Chapter 9
Two days later
Vickram made his way into the
offices building of TVS
INDUSTRIES. He went unnoticed by the staff and was even stopped by the guard
as asked the purpose of his visit. When he signed his name in the guest book, the
expression the the guards face was priceless.
"It's OK carry on ,
glad to see some body doing their job around here!" he chuckled. He made his way up to Bhushan's
Office, somethings never changed he
thought , as he found his brother with
his head buried some documents. He
smiled.
"I.." Bhushan lifted
his head, it had been almost a year since he saw his younger brother ...and it took him a few minutes to recognize him
"Vick-Vickram!?" He
got up from his chair , crossed the distance and enveloped his brother in a hug
that almost stifled him. Both men overcome by emotion of seeing each other face to face.
'Where have you...how ...are you alright?" He finally asked.
'I'm good I am good"
Vickram answered, in a emotion
filled voice.
"You look good! Busy
as usual I see" Vickram said after he
sat down on the sofa
in the corner of the room.
"What's this" his brother asked indicating Vickram's appearance "the beard , the kurta...Since when you found the "Bhai" look appealing?'"
"It just sort of happened on its own." He answered.
"Were the boys fine?, I did not know what kind of
security you wanted.'
"Yes they were fine,
most of the trouble comes from some brainless bullies, but after last week I have a feeling something
big might happen, although after the police incident things got quite again"
He finally told
Bhushan the reason for wanting
the security and Sugni's story.
" I can't believe that man would bully some one like that,"
"So did you find out any thing more on this Jwala
Singh?"
"Ohh he is quite a character, apparently a land grabber,
something hard to prove , but he
had "Brought" alot of the old residents
land in that area and the neighboring
town. Rumor has it he is striking a deal with some foreign company to sell then the lands for a exorbitant
amount...only problem is it's not his
land to sell!"
Well this is why he was so adamant. The story was getting
clearer by the minute. Well that would not happen If Vickram had a say in it. "When will Mr. Dravid be here?"
"The afternoon after he finishes 'in court" That meant he had
hours of nothing to do or so he thought, until his brother got up.
'Come on let's go'
"Go where?" Vickram Asked confuseed
"Home, where else?"
"Bhushan I told you"
"Not your home, my house. In fact you will be staying there
for the duration of your stay"
" I am leaving in two days, and I don't want to impose...I'll be Ok"
Suddenly his brother
had a Thunderous look on his face.
'You'll be ok? That is great! I guess we should all be happy
because MR VICKRAM SINGH will be OK!
His voice started rising.
"Bhushan!?"
"Do you even realize what you are putting this family
through? Your mother has not laid eyes on her son for almost a
year, each day worried about you, if you are
alright, eating ,sleeping . Crying her self to sleep, praying to god that
you come back. And you plan on coming
all the way here and not even show her that you are alive! There is not a day I don't struggle with sending
a search party to look for you. "Closing his eyes and taking a breath to calm
himself he stared at Vickram, who was at the moment staring at the floor.
Walking around the desk, he placed his hand on Vickrams shoulder
His voice much more calm and softer now.
"Vickram I know you
have been through hell. And what happened to you I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Vickram please, come back, what happened
it was an accident, it was not your fault."
Vickram started shaking his head.
"Listen to me, no body blames you, we miss you , we need ,
we love you, please please come back!"
"I blame me" He whispered.
He knew he would not refuse his brother. And no matter how
painful the next two days will be, he did owe them that much.
Walking into his brothers
house after so long , Vickram felt like a total stranger, the place
looked the same but some how different.
He walked through the front door, apprehensive about what he
would find.
"Bhushan? You had us worried, what happened? He heard the
voice of his sister 'in- law Suman long before he saw her. "Oh my God!!! Vickram!" She said. Obviously pregnant, she
waddled her way across the room to meet him. It was a repeat performance of
hugs and tears; as she looked at him.
"Thank God! You had us
so worried!" She said, tapping him on the head as though he was a child!'
"I'm sorry Bhabi!" he
said. Soon she was waddling back up
stairs no doubt to inform his mother of her prodigal son's return.
"Congratulations!" Vickram
told his brother, he know it had been years since they were trying for a baby.
