NEW FF. UNBREAKABLE BONDS Chapter 43(UPDATED PAGE 44 - Page 21

CHAPTER 21

Sugni entered the main house where Maa Thakur stayed with Amrita and Adi, it was a contrast to the apartment she saw of Vickram's when she visited him.

This house was more in step with the haveli in Mawhari. Shanti was staring wide eyed around the living room.

"This is your house...wow...it's like a real palace!" she said. She reached to touch one of the large vases at the side of the door.

"Shanti...no...don't touch anything!" Sugni said.

"It alright Sugni...it won't break..." Vickram said.

"This is going to be our house, because you are going to be living here after we get married this week end. And I have a surprise for you...you get your own room...that Amrita didi made especially for you...would you like to see it?." he said to Shanti

"Really ? WOW Yes...can we please please...!' She said jumping up and down.

"Soon after we go meet grand ma first ok...come, come in.." he said as he led the way inside.

"Maa , Adi, Amrita...?" He called seeing no one.

Adi came down the steps that led to upstairs.

"Hey Mamaji...Sugni...or should I say Maami..." He greeted as he hugged her lightly.

Since Aditya was a couple of years older than her, it felt weird hearing that term from him.

"You can call me Sugni...please.!" She said.

"Hey Shorty!" he said referring to Shanti...

"I am not short...I am still growing!" She answered back, furrowing her brow. Adi liked teasing her and for some reason she argues back with him. Like Amrita and Vickram, he too was taken with her.

"Ohh right!!" He said ..."well until you can look me in the eye you will be shorty!" He laughed

"Where is every one?" Vickram asked.

"Naani maa was in the kitchen, Amrita is will be down soon...I'll go call Naani Maa..." he said turning.

"Don't bother ...I'll go...Sugni come...! He said as he turned and made his way to the back and the kitchen.

He entered the kitchen with Sugni and Shanti behind him. .

"Hey Maa!" Vickram said.

"Vickram you are here already!...Oh we are running behind time!" She said seeing that it was after six.

"It Ok Maa...come I want you to meet Sugni and Shanti." He said, moving to stand beside them.

Sugni stood there feeling like a specimen under a microscope as Maa Thakur stared at them from across the room.

Shanti held on to her mother's dress, hiding and peeking out at Maa Thakur. No doubt, she could feel the heavy atmosphere that had taken over the kitchen.

What seemed like hours but was probably minutes, Maa Thakur walked over to where they were standing. "Hmmm" She said.

"Namaste Maaji..." Sugni said as she bent to touch her feet, while holding the cake in one hand.

"It's OK" Maa Thakur Said coldly.
"Shanti touch her feet." Sugni said. Shanti moved to follow her mother.

"Bless you"..She said.

"Maaji ...I brought this sugar free cake...Vickram said you liked chocolate..." She said .

"Hmmm...there was no need for that...we have desert." She said.

"Oh come on Maa...you know you love chocolate cake...you can eat it tomorrow!" Vickram said.

"Ok Ok...thank you...rest it on the counter then." She said

Sugni did.

"Hariya... finish setting the table...and ...uh we will have this cake for desert instead...call us when the food when all is ready.!" Maa Thakur said, obviously pretending they were not there.

Vickram stared after his mother, and her rude behavior. Obviously hurt by her reaction.

Reaching over she held his hand. "Small steps...hey at least she accepted my cake..." Sugni said.

"Come let's go out." He said going back into the living room where Amrita had finally joined Adi. Shanti greeted Amrita warmly as she usually did. As they all sat in the living room awkwardly.

Maa Thakur sat quietly saying nothing. Sugni sat quietly not sure what to say. Vickram was watching his mother, while Adi and Amrita was looking at every one, trying to communicate silently on a way to break the ice. Finally Adi said.

"So Mamaji, I rescheduled all important meetings we had on Friday to next week and explained to everyone that you would not be available. What time is the ceremony?"

" 11. Am ...I guess it should all be organized by 10:30 he said.

"10:30?" Amrita said horrified "that is not enough time...Mamaji why so early...can't it be in the evening?" She askd.

"According to the pundit that is the best time. And why wait?" he asked

"Ahh ...hello! it takes time to get the bride ready...and then the temple decorations and here...haai haai and I only have two days...MAMAji that is not fair..."

"Well ...Amrita all I care about is making it official...you have two days to work your magic and I think with you two days is good anything longer and I dread what you would do !" He joked.

Yes we would see ice sculptures coming out!". Adi said.

