Chapter 22

4 years later...

Lakshmi still worked as a cook in the same elderly couple's house. Every morning, she would prepare breakfast and lunch for them and then head to her second job. She worked as a sweeper at a small startup company with about 300 employees. On weekends, she didn't have to go to the sweeping job, so she used that time for tailoring.

Lakshmi was exceptionally good at stitching — in fact, she was better than Meena. She had a natural talent for it. Her dream was to buy a sewing machine of her own, but for now, she stitched using Meena's machine. Meena would pay her for the clothes she stitched. Some people even preferred Lakshmi to stitch their clothes.

The bond between Lakshmi and Meena had grown very strong over time. These days, Meena introduced Lakshmi as her own daughter to everyone. In the beginning, people would ask Lakshmi about her husband, and she would always reply that he was in the military. But his long absence, even after their child was born, made people suspicious. They didn't ask her directly, but Lakshmi could hear them gossiping behind her back. Both Lakshmi and Meena were aware of these rumors, but they chose to ignore the gossip.

One morning, while Lakshmi was busy cutting vegetables in the kitchen, a small pair of hands hugged her thigh from the side. Lakshmi smiled and turned around. "Kittu, you woke up?" she asked. "Just a minute, baby. Amma will give you milk," she added, continuing to cut the vegetables. Within a few minutes, she finished and washed her hands in the pot of water on the counter. She wiped her hands with her saree pallu and bent down to lift her son. Krishna, still groggy, laid his head on her shoulder. Lakshmi smiled at him and placed a hand on his head before carrying him to the bathroom to get him ready for the day.

She pulled out a shirt and trousers for him, but when she unfolded the shirt, she noticed it was torn at the armhole and had two broken buttons. She set the shirt aside and decided to stitch it later, then took out another shirt. That one was also worn out. Lakshmi made a mental note to buy him some new clothes once she received her month's salary. She dressed him in the best clothes she could find, then made him sit on the mat while she went to the stove to bring him his milk. She handed him the glass, sat beside him, and watched him drink. No matter how tough things were, she always made sure her son was well-fed. He was her only strength, and also her weakness.

After giving him the milk, Kittu handed her the empty glass and called out, "Amma." Lakshmi took the glass from him and kissed his forehead. At that moment, Meena entered with Rashi and said, "Oh, my baby's awake and all ready for his first day of school!" Rashi scooped him up in her arms and said, "Kittu, are you ready to go to school?" Kittu nodded excitedly and said, "Yes!" as he clapped his hands. Everyone smiled, watching him.

Rashi handed Kittu a small Dairy Milk chocolate and said, "Okay, let's go."

Together, they all left to drop Kittu off at school for his first day. Lakshmi's eyes welled up as she watched her son grow. She remembered the day she first held him in her arms, and now, here he was, all ready to begin his school journey.

After dropping Kittu off at school, Meena turned to Rashi and said, "Rashi, it's his first day of school, right? Don't make him wait. Pick him up on time when you're on your way home from college. Don't waste time chatting with your friends. He'll get scared if you're late."

"Amma, don't worry. How could I ever make my Kittu wait? You both go to work peacefully. Why fear when I'm here?" Rashi replied playfully.

Meena and Lakshmi both laughed at Rashi's words before heading off to their respective jobs.

After Lakshmi's delivery, she returned to work when Kittu was just eight months old. From that time on, it was Meena and Rashi who took care of him until Lakshmi returned from work. It was only a month ago that Lakshmi started her second job. Before that, she managed with the little money she earned from cooking and tailoring.

—-----------------------------

On the other hand, Vikram had become a well-known businessman in the country. He was admired not only for his rapid success but also for his striking looks. He had transformed into a complete man—sharp features, a sharp mind, and an even sharper business acumen. Vikram and Adharv had become an unbeatable duo in the business world.

Despite his success, Vikram's personal life was a different story. Countless women tried to gain his attention, some even going as far as to directly approach him, but he rejected them all. There was only one person who had a place in his heart, but she had left him in the middle of it all. Every morning, he would wake up with the hope that she might return, but each day ended in pain. This had become a painful cycle for him.

Adharv, on the other hand, was now married to Keerthi and had a 9-month-old son. Whenever Vikram saw Adharv with his family, he couldn't help but long for a life like that. If Lakshmi had been with him, he too might have had a son, or perhaps a daughter—or maybe even both. He would have had a loving wife by his side.

Vikram didn't know what kind of curse he was born with. He had always wanted a family of his own, but it seemed that God was forever denying him that wish.

After a long, exhausting day, Vikram entered his penthouse and collapsed onto the couch. His eyes drifted to a large photo mounted on the wall. He stared at it for a while, a smile tugging at his lips as he remembered the most beautiful day of his life. He looked at her face, and for a moment, he felt that same warmth he once did. Her innocence.

A single tear escaped his eye as he whispered, "Where are you, Lakshmi? Are you even out there? Then why aren't you coming back to me? You know, every second I spend without you feels like hell. Please... come back to me."

Exhausted from the emotional toll, he cried silently and, unable to stay awake, dozed off on the couch.

Vikram woke up with a sharp pain in his neck. He groaned softly as he stretched, realizing he had fallen asleep on the couch, the weight of his emotions and exhaustion pulling him into an uncomfortable slumber. Rubbing the back of his neck, he sat up slowly, the dim morning light filtering through the windows of his penthouse. He glanced at the clock—early, but he couldn't afford to waste the day.

