A Parud OS - The Lioness

She saw him. He was supposed to be in prison Rudra made sure of that. What was he doing here? That too on a night that the entire family was at the hospital to welcome the latest Ranavat, her son's playmate. Was he watching them so closely? She knew he was clever. He managed to hoodwink the entire BSD and gain access to their lives. She ran.

He followed mocking her. He wanted to laugh at her naivety. She had thought the kitchen would keep her safe. The same room where she lovingly cooked for his brother's killer. She should have laced his meals with poison in honor of her former husband.

She knew he could easily reach in and grab her baby. The window from which she watched the door waiting for her husband's arrival will be the one from which he will do it. She was scared, for the first time in her life. She had faced danger before. But each time her rakshak was with her. Tonight his brother needed him. She needed to buy time until he got home. Their child needed his mother to be strong.

He jumped into the kitchen, scattering the utensils. He cursed his luck, she had run out before he was up on his feet again. It didn't matter, he smiled to himself. This cat and mouse chase can end only one way. This house was completely locked down. Nobody enters, nobody leaves. She can run in circles all she wants.

She rushed to their room, cooing to her baby. They will be safe here. The teak wood doors will hold once bolted. She placed her child in his crib and tried to rock him to sleep, lest his crying draws their predator near. She rushed to shut the windows. Dhruv started to cry again when he sensed his mother wasn't nearby. He was scared. She picked him up immediately and held him close.

People always run to the one place where they feel safe in times of danger. The room she shared with her current husband was her sanctuary. He knew his guess was write when he heard the wailing. The child, born of the woman who betrayed his brother and the man who killed him. He wasn't sure whom he hated most. He kicked the door in his rage.

The door rattled with a force that shook her to her bones. But it held. There were repeated blows . It still held. The blows stopped.

He realised that brute force wasn't helping. He needed something to wedge between the gap. He looked around. In the cupboards, in the drawers as he pulled on them violently. He tugged on a curtain in his impotent fury. It fell down with a clang. The metal rod used to hold it up would help.

She placed her ear to the door wondering where their assailant will be. She gasped as she felt the blow all of sudden. She fell down almost dropping the infant in her arms.

He wedged it between the cracks if the door and pushed with all his might. The latch gave way.

She knew she was running out of time. She hid her son in the cupboard. Her rudraksh came off. She placed it on his chest and said her small prayer for his safety. She opened her eyes with the last blow and saw it, glittering in the dark, at the back of the cupboard.

He walked in triumphantly kicking the door open. But he was shocked with who waited in sight. There was supposed to be a scared woman on her knees pleading for mercy.

She held the sword firm in her gentle hands. She remembered the words spoken by her uncle when it was presented to Rudra at the start of their wedding festivities. This sword should be raised in defence of the innocent. She was innocent, her son was innocent.

He had left the hospital as soon as Aman had called tk inform that Shantanu had escaped from jail. He knew the man will want revenge. He rushed home where his wife and child were waiting for him. He didn't bother to park his bike. Just dumped it in haste at the door. The door was open, his heart skipped a beat. The house was quiet, too quiet. He raced towards his room. The door was broken. For the first time in his life he was scared, the destruction in the corridor didn't help his confidence. He took a deep breath and walked in.

There was blood everywhere. He heard the muffled wail of his son from the cupboard. He picked him up immediately and cradled him the way his wife had shown him. He saw her behind the headboard. Shantanu lay at her feet slain by the sword in her hand. She was in shock. She had killed a man. A woman who didn't want him to kill the mice that troubled their slumber, had taken a life. He kissed her forehead gently. The nightmare was over, they could talk about this later. He just brought his wife into his embrace as his son's cooed calming her a little. "Are you alright?" he asked her softly. She nodded at the familiar question. He was home, they were all safe. Nothing else mattered.