LEARNING TO BREATH AGAIN.(A FAN FICTION STORY)
CHAPTER 1
As he wandered down the street, ignoring the stares of the strangers who were probably wondering about the disheveled look he was sporting. Whispering to each other about the presence of this stranger unwelcomed into their little community.
All he wanted was solitude and death, since death seem to be long in coming he would make do with solitude. By chance he glanced at him self on the passing glass door of some store. It took him a moment to realize the person staring back at him was non other than him self. He was dressed in an all black kurta, a pair of chappals on his feet, he could not remember the last time he had a shave resulting in what looked like the beginnings of a very salt and pepper beard. His hair was a little to long for his liking.
The sensation of
something being knocked into his
back snapped him out of brooding. "S'Sorry!" said an old frail man who was looking st the floor his head bowed.
"It's Ok" he replied , but before the words were out of his mouth the old man was hurrying of in the other direction as fast as he could.
He smiled ruefully, my how the hands of fate can change ones life in a second, ten months ago he was Thakur Vickram Singh, a respected man in the community, a business tycoon, people would run over back wards to fulfill his every wish. How the mighty have fallen , he thought.
Why did he fall, he still could not believe that he could...he closed his eyes shutting out the memories that were trying to invade his brain. He would have enough time to relive the nightmare when he rested his weary body...but for now he could not afford to let the memories crawl in.
Instead he decided to listen to his pangs of hunger. He may wish for death but until it comes a few basic need had to be met. Looking around he spotted a small diner with the sign board "Sugni"s House of Smiles" Funny Name! Crossing the road he made his way into the mostly empty establishment.
Looking around he he spotted a few customers who were trying not to make it obvious that they were staring . Ignoring them he made his way to the counter where a red sign with a Sunshiny smiley face declared "please place your order here!" No one was in attendance and there was no bell or anything to alert any one.
"Hello?" He called , his voice coming out soft and scratchy from lack of use...He cleared his throat and tried again...
"Hello!" A bit more loudly this time.
"Hold on be there in a minute!" A chirpy voice answered from behind a wall , that he realized had to be the kitchen.
After a few minutes a girl who looked to be about 20 walked out from a door way in the back. She made her way to the counter with a smile on her face, that reminded him suddenly of the sun. However it quickly disappeared as her eyes took in his appearance. It was odd that a weary expression filled her face. A look akin to fear. He knew he looked a bit odd, maybe unkept but terrifying really?
Stopping behind the cash register, trying her best not to make direct eye contact with him
"Uhh Yes?" She said.
"Hello" he said softly, for some reason he wanted to reassure her and he could not
understand why, it had been a while
since what others thought about him
bothered him, but he was feeling something close to that. Doing his best to ignore it he continued
"Can I have the breakfast special please?"
"Sorry the breakfast special was over 15 minutes ago, you would have to order something from the Lunch menu" She answered. Still standing stiffly behind the counter. He suddenly realized that she did not move a muscle since coming here, odd.
Glancing back at the Menu board , he quickly made another choice, not really caring what it was as long as it was food.
"No 10. That will be 25.00, take away yes?" She asked. He had a feeling she wanted him to leave.
"No I'll have it here, if you don't mind ," he said looking around at the mostly empty eating area.
"o-of course not.please have a seat ...I'll bring your order as soon as it is ready in a few minutes." She said, smiling a very uncomfortable looking smile. Not wanting to be another source of discomfort to her he paid for his meal and made his way to the table furthest from the front. No need to scare away any more customers she might have.
After a few minutes she came back out with a try laden with his purchase, as she laid it on the table he noticed he hands slightly shaking, my she was very nervous. Silently he watched as she laid the food on the table. "Thank you!" he said smiling slightly , another thing he could not remember the last time he did it.
She nodded her head and like the old man before scurried away. Trying not to let that bother him, he started on his meal. He felt as though he had not eaten in a month , the food was delicious and after a few initial bites he slowed down so he could savoir the taste.
Belatedly he observed his surroundings , the diner was as the sign, all bright colors, red tables and yellow chairs, each table had the same smiley sun symbol in the center. A small place about ten sets of tables and chars, only three of them occupied with single customers including himself. Odd again, if this was lunch time in here should be filled, after what he tasted. Maybe the crowd just did not kick in yet.
