Arohan - The Ascent

All I Want ...Is!

Before heading out to Kath Kuiyan

"I want to talk to teacher ji once before I go Pandit ji," pleaded Vicky, with expectant eyes.

"With what face do you want to in front of her? Do you not have an ounce of self respect within you? Does her humiliation not hurt you? Or are you under some sort of misunderstanding, that she will feel its for you or bad for you?" Asked Pandit ji, trying to provoke Vicky.

He stood wordless, his mind defeated at the questions, but his body responding in anger. "She really hates me isn't it... everyone can see it isn't it?" He asked dejected.

"Yes, she hates you... so much that I don't know if she will ever forgive you. But , this is the one chance you have. Let her disdain for you act as your motivation. Let the fire of her hatred , fill you with the will to turn your fortunes. Don't see her, don't talk to her, don't meet her, till you make something of your life..."

"I will join the BSF pandit ji.... I don't know how, but I will join the BSF. I will become a man worthy of teacher madam. And I will come back... And this is a promise I make to myself..." said Vicky, his eyes blazing with determination.

He was like an arrow, and her hatred was the thing of the bow. Pandit ji was the teacher wielding on the bow, and with the directions of a teacher like Pandit ji, Vicky had been set on the path of transformation.

It was now a war with himself, a war to cast away the sinful life of Vicky and become the man, he was meant to be. This was the beginning of the transformation of Vicky to Vikram Singh

Kath Kauiyan - Present Day

At the end of the day as it was time for Balram to close down his shop, he looked towards the bright young boy, lifting the heavy loops of cloth and arranging them in neat rows.

For the first time in many months, the shop had actually looked more organised and roomy. A tiny tear made space for itself in Balram's eye. It Dows feel nice to have young shoulders to lean on. He immediately shook his head and tried to eliminate the thought . He had not allowed himself to feel that, for a while now. He had to be strong.

Tonight, you can sleep here. May be tomorrow, I can consider giving you a room in my house. We have a sage room, that you could rent.

"Thank you so much baba, that is really kind of you. I will be no trouble. I will just stay quietly and work with you. You can count on me. By the way, you are leaving me here, you are not worried I will run away with some one your stock?" Asked Vicky , looking at the old man doubtfully

The old man looked at Vicky severely. "I don't have any cash in the counter, as everything happens with paytm. These loops are marked, so even if you steal, I can catch you easily, and looking at you, I feel you are not so senseless , so good night, I hope I see you tomorrow...." He said and walked out of the shop.

Vicky watched as the old man, moved out of the shop slowly. He smirked slightly. He may be old, but he was definitely shrewd, he thought to himself.

Looking around, Vicky wondered what he would with the long evening. Baba had left the keys to the shop with him, Which meant, he could walk to the bus stand and get some dinner at the mess at the bus stand. He had enough money to last him a few months, so that was not an issue.

The boys made suer, he got his full share back from their oil of money. He took only a little, keeping the rest with them for later needs.

That was all the money he had earned since he stared errands with Narottam Thakur. It was not good money, but it was hard earned never-the-less. And who knows when he might need some hard cash. So he had kept it away for the future.

Vicky's thoughts raced back to Urvashi, as had been handing since the day he had laid eyes on her. As soon as the look of disgust on her face, flashed in front of his eyes, he lost his apetite.

WHY? The question haunted him day and night. WHY DID HE ATTEMPT SOMETHING SO DISGUSTING. What had he been thinking....

He sat down, his back to the loops of cloth, his head clutched in his hands, as he had sat far too often, the last few months of his life. He was not the scoundrel she thought he was.... He did have a heart... he too felt the need to love and be loved... he too was human. It could not be denied.

Vicky felt overburdened by the weight of emotions choking his heart. He needed to vent out some of this pain, that was eating away at his conscious. He looked all around to see if there was a pen and a paper he could find.

Two Days Later - Padrauna

"Madam, there's a letter for you?" The watchman, came into the staff room to give the letter to Urvashi.

She raised her head from the homework books she was correcting and asked, "for me? Where from?"

"No idea madam, there's no name or address here. It's just come in your name," he said, and placed it on her desk.

Urvashi looked at the white envelop, with no , name or address, except hers. Her brows knotted? Who could it be? She tore through the flap of the envelope and removed the two crisp white sheets from it. The first was a rough sketch.

An unmistakable sketch of her. Although the lines were rough and skewered, the image they had formed was unmistakably hers. The very image confirmed her doubts about wo the author of the letter could have been.

She looked out of the window, toying with the papers, debating if she should even read the letter or now. After a few seconds had gone by, she just dropped the letter in the litter bin next to her feet. As far as she was concerned, the chapter called Vicky was closed.....

.... Urvashi Madam Ji,

It's me... the one who has earned your hatred, where he wanted to earn your love....

You are right madam ji... whatever you did or said, is absolutely right. You are right and I was wrong.

Even when you said harsh things to me, I didn't feel bad. I know, what I tried to do....no... I mean.. what I did to you...

I just want to tell you that, I am taking your words very, very seriously. I am determined to make something out of my life. I remember when you told me, "Vikram, you have potential,"

I have started that journey Madam ji... I am going to become Vikram. But I don't want bother you with details. But your words are my guiding lights. I just want to let you know,....

I know, you , I won't see you, You won't see me.....

It's I reach my target, I am only going to write letters to you. I won't ask you to write back to me or encourage me. It's ok. But I will write to you, and tell you what I am doing. I will feel good if I do this.

I am not expecting waiting for your reply, but if I tell you, I will feel like I have fulfilled my responsibility. Because you are the one who has set me off on this path. What I am today and what I will make myself tomorrow.... Is because of you.

Madam ji.... No, no, it's nothing,

Bye,

Vikram Singh.