LITMIR.BIZ

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how she was trying to hide the dirt on her sari and tuck her hands and feet out of sight. And those scratches on her arms and face combined with her heartbreaking tears were tempting him to rush over to Amma’s house and strangle the fat old bitch with his bare hands. He had never been particularly fond of his aunt, but now he detested her. He wasn’t a violent man by nature, nor was he vindictive, but if Amma and Suresh had succeeded in their evil plans for Megha, he would have made sure those two paid the price for the rest of their lives.

      Thank God it hadn’t come to that!

      Megha was suffering and there was not much he could do for her right now other than to offer her a safe place for the night, a chance to have a hot bath and rest for a while. After that she was likely to feel better, maybe even fit enough to start thinking of a viable plan for her immediate future.

      He rose and motioned her to follow him. She stood up without any arguments. He showed her to the bathroom. Before she went in he stopped her. “Wait, I’ll be back in a minute.” After rummaging through his bedroom he came back with a T-shirt and a pair of shorts along with a fresh towel and a new toothbrush still in its cellophane wrap. “Not much, but it’s the best I can do. At least they’re clean and the shorts have a drawstring, so they won’t slide down.”

      She took the clothes but glanced at them with a mild frown. “But how can I…?” She seemed to change her mind about whatever she was about to say and nodded instead.

      “There’s running hot water twenty-four hours. Take your time—have a nice hot shower if you want.”

      “Thank you,” she whispered with a grateful half-smile and stepped into the bathroom.

      Then the doorbell rang.

      Chapter 6

      Shaking with terror all over again, Megha huddled in the bathroom. Someone was at the front door. Oh God, oh God! They had found her. How had they located her so quickly?

      Holding the door partly open, she strained her ears to listen to the two male voices in the foyer. Kiran’s was a bit clearer than that of the other man. It was neither Suresh’s nor Appaji’s voice. The police? Kiran’s father or uncle? By this time the entire family would have rallied to Amma’s side and started their own search.

      She closed her eyes in defeat. Her time had run out after all.

      The sound of the front door shutting with a slight squeak reached her. Kiran must have let the person in! She listened to the approaching footsteps. Her life was about to end. All that running was for nothing. She should not have come here. Stupid, stupid decision!

      She shut the bathroom door quickly and turned the lock. Unfortunately, there was no window in this bathroom to even contemplate an escape. Despite the thud-thud of her heartbeat in her ears, Megha clearly heard a set of steps approaching—but only one set. Was the policeman or whoever the man was, waiting in the drawing room then?

      A knock sounded on the bathroom door. “Megha.”

      She didn’t answer. Think, think…. Looking around for something heavy to wedge against the door, she realized there was nothing, so she pitched all her weight against it. Maybe she could plead for her life with Kiran one more time. But if a policeman was here, what could Kiran do? Promise the man a bribe…perhaps? Weren’t the police always looking for rewards?

      None of those options seemed viable, so she pressed harder against the door.

      “Megha, are you okay?” When she remained silent, Kiran rapped harder. “Megha, answer me!”

      The silence on Megha’s part continued.

      “I know you heard the doorbell, and I know you’re scared. I want you to know it was only my downstairs neighbor.”

      Neighbor? Likely story! As if she was going to fall for that. “What did the…uh, neighbor want?” she managed, her voice barely coming out as a murmur.

      “He heard our footsteps and voices on the landing earlier.”

      “Is that so unusual?” Her heartbeat continued its frantic beat.

      She heard Kiran hesitate on the other side of the door. “Yes, it is. Because it’s so late at night and my lights are still on, he wondered if there was some emergency and whether I needed help.”

      “What did you tell him?” Even now Megha wasn’t sure Kiran was being entirely honest. If this was his way of getting her to open the door and come out so the police could cart her away, she was wise to him. If he thought she was that naïve, he was not as bright as she’d imagined.

      “I told him it was an office problem and someone on my staff delivered an emergency report.”

      “I don’t believe you, Kiran. I know there’s a policeman in your drawing room.” She might as well be direct in her accusations. Even if she was helpless, at least he wouldn’t mistake her for a fool. She’d never tolerate being labeled dimwitted.

      “Damn it, Megha! There is no policeman.”

      “Then prove it!”

      “Quit acting like a brat, will you?” He sounded thoroughly annoyed. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

      Standing there in the bathroom, Megha speculated. If he wasn’t telling the truth, he’d have been nice and persuasive instead of angry, now wouldn’t he, at least in the interests of gaining her trust? She gingerly unlocked the door and opened it a crack. “Kiran, if you’re lying to me, I swear I’ll get even with you.”

      “Fair enough.”

      “I won’t forgive you for pretending to be my friend and then turning me in.”

      Kiran nodded gravely. “I understand. Now come out and see for yourself.”

      Very slowly, she opened the door all the way and stepped out. “I’ll tolerate open hostility any day, but I will not put up with back-stabbing, Kiran.” She pointed a finger in his face and glared at him for a moment. “I detest two-timers.”

      Kiran stood aside and motioned her to go out and look for herself. After making sure the flat was empty save for the two of them, Megha returned to the alcove outside the bathroom where Kiran still stood, with his arms folded across his chest. “Satisfied?” he asked. He didn’t seem so irritated anymore.

      She nodded grudgingly. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.” He hadn’t been lying after all. She felt foolish and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry from relief. She couldn’t blame him for being cross with her. She had behaved like an ungrateful little brat.

      To her surprise, Kiran chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Suspicious young lady, aren’t you?” When she shot him a quelling look, his chuckle turned to a hearty laugh. “Can’t blame you, I suppose. If I were in your place, I wouldn’t trust anyone either.”

      “Glad to hear that.”

      He gestured toward the bathroom, looking even more amused. “Now that you’re somewhat convinced that I’m not a two-timing back-stabber, you may want to go ahead and wash up.”

      With her head held high despite feeling embarrassed about acting so churlish, she swept into the bathroom and shut the door with a decisive click. Well, he could laugh all he wanted! She wasn’t ready to trust him completely yet.

      A nice long shower was exactly what Megha indulged in. Accustomed to a more austere lifestyle, she had never used a shower before and it took her a couple of minutes to figure out how it worked. Once she got it started, the spray of warm water felt like heaven. Hot water without having to heat it on a wood fire in a big brass cauldron? How wonderful was that! And then not to have to scoop it out of a bucket with a mug and pour it over one’s head? That was pure luxury.

      Putting every other thought aside for now, she lifted her face, closed her eyes and delighted in the water raining over her and flowing down her body.

      The soap was deliciously

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