Raimoti and Anirudh had found refuge at the village headman's house, Ram Chattujjee, and to rest for the night, a small corner room near the kitchen was alloted to the duo.

"We don't have enough rooms available at the moment, a wedding house this is... I hope you understand." Ram Chattujjee, a man in his late forties, had smiled cordially, inviting them for a modest dinner.
"You seem to be from a good family, lost and mugged, I understand, probably tired too... So why don't you spend the next two days here, my eldest brother is to get married day after tomorrow."

"Congratulations... This is perfect... But we wouldn't wish to impose." Anirudh had smiled back with a polite gratitude, passing the plate of rice to Raimoti, as he himself served daal to both of them.
"And thank you so much for hosting us for the night."

Anirudh had started to eat, but Ram Chattujjee's thoughtful gaze at them made him question again.

"Is there a concern?" He asked, and the man nodded his head in negation, chuckling softly.

"Not a question, but strange really." Chattujjee had frowned, his eyes shifting from Anirudh's face to that of Raimoti's, and as Anirudh looked at him quizzically, he blurted out the words.
"It's just that... it's strange to see a man serving food to a woman... It's always the other way round, ideally."
His words were born of astound, and sensing the rigid ignorance, Anirudh smiled politely, but before he could even reply, came another voice, sharp and sarcastic.

"Ideally? Well, ideally, men and women should be equal too... But do we consider them so?"
Raimoti had remarked at once, and sensing a heralding conflict of ideas, Anirudh at once picked up a slice of lemon and placed it at Raimoti's plate.

"Satya, mix this with the daal, it'd taste good."

Anirudh had addressed her as 'Satya', probably abridging her new made up alias, however, the name itself made her smile at once, her cheeks blushing and her mind drifted off to the thoughts of the man who owned the name, aiding to Anirudh's intention of quieting her successfully.

"Yes, yes, it's Kaagjee lemon, more fragenent, have it... " Ram Chattujjee had murmured unmindfuly.

"My sister has progressive thoughts Ram Babu, please don't take offense."

Anirudh's words, although had earned him a stern look from Rai, but was probably appropriate to quieten the old school man sitting infront, and he tried to maintain the cordiality with their host.

"So your elder brother you said? Where is he getting married?"

Ram Chattujjee smiled at Anirudh's friendly enquiry.
"Mymensing... The bride's family stays there, affluent they are... But, as this is my brother's second marriage, we've only settled for five cows and a transistor."

"Wow! that's it?" Raimoti dragged her words, teasingly, widening her eyes innocently at the man, and in return she felt Anirudh's hand pressing on her palm.

"Yes... Thats it! Such a fowl bargain, isn't it?"he paused thoughtfully before adding, "but the girl is young and untainted... If that's a solace."

Unweary of the intended sarcasm thrown at him, Ram Chattujjee had coincided with Raimoti's idea of 'less', weighing his 'profit', but before the words could escalate any further, Anirudh had interjected.

"Where in Mymensing? Actually, we were planning to head there too."

"Oh!" Ram Chattujjee smiled.
"Settled then, you are accompanying the wedding procession from the groom's side... the more the merrier you see... And also, I want to see how they honour their invitees! There should atleast be some privilege of being from the groom's side, what's say?"
He had chortled meaninglessly at the idea of taking more men than decided, the intension being taking the bride's family by surprise with the over-pouring, and hence establishing the supremacy of the groom's superiority.

"Now Jogen Mullick would know how it is to host a daughter's wedding!" He smirked diabolically, as if stroking his own inflated ego, and Raimoti flinched at the sight.

What a hollow sense of superiority complex!
She had thought, sensing the cruel glow in the man's plum face.

Anirudh however had exchanged a glance with Raimoti, seeking her opinion, and as she pressed her eyelids in approval, Anirudh turned to the man and smiled gratefully.

"Thank you. Settled then... We'll travel to Mymensing with you... But, before that, can you please guide me to the local post office?"

"Post office?" Chattujjee's mouth had fallen.
"That's destroyed in the riot... The nearest one would be in Mymensing."

Anirudh had looked down, thoughtfully, and Ram Chattujjee frowned at his dilemma.
"What's the matter? Why post office?"

"Well... I needed to withdraw some money." Anirudh hesitated.

"Oh... About that! I've been looking for a man to manage the account for the wedding expenses, if you help with that, I shall pay you whatever I can."

Anirudh had folded his hands, raised in gratitude, and Ram Chattujjee smiled.
"You are a Brahmin, and it's an honor to host a fellow upper caste, so don't hesitate... I insist."

Anirudh nodded.
"Let me know what to do... I'll start tonight."

"Very well... Wait here... And I shall take you to my barn outside."

"Barn?" Raimoti gasped, rolling her eye at Anirudh as if forbidding him to accept the work, and Ram Chattujjee smiled awkwardly at them.

"What to do... That's where my office is... A quiet place with hays and cows... It won't be uncomfortable."

"Sure... I'll wait here."
Anirudh replied gently.

