Pavi

I felt Ram's hands trying to wake me up from a deep slumber. I pushed his hands away and pulled the blanket up to my face.

"Five more minutes, Ram," I said, my voice muffled under the wrap.

Then he laughed. Maniacally. Then I realized that the surface I'm lying down on was not our cozy, low-raised bed, it was not our room, and the laugh was not his. I bit my tongue in embarrassment. A set of rough hands pulled away the blanket. I wanted to crawl inward and die.

"five more minutes Ram," Veera mimicked me. He walked towards me and untied my hands, and my first instinct was to punch him.

"You're not worthy enough to speak his name," He easily dodged it. I tried again but he stopped it with the rope, looped it around my hands, and threw it around my neck, choking me.

Choking me with my own hand. How clever.

"What? Should I pray to your husband 'Lord Ram' to seek permission to utter his name?" He cackled, He kept chewing something. Before I started struggling he let me go.

I walked away from him, putting some distance between us. "What do you want?"

"You," He uttered without thinking. The blood in my face drained getting ready to seep under the ground.

Then he laughed again. "I was kidding," He waved his hand as if it'll make everything better.

"I have people to take care of, if you may devi, will you grace us with your presence," He gave me a wicked smile then it turned into a scowl. "Five minutes," He said as he left me alone.

I sat down and took a deep breath. This guy is freaking insane, he needs a doctor. ASAP. He's the one who needs to be taken care of not his people. How are they putting up with him?

I'm pretty sure he's running a dictatorship or something.

I took the black rag and walked outside. The mud was still wet, but the sun shone as if there was no storm yesterday. The forest was calm. The cool Breeze traveled like a mother singing her lullaby. It was calming. Until his stupid face joined us.

He looked back at me and started walking. As if I would just follow him.

He stopped and turned back lazily. "if you come with me, you could at least see your husband one last time before either one of you dies," He said.

"If you chose to stay the animals will murder you in cold blood," He said as if he wasn't trying to murder me in cold blood sometime ago.

He turned back and started walking again. This time I followed him.

"Aren't you going to blindfold me?" I asked. I bit my tongue at how stupid that question was. It was like dumping sand on myself.

"No. We're already deep into the forest, and you won't run away now," He said calmly.

I cursed myself for following him. But I would at least see my husband before I die. Maybe he will even rescue me. He will rescue me.

It was essential for me to keep myself alive till then.

He didn't converse with me throughout the walk. He walked with his head down low, occasionally running his hand through his hair or touching his bandaged shoulder or his patched hp neck.

He deserved that.

****

We reached a rope bridge. Dangling dangerously between two cliffs.

"Care--," He started, his voice broke, it was way more hoarse than before. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Careful," He said stepping onto the bridge. He turned back and gave extended his arm halfway before dropping it. He knew I wouldn't accept it.

I stepped on the bridge but it wobbled like old furniture. I held on to the rope but it only made it worse.

He blew his cheeks and walked back to me. "You sure you don't want my help," He asked.

"No--" I looked down. "No," He muttered something about arrogance and started walking forward. If I fall right now, Ram wouldn't even find my bones. I took a deep breath and advanced. I chanted lord Krishna's prayers as I took one step at a time. My legs felt like they were made out of noodles. Before they turned soggy I reached the end.

As caught my breath, I'm pretty sure my body was shaking like crazy and the word fear was written all over my face. I took a moment to calm myself down

He watched me with a naughty smirk. "And you jumped off a waterfall?" He mocked me.

I could already hear people. The wind carried the children's noise along with the fragrance of freshly grown flowers. I could hear the cattle's feet clopping here and there. And I could hear his annoying voice.

"Welcome," He said. He took the lead and people were already greeting him.

"Enna Veera?" An old man said. "Didn't you kill her?" He asked perplexed. Another woman joined him. She had a basket full of orange flowers.

"Ah yes, You said you'll shoot her," She asked.

"Ahh...Long story," He clasped his hands and looked back at me.

"You know what you're doing, Veera, why should we interfere," The old man mumbled as he left. The woman whispered something in Veera's year. Before Veera could respond she joined the old man.

He looked back at me. "You do look pretty," He said as he skipped down some stairs which were carved out of stone.

The village was beautiful no doubt about that. If I were not a hostage and if this place had minus one Veera. I would've probably enjoyed this place.

There was a huge lake in the middle with a small wooden pier attached to it. Some small kids were jumping into the lake, playing, and trying to drown each other. There were small mud huts surrounding the lake, which reminded me of some beach resorts me and Ram go to.

The people greeted Veera with their at most respect. Like he was their God or something. Then when they saw me, they gave me a glare then, Veera perplexed look. He shook them off telling them that he'll explain everything later. They didn't question him back.

Confirmed. He was running a dictatorship.

The more we traveled, the more beautiful the place became. I could see some colorful brick houses and a small temple. Veera smiled upon seeing the priest.

"What Veera? Did you bring mother Sita herself?" He asked jokingly and went inside the mandir.

Veera shook his head and moved on. He clicked his tongue. "Hey? Where's Lakshmi?" He asked a youngster.

"There Na," He pointed towards the river bank.

He nodded and the young man gave me a glare as he left. Veera jumped through some mossy rocks with ease and reached the bank. I stayed there. The rope bridge was enough adventure for one day.

I didn't know what to do. Should I walk around or just wait? I trailed my toes along the sand making patterns. I scoffed to myself at how much my life had changed in the past few days. Ram must've been in so much agony right now. More than I am feeling.

"Ey! Lakshmi ammoi!" He called out. I looked up. I immediately recognized her. She was the woman who gave me curses and helped him kidnap me.

She was on a boat playing with the kids. The boy's faces lightened up as they saw Veera.

"coming na!" She replied. "dei, push the boat to the shore," She said to one of the boys.

"Don't you have hands and legs?" the boy asked. "Swim," The boy was already halfway between the boat and the shore. The woman repeatedly called at the boys.

"Come back! Or I'll chop your fingers off!" she threatened.

"What will my hands do till you chop my fingers off? Pluck flowers?" the other boy joked.

"I need your help!" Veera called out, he turned towards me to check if I was still there.

"I'll tell your mothers!" She threatened. Before she could utter another the boys tipped over the boat and hurried towards Veera.

"Fuck you!" She cursed as she pulled back her wet hair. "You imbeciles," She swam toward the shore. The children giggled as they hid behind Veera.

As soon as she got to land, she tried to grab one of them, but Veera stood in from of the kids protecting them with a huge smile on his face. The kids ran around him trying to get away from the woman.

"Stop!" He ordered. The kids and the woman stopped at once. "Go on," He told the kids. They scoffed and began walking in my direction.

They ignored me as if I wasn't there and walked past me, except for one. He turned back towards stared at me for a few seconds as if he recognizes me and scowled at me.

"What?"

He shook his head and left. I turned back to Veera just in time to see him giving her a gun and a rope. That bastard tricked me. He was going to execute me in from of his people.

I turned around and dashed to the woods.