Chapter 21

Lakshmi was now six months pregnant. Though her life seemed peaceful from the outside, only she knew the pain she was going through. She had no one to share her cravings with, and she longed for the simple comfort of someone by her side to talk to, especially now when she was carrying a child.

She worked as a cook for a retired couple, both former government lecturers. Today, she was preparing fish curry and fry. As the rich aroma of the curry filled the room, Lakshmi's mouth watered. Lately, she had been craving fish curry more than anything, but she couldn't afford it. Every penny was being saved for her delivery, and she couldn't bring herself to spend any on a meal for herself. A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of the comfort of a good meal, but she quickly wiped it away, trying to push the sadness aside.

Once her work was done, she transferred the food into serving dishes and washed the vessels. Then, she went to the couple and said, "Madam, I've completed my work. I'm leaving." She turned to walk out, but the lady stopped her.

"Wait, there's some curry in the fridge. Take it with you," she said.

Lakshmi nodded, relieved to have something to take home. She walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and eagerly pulled out the box, hoping it would be something she is craving for. But when she opened it, she saw it was the curry she had cooked the day before. She sighed, disappointment creeping in. She placed the box into a small plastic bag, and left for her home.

It was only a five-minute walk to her house, but as she walked along the road, her thoughts lingered on the curry and the emptiness she felt. She remembered the doctor's words: "Eat healthy food, Lakshmi." She was trying her best, but it was hard with so little to work with.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a man selling fruit from a pushcart. She approached him and asked the price of the apples.

"Two hundred and fifty rupees per kilogram," the vendor replied.

Lakshmi gasped, her heart sinking. She took out her saree pallu, untied the knot, and started counting the money she had. Seventy rupees. That was all. It wasn't enough.

Her face fell, and she started to walk away, feeling defeated. But the vendor stopped her.

"How much do you have?" he asked.

"Uncle, I only have seventy rupees. I'll buy next time," she said softly, not wanting to disappoint him.

The vendor looked at her, then said, "Wait. Give me the seventy rupees."

Confused, Lakshmi handed him the money. He took two apples from the cart and handed them to her.

Lakshmi hesitated. "No, Uncle. These must be more than a hundred rupees. I don't have enough."

"It's okay, child," the vendor said with a kind smile. "The money you gave is enough. Take them."

Her eyes filled with gratitude, and she took the apples from him. "Thank you, Uncle," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The vendor smiled warmly. "Next time, don't hesitate to come to my cart if you need fruits. You're welcome to take them."

Just then, his wife appeared and noticed Lakshmi. "How many months along are you, dear?" she asked, concerned.

"Six months, aunty," Lakshmi replied.

The woman frowned slightly. "Don't roam around in the sun too much, especially in your condition. I see you walking by here every day at this time. At least take an umbrella with you."

Lakshmi smiled gently. "My house is nearby, aunty. It's okay, I'm used to the sun," she replied, trying to reassure her.

But the woman wasn't convinced. "Still, take care of yourself, dear."

Lakshmi nodded. "Alright, aunty, I'll leave now. Thank you again for the apples."

As she walked away, her heart was full of mixed emotions—gratitude for the vendor's kindness, but also the weight of her loneliness. She had no one to share her cravings with, no one to ease her heart. The world seemed kind in small moments, but she couldn't escape the feeling of being alone, especially now that she was carrying a child.

"Poor girl," the vendor murmured to his wife as Lakshmi walked down the road. "Seems like she has no one. She's working even in her condition. She reminds me of Suma."

His wife nodded with a sympathetic smile. "Yes, poor thing. She's all alone." She turned back to her work, thinking of their daughter, who was far away, living with her in-laws.

Lakshmi entered her house, drank water from the pot, and sank down onto the mat to rest for a while. Her back ached terribly from the weight of her growing belly, she just wanted to lie down and rest all day. But she couldn't afford that luxury.

She closed her eyes, leaned her head against the wall, and let herself relax for a moment. Her thoughts turned to Vikram. What if he finds out I'm pregnant with his child? Will he accept me, or will he just kick me out? she wondered.

