Arohan - The Ascent

Unsettled

6 Months Later -Kath Kuiyan

"Vikram Bhaiyya, the cantonment has asked for 12 new uniforms," Suman came into the now perfectly organized store of Balram Singh. 

Vikram looked towards the young lad, from behind his computer screen. "What do you say first," he questioned, with a stern look on his face.

"Uff oh, Jai Hind! OK! Now tell me how much time you need," said the uniformed Lad, looking at Vikram with agitation.

"How soon do you need them, it can take some time, one of my tailors is going on a leave to his village," he answered, looking at some numbers on his computer.

He had managed to buy a basic second-hand computer and also had a simple software to keep the books, installed. It had become much easier to manage the revenues and profits this way. The local government bank also helped with a top-up loan to carry out refurbishments at the store. Now the shop looked modern and welcoming, not the dusty, disorganized place it once used to be.

The coming of Vikram into Balram's life was a widely talked about topic in the village.

Everyone whispered, how God himself sent to the bereaving family their late son back in the form of Vikram. Vikram not only had the same name as Balram's late son but also had an uncanny resemblance to him. So much so, that Balram had offered Vikram a place in his home, and Balram's wife, Renuka, who had become bitter and resentful after losing her only son, seemed to show signs of emerging from the grief that had surrounded her heart.

She began to direct the affections she once held for her child towards Vikram. If Vikram did not reach home on time, calls would go thick and fast to his phone checking his whereabouts every 5 minutes till he got home.

She would make all the favorite things of her son and feed Vikram until his stomach could not hold any more food.

Vikram did put on a few kilos and soon realized he was piling on the kilos fast. He quickly began an exercise regime to make sure, he kept his weight in check. He also steadily relieved Balram of his duties at the shop.

He was able to, Balram noticed, carry out negotiations and demand payments much better than he could himself. Balram secretly admitted to himself, that his age was slowing him down. And he felt good to have someone to lean on. He had hoped one day his son would walk into his shoes and take over the shop. But the tragic accident which happened 5 years ago took his son away from him, even as he prepared to join the Indian army. It had been his dream, to one day become a sepoy in the Indian Army and fight at the border for his country. 

In his free time, he would watch Indian Army training videos on YouTube and try to train himself for the future grind. he would study various combat weapons, try to speak to the trainees in the cantonment, and ask them about how he could join. Balram shed a tear of sadness at the irreplaceable loss his heartfelt.

He turned to look at Vikram as he returned home from the shop that day. A small smile crept up to his lips. Who could tell what the Almighty Shivi ji had in store for them? Perhaps there was some plan he was unveiling, who knew, he thought.

What always baffled Balram, was the unusual resemblance between Vikram and his son. He had heard from his grandmother that there are at any given point of time 7 people with the same face as us on the planet. But he never thought it possible. Looking at Vikram, he could not help but think if his grandmother had some wisdom that he did not understand.

What also astonished Balram, was the amount of interest Vikram took in army matters and army recruits. He would always wander to the cantonment training grounds, stand outside the fences, and watch the recruits train in the early days.

Vikram did not talk much, but the only time he showed interest in any kind of conversation was when it was about the Indian army. The way his eyes lit up during such conversations, did not miss Balram's keen eyes.

He knew there was something in Vikram's life that he wanted to keep hidden. And he did not want to pry too much into what must be a painful past. But Balram wished Vikram could stay back with him, for the remainder of his time on earth. That was the only motivation to live for the couple who were fast approaching their twilight years.

But at the same time, he also understood, that Vikram accepted the love and affection he and Renuka showed on him, as the kindness of a charitable person and not as a son, milking affection from his parents. He took what they offered and he tried to pay back the kindness in all and any manner possible.

So he manned the shop, lived with them ate the food they ate, and followed every tradition big and small which they followed in the house. So much so, that Renuka could be seen sometimes, recommending to him to go to the temple in their neighborhood and do this ritual or that.

He never complained, never once lost his temper, not even got irate, and always did their bidding.

"Were imposing themselves too much on Vikram?" he thought to himself.

But one incident that happened 2 months later, changed everything.