Gaurav watched his captive’s face while he broke the news to her. He had expected her to either break into tears or beg him to let her go or at least throw a huge tantrum for not getting the answers she expected.

But she remained quiet. He also noticed how, without making it very obvious, her eyes were systematically absorbing every aspect of her surroundings.

She definitely wasn’t behaving like a kidnap victim either. She had way too much of presence of a mind and awareness of her surroundings.

And seeing her in his clothes agitated him further even though he knew she had no other option.

Shopping for his captive’s clothes wasn’t on top of his priority while he eliminated his enemies.

“Sir, madam.” Khan placed two steaming bowls of food on the table.

Gaurav picked up a spoon and began eating right away. He was half-way through it when he noticed that his captive had only taken a couple of bites and was grimacing while staring into the bowl.

“Is the cooking not up to your standards, Mrs. Bhupati?” he asked. Although his voice was toneless, it held an underlying mocking infliction.

Her eyes flew up and met his. “This is delicious,” she replied quietly. “And I’m hungry. And even if it wasn’t good, I would still eat it. I’ve had half-rotten and sometimes fully-rotten food to survive.”

He felt an unwanted sliver of intrigue at her statement. Was she trying to garner sympathy for herself? Or maybe make him and Khan think that she was one among the masses, and not a rich, pampered woman used to gourmet food.

He didn’t fall for her lies or manipulation. “Then what seems to be the problem? Why are you not eaing your food?”

She raised her chin slightly. “My throat hurts when I swallow,” she answered quietly.

His eyes fell on the bruises around her neck. They had darkened considerably.

He refused to feel anything for her.

 

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, he got up from his chair. “Let’s go,” he said.

She nodded calmly and got up to follow him to her room. They had barely taken a few steps when she swept in front of him. Before he could register and grab her, she kneed him hard in his groin. Pain exploded within him, and he collapsed on his knees.

Meantime, she flew towards the main door which was left unlocked after Vikram had left that morning. Khan was also not around. He must have gone back to his room.

With rage churning inside his stomach, Gaurav staggered up and chased after her.

She was fast. Ignoring his pain, he tried to catch up with her.

She ran in a zig-zag manner within the forest. But he knew every inch of the place and could easily gauge which direction she would take.

Still, it took him well over ten minutes to get near her. And only because she tripped on the slope. And instead of trying to stop, she curled her body, increasing the momentum while rolling down the slope further.

He increased the length of his strides, chasing after her.

Eventually, she ended up on a side of the lake with nowhere to run. She stopped and looked back at him briefly. When she saw him nearing, she jumped into the lake.

He jumped in after her.

She was swimming away clumsily, and it took him less than a minute to catch her.

She didn’t give up her fight. Her nails dug deep into his hands where he held her by the shirt to drag her towards the shore. She kept trying to twist away and also kick him again in his groin. But because of the water, her movements were sluggish.

She ripped his mask away and tried to claw his face. “Let me go!” she shouted.

She almost slipped out of his hold and went under, taking several mouthfuls of the lake water. He held her hair and dragged her up. She coughed while choking on the water. Even then, she kept struggling to get out of his hold.

He dragged her face close to his. “Give up the bloody fight and come with me,” he ordered. They were only a few feet away from the shore.

She looked at his face which was now fully visible to her and stopped her struggles. She even remained quiet when he dragged her to the shore. He was just about to stand up when her head slammed into his nose.

His grip loosened once again, and she tried to roll away from him.

Breathing through his mouth, he caught her shirt and dragged her down on the ground before rolling on top of her. Their eyes met, and she glared at him murderously.

The next instant, a stone banged into the side of his head. A blinding pain burst inside his head.

Enraged, he imprisoned both her hands with one of his.

She kept struggling until he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun. He pointed it at her forehead. “Stop,” he ordered.

Her eyes were defiant as she stared into his eyes. Water droplets mixed with the blood from his head injury fell on her cheek. She didn’t flinch. “You won’t kill me,” she said. “My husband won’t pay you any ransom for a dead body. He’ll demand proof.”

He watched her in quiet menace. “Do you want me to prove you wrong?” he stated.

Instead of giving in, “Fuck you!” she spat, struggling once again.

“I could,” he said quietly. “Although, you might want to reconsider your offer because it won’t be a pleasurable act for you.”

Her struggles died, and she froze under him. Her breathing became faster at his threat.

He knew that she had just realized her precarious position as she lay under him. Only two thin and wet layers of cloth separated their bare bodies. He could clearly feel her panicked heartbeats against his chest.

She stared at him as though she wanted to oppose, but slowly her body became limp in defeat.

He still didn’t trust her. “If you try anything again, it won’t end well for you. Understand?”

Her nostrils flared at his threat, but she jerked her head once in a nod.