding well so far." He informed them.
"Oh Thank GOD." She said. "Thank you Doctor...can we see her..."
"In a while we are going to shift her to the ICU...where she will be under observation for the next 24 hours to make sure all is well...it is just a formality nothing to worry about." He said noting the look of alarm on their faces.
"How ever only one of you can see her at a time and only one of you will be allowed to stay until she is shifted back to her regular room.
"Yes we understand." Vickram said.
"Ok I will send the nurse to call you when you can see her in about half hour." he said as he left.
Sugni turned and hugged Vickram as tears of relief and happiness spilled form her eyes.
"She is good...Ohhh..Thank God." She said
"Congratulations Sugni." Rita said summing to their side. Stepping out of his embrace Sugni exchanged Huggs with Rita.
"Thank you Rita." She said.
A short while later Rita left since saying she would be back when they shifted her.
"You should go get rest to..." She told Vickram. He had been sitting with her the past two days until late.
"I will...let's get you something to eat first...I know once you go in there you won't come out." He said.
"Ok...' She agreed. Now that the tension was over she had a moment to deal with normal human feelings like hunger and tiredness.
"What?" Sugni asked as Vickram was staring at her over his cup of coffee across the table.
"Nothing...first time in a long time I am seeing you look this relaxed and tension free " He said.
"I am ...this was the scariest experience I have ever had." She said. " Now that I know everything is going to be ok...and she is going to be well again...I can't tell you how happy I am right now."
Reaching over she held his hand.
"None of this would be possible without you." She said
"Sugni..."
"No ...I know you don't want to hear it...but it is the truth...without you here...actually without you in my life nothing goes right. My strength , my confidence my will power lie in two people, you and Shanti...as long as you two are here I want for nothing else. I am lucky." She said.
"Well Sugni I am here and she is. And I don't want to waste any time in making this official, so what do you say we get married as soon as possible." He said seriously.
Sugni looked at him shocked , she was not expecting that. She looked around the caf no one seemed to be paying them much attention.
"Did you just propose to me...here?" She said.
"Uhh...I guess...I know not romantic...you want me to get down on my knee?" He asked.
"No! no ...I...I was not expecting ..." She said looking at him. She could feel a blush creeping up her face.
"Well I have been waiting six years you going to make me wait more..." He asked
"No...I won't . I mean...yes..." She said as he looked at her confused.
She Squeezed his hand and said.
"I mean...Yes I will marry you ...and I won't make you wait." She said.
Good...then it's settled...as Soon as Shanti is back on her feet ...We'll get married." He said.
"But what about Your mother?" She asked worriedly.
" I will talk to her... Amrita and Aditya has no problems I don't think she will." He said confidently.
Sugni looked at him. He seemed so sure of his mother's acceptance. Somehow she was not, but she smiled, she remembered her encounters before with Maa Thakur... the veiled insults the cold shoulder she would take it as it comes...as long as they were together she could face his mothers wrath.
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