Chapter 27

The next day was Saturday, so Lakshmi didn't need to go to work. After finishing her cooking duties, she returned home. Later, she went to Meena's house to pick up Kittu. When she entered, she found Rashi feeding him breakfast.

Lakshmi and Rashi decided to take Kittu to the nearby park in the evening. After taking Kittu home, Lakshmi returned to Meena's house to stitch some clothes. She always felt a sense of peace when working with fabric and thread. She had always wanted to buy a sewing machine for herself, but with a small child and mounting expenses, it seemed impossible.

Once she finished stitching, Lakshmi returned home with Kittu and Rashi. They enjoyed their evening tea together, and after feeding Kittu his milk, they all set out for the park.

Just as they were about to leave, Raghu showed up, carrying some snacks and a toy car for Kittu. He had come to town to buy pesticides for his farm. Kittu jumped with joy upon seeing him, and Lakshmi warmly welcomed him inside. She served him tea, but she didn't mention anything about Vikram's arrival to either Raghu or Meena, not wanting to worry them.

After spending some time with Lakshmi and Kittu, Raghu decided to leave, as it was getting late. Before he left, he asked, "Lakshmi, is everything okay?"

"Yes, Anna, everything is fine," she replied, hiding the pain she was feeling.

Raghu wasn't entirely convinced, sensing that something was wrong, but he didn't press her for more information. He bid her goodbye and left.

Lakshmi felt grateful for his visit. At least she had someone who cared about her, even if she couldn't share all her burdens. The weekend passed in a blur of tailoring and taking care of Kittu, but there was a sense of quiet peace that hung in the air.

The next day was Monday, and Lakshmi's stomach churned at the thought of returning to work. But she had no other choice, she couldn't avoid it. She began her day at the office like usual, trying to ignore the weight in her chest.

Vikram arrived at 9 a.m. sharp. As soon as he walked in, he ordered Lakshmi to bring coffee to his cabin. A few minutes later, Lakshmi entered with his coffee, trying to steady her nerves. Vikram glanced at her with an emotionless face. The last two days had felt like hell without her presence. He hated her, but still, he longed for her proximity, even if he didn't want to admit it.

After she cleaned his coffee cup, Lakshmi sat outside his cabin, waiting for his next orders.

Vikram sent an email to the staff, announcing a dinner later that evening to celebrate the new leadership. The office buzzed with excitement as the employees murmured among themselves. Lakshmi, noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere, frowned, unsure of what was happening.

She spent the rest of the day carrying out the tasks he assigned to her. Each time she entered his room, she could feel his intense gaze following her every move, his eyes never leaving her, even when she tried to focus on her work.

As the clock struck 5 p.m., Vikram called her into his office. "See, I've arranged dinner for the staff tonight," he said. "Go to the cafeteria and oversee the arrangements. The food will be delivered soon. My secretary will give you the instructions. I'll be there in an hour."

Lakshmi stood still, shock spreading across her face. He knew she had a son at home, yet he still expected her to stay. The realization made her blood boil. She tried to keep her composure, but the frustration was hard to contain.

"Sir, I can't stay. I need to go home. Please, understand," she pleaded, her voice barely holding back her anger.

Vikram's gaze sharpened as he saw the fury in her eyes. He recognized the struggle behind her controlled demeanor. But his response was cold and dismissive. "What? Should I repeat myself every day? You'll stay in the office until I leave. And your son? That's your problem, not mine," he snapped.

Tears welled up in Lakshmi's eyes as she turned and left his office. The weight of his words stung, and she cursed her fate as she walked away, feeling helpless.

Lakshmi moved towards the cafeteria, her heart heavy with dread. The food had already been laid out, and the sight of so much variety filled her with a bittersweet sense of longing. She had never seen such extravagant dishes before, and it reminded her of all the things she could never afford. But her thoughts quickly shifted to Kittu. She longed to take some food home for her son. Deciding to wait until the dinner was over, she busied herself with helping to set up the plates and glasses for the staff.

After a while, Vikram arrived, giving a brief speech before the dinner began. Lakshmi and the other workers continued serving food, making sure everything was in place. Vikram, though seemingly focused on the event, couldn't keep his eyes off her. He watched her with an intensity that made his breath catch.

She was working so diligently, so devotedly. His mind wandered back to the old days—the days when they had been close. Vikram's gaze lingered on her every move, but the ache of not being able to do anything about it gnawed at him. If she weren't married, he would have taken what he wanted by now, without hesitation. But she was married... to someone else. He frowned at the thought. Yet, a small, devious smirk curled at the corner of his lips as he remembered that, legally, she was still his wife. Even if she married a hundred times, their bond wasn't truly broken until it was legally dissolved. She was still bound to him, no matter how far away she'd tried to get.

