Jack sat beside the serene river, its gentle waters a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within. Lost in thought.
Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced the air. "JACK!" Indra shouted, her excitement palpable.
Before he could react, Indra's hands pushed him playfully from behind. She anticipated his face would light up with a warm smile, eager to share in her joy.
Instead, Jack's red-rimmed eyes met hers, brimming with sorrow and anger. His gaze was a cold, hard slap, halting Indra's enthusiasm.
"Jack?" Indra's voice faltered, concern etching her face. "What's wrong?"
Jack's posture remained rigid, his eyes fixed on the horizon, as if gazing into the abyss of his own betrayal. Indra's words hung in the air, unanswered.
"Hey Jack, say something," Indra pleaded, her voice laced with concern.
Jack