The Weeping Stars

The Lake

The mornings in villages are magical. The sunlight filtering through tall trees shrouded in mist, cast mysterious pattern on the green ground. Isha and Runa were heading for a secluded corner on the overlooking the lake. This spot is completely hidden from view from the village. The only other way of accessing it is through the lake, which needs a boat. So, most of the times, it is a safe spot to take a bath and have a picnic. Runa and Isha were carrying a picnic and a change of clothes. They plan to spend the whole day here.

Time flew by patiently as the two friends talked about their friends and families. They also talked about Isha’s upcoming job at the school. Runa told her the village school needs good teacher as the students are very hard-working and very ambitious. Soon the topic turned to Ishaan and his exasperating brother.

“What did you think of Ishaan, Isha”

“He is very nice man. Very unassuming and easy to be with person”

“So, do you like him or something?” asked Runa hesitantly.

“Not in a romantic way. Do you like him or something”, asked Isha curiously.

Isha’s suspicions were confirmed as Runa blushed a bright colour of red.

“Ha, ha..gotcha…”Isha was delighted. They were perfect for each other.

“But he seems to have eyes only for you”, said Runa.

“Look Runa, we don’t have to carry on with our stupid plan anymore. I know Ishaan paid me a lot of attention, but you did not notice this. His eyes had a special twinkle which was only reserved for you”

Runa’s smiled at this.

“Let’s change the plan”, said Isha. “Let’s now concentrate on getting you guys together. After lunch let’s go to their place and visit the library”.

“What about the swim?”, exclaimed Runa.

“Now is as good a time as any”, shrieked Isha as she glided into the water gracefully. Runa did not need a second reminder. Soon, the girls were splashing and swimming noisily.

Unknown to the girls, they had a spectator. Indra was out on a boating trip to clear his mind. He had moored his boat not far from where the girls were having the time of their lives. A few silent steps had taken him to the spot. He silently observed Isha from behind a tree. He felt like the worst kind of voyeur, hiding and watching girls. But Isha’s wet hair sticking to her face, made her look like a mermaid. Her long hair trailed behind her like a cloak. He wondered she might look with her wet clothes.

“Oh no! I forgot the towel”, exclaimed Runa. “I will go get it” said Runa as she trudged  out of the water.

“I will be back in 15 mins. Will you be fine?”, asked Runa as she cast a  speculative eye all around.

“Sure. Take you time. I am in no hurry of getting out of the water”, replied Isha.

Just as Runa disppeared from the view, Isha heard someone getting in the water. Before she had the time to turn around, a hand covered her mouth and the other closed around her waist. Soon she found herself staring into laughing blue-green eyes. With her hands she tried to push him off, but withdrew quickly as she encountered smooth naked skin.

“I told you to stay away from my brother. You deliberately disobeyed me. So now is the time to pay the price”, said Indra in a dangerous voice.

Isha noticed that Indra has taken them into deeper water, so that Isha had not choice but to cling to him. They were so close, that Isha could feel his naked skin through her clothes. Somewhere near her belly was something hard pressing into her. Isha’s innocent mind was too preoccupied to know what all this meant, but she knew she was in danger.

Isha opened her mouth to fire a reply, but it was lost as Indra hungrily captured her mouth in his. This kiss was very different from the last. This was more about power and dominance, a mark of possession, that reached her very soul. As his mouth continued its exploration of her mouth, his other hand slipped under her top  to reach the mounds hidden underneath.

Soon Isha was lost under his expert spell. Sensations never experienced started from her toes, to spread to her whole body. A crazy excitement had her in its grips. As she pressed herself to his hard body, Indra broke off with a harsh oath. He hauled Isha out of the water and dragged her inside the forest.

All this happened so quickly, Isha did not respond. But as they started getting deep into the forest, the alarm bells started ringing. Isha struggled to free herself desperately. Indra was very strong and at that moment looked very dangerous.

“What happened butterfly? Don’t you trust your husband?” Indra mocked.

“You are not my husband”, said Isha as she struggled to get her wrist out of his grasp.

For some reason the statement infuriated Indra more. He pulled her into his arms and hissed on her face.

“You are my wife, weather you like it or not. So, stop messing around with other men and start behaving properly”.

Isha has had enough. A sharp crack sounded in the air as she slapped him hard.

“Nothing in this world gives you the right to insult me in this way”, she shouted through the tears that threatened to blind her. But she could still see Indra’s eyes turn into deep blue in fury. He raised a hand, as if to hit her. Isha flinched, but the hand landed insultingly on her shoulder and slowly travelled all the way down to her waist, stopping in significant positions, to drive in the point.

“I can insult you in more ways than you can imagine. If you ever hit me again, I take you then and there, even if the whole world were watching. So, take care, butterfly”, Indra snarled the words out on her face. With a chilling smile, he stepped back and picked up his clothes from behind a tree. And walked away without looking back.

Isha raced back to the lake to wash his touch away from her body. In her mind, she knew it will remain branded for ever.