Ram Chattujjee had left to make arrangements, and standing beside Anirudh, Raimoti had shedded the covering of her saree from the hair, the freshly smeared vermillion glowing on her hairline. Her eyes suddenly had tears, the glossy orbs looking at him earnestly, as if in a plea, and understanding her heart, Anirudh held her hands and sighed softly, the ever calm smile plastered on his lips.

"Don't worry... I'll be fine."

"In the barns Anirudh Da! With the cows!" Raimoti's voice was cracking.
"You are a London return Barrister! The famous Anirudh Roy Chowdhury for goodness sake!"
A few droplets of helplessness had rolled down her eyes and Anirudh cupped her face tenderly, lifting her chin so that their eyes could meet.

"But, I'm a human being too, Raimoti... And right now none of my degrees matter if I'm not able to make money with it... I need to find my wife, and provide for this little sister of mine too, atleast till we get to Mymensing, and I'll need money for that."

Raimoti sniffed back her tears and exhaled sharply.
"I want to help too."

"Sure, but tonight, take rest... I'll come back when I'm done."
He patted her head affectionately, and Raimoti leaned forward, instinctively, placing her head on his chest.

"I miss him Dada..." She murmured, her eyelids pressed together, as few more drops of held back tears escaped again, trailing down her cheeks.

"I know." Anirudh sighed.
"I miss her too!"

.............................................................

"You are beautiful!"

Mira had gasped at the hushed words coming out of Batuk's mouth, the close proximity of their face making it hard for her to miss the warmth of his breathing.
No one in this world had ever called her beautiful, no one had ever looked at her with such fire in their eyes, and as she sat trembling in the loose embrace of Batuk's arms, Mira felt a knot in her heart, a knot that she had felt the night before his brother in-law had raped her mercilessly, a knot that had always foretold her of some menaces... Menaces that had always left her tattered into pieces!
But yet, somehow, this felt different! She was unaccustomed of such tenderness... The soft feather touches of his fingers trailing up her bare arms, his hoarse voice, the rapid pounding of his heartbeat... All felt new to her, as if like a blackhole, drawing her entire being towards him, yet aware of it's dangerous affliction every moment.

"I... I should..." Mira had gasped again, scared, her lips parted, and she swallowed hard, murmuring the half-eaten words, her mind ready to run, but her heart felt like a rooted tree.

"You should what?"
Batuk asked, the sensuality in his voice had a dark sinister undertone, as if his soul was ready to devour her fearful heart, and Mira trembled again as his knuckles touched her jawline, finger brushing her skin with great care.

"It's glue... on your chin." He hushed again, and nearing his face to her ear he blew air on her jaw, as if brushing off an unseen layer of glued vulnerability, making her shiver in a forbidden ecstasy, unknown to her till then.

Batuk's face moved back, his eyes fixated on her face, as if detailing every nuances of her facial feature, and the pounding of his heart increased with every second, making his breathings alluringly rapid.
He touched a stray strand of her loosened hair, the saree had slipped down her head long back, and the messy bun had opened up, letting her dark long traces fall free on her body, making her yet irresistible in his eyes.
Her half closed eyes looked like lotus petals, and Batuk gulped at the sight, his gaze slowly trailing south on her sharp nose to her slightly parted dewy lips.

"You are extremely beautiful, Mira!" He murmured again, and before he could take control over his actions, the wilder part of his emotions had taken over already, making his lips lean closer to her face, seeking their place in between Mira's parted lips, softly!

The touch wasn't planned, it was as abrupt as a lightning, and the suppressed cry that had escaped from Mira's throat felt as deafening as the thunder that accompanied it.

"Nooo... Choto Zamindar Babuu!"
Mira had jumped back, and her hands had automatically covered her face, and Batuk saw in a daze as she started to shake, convulsively, as if trying desparately to calm her nerves from this sudden outburst that was so uncharacteristic of her.

Dumbfounded, but only for a few seconds, as Batuk raised the lantern up from the ground and moved closer to her, and holding her wrist gently, he removed them from her face, her eyes still pressed closed in fear.

"Look at me Mira... " He urged her.
"You don't have to be scared of me."

His words were calm, and suddenly it felt somewhat soothing to her ears too, and slowly she opened her eyes, his orbs glowing infront of her in that golden glow of the lantern.

"It's wrong..." She murmured, gulping nervously, and Batuk touched her chin lightly and raised her face up.

"Why?"

"Because I'm a bad omen... I destroy everything that I touch!"
She almost sobbed the words and Batuk let out an exhale, cupping her face tenderly.

"Who said so?"

"Everyone... Everyone I know." Her voice crackled in emotions.

"But I'm not everyone... You can trust me."

"Why?"

The question was simple, rather an innocent once...
Why should she trust him!
And yet suddenly, somehow, he didn't have an answer. Somehow he had realised that none of his actions so far demanded trust, and hence, suddenly, all his logics seized to exist, and like a lost defensive child desparate to win argument, he blurted out the words.

"Because... Because I'm Anirudh Roy Chowdhury's brother... The man whom you trust."

The words had sounded hollow and lame to his own ears, and Mira had looked up at him at once, her eyes suddenly had a frown, and her forehead had furrowed in a thousand questions.

"But you aren't him", was all she murmured, casting her eyes aside once again.