She reached for the mangalsutra around her neck and held it in her hands, remembering his words: "Wear it wherever you miss me." A bitter smile tugged at her lips. How could someone be so cruel as to play with another person's life just to fulfill their own desires?

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a sharp kick from her baby. The movement startled her, and she quickly placed her palm on her stomach, smiling as she felt the tiny flutter. It was a comfort to know her baby was alive and strong. Lately, the baby's movements had been more frequent, and each one was a reminder of the life she was carrying—of the small miracle growing inside her.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she smiled softly.

Then, she realized it was time for her medicine. Slowly, she stood up, the ache in her back reminding her of the toll her body was taking. She went to the kitchen where she had placed the curry she had brought from work, transferred it to a pot to heat it, and set the rice she had cooked earlier that morning on the stove. Once the curry was ready, she ate her meal in silence and took her medicine. Most of the time, her meals consisted of leftovers from work. Occasionally, Meena would share her food with Lakshmi, which she appreciated more than she could express.

After eating, Lakshmi locked her door and lay down on the mat for a nap. The exhaustion from the day took over quickly, and she drifted off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. This had become her routine: work, eat, rest, and repeat.

In the afternoons, Rashi would come to spend time with Lakshmi after school. She would go to the station to sell fruits in the mornings before school, but the rest of the day, she was with Lakshmi. In the evenings, Lakshmi would help Meena with stitching, earning a small amount for her time. Afterward, the three of them would sit together in Lakshmi's house, chatting about random things before bed.

Meena could tell Lakshmi was often lost in her thoughts about Vikram, and though she knew it wasn't good for her to overthink in her condition, she and Rashi did their best to keep her distracted. They spent as much time as they could with her, diverting her attention to lighter matters.

But what they didn't know was that Lakshmi never stopped thinking about Vikram.

After Rashi and Meena fell asleep, Lakshmi's thoughts drifted back to the days she had spent with him—the words he had said, the things he had done to her, the promises he had made. She spent every night in his memories, reliving the sweet moments they had shared, only to be haunted by the painful betrayal that followed. It was a cycle she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she tried.

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On the other side, Vikram had spiraled into an addiction to alcohol. Adharv was deeply worried about him. He had watched Vikram's steady decline and knew that, at this rate, his friend wouldn't last long. His health was deteriorating rapidly, and he was ruining his life.

One day, Vikram was completely drunk in his apartment. He was sitting on the floor, staring at a photo from his wedding, the one that had been taken on the happiest day of his life. Tears welled up in his eyes as he gazed at it.

"Why, why did you leave me?" he sobbed. "Don't you trust me? Where are you, Lakshmi? Why are you torturing me like this? Please... please come back to me. I can't live without you... I just can't!" He shouted, his voice raw with desperation. "First my mother, now you... Why is God taking away everyone I love?"

Adharv had long since installed soundproof doors and windows after repeated complaints from the neighbors about Vikram's nightly outbursts. But no amount of isolation could mute the pain and torment that echoed in Vikram's heart.

Clutching the photo to his chest, Vikram closed his eyes, still crying, and eventually passed out, exhausted from the flood of emotion.

Adharv entered the apartment and surveyed the mess. The place was a disaster—empty bottles scattered everywhere, and the remnants of Vikram's breakdown still hanging in the air. Adharv sighed deeply and began cleaning up, slowly tidying the chaos that had become his friend's life. Once the apartment was in some semblance of order, he carefully helped Vikram to his feet, guiding him to the bed.

After putting Vikram to bed, Adharv heated up some food for himself and had a quiet dinner. He was exhausted, but as he lay in bed, sleep eluded him. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Vikram—the hopelessness of his situation, the self-destructive path he was on.

Adharv felt a pang of pity, but it went deeper than that. If I leave him like this, he'll ruin his life completely, he thought. I can't just watch him destroy himself. He lay there in the dark, wrestling with his thoughts, until a resolution finally formed. He had to do something about it. He couldn't allow Vikram to spiral any further into this abyss.

Sighing, Adharv closed his eyes and drifted into a troubled sleep, knowing that tomorrow, he'd have to take action.