He stood up with a sigh and walked toward the bathroom, the dull ache in his neck still present. A few minutes later, he was in the shower, the hot water helping to loosen the tension in his muscles. As he let the water run over him, he tried to shake off the lingering thoughts of Lakshmi.

After his shower, Vikram went into his small home gym. He threw on a black athletic tee and a pair of shorts and began his usual routine. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Weights. Each repetition, each drop of sweat, was a way to force his mind away from the void Lakshmi had left in his life. The physical pain of the workout was far easier to handle than the emotional pain that gnawed at him.

When he was done, he went to the kitchen to make his breakfast. It wasn't much—a quick, homemade meal of scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit—but it was enough. With his meal in front of him, he sat at the kitchen table, gazing out the window at the city below.

The day had begun.

A few hours later, Vikram was seated at his desk in his spacious office, the glass walls of his cabin offering a panoramic view of the skyline. The hum of the busy office surrounded him, but he was lost in thought, replying to emails.

He was startled out of his thoughts when the door to his cabin opened.

Adharv walked in, a wide grin on his face. "Good morning, Viki!" he said, leaning casually against the doorframe.

Vikram looked up, his brow furrowing slightly as he noticed the excitement in Adharv's demeanor. "Morning, Adharv. What's up?"

Adharv's grin widened as he stepped inside. "I've got some good news. I'm going to my hometown tomorrow. My family is having a ceremony at the family temple—my son's first tonsure."

Vikram raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not fully engaged. "Sounds like an important event. Congratulations."

"Thanks!" Adharv continued, walking over to Vikram's desk and leaning forward, hands resting on the edge. "But here's the thing. I want you to come with me. We can take a break from the city and relax. What do you say? Come with us."

Vikram's eyes hardened slightly, the mention of family hitting him like a cold wave. He quickly masked his emotions, but a flicker of something passed through him. He leaned back in his chair, taking a moment before responding.

"I appreciate the invite, Adharv," Vikram said quietly, his tone measured, "but I think I can't. We've got too much to handle here. We can't just drop everything and go."

"Come on, Vikram, don't say that. It's not just about work. It's about us—about taking some time off. You've been pushing yourself so hard lately. You deserve a break.", Adharv said. "I said no, Adharv," Vikram repeated, his voice more clipped this time. "I've got enough to keep me occupied here. You go ahead. Enjoy it with your family. I'll handle things here", said vikram.

Adharv opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but he stopped himself, seeing the look on Vikram's face. Adharv straightened up, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Alright, Vikram. I get it," he said, his tone softening. "I won't push you.", Adharv turned to leave and stopped at the door before finally speaking again. "take care of yourself, alright?"

"Yeah," Vikram murmured without looking up. "You too, Adharv."

The door clicked shut behind him, and Vikram was left alone with his thoughts once more. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. He had to focus on the present. There was still work to be done. But somewhere deep inside, the yearning for a family, for the life he had once imagined with Lakshmi, never truly went away.

—---------------------------

It was Saturday, so Lakshmi didn't have to go to her sweeping job. She had just received her salary the day before, so she decided to buy some clothes and essentials for Kittu. She was also in need of some clothes herself—her blouses and underwear were worn out—but she couldn't afford them at the moment. She sighed to herself, thinking, Maybe next month, I'll buy them, and headed to the market with Rashi and Kittu.

There, she bought some t-shirts and trousers for Kittu from a roadside shop, then went to the provisional store to buy Junior Horlicks for him. After that, they grabbed some groceries for the kitchen. As they were walking along the road, Kittu's eyes lit up when he saw a toy shop. He pointed to a toy car and called out, "Amma, I want that!" His excitement was contagious.

Lakshmi and Rashi glanced at the toy and walked over to the shop to ask the price. Rashi entered the store, while Kittu stood outside, still grinning with anticipation. He was sure he was going to get the toy.

"How much for this car?" Rashi asked the shopkeeper.

"It's 400 rupees," he replied.

Lakshmi and Rashi exchanged a shocked look, both gasping at the price. Lakshmi glanced down at Kittu, whose face was full of hope, and felt a pang in her heart. She wasn't sure how to explain.

"Kittu, baby," she began softly, her voice tinged with regret, "Amma doesn't have enough money right now. How about we buy it next month, okay?"

Kittu's smile faded, and his lower lip quivered as he pouted in disappointment. His little heart was broken, just like that. Lakshmi felt the weight of his sadness, and her heart ached. She cursed herself for not being able to give him what he wanted. She wiped away a tear before Rashi could notice and turned to leave, her heart heavy with guilt.

Rashi, too, felt a twinge of sadness seeing Kittu so disappointed. But the little boy was remarkably well-behaved. Unlike other children, he wasn't stubborn or demanding. Whenever Lakshmi tried to explain her struggles, he would nod quietly, understanding more than a child his age should. But the pain in his eyes was impossible to miss.

Seeing Kittu's sadness, Rashi couldn't bear it. Without a word, she went back into the shop, her mind set. A few moments later, she came out holding a small toy car that cost only 90 rupees.

She handed it to Kittu with a grin. "Surprise!"

Kittu's eyes widened in pure joy, and he clapped his hands in excitement, taking the car from her and examining it with fascination. His joy was infectious, and Lakshmi couldn't help but smile at the sight of her son so happy.

Just as they were about to leave, they heard a man's voice calling out, "Lakshmi, is that you?"

Lakshmi turned around, and the ground beneath her seemed to slip away.

----------------------------

Hey guys!!!

who do you think it is?

Enjoy reading !!!

Bi Bi!!!