Tiger's Beginning

Chapter 12: Stars

I inhaled sharply and turned on my flat shoes. The person standing in front of me was a village boy, and I was surprisingly disappointed.

Get a grip. You can’t dance with them tonight. You need to keep your distance. Next week the quest begins, and starting it on bad terms would be awkward and could jeopardize the mission. Now focus on having a fun-filled, Rajaram-free evening.

The boy introduced himself as Bijay, but insisted I call him Jay. He was actually quite cute in a lemon yellow shirt and gray pants that were slightly short.

“So, Grace, what are you doing here? You obviously aren’t Indian, are you?”

I laughed slightly and shook my head.

“Well, I’m staying with some friends for the summer; they are showing me the sights of India.”

“And what do you think so far?”

“Well I am quite impressed with what I’ve seen.”

He gave me a coy smile.

“Well, I’m flattered, you do embarrass me.”

I laughed out loud and he twirled me around before bringing his hand to rest on my upper back again. I swear I heard a growl close by.

He was very charming, and had me laughing but more importantly totally forgetting all about the curse, missing my parents, and my current mess of a situation, though it seemed my time with Jay would be short lived.

During the middle of our second dance together, another man stepped forward. He seemed a little slimy and I didn’t trust him. Jay didn’t either, and tried to keep him from cutting in.

Annoyingly the man was insistent and I thought I would have to get in close proximities with him. His small eyes glinted with a strange perverse light.

As slimeball reached for my arm, a hand reached out and twisted it so fast all I saw was one minute the man standing upright and the next him crying out in pain with his hand twisted awkwardly behind his back.

After the man called out his surrender, the mystery savior stepped out of the shadows.

Of course, it had to be Raj.

He gave me a solemn look and held out his hand. A slow dance started playing.

Great, this is just great. Is this destiny hinting at something? It isn’t the least bit funny.

He was breathtaking from a distance, but up close he looked like he was carved from marble and smelled even better.

I got a little nervous dancing this close to him, but I couldn’t help but relax with his natural rhythm and fluid steps.

We danced in silence before Raj spoke.

“So are you enjoying your time?”

I looked up into his blue eyes and noticed now they were a darker teal color.

“You look beautiful by the way.”

I blushed and looked anywhere but his face.

“I am enjoying myself. It is much different than I thought it would be, both good and bad. Thanks for helping me out back there.”

His jaw hardened ever so slightly and he gave me a small smile.

“It was no problem. I would have done it for any damsel in distress.”

Well that one stung.

“Oh, well who said I was in distress? I could handle myself just fine!”