"No no...I think I would have been those flying doves leading the way!" Vickram replied , both of them exchanging looks that clearly said they were pulling her leg.

"You two are mean!. " Amrita said as they both laughed at her.

"See Sugni...how they gang up on us...Fine! I accept the challenge...you'll see what I'll do ...and If I don't make both of your jaw drop na...I'll change my name!" She said. Vickram and Adi looked at each other a bit worriedly wondering what she was going to do.

Smirking she smiled..."Sugni...I guess we girls gotta stick together... Come let me show youthe rest of the house as we wait." She said.

"My room My room!!!" Shanti said excitedly.

"Of course let's start with your room!' She said... "Excuse us.!" She said as they got up and went upstairs. Through it all Maa Thakur kept silent looking at them.

Shanti's room was decorated in a totally girly theme, pink was everywhere , with princesses adorning the bed sheets and pillows. Dolls, stuffed toys books...it was every little girls dream.

"Ohh...wow...this..is my room?" Shanti said softly almost reverently as she saw it. Never in her wildest imagination did she think of something like this. She looked he mother in awe as though this was unreal. "Mummy?" Looking to her mother for guidance...

"OH Shanti don't be shy...it's all yours sweet heart..." Amrita said to her as she lead her into the room so she could get a closer look at it all.

"Ohh Amrita this is..." Sugni said.

"Please Sugni...it is nothing...I am just glad she likes it...Shanti...you like it right, your daddy said you loved Princesses...so ..."

"I love it..." Shanti said as she came up to her and hugged her, the happiness could not be hidden from her eyes. "Thank you so much ...Didi...".

"It's ok ...Hmmm what about if you play here for a while and I show mummy the rest of the upstairs huh?...is that Ok?"

Shanti nodded her attention now on the books and toys on the shelves.

They left her as they as Amrita gave Sugni a tour of the other rooms upstairs finally stopping by a dark oak door... "And Finally This is going to be yours and Mamaji's room..." She said as she opened the door.

Like the rest of the house, it was elegantly furnished, but simple. Almost as though it had not been used.

"I know it looks bleak, and I have not done anything in here, since this is your space...I'll leave that to you. It's been a while since he has been here...in fact..." She said looking at her..."It's because of you he is moving back in here...after Maaji recovered he moved next door to that apartment he did not want to disturb her but the needed to be close to you and I guess he could not put up the happy front all the time." She said sadly... As sugni looked down guiltily.

Thank God all that is over now..."Amrita said brightly, realizing she probably should not have said that. You know it is so good to see him back to his old self,laughing joking...all thanks to you." She said holding her hand and smiling genuinely. "Any ways forget all this emotional talk...I have something to show you..." She said excitedly as she went to the closet and pulled out a few clothes bags. "Thank God Na I started planning as soon as he told me..."

"Now ...I know with Shanti shopping was going to be impossible...so I took the liberty to get you some options for Friday...after dinner we can try them and make the necessary adjustments... if you don't like any of these we can always make a trip to the store if you wish..."

"Ohh no Amrita... I'll go with whatever you...OH MY GOD wow!" She said as she looked at the bridal lehenga that she pulled out form the bag... "Amrita...this is...not simple..."

"Oh don't you start with me...All brides have the right to look special on their day...and you have to remember you are going to Be MRS. Vickram Singh, a Thakurine and it comes with a little responsibility and perks ...so you have to get over this thing you have about expensive gifts. Samjhi?" She said

"Now these are all nice...but this one...well a certain somebody thought you would look nice in it." She teased.

"It's beautiful" She said looking at it, she knew that this was the one since he picked it out. "Butstill it feels odd na...to be celebrating it and Maaji is not happy...I don't want her to feel we are throwing it in her face." She said.

"Sugni...not at all ...we are not doing that..." Amrita said as she took her hand and sat on the bed. "Listen...Finally after all that happened you two are getting married...and it is a happy occasion right." She nodded. "So celebrating it is not wrong...as for Nani maa just give her time. Besides with you here now...soe of the heat will be off my back" She laughed.

"Ohh she likes you I am sure..."

"Yeah...sometimes it's hard to tell ...but don't worry she is good at heart she is just protective of her own. But this is your wedding and you have to enjoy it...winning her over well you have the rest of your life for that...I am still trying!" She said.

"Thanks Amrita..." She said as she hugged her. "For all your support and everything."

"Hey...you are family now and I mean that from here" She said indicating her heart. .

"Well I guess we better get going...dinner should be ready now..." She said as she placed the clothes back and they made their way down stairs.