Suddenly the door swung open and two men walked in, one of them dressed similar o him, making their way to the counter. The other two customers got up and walked out, their meals left unfinished.
One of the men started to bang on the counter rudely. A burly looking man.
"Sugni ..Oh Sugni...darlin ..where are you we don't have all day" he said both men laughed.
Comming out from the back, she took her position behind the register as befor.
Taking a deep breath she said:
"What do you want?"
"You know what I want Sugni darling" he said starching his hand to touch her face. Moving out of range . She said
"Look can't you wait till this evening, I am still waiting for the lunch time rush, look, I will have the installment by the end of the day ..please just leave"
"Ohh that is what you said yesterday and last week, and your payments are always short, you know the deal, if you continue to fail in your monthly instalments...the boss will pay you a personal visit...you know that right, "
Watching the exchange silently he suddenly realized she had her hand under the counter, his guess was she had her hand on a weapon. These men were oozing intimidation and from the look on their faces they were enjoying making her uncomfortable..
"Please leave"
"Ohhh we will but how about some food huh..a breakfast special..."
" breakfast special is finished"
"Then make it, sweet heart that is what you do naa" leaning over he suddenly grabbed her arm pulling her away from the counter.
Vickram had seen enough. Getting up slowly he made his way to the counter , tapping the guy on the shoulder.
"I believ e the young lady said the breakfast was over...please leave"
Dropping his hand the guy turn around and looked at him..
He was about his height , with curly shaggy hair and a beard , He had a dead look in his eye . He gave Vickram a once over.
"Who the hell are you"
"Just a concerned costumer!...please leave! Come on come one leave.." His partner moved to stand strategically behind Vickram. . It;s been a while since he was in a fight and he braced himself.
The guy infornt of him started to laugh. Turning to Sugni he said
"Since when did you get a body guard , Sugni, Listen stranger it's best you stay away from things that don't concern you. You better leave."
Vickram bowed his head and closed his eye, Moving as quickly as a snake he connected the guy behind in a swift elbow to the chest knocking the wind out of him sending him to the floor , Which started a chain reaction as he swiftly dealt with the one in front of him .. In the space of a few minutes both men were on the floor writhing in pain. Kneeling next to them he said:
"Now can you get up and leave or do you need help??" With a bit of a struggle they made their way to the door...The burly one said "Sugni...the boss will pay you a visit sooner than you think..not good" They left.
Turning to look at her , she made her way shell shocked and sat on a chair. Her eyes filled with tears silently they spilled over and down her face.
"What did you do?" She whispered "Oh my God..oh god" she began to breath heavily like she was on the verge of a full blown panic attack.
"I am sorry," he replied.."But they were misbehave..." he cut himself off when he realized she was still mumbling to herself.
"Now what do I do...Oh God...What ...My ..."
"hey hey" Grabbing her shoulders he shook her slightly snapping her out of her escalating panic attack. She looked at him in shock and he immediately dropped his hands.
"I was just trying to help !"
"Help!? You have any idea what you just did...God they will destroy me now..they would have left ...you did not have to" help". God I will be lucky if I have a diner to come back to tommorw, help? ..help? Oh God" She said ..talking so fast he had trouble keeping up. Suddenly she was pacing shaking her head darting him angry ,yet fearful looks.
All off a sudden he was feeling like a five year old being scolded. But his mother always told him never leave a lady in a problem and what he was seeing this lady was in some kind of problem. She continued her ranting at such a pace he stated to wonder if she ever stopped to take a breath! "You have any idea the mess you put me in..." She stopped , turning to stare at him with those big brown eyes of hers.
He about had enough her scolding him, and he did something he did not do in over ten months, he laughed, hearty, this spiff of a girl had the gall to blame him for taking her out of a bind, that should have made him mad, but he had this overwhelming urge to laugh. Taking a deep breath to control his emotion that were dormant so long suddenly bursting out of him. He folded his arms crossed his ankles , and asked in his most sarcastic tone
"No Tell me exactly what mess did I put you in...?"
He was even more surprised when she did...
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