Drabbles: 30. Episode XXXI- Return of the Jallad (Pg 95) [Note Pg 98] - Page 54

The room echoed with the soft but unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin, laboured breathing, and low moans.

The sounds multiplied, coming in frenzied bursts until a loud grunt was followed by a harsh whisper of a name. It was an indistinct whisper that may have been 'Ravi' or 'Raunak' or even 'Rudra'. One couldn't be sure.

A few minutes later, a young woman with long, wavy hair rose gracefully from the bed and began retrieving her clothing without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

The young man who still lay on the bed propped himself up on one elbow and stared appreciatively at her while she dealt with the ties of her choli, her chest provocatively thrust out.

"Ruk jaana."

She half-turned her head, her lashes lowered-- the muted light from a lantern throwing her profile into sharp relief. The young man caught his breath as she sent him a conspiratorial smile.

"I would stay, but I can't risk you losing your heart to me."

He laughed at her cheeky rejoinder, all the while conscious of an uncomfortable feeling that she wasn't really joking.

He fell back on his pillow as she slipped out of his room. The lingering scent of musk and roses lulled him to a sleep invaded by dreams of a woman lying under him with her eyes closed, and mouth parted on a gasp.

~~~

Laila walked confidently through the Officers' Quarters, letting herself out into the welcoming darkness. The air had a distinct nip in it and the stars shone their cold light on her uncovered head.

The occasional officer on sentry duty that she encountered averted his eyes.

Laila felt rather amused.

While she had been with Rudra, the other men had never dared seek her out. They had all been terrified of Rudra's temper. And now that she was no longer under his protection, they continued avoiding her. Did some subconscious feeling warn them that she had never really needed Rudra's protection? That in her own way, she was just as dangerous as Rudra Pratap Ranawat?

The boy she'd left behind was a new transfer from Ajmer. He was also very young-- too young to feel intimidated by her.

Laila hoped with a snicker that he didn't cherish dreams of 'redeeming' her or 'saving' her soul. She didn't need saving. She needed Rudra. She wasn't sure what she wanted from him anymore. She oscillated wildly between a desire for revenge and closure and a wish to see him come crawling back to her.

Until she made up her mind, she did enjoy the unjaded youthful adoration of boys like Ravi. Or was it Raunak? She was positive it began with an 'R'. She chose them like that. She had no taste for the vicious slaps usually meted out when she got the man's name wrong in the heat of the moment. It was infinitely easier to pretend that the man had misheard, if his own name began with the same letter.