“Everything will get better, Gaurav. Don’t worry about us. Just stay brave and do what you have to do.”

“I really hope so, Ma.”

He was driving his mother back from a temple. She had wanted to spend some time praying to God, asking for peace of mind while wading through the rough patch they were going through.

Gaurav parked the car in front of their modest house. “Sure you don’t want to join Rohan, Shruti and me for the movie, Ma?” he asked.

“No. You three go ahead.”

Gaurav nodded. Shruti’s exams were going to start soon. She was a topper and hard worker. Unlike most students, she actually liked to unwind before she began her exam preparations. Gaurav had called her the previous day and they made plans to watch a movie and relax.

Gaurav stood in front of the maindoor and entered the code of the security alarm to inactivate it. Meanwhile, his mother opened the main door using her key. Gaurav immediately sensed something was wrong.

It was eerily quiet and dark. His sister hated the dark, and she always watched a marathon of TV serials during the evening.

“Shruti?” his mother called out in a worried tone, probably thinking along the same lines.

He and his mother hurried towards Shruti’s room. It was closed but not locked.

Gaurav pushed the door open and turned on the lights.

“Shruti!” His mother’s scream reverberated in the house.

 

Gaurav woke up with a start. His mother’s scream when she watched her daughter’s body hanging from the ceiling continued to reverberate inside his head.

He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them once again.

Everything was quiet except for the sounds of the birds within the forest as daylight crept in.

He turned his head and looked at the clock next to him. It indicated that he had barely slept for more than two hours. And then, slowly he turned and looked at the woman lying next to him on his bed.

Nina Bhupati was in a deep sleep.

Memories of the previous night rushed through his mind, along with the sounds of her soft moans and cries as he took her body over and over.

He forcibly pushed the memories away and he forced his eyes to look at the hand lying on his chest. Even in the soft morning light, the wedding ring on Nina Bhupati’s finger glinted brightly.

What did you do? How could you have risked your mission so easily?

As soon as his rational mind demanded answers, he realized that Nina Bhupati was a colossal mistake.

Being inside her body and developing softer feelings for her—was the worst mistake he made.

Moving her hand away from his chest, he slid out of the bed. He picked the clothes he had shed the previous night from the floor, and put them back on.

He heard a soft moan and saw her stir.

She slowly opened her eyes. And as soon as she saw him, her eyes turned even softer and her lips curved into a smile. “Hi,” she said shyly.

His body screamed that he should go to her, and greet her with a soft kiss before exploring her body once again, and this time in the day light.

Gaurav ignored his bodily urges and hardened his resolve against her.

Nothing would deter him from his chosen path.

“Get back to your room, Mrs. Bhupati,” he said. His tone sounded harsh to his own ears.

Her smile slipped. “What?”

“I asked you to get out of my bed and to go back to your room so I can lock it from outside. Breakfast will be brought to your room later.”

“But… you and I… I mean, we…” She looked hurt and confused.

“You and I are nothing,” he said in a scathing tone. “You are here as my captive and as a tool to destroy your husband.”

She watched him quietly. “What about last night?” she asked softly.

“Last night changed nothing. My priorities are still the same. However, I must thank you for making your body available and showing such enthusiasm in bed.”

She shook her head as though denying his words. “You are lying. This past week changed something between us. And last night meant something. I could feel it in your touch. Please, tell me what changed this morning.”

He laughed and the sound came out harsh. “You overestimate your importance, Mrs. Bhupati. Nothing has changed,” he repeated. “And don’t act like you know me or mean something to me, just because we kissed once and spent time fucking last night. You are nothing to me and there’s nothing between us for me to feel. You threw yourself at me, and like any red-blooded man, I took an available body. It’s that simple. There were no feelings involved.”

She flinched at each of his harsh words while he said them.

“I see,” she said. He could see her drawing in her strength and dignity.

With shaky legs, she got down from the bed and pulled the blanket around her. Then holding her head high, she walked out of his room.

Gaurav followed her and as soon as she entered her room, he locked the door from the outside.

Even though it was way too early, he knew he couldn’t get back to sleep. So he went up to the dining nook.

He sat in a chair and looked out of the window at the serene lake within the forest.

“This is not right, son.” Gaurav heard his mother say.

Even though his mother was gone, sometimes, he heard her voice inside his head, guiding him just like she did when she was alive.

“I didn’t take anything she didn’t offer, Ma,” Gaurav replied softly.

“That doesn’t mean what you said or did after was right.” There was disappointment in the voice. “You are not the same man you were. The one who refused to compromise on his high moral codes.”

Gaurav scoffed. “Moral codes?” he asked. “What did my moral codes bring? They brought me nothing. They cost me yours and Shruti’s life. My moral codes died the moment I lost you both.”

“No, son. They did not,” the voice said softly. “You sacrificed and gave up so much for your convictions. That part of you is still strong. Right now, it’s just buried under the pain and anger.”