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

Dinner was strained to say the least. After they came downstairs, Shanti was still on cloud nine about her new room that she excitedly ran up to Vickram and hugged him as she told him thanks. Maa Thakur was even more displeased by her display and no doubt by having a stranger call her son "Daddy!'

Amrita , Adi and Vickram truied their best to keep the table conversation light and even pull her in , but her answere we restricted to short sentences or one word comments. Sugni tied on occasion but was either blatantly ignored or given a cold response until she decided to just stay quite as well.

As soon as she finished her meal maa Thakur stood up. "Excuse me..." she said as she left them and went to her room.

"Kaamal hain." Vickram said under his breath as he leaned back on his chair and looked at his mother. He looked around the table they were all staringat each other awkwardly..

"I'll be back ..." he said as he stood up following his mother

"Tha..." Sugni said but was stopped by Amrita.

"Let him go..." She said...

Vickram went into his mother's room as she was rummaging packing something away in her closet.

"What is this Maa?" He asked. As she turned to look at him.

What is what?" She said.

"This! This attitude...I brought them here this evening so that you could start getting to know them. But you? You've been nothing but cold to them. Maa why..?" He asked

"What do you want from me Vickram? Hmm You are getting what you want...this wedding is going on at bullet speed I might add...I am not saying anything about it. I am not saying anything about it ...I am not objecting t it...what more you want from me?" she asked...looking at him.

"Your blessing!" He said. "but I guess that would be to much to ask." He came up to her. "I know you don't like any of this , you don't approve of her.but the last time I got married it was with some one you approved of right? You saw how happy I was then. Maa I am not saying you have to whole heartedly accept her, but at least give her a chance. She's trying just meet her half way. Let go of the past and let's move forward...Please." She stared at him, saying nothing. "Maa they'll be living here soon, but if this is going to be a problem for you we can stay next door. I don't want to make you unhappy or uncomfortable in your house...and I am notleavingthem. So maybe that will be for the best." He said. Seeing that his words were not having any effect on her , he shook his head sadly as he turned and made his way down stairs.

Vickram found them gathered in the living room quietly discussing plans for the wedding, he saw thatShanti was in the other room watching television. If only his mother would understand like the rest of them everything would be fine in his world. He knew she can b storboorn sometimes and if after all this time she did not budge his hopes that she would was beginning to dwindle.

He sat on the couch next to Sugni as the all looked at him. He simply shook his head, silently telling them it did not work. He felt Sugni's hand asshe held his and smiled lending her support.

"Mamaji I'll need the keys to your apartment tommorw...so we can move some of your stuff back here." Adi said.

"NO Adi...I don't think that is such a good idea..." He said.

"But Mamaji..."

"Look...she seems really upset, I don't want her to be...and I don't want any tension in this house...so I am thinking maybe it will be best if we stay in the apartment for now." He said. "I thought she would come to terms with it...but from what I am seeing she still needs time..."

"Maybe you are right..." Adi said.

They looked up as the herd foot steps coming down the stairs. Silently Maa Thakur walked into the living room as she stood in front of Vickram and Sugni. They moved to stand ...

"NO ...it's ok.." She said as she sat next to Vickram. She looked at him for a long while

"I am sorry Vickram.." She finally said

"Maa..What..." She raised her hands indicating that he stay quite.

" All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I guess it's been so long since I've seen you that way...that I probably did not understand it at first." She said as she touched his face."This family has been through so much and all I want is for us to be together and happy as one. I know it will be a little hard to accept...but I will try." She said. She smiled slightly at him as she closed her eyes.

"Sugni...would you come here please." She said. Vickram shifted so that his mother was sitting in the middle with Sugni at the other end.

"Yes Maaji." She said softly.

"I know we had our issues in the past. Things have changed and you're here again with him.." Sugni looked at her. "This is a new start...and my son loves you, he has chosen to marry you and make you apart of this family. All daughter in laws in this family are welcomed with this." She said as she revealed a small jewelry box she was holding. Opening it she took out a pair of golden bangles with intricate designs on them. A Family heirloom.

"Maaji..." Sugni said as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

Talking her hands she placed put them on one on each wrist. Sugni got up and touched her feet.

"Bless you...have a happy married life she said.

"Thank you Maaji."

"It's ok."

"Maa." Vickram said as he looked at his mother gratefully. "You are happy about this." He asked.

"I am as long as you are...nothing means more to me than you Vickram...and I don't want you to go...I love you...and I am willing to meet her half way." She said.

Vickram Smiled as he hugged his mother. It was more than he hoped for and was happy that she was at least willing to try.