CHAPTER 26
"What are you doing?" Vickram asked observing Sugni who had a photo album on the bed as she was flipping through it but not looking at the contents.
"Looking for an empty page ..." She continuing with her task.
"Umm but why?" he asked he did not see any photos around her and he was sure she did not get back the wedding pictures yet.
Without answering she smiled as she found one, carefully she opened one of the sleeves as she placed a fifty dollar bill into the album, she smooth it out with her hand as she closed it. Looking at her he could not help but smile as she looked at him her face aglow with a happiness she did not think he could ever tire of seeing.
What's that?" he asked curious.
"This...this is my gift from maaji...for my first meal na..." She said. Today Sugni prepared the evening dinner, which according to Amrita was a tradition in this house where the new brides would prepare a meal, with the guidance of the elder ladies in the family, something for everyone. If they are pleased with her skills they can give her a token of appreciation, or not .
Maa Thakur was not interested in helping Sugni, who went to ask her about what she should prepare, her response was a cold " whatever you feel like." She was disappointed as she had hoped she would at least for show help, but she spent the day in her room telling the servants loud enough for Sugni to hear she did not want to be disturbed.
Sugni not one to back down did the next best thing, she called Amrita and asked her for her help on her's and Adi's preferences and also that of Maa Thakur's. With that information, Sugni was able to plan her dinner with something special for everyone.
She was a bit nervous by the time they got home from the office. Hoping they would like it. Maa Thakur finally made an appearance. She looked surprised to see that Sugni had indeed prepared the entire meal herself without her input.
Sugni was relieved when everyone complimented her and thanked her. she received a small token of appreciation from Amrita and Adi, a beautiful glass figurine. She turned to Maa Thakur who had no choice but to thank her. Since she did not have a token for Sugni she handed her the $50 bill she had tucked in her pallu. ...
"Ahh. I see." He knew his mother handed her something but did not know what it was.
"And why are you putting it in there?" He asked.
"Well ...it's my special book." She told him , "You know I started it when I was little, it belonged to my mother, I would put all my " special" things in here." She said as she went to the beginning. Showing him.
"This ...my report card ...a flower I thought was the most prettiest thing...hmm can't remember what it was now...little scraps of things I found interesting that made me smile..." she said as she continued to flip.
"Wait a chocolate wrapper ...?" he asked. What's so special in that?" He asked.
"You gave it to me." She said.
He looked at her questioningly. "I did?"
"It was just after , you know, we got together...there was a fair in the village and I went there with some friends, you were there and you wanted to get me something...since could not make up my mind and kept refusing everything else you got me this..." She laughed" ...It took me almost a week to eat it and only because Maami was eyeing it and I knew if I did not she would."
"Kamal hain..." Vickram laughed as he shook his head ruefully. He remembered the day she was talking about she was looking at everything wide eyed but she refused everything he wanted to buy her he know it was because even though she had accepted the relationship she felt weird accepting anything from him...
She continued to flip through the album telling him about some of the other stuff in there. Most of it though had to do with Shanti. He first haircut. Her little botties, pieces of her clothes, her pictures. It was as though her good memories has stopped and picked up after she had Shanti. She had a few things from Goa, ticket stubs from a ferry ride, a bill from the hotel and now this...fifty dollar bill.
"This is now special." He said.
"Very...Maaji appreciated it...and that means a whole lot to me." She said. Honestly Sugni was not expecting to receive anything form Maa Thakur this evening, and she knew she must have did it to save face in front of Vickram, that was ok with her.
Finally she closed the album/ scarp book sighing happily.
"Well...I see you got something from every one...except me...and if you had told me you planned to do this today I would have been prepared." He said. " So tell me what do you want?"
"You don't have to ..." She said.
"It's tradition...and you did a lot of work and put in a lot of effort in this...so tell me...hmmm?"
"Anything you give me will be fine..." She said...
"No no...I want it to be something you would like...your first gift after our wedding must be special na...now you let me choose I am sure you will tell me it is to extravagant...so better take something you would enjoy..." He said seriously.
Sugni looked at him then at the album...it still felt weird asking for anything. She was wondering what was the simplest thing she could ask for.
"Sugni...you are over thinking it...it's your right...and by God if you come up with something simple you will not like what I get you." She shook her head, he knew her to well it seemed.
"Ok...there is one thing...I'd like..." She said feeling nervous for some reason.
"Hmm...?" He said.
"well um...actually I'd like to get my license..dr-dr-driver's license..." She said twisting her hands. He looked at her with raised eyebrows, probably not expecting that request.
"See...Shanti will be starting school and it would be easy to pick her up, and then run errand..." She began explaining when he placed his fingers on her lips.
