CHAPTER 17
Vickram stepped out of his apartment getting ready to go back to the hospital. It was almost eight PM. He wondered if he would still get the store open to get Shanti a get well present as he did not get a chance to do so.
He had not seen her since she came out of surgery because after he left Sugni he came back with the intention of going back the next morning. However there was an unexpected issue in the office that required his attention and he spent most of the day in meetings with new some new clients that were difficult but profitable if he could manage to get them to sign the contract.
Since Adi was having a difficult time handling, it he stepped in. When he was finished he called Sugni who told him she was still in ICU and it would make no sense he coming as he would only be granted a few minutes with her.
Today again was another day of negotiations, but Sugni said they finally shifted her to her room for recovery and he was anxious to get there. After a quick dinner with his mother, he came home to shower and change and was again heading out.
"Vickram?' Maa Thakur Said.
"Maa? What are you doing out here? Is everything alright?" He asked.
"I don't know you tell me...what's going on Vickram?" She asked. "Where are you going at this hour?" She asked.
"I have something to see about." He said.
His mother sighed.
"Vickram I may be old...but I am far from stupid. I know something is going on, and you don't want to tell me. Amrita and Adi Knows but they too are not talking...so I won't bother asking them...I am asking you ...what is going on with you..." She said looking at him.
Vickram looked at his mother , and he knew she would not let it go until she knew the truth. No time like the present, he guessed. No sense in prolonging the enevitable.
"Alright Maa...I'll tell you...but let's go back to the house...it is cold and you should be inside!" He said.
"I am fine...I am not that fragile as everyone is making me out to be ..." She grumbled. Vickram smiled...his mother hated to be called weak in any way , unless it was convenient in her blackmailing him for something.
They made their way into the main house where she sat in the living room. Amrita and Adi came down with a couple of DVD's in their hands as they spotted them. They looked at each other then at Vickram.
"Um can you guys give us a few moments I'd like to talk to her alone." He said.
"Sure Mamaji." Adi said as they made a U-turn and went back upstairs. Vickram sat next to his mother who was staring at him waiting.
"I know you are worried about me...but I am fine. In fact I am better than fine." He said as he smiled slightly.
"Then what is it Vickram...I have not seen you act this strangely since..." She stopped she did not want to mention that name.
"Since Sugni.?" He said.
"No"I did not..." She said not wanting to upset him.
"It's ok Maa...and you are right...I have not...and maybe the reason is I am acting this way is the same."
"What?...What do you mean?' She asked, confused.
" Sugni Maa...Sugni is here...and I met her in the most unsual way you know...I was driving around..."
"Wait...Sugni is here? From Mawhari...?"
"Yes...she left Mawhari a long time ago...and was working in a small village around...but came here after her boss Moved away." He said. "I met her a few weeks ago ...when I picked up this little girl who was lost and crying...it turns out her mother was Sugni..." he said as he told his mother about his meeting with Sugni.
"how is the child?" She asked as he finished the story.
"Shanti? She is recovering well and soon would be out of the hospital." He said. He smiled relieved that it was now out in the open.
Maa Thakur stared at Vickram, his smile was bright. The happiness on his face was reflected in his eyes. She blinked her eyes to prevent her tears from falling. No this was not happening.
After everything that girl put him through...she was back here again . It was impossible to get Vickram to see sense where she was concerned before, and now even after he knew she had an illegitimate child he was still blinded by her.
"What is it Maa?" he asked noting his mother's stoney face and heavey silence. He knew her well enough to know she was not too happy with this piece of news.
She started at him for a long moment.
"you want the truth?" She asked. He nodded.
"After everything she put you through Vickram...and now she has a child...pretty convenient huh...finding you to help her..." She said.
"Maa ...no it's not like that...I helped because..."
"Because you love her and she took advantage of it. Typical of her...isn't it..." She said.
"No... She did not call sickness on her child and when she moved here she had no idea I was here "
" Granted... no mother would...but she sure found you fast enough for help...and off course she would jump at a second chance. Vickram didn't she put you through enough before?" She asked looking at him.
"Maa...you know all of that happened because of my lie...!" He said.
Vickram I agree you probably withheld the truth from her...but you did not deliberately set out to hurt her... even after you tried countless of times to apologize did she even once try to give you a fair hearing, NO. Instead she humiliated you in front of everyone...you even went to beg that man to let her go...I'll never forget that." She said.
"Maa all that is in the past, we both made mistakes and we paid for them dearly. It does not change the fact that we love each other, and faith has given us a second chance. You can't deny that Maa...what are the odds that she would end up here of all places...and I would end up at her door step unintentionally! All I am asking you to do here is give her a chance...and I know she will prove for herself that she is true." He said.
"You want me to forget everything she put you and in effect this family through?" His mother shook her head. "To just welcome her and that illegitimate child with open arms?" She said looking at him as though he lost his mind.
"I am asking you to trust me that I know what I am doing Maa!" Vickram said. "Besides...I already asked her to marry me and she accepted...and as soon as is possible I would like to make it official." He said
"What! Vickram...wh-why...I mean should'nt you give it some more time...I mean you just met her for God's sake you don't know anything about her... Vickram she is just playing on your sympathy" She said.
"Maa...it's been six years...and I do know all I need to know about her and her life. Believe it or not there is a lot we talk about in the hospital. No she is not ." Reaching over he took her hand.