The next morning, Vikram woke up groggy and disoriented. His head throbbed painfully, and as he looked around, he couldn't remember anything from the night before. This had become his grim routine—waking up each day with a blank slate, unable to recall what had happened the previous night. The memory fog was his escape from the pain.

He glanced at the clock: 11 a.m.

With a heavy sigh, Vikram stumbled into the bathroom to freshen up. His body ached, but he pushed through it. After completing his morning routine,he came out of the bathroom and stood in front of the dressing table, he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

The man in the mirror seemed like a stranger. His once-handsome face was now gaunt, his eyes bloodshot with dark circles beneath them. His beard was unkempt, and the vitality he once had was long gone. He looked hollow—just a body, no soul left behind.

A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he examined himself. This is who I've become.

Just then, the door opened, and Adharv entered with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. Vikram looked up, surprised to see him there at this hour.

"Why are you still here?" Vikram asked, his voice groggy with confusion. "Aren't you supposed to be at the office?"

Adharv raised an eyebrow. "Why, so you can get started on your mess after I leave?" He stepped into the room and handed Vikram the coffee. "Viki, first take this coffee, then listen to me."

Vikram took the mug absently, already knowing what was coming. He didn't want to hear it, but Adharv wasn't one to let it slide.

"Viki," Adharv started, his tone more serious than usual, "I know what you've been through. I get it. But you can't keep doing this to yourself. You're ruining everything. The alcohol, the self-pity, the constant blaming of yourself—it's destroying you. And for what? For someone who left you?" He paused, watching Vikram closely. "What if everything your mother said about her was true? What if she really left you for that driver? And what if you keep destroying your own life for someone who chose her own happiness over you?"

Before Adharv could finish, Vikram's anger flared. In one swift motion, he stood and grabbed Adharv by the collar, pulling him close. "Don't you ever speak about her like that again," Vikram hissed, his voice low and filled with fury. "I know her, and I trust her."

Adharv's eyes widened at the force of Vikram's outburst, but he didn't back away. He met Vikram's gaze, unwavering. "Okay, fine," he said quietly. "You trust her. I get it. But look at yourself, Vikram."

Vikram let go of Adharv and took a step back, breathing heavily. His anger was still there, but something in Adharv's words made him hesitate.

Adharv continued, his voice quieter now but still filled with urgency. "What if she comes back one day? What if she returns and finds you like this? What do you think she'll think of you? What do you think she'll feel?"

Vikram didn't respond, but the question gnawed at him. The thought of her coming back to find him in this state cut deeper than anything else.

Adharv didn't stop. He stepped forward, more firmly now. "Vikram, you're not living for yourself anymore. And if you keep going like this, you'll lose everything. Your health, your life—hell, your business. And if Lakshmi ever does come back, do you think she'll want to be with a man who's destroyed himself?"

Vikram's breath caught in his throat.

Adharv's words hit hard. "Viki," he continued, his voice quieter but more forceful. "This business—we built it from the ground up. It's our dream. But without you, I can't keep it running. I won't be able to do it alone. If you keep living like this, I'll have no choice but to close it. I'll have to sell everything. Do you want that? Do you want to throw away everything we worked for?"

The words struck Vikram like a physical blow. The business. The thing that he and Adharv had poured their hearts into, the one thing he had left that still tied him to a purpose. And now Adharv was telling him it could all fall apart because of his behavior.

Adharv stood silent, watching him. He could see the shock in Vikram's eyes, the way his mind was racing to process everything.

"You can't keep destroying yourself like this," Adharv said quietly. "If you do, it'll all be gone—the business, your health, your chance at a future. Everything. I can't save it without you, Vikram. Please, get yourself together before it's too late."

Vikram's heart pounded in his chest. He had been so consumed by his pain and regret that he hadn't realized the full extent of what he was risking. The business—the dream that he and Adharv had built together—was slipping away. If he didn't change, he would lose it all.

For the first time in a long while, the fog in Vikram's mind began to clear. The weight of his actions, the reality of what could be lost, hit him with full force.

Adharv was right. If he didn't change, everything would crumble.

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