"Shh..." He said as she looked at him . "You don't have to explain yourself Sugni. That's what you want ...it's yours." He said.
"Really?" She asked. He sighed. As he held her hand.
"Yes Sugni...it's no big deal...We're married and it is your right to ask for something if you want it, and this is nothing, really." He said.
Tha..." She stopped when he gave her "the look" "I am sorry...I am still getting used to all this...it's only been a few days!" She said defensively.
He chuckled hugging her. "I know...you'll get used to it soon...I'm sure" he said. "Ok so that is settled, tomorrow we'll go to the licensing office and start getting the paperwork ready ...alright?"
She nodded excitedly feeling like a child excited about her Christmas gift.
****\\\\////****
They were married for over a month and life for Sugni had never been more happy. She was loved and enjoying newly marital bliss. The only bump in her road was she hardly made any progress in getting Maa Thakur to like her.
Sugni tried as Vickram went to work she would do her best to impress Maa Thakur, helping with the house hold chores, trying to talk to her in pretest of asking her help with recipes or other household chores. All of it was met with cold stares and even colder remarks as Maa Thakur told her to ask Raja or there are people to do this, and there was no need to put on a show when no one was around. Sugni took the barbs in stride but did not give up.
Sugni walked was in the kitchen making tea as she knew Maa Thakur enjoyed watching her evening shows with a light snack, Raja was out in the back and Sugni decided to prepare it for her. She wondered if she would ever get past the cold treatment.
By now everyone was noticing it but no one said any thing openly, Sugni made it a point never to let Vickram see how it affected her sometimes, when she could not help but feel hurt listening to how she hurt him . She kept telling herself this is to be expected. Still sometimes words did hurt. Since he promised her he would not intervene she stayed quite but there were times she could tell he was getting irritated by his mother's behavior he was never one who stood for her being humiliated ever staying quite was going against his nature; especially seeing her making the effort.
Sugni was brought out of her thoughts by the loud sound coming from the living room of something being broken.
"God Danmit!! how many times do I have to tell you...don't play around here when I am watching my shows?...Look what you did!" Maa Thakur scolded Shanti. Hurriedly Sugni went out into the hall to see Maa Thakur looking at Shanti with a look of anger on her face, Shanti had her head bent and was crying, on the floor was pieces of a figurine that once graced on of the side tables, along with a doll and one of Shanti's books and some white flowers.
"I am sorry Nani Maa it was a mistake..." Shanti said softly as tears spilled from her eyes.
"Sorry? Sorry you know how expensive that was...can't you watch where you are running... Look at this you have splinters all over the floor...if I get stuck with that...wha..."
"Shannu? " Sugni said stopping her tirade. "What happened baby?" She asked.
"I'll tell you what happen she was not paying attention to where she was running and broke a very valuable figurine. I have repeatedly told her about playing here, she has her room...but what can I expect from her... if the mother does not know her place I don't expect the child to ...always going where they are not wanted..." She mumbled.
A flash of anger filled Sugni at that moment, she was willing to accept her insult but she did not like fingers being pointed on her child. Taking a breath to calm herself Sugni went to Shanti.
"Santi weren't you paying attention?" She asked. She shook her head..."Sorry mummy I was coming from outside and wanted to put the flowers in a glass for daddy...and I forgot no running..."
"Hmm... Are you hurt?" She asked checking her over to make sure she did not get cut. Shanti shook her head. . "It's Ok baby...you're sorry na..." She picked up the books and the doll and handed it to her. "OK go to your room,..."
"But the flowers?" she said...
The flowers were ruined and had to be thrown out. "I am sorry...you can't get them...why don't you go draw a picture instead na...you can pick fresh flowers tomorrow...Ok...go..." She said sending her to her room.
After she left Sugni went quietly into the kitchen and retrieved the broom to clean up the broken vase. She came back in the hall with the tea and placed it on the center table. She took a deep breath as she said what was on her mind.
"Maaji...I am sorry about the vase...she made a mistake, but she is just a child. ..Please I know you don't like me...that is fine but Shanti is innocent, she does not deserve your anger...She.."
"Ohh I see. So now I was wrong for correcting her in my own house...?" She asked
"No..Maaji. I did not say that. If she did something wrong you should correct her. She was not supposed to be running it fine to tell her about it. But Maaji...all she is trying to do is make you like her like everyone else, and she does not understand why. So she is trying... All that I am saying is none of what happened in the past is her fault..."
Maa thakur looked at Sugni sternly. ..."Sugni...stop it. Yes . you want me to say it. I do not like that child and I will not accept her in this family.."
"But Maaji...why?"
"Because of her blood and not to mention that man who rui.." She loudly...she stopped taking a breath.
