The Teak Forest

Chapter 8

Pavi

I felt Ram's hands trying to wake me up from a deep slumber. I pushed his hands away and pulled the blanket up to my face.

"Five more minutes, Ram," I said, my voice muffled under the wrap.

Then he laughed. Maniacally. Then I realized that the surface I'm lying down on was not our cozy, low-raised bed, it was not our room, and the laugh was not his. I bit my tongue in embarrassment. A set of rough hands pulled away the blanket. I wanted to crawl inward and die.

"five more minutes Ram," Veera mimicked me. He walked towards me and untied my hands, and my first instinct was to punch him.

"You're not worthy enough to speak his name," He easily dodged it. I tried again but he stopped it with the rope, looped it around my hands, and threw it around my neck, choking me.

Choking me with my own hand. How clever.

"What? Should I pray to your husband 'Lord Ram' to seek permission to utter his name?" He cackled, He kept chewing something. Before I started struggling he let me go.

I walked away from him, putting some distance between us. "What do you want?"

"You," He uttered without thinking. The blood in my face drained getting ready to seep under the ground.

Then he laughed again. "I was kidding," He waved his hand as if it'll make everything better.

"I have people to take care of, if you may devi, will you grace us with your presence," He gave me a wicked smile then it turned into a scowl. "Five minutes," He said as he left me alone.

I sat down and took a deep breath. This guy is freaking insane, he needs a doctor. ASAP. He's the one who needs to be taken care of not his people. How are they putting up with him?

I'm pretty sure he's running a dictatorship or something.

I took the black rag and walked outside. The mud was still wet, but the sun shone as if there was no storm yesterday. The forest was calm. The cool Breeze traveled like a mother singing her lullaby. It was calming. Until his stupid face joined us.

He looked back at me and started walking. As if I would just follow him.

He stopped and turned back lazily. "if you come with me, you could at least see your husband one last time before either one of you dies," He said.

"If you chose to stay the animals will murder you in cold blood," He said as if he wasn't trying to murder me in cold blood sometime ago.

He turned back and started walking again. This time I followed him.

"Aren't you going to blindfold me?" I asked. I bit my tongue at how stupid that question was. It was like dumping sand on myself.

"No. We're already deep into the forest, and you won't run away now," He said calmly.

I cursed myself for following him. But I would at least see my husband before I die. Maybe he will even rescue me. He will rescue me.

It was essential for me to keep myself alive till then.

He didn't converse with me throughout the walk. He walked with his head down low, occasionally running his hand through his hair or touching his bandaged shoulder or his patched hp neck.

He deserved that.

****

We reached a rope bridge. Dangling dangerously between two cliffs.

"Care--," He started, his voice broke, it was way more hoarse than before. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Careful," He said stepping onto the bridge. He turned back and gave extended his arm halfway before dropping it. He knew I wouldn't accept it.