He was happy that it was finally happening for them.
"Thanks, its been difficult for her ...but we made it this
far!"
"How much along is
she ?"
"Eight months!" They made their
way into the living room.
"Vickram?" His mother said, she was
much frailer looking than he remembered. She stared at him. Making his way to
her he hugged her.
"Maa"
"Vickram, My son, Ohh God, thank you,
thank you so much!' She whispered softly
reverently.
*****************************
So here he was surrounded by his
family. Looking at them he could see and feel that each of them was also
dealing with this tragedy.
During dinner, he got caught up in
the happenings of the business. He was satisfied to see that his brother had
indeed handled the business in the right direction. He was never worried about
that. He was greatful that in his absence his brother took over both the
responsibilities Vickram had left behind, and he expressed that much.
"Oh don't be ridiculous, "his
brother said. 'You started this business
from scratch, with out help from any one.
You helped and gave me this job after I was laid off and was on the
verge of loosing it all. And she is not only your mother you know, you may be
her pet but it is also my duty as her son to take care of her.!"
"Well I am just happy to know you
are OK!" His mother interjected. 'But where were you all this time?."
"Oh all over, just wandering
around, no place more than a few days, in fact this is the longest I have
stayed in any particular place in the past eleven months!" He said.
"Well it's good that you are
helping this girl!, but Vickram when will you come back?"
That was a difficult question, he
was not sure he could bring himself to.
"I don't know maa, but first I
have to help Sugni free her business, then i can think about anything else."
His mother nodded silently. She
knew that once he made up his mind about something, nothing would change it
except himself.
It was almost midnight, and
Vickram was standing at his bedroom
window , looking outside. He tried sleeping
but kept tossing and turning. Today had
been such an emotional day, the affection, love, and acceptance he got from his
family was as unexpected as it was overwhelming.
He wanted so much to share this
with Sugni. He realized that he was missing her, her laughter, their early
morning breakfast, and her philosophy of life.
He reached for the phone countless of times to call her, but stopped
himself.
The last time he trusted his heart
to a woman, she stepped over it while laughing in his face. He no longer trusted himself to make that
decision. He also knew that he desperately wanted to be close to Sugni.
He knew deep down that the two
women were as different as chalk and cheese. Where one was selfish, Sugni was the most selfless person he came across.
Where one had no problem lying and deceiving with a straight face, Sugni was the
most open and honest person.
"Can't sleep?" his mother said.
Turning to look at her he smiled.
She walked into the room sitting on his bed patting the space bedside her
indicating he sit.
'You're still awake!"
"I can't sleep either. Come here
I did not have a good chance to
look at you!' She said.
He sat next to her. Running a soothing hand over his head and
face. Her eyes filling with tears.
"What is this?" she asked caressing his beard. Her expression was not a pleased one.
"I like it!" he defended .
"Oh please the thing looks like a
hotel for lice!"
Remembering Sugni's comment about lice,
Vickram laughed.
"What ?"
"Sugni said almost the same thing!'
"So what has you worried?" She
asked
"Hmm I am not!" She just stared at
him. He just sighed. But his mother knew him better than he knew him self.
"I am sorry Vickram." His mother said,
"What? For what? "he asked confused.
"For Reva" She said, he opened his
mouth to protest but she cut him off.
"For pressuring you into it, for
seeing yet ignoring how miserable you
were, please forgive me, son." She said tearfully.
"Maa, noo you have nothing to apologize for, you may have introduced us, but I was the one who fell into her
trap. It was not your fault." He assured her.
"Just as that accident was not
your fault.!" He looked at her.
"Look son, we can spend the rest of our lives
crying over the past. In the end
our lives would end but nothing won't change, or we could accept the past forgive our wrong doers
and ourselves and move on." He nodded.
"It's late ...I am off to bed "
She stood up...Turning to him , she again ran her fingers through his hair.
"Vickram ,it's OK for you to be
happy again, it's OK to trust your heart again. You repented enough, son..." He stared at her. She smiled "You love her don't you?"
"Ho.."
"Oh it's clear on your face, every time
you mention her that smile of yours touches your eyes.. Just trust yourself...trust
your heart." With that she left...
Edited by Vinnie79 - 11 years ago
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