Sugni looked at MaaThakur stunned at the words.
"Maaji...all of that is in the past. I left it all...and Shanti..she's does not know anything about that. I made sure that part of my life never touched her...Maaji I...
"Never mind, Sugni , you can't remove what is in your veins naa.! Let me make something clear to you again, since you do not seem to understand it. I am tolerating you and her for Vickram's sake. So all this act you are trying to be a good bahu please stop it!" She said scathingly.
"Now please leave...Vickram will be home soon...I am sure you will have a sob story for him..." She said
"No Maaji I would never..."
"Look I already missed my show because of your daughter...can I at least have my tea in peace?" She said clearly not wanting to hear anything else.
Sugni turned as she went upstairs to her room. Sugni felt disheartened, as she realized that she was making no progress here. Maa Thakur already made up her mind on them and she did not seem to be changing it.
She was about to enter Shanti's room when her phone rang. Vickram...She closed her eyes to compose herself as she took a deep breath.
"H-hello?"
"Hey ...how are you?" He asked
"fine...are you on your way home?" She asked. It was odd for him to be calling this hour of the day .
"No...actually that is why I called. I am tied up in a meeting and I don't think it would be over soon. " He said
" Something wrong.."
"No...they just want to straighten out some points that we already discuss... in short being difficult...anyways you have dinner...I'll see you when I get home."
"Oh...Ok..."
She said as he ended the call.
Sugni went back downstairs to inform Maa Thakur about the meeting. As she turned she herd her order Raja to send her dinner to her room.. She shook her head as she went back up stairs.
She opened the door to find Shanti on one of her chairs as she was stretching to get something from the shelve.
"Shannu...what are you doing?" Sugni asked a Shanti climbed down after she retrieved her pink cash pan.
Shanti sat on the bed as she looked at her mother..."Mummy can we go to the store?" She asked
"Why?" She asked sitting on the bed.
"Because I broke Naani maa's statue naa. She is mad. We need to get her one so she won't be mad any more..." She said handing her mother pan. Sugni could not help smile at her logic
"Shanti it is ok...don't worry about it." She said ..."but no more running in the house OK?" She said.
Shanti nodded. As she got quite. Sugni knew she was still feeling bad at being in trouble.
"Hey ...did you finish your home work?" She asked.
"Yes." Shanti said as she brought her books for her to check.
"Ok ..how about you go have dinner, then watch some TV then you can go before sleep hmm?"
"Daddy?" She asked, they usually all had dinner together.
"Daddy has to work late today...so he won't be here until after you sleep." She explained.
"Ohhh..."
"Come on let's go..." Sugni said as she got up. Shanti got up and went with her mother clinging to her, afraid to face Naani maa again...
*****\\\\\////*****
Vickram walked into the quite house at 9:30. There was not a soul insight. Amrita and Adi went out to get a bite to eat after the meeting, leaving Vickram to return home alone. His mother he knew would be asleep by now. Sugni he was sure would be waiting.
Going into the study to put down his briefcase and laptop. He looked at his desk and frowned not finding his "gift" that he would find every day when he came home from Shanti.
She had her own spin on all the gifts she saw being exchanged during the wedding. On their trip to the beach Vickram made a joke that the bride got all the good stuff while he didn't. Shanti bless her little heart took his comment seriously and told him she would get him a nice gift.
She asked him what gift he would like and he replied anything she liked he would accept, just to see what she would do. That night as he went into his study he found a seashell that was crudely wrapped in a ribbon sitting on his desk.
He smiled as he told her thanks and it was the best gift he ever got! From then on every day he would find something waiting for him on his desk, wild flowers, a drawing, a stone or anything she found he would like . Sugni said that she would make it a habit to go out into the yard to find him something every evening after school.
He got used to it now, that not seeing anything on his desk felt strange. He wondered if she grew tired of it, or maybe she just forgot. He sighed a bit disappointingly as he went upstairs.
He opened Shanti's door to find the room semi dark from the night light. She looked to be asleep, he was about to close it when he herd her voice.
"Mummy?"
""Hey Princess!...Still awake?" He asked
"Daddy? You're home!" She said as she sat up. Vickram smiled as he walked into the room turning on the bedside lamp.
"hey..." He said as he hugged her. "You're up late." She nodded as she looked at him. There was something missing hethought as he looked at her. She was usually a very happy child, who loved talking, but right now she seemed quite.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Mummy got in trouble because of me." She said sadly.
"What do you mean she got in trouble? Who is she in trouble with?
"Naani Maa...but it was my fault..."
Vickram looked at her, taken aback by her tone and look of guilt.
"Tell me what happened..."
Debate Mansion
