Nevermore

Chapter 15

I'd like to start off by saying that I'm sorry for my absence. I've been enjoying my summer vacation a little too much, and have missed my weekly goals. I'm back though! More updates are on the way. 

XOXOXO

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I wake up to harsh voices. 

Groggily, I note Roshan's angry whisper. I turn to my side, but he isn't laying next to me. I hear another soft, pleading rasp. 

A shiver runs down my spine. Someone else is here. Did they find me? How is that possible? I'm already strategizing. 

"What aren't you telling me?" the soft voice pleads. 

"Nothing! You shouldn't be here, you know this isn't right," Roshan hisses. 

The voices grow louder. I think they're approaching the door. I tense.

"Please, won't you let me in? I can help you!" the second voice contends. 

I hear Roshan laugh humorlessly, "You? Help me? You've done plenty," 

A scuffling sound resonates into the hut as the two voices fight for the door. 

I stand coiled, waiting to see scarred palace guards. My blood ignites boiling hot only to fade to an icy crawl within seconds. My muscles freeze, fear clawing its way to the front of my thoughts. I might die today. 

An old  stooped man pushes his way through the hut opening. He irritatingly glances over his shoulder to see if Roshan follows. He is within a hair-length's distance of the man. He anxiously tries to scramble around the little man, shielding me from the stranger. He tries to make eye contact with me, but my eyes are locked on the unwanted guest's. I can't move. I don't know him, but this man has the power to kill me.

All he would have to do is alert the palace to my existence. 

By the time I gather the wits to hide my face, he has already met my gaze. His stare turns stony. He stops in his tracks to turn back to an anxious Roshan. The stranger cocks his eyebrow.

"Who is this?" he asks nonchalantly. 

Roshan finally pushes his way into the room to stand between us. He scoffs and folds his arms defensively. 

"She isn't your concern. You came to talk to me," he scoffs.

The old man chuckles. 

"Son, you're in more trouble than you can imagine," he sighs, looking back at me. 

Son? I glance a Roshan, who risks a glance at me. His cheeks are tinged red. This man is his father? They don't seem to share any semblance of shared looks. 

The man must see my confusion, because he explains, "Lover-boy was lucky to get his looks after his mother,"

Roshan turns his head away in exasperation. I stare at Roshan's father blankly. 

I cough awkwardly, trying to clear the tension in the room. I don't trust this stranger, but he doesn't seem to recognize me. He is my host's father...

"Would you like to take a seat?" I ask in a voice that is an octave higher than normal. 

"Nisha," Roshan warns. 

I ignore him. He may have not noticed his father's arthritic movements, heavy breaths, or weariness, but I have. He's an old man. This forest is so dense; it must have been hard for him to navigate. I wonder how he even found his way here.

Roshan's father smiles, and gratefully accepts the seat by the table sitting low to the ground. He doesn't seem to mind the hard clay floor underneath the straw mats. I run to fill a cup with some water. 

He gives a nod of thanks, when I sit it in front of him. 

Roshan glares at both of us, but sits down across from me at the table.

"Hopefully your lovely manners will  rub off on my son," Roshan's father admonishes. 

"Don't call me your son," Roshan growls quietly. 

I blink at him in shock. No matter how rude, how can I judge him? Would I ever let my father call me his daughter once more? I reach for Roshan's hand under the table. He clandestinely wraps his fingers in mine. I give him a gentle squeeze. He squeezes my hand back. 

Choosing not to give any sign of pretense, I turn back towards his father. 

"How should I address you, Mister...?"

"Call me Anik, please. What is your name?" he asks.

I glance nervously at Roshan.

"Aadita," I spit out. 

If he knows I'm lying, Anik doesn't let on. Roshan stays silent, but grips my fingers. I translate this to mean that I made a smart move. 

Several beats of strained silence continue. The young man across from me straightens and turns towards his father. 

He fixes his wary, broiling eyes on him. 

"What do you want?" 

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Alright lovelies! I know this was a short chapter, but I'm getting back into the swing of things. I hope you liked this chapter, even though I'm not happy with it. <3