The Teak Forest

Chapter 2

Ram

2 hours earlier.

Where are you Pavi? Where the hell are you? I wrecked everything I could find. Maps, chairs, tables, torches. I screamed my throat out. What was supposed to be a nice calm day out was turned upside down by one bastard.

I sat down on the floor and buried my face in my hands. I'll kill anyone who took her away from me...

"They'll die a slow, painful and horrible death," I swore, my mind was full of it. Him screaming in pain and agony.  I picked up my gun and exited the tent

I need to kill him. I should kill him. I will kill him. For her.

About twenty police officers were called to rescue my wife, They all walked around rapidly drawing out maps, unloading supplies, scoping out the area, and trying to find the bastard who kidnapped her.

"Where do you think you're going," My friend, Shankar asked me.

"To find my wife," I said pushing against him, he placed his hands on my chest and stopped me.

"A team of fifteen officers can't find her, What are you going to do alone?" He asked.

"They are not as experienced as me and," I gritted my teeth. "She's my wife," I walked forward.

"Veera has her..." As soon as he uttered his name, I stopped. I turned back to him. "You can't do anything against him,"

I laughed hysterically. I pushed my hair back and stepped towards him. "Veera is nothing in front of me, I fucking shot him once and I won't hesitate to do it again," I tucked my gun in my jeans and began walking.

"And where did shooting him leave you?" Shanker gripped my hand. "This forest is his territory," He came face to face with me. "They are his people, You can't touch him now that they're more alert,"

I broke eye contact and turned away furiously.

"We attacked him when he least expected, We can't do that now," He said. He moved in front of me and forced me to see him.

"We need to find a man who knows the jungle and its people. Then we can proceed," He said with a clear voice. "Trust me," He patted my shoulders. "Don't take any haste decisions,"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, as he began to walk I pulled him back by his collar. "I'll give you one day, find the man," I said. He nodded and left.

I kicked the sand and screamed and walked back to my tent.

"Veera, Veera, Veera!" I hit my head with my hands. "Shiiiittt!" I pulled up a chair and sat down. I fisted my hands and bit my knuckles in frustration. He closed his eyes, a small tear fell down his cheek.

***
4 months before.

"Do you know how beautiful you look," I said resting my head on my palm.

She moved closer to our bed and sat down. "No. Tell me. How beautiful do I look?" She laid down next to me. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer, now her faces inches away from me.

"Your eyes, whenever I look at them, I feel like I'm drowning," I smiled.

"Fine, I'll close my eyes," She said.

"No...I like drowning in them," I said. I traced my hands around her face. "Your face looks like a bright full moon," I complimented. She sighed.

"I'm not good at describing," I accepted. "The things I say are cheesy,"  she let out a laugh. "But do you know what I'm good at?" I asked. "loving you," I rested my nose on hers.

"I'm thankful that our parents got us married or else you would've kidnapped me to do so," She laughed. And her laugh is so musical that I could hear it all day. She pulled away from me and sat down.

"What?" I asked her as I sat up straight.

"What would you do if someone kidnapped me," She asked. I knitted my eyebrows together. Well, that question was unexpected.

"Just hypothetically," She said.

"They...will die a slow and painful death, anyone who dares to touch a police officer's wife deserves that," I blurted out, I could see her reaction change. I shook my head and tried to change the topic.

"That got dark really fast,"

"How are your dance classes going?" I asked her.

"Good, but you're rarely home to see it," She said with a tint of sadness.

"That's the life of a police officer, Pavi," I sighed, I threaded my hands through her hair.

"So how's your job going on," She pulled her hair back. I pulled her closer to me and made her lie next to me, I placed my cheek on hers and played with her hair.

"There is this tribal man who is causing some trouble, He burned down the forest office recently, killing five forest officers," I rubbed my face. "He thinks he owns the forest, and your husband is ordered to clear him and his people out," I explained.

"The nerve of these people," She said in disgust. "How could they take out innocent people's lives," She looked horrified. I brushed her cheek with my hands in a circular motion, trying to calm her down.

"I'm ordered to encounter him," I stretched my arms.

"Oh..."

"Should I do it?" I asked moving closer to Pavi.

"I...Don't know...Well if you think it's right, then do it,"