Across the room, Vikram noticed Charan's gaze on Lakshmi—vulgar, disrespectful, full of intent. His blood boiled at the sight. Charan didn't seem to care that his eyes were openly wandering over her, taking in every inch of her with a lecherous intent. Vikram's glare intensified, but Charan was too absorbed in Lakshmi to notice. The thought of Charan's behavior enraged him. He couldn't let it slide. He decided then and there that he would do something about it.

The dinner went on, and as the employees began to leave, Lakshmi felt a brief sigh of relief. The evening was almost over. She could finally pack some food for Kittu and go home. As the cleaning staff began clearing the table, Lakshmi grabbed a small box and moved toward the dishes. Her fingers trembled with anticipation—she could bring home some leftovers for her son. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Just as she was about to scoop the food into the box, Vikram's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"What are you doing?" he asked coldly. His eyes glinted with something darker. "You're done here. Now go and bring me some hot water," he commanded.

Lakshmi nodded, her heart sinking. She knew exactly what he was doing, and it was like a cruel twist of fate. She had hoped to at least get a little bit of food for Kittu, but now that seemed impossible.

With her head bowed, she quickly entered the kitchen to fetch the hot water for Vikram. When she returned and handed it to him, she turned once again toward the dishes.

Vikram's voice called after her, sharp and mocking. "What are you still doing here? Your son must be waiting for you, right? Isn't it getting late?" He paused, his tone turning deliberately cruel. "Oh, you were waiting for the leftovers, weren't you? I don't think there will be anything left. The food was so good, nothing's going to be left."

He stepped forward, opening the dishes one by one. "Hmm... there's some roti left," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. He paused, opening another dish with exaggerated care. "Sorry... everything's gone. Not a single bite left."

A lump formed in Lakshmi's throat, her heart breaking with each word. She was humiliated, and she couldn't take it anymore. The shame, the cruelty—it was all too much. Her hands clenched at her sides, but she knew she couldn't fight back. Tears stung at her eyes as she turned away, her chest tight with emotion. Without saying a word, she fled the room, her footsteps echoing in the silence behind her.

As she walked out, Vikram watched her retreating form. He saw the tears in her eyes, the pain etched in her face. A fleeting moment of guilt flickered inside him, but it was quickly drowned out by a cold sense of justification. She deserved this, he thought. But even as that thought crossed his mind, something darker stirred within him. He couldn't shake the image of her crying face. He was satisfied, yet... there was an unsettling feeling, a gnawing discomfort that lingered in his chest.

He took out his phone and called someone.

Lakshmi walked home with tears streaming down her face, the humiliation from the day weighing heavily on her. She had never imagined she would be subjected to such cruelty in her life. Vikram's face kept flashing before her eyes—his cold, emotionless gaze, the cruel smirk as he denied her food, the disgust that filled his eyes when he saw her desperation. How had she ended up here, so broken, so low?

It was already 8:30 PM, and her heart twisted with worry. Was Kittu hungry? Was he crying for her? She quickened her pace, desperate to get home and hold her son, to find comfort in his small arms and cry all her pain away.

As she neared the house, a tempting aroma of biryani reached her. She frowned, wondering where it came from. Opening the door, she was surprised to see Rashi feeding Kittu. The sight of them made her pause for a moment.

"Where did you get this?" Lakshmi asked, her voice a little shaky.

"Akka, Kittu was crying for you, so amma asked me to take him to the park to distract him. While we were there, a van came by and gave out biryani to everyone in the area," Rashi explained happily. Then, noticing Lakshmi's hesitation, she added, "Look, I got one for you too. Come, let's eat."

Lakshmi forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. She glanced at Kittu, who was happily eating from Rashi's hand. Her heart softened at the sight, but the ache inside her remained.

She washed her hands and sat beside them, opening her own box of biryani. As soon as she took the first bite, her tears began to flow, unknowingly. The food was delicious, but it reminded her of when they last had a good meal, and how far she had fallen since then.

She silently thanked God for this small blessing, for the food, for Kittu, and for the fleeting moment of peace. Despite everything, despite the humiliation and hardship, she could still feel a sense of gratitude. And that's what kept her going—Kittu, the little joy that remained in her life.

As she ate, she tried to push aside the bitterness, but the tears kept flowing.

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