"But you like my nose, don't you?"
Batuk blurted out, and Mira turned her gaze at him once again.

"I do."
Her voice was calm, no objections, no inhibitions, and Batuk felt his heart shrink a little at the unrestricted honestly of the girl sitting infront.

"Isn't that because you think it resembles my brother's?"
The words had come out of his mouth like an untrained arrow, to late to retract, and Mira narrowed her eyes at him once again.

"No... I don't." Her voice was calm.
"Infact I can't even say for sure that I've ever seen his nose..." She had exhaled, her lips curling slightly into an almost smile, as her eyes looked thoughtful, forlorn.
"I can never have the audacity of distinguishing him for his features and verdict my appreciation for them." She sighed, "he's beyond that."

"He's a human too Mira, for heaven's sake! Treat him as one."
Batuk's voice was restless, and Mira's words were slapping him constantly.

"I can't. He's my rescuer... He has given me this life."

"He has rescued Bondita too... And Rudhi, and many others... But he isn't God!"

"He is! For me."

Mira had gotten up from the floor, the half wet letter left in between them on the floor, and following her stood Batuk, the lantern in his hand, and his face flinched at Mira in desparate despair of seeking approval... For what? He was yet to determine.

"And what am I then?" He had inched closer to her, and she stepped back.
"What am I then to you Mira? Why do you like my nose then?"

Batuk's voice sounded anguished, his gaze felt demented, he can't be rejected thrice... First Raimoti, then Candice... And now Mira too?

"Tell me Mira... Why?"
He raised his right hand and pressed on the glass bookcase, capturing Mira in between, and his left hand held the lantern up, making the heat sear their face with a dark burning desire.

"Because... Because, it's... It's nice." Mira gasped out the words, her breathing was intensifying too, matching the rhythm of his heart.

"Just my nose?"
Batuk whispered, his eyes fixated on her lips, and she gulped again.

"Li... Lips."

"And?"
His face had neared more, just an inch gap for their quivering desires to merge.

"And your hair... It's... It's long."
Mira was trembling under his gaze, and her last complement made Batuk smirk.

"So you like my hair?" He hushed, keeping the distance between them intact, and Mira gulped and nodded nervously.

"Do you want to touch them?" He asked, and Mira closed her eyes, nodding her head in negation.

"You don't?"
He was still smirking, and suddenly Mira couldn't feel his breath on her face anymore.
She opened her eyes slowly and found him staring at her, his orbs glowing in an unknown emotions, and his face had moved back considerably, giving her the much needed space to breathe.

"So can I touch you? Your hair I mean." He asked her, and Mira casted her eyes down immediately, perhaps in shame, and tried to flee from the place.

But no... Batuk had seized her at once by her shoulders, seizing her attempts, and with his body he had pressed her against the tall glass bookcase firmly. The lantern was now resting on the carpeted floor, and with both his hands Batuk had held Mira's wrists, pinning her hands above her head, his towering body lowered down to match her height, and their gaze collided once again.

"Who asked you to leave?" He almost growled, and Mira felt her breath hitch for a moment, her heart trying to escape from her mouth.

This moment wasn't suppose to happen! This was too good to be true... No... No...! Her heart told her repeatedly, this can't happen... She can't feel these emotions, she wasn't suppose to...
Mira battled with her thoughts and Batuk blew air on her face to draw her attention.

"Look at me Mira!" He whispered in her ears, and Mira fluttered her long eyelashes at him, in desparate attempts of batting the brewing sensual tension between them.
"Do you like me for who I am?"

"Yes." She murmured, almost inaudibly, and Batuk crushed her softness more, leaning closer, making her shiver for more, and in a urgent intensity to support his own trembling body, Batuk pressed his hands on the bookcase more, with all his strength, making it tremble as well...
First a little, them a violent shake, and the small half-used uncorked ink pots kept on the top of the tall case suffered from it's severity, as a result of which they toppled, the liquid inside dribbling down, in drops... First on his hand, and then on her forehead as she looked up.

"Damn!"
Batuk had moved back at once, as he pulled Mira away with him.

"What... What's this..."

Mira's face had suddenly turned pale, as with trembling hands she touched her forehead and felt the liquid in her fingers, smearing it more, and as Batuk picked up the lantern from the floor and held it up, she turned around and saw her reflection in the glass.

That same old sight!
That same old fear!
That same old thudding of heart!

"Why why why... Oh god why?" Mira had suddenly broken down into violent fits of tears, her fisted hands hitting small blows on the glass where her reflection was prominent.

"It's just ink Mira!"
A startled, unnerved Batuk muttered slowly, and Mira looked up at him, her eyes spitting fire.

"I'm a widow... For god's sake, not once but twice... Please... Please Choto Zamindar Babu... Leave me alone!"
She held his shoulders, pressing on his skin one last time before pushing him away in the dark, as Batuk stood rooted... his mind blank, his heart racing, and his eyes following her as she ran out of the room like a wild gust of wind, raising a tempest in his ocean of thoughts.

.......................................

Please don't forget to vote if you really want me to write more.

Also... Do you remember the chapter 'Tainted in Red' from UT??