"Maa...I know you want what is best for me...and maybe in your eyes she is not that. But if there is any one I am going to spend my life with it is her or no one. I am happy with her Maa. Six years ago we went through all this, this arguing and anger ...I have had enough of it to last me a life time. All I want is a little piece of happiness...so I am not going to argue with you...I love you and I am always here for you, but I am not going to make a choice between you and her. The choice is yours now you can be happy for me or you want to waste your time being angry about something we can't change. Think about it." He said as he looked at her She was staring out the window not looking at him.
After a few minutes of her sileance . Vickram sighed.
""It's getting late . I need to get to the hospital...think about it" He said , as he got up and walked out the door.
Ghodavari watched as the door closed shut behind him she herd his car drive off. She closed her eyes as she let her tears fall.
"Naani Maa!" Adi said . He came down to check on her after they herd Vickram leave and was shocked to find her crying.
"Naani Maa...what's wrong ?" Amrita asked as she sat next to her.
"You have to ask?..." She asked wiping her face. "You two knew about this right ? that She was back in his life?" She said looking at them. They exchanged glances and guilty looks that said it all.
"And you did not tell me!" She said .
"We only found out a few days ago...and we figured..." Amrita started but stopped at the stony stare.
"You figured what?" She asked looking at Adi .
Adi sighed. "Naani ma... We figured that...if she is the one to make him happy...why should we stand in the way?" he said.
"Oh really...do you know what she put him through?" She asked.
"Yes we do...we also know he blames himself for whatever she went through." Adi said . Maa Thakur Scoffed.
"Oh please Vickram begged her not to do it...no one forced her to do her sar dakhi..." She said. "And now she is back...with a child...latching on to him to solve all her problems...I am telling you that girl was nothing but trouble the last time and this time it s no different!" She said.
"It is different!" Adi said.
"How?" She asked looking at him.
"Naani maa..like it or not he is in love with her...and fighting him on that point won't make him leave her...but would just isolate him from us. Like the last time Naa...You fought with him because of her...what happened? Did he leave her?...no he was willing to leave the family for her...right?" Adi said
"Hmmm...what are you saying Adi?"
"I am saying...just let's see where it goes, if he is happy with her,let him be. Don't fight him on it and it is one way we can see to it that she won't take advantage of him...Keep him close to you and to do that you need to accept the fact that she is a part of his life.." He said "A united front is much stronger than a divided front. Am I right Naani Maa?" He asked.
"Hmmm I guess you are right beta...but the child?"
"The child is a child...she is innocent." Amrita said. "I mean.." She said when she received a cold stare from Maa Thakur..."That is what Mamaji thinks naa...I guess in for a penny in for a pound as they say."
Adi gave her a comical look at that statement as she rolled her eyes.
"OK ...You make sense. I am not going to lose my son over this...and I am not going to let him be played with either." She said determined.
*****\\\\////****
"She has been groggy and cranky with all the meds they are giving her...but she did ask for you earlier." Sugni told Vickram. They were seated back on the couch in the room, which had become their "spot" over the last few days.
"Sorry I missed her ...but I'll try to get here early tomorrow...we were swamped at the office." He said.
"And you rushed to come here...you did not have to ..." She said
"No...and go one more day without seeing you... no way!" He said. He leaned his head back on the couch and closed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Sugni asked.
"Hmmm? Nothing" He said without opening his eyes.
"Thakur Mallick since you came in here you've been tense...I know something is bothering you. What is it the office?" She asked, caressing his head..
Vickram took her hand in his and turned to look at her. He stared at her silently for a few minutes as though contemplating something.
"What?" She asked again.
"My mother knows...about us and everything else...I told her this evening." He said.
"I take it it did not go well...she was upset?" She guessed. He nodded.
"But we expected that didn't we?" She said. He stayed quite. She knew he had some hope that she might have changed her stance on them. "Thakur Mallick...she will be upset after all I am not her favorite person in the world am I?"
"Give her time...this is not going to be easy for her ...especially with Shanti." She said.
"I know Sugni...but I really don't want to be fighting with her because of this. I just thought she would mellow with time. I don't want to go through all that again." He sighed tiredly.
"Well maybe you don't have to." She said..."Thakur Mallick I don't want to be the cause of a rift between the two of you and If that means We have to stay..."
"Sugni come on don't you start now with this being apart crap ..Please!" he said a bit irritated.
"I was not going to say that!" She said pouting..."at least hear me out!" She said.
"what?" He said looking at her.
"I was not suggesting anything about being apart, simply maybe it would be best if Shanti and I stay out of her sight...if it would make her more comfortable she would not have to deal with us." She said.
"That simple Huh?" he said as she shrugged. "I don't want to make it worse for you and you said she was not well "
"Sugni...we are going to get married. You and Shanti are going to be a part of the family not a stranger...and you will be treated as such. I will not stand for anything less.
"But..."
"No ...no compromises on this" He said. The look on his face said he was serious.
"Ok ...Ok.!" She said. "Let's just give her some time for the shock to wear off OK"
"I am glad it's all out in the open now... one down one to go..." He said indicating Shanti.
Sugni laughed..."You have the easy part...she likes you."
"Now...but she might feel different when she hears I want to marry her mother." He said.
"I might have to work for her approval."
"Oh that is easy...a few story books...some snacks...a couple of chocolate bars ...and you are on easy street." Sugni winked. Vickram chuckled. She moved closer to him to rest her head on his shoulder. She yawned.
"Thakur Mallick?"
"Hmmm"
"It will all be ok...I know you are worried about Maa Thakur's response. But I think convincing her is not only your responsibility but mines as well." She said as she entwined her hand in his. "We are in this together from now on and I promise I will do everything to win her approval as well."
"Thank you Sugni ...and I know you can. " He smiled
"I love you."
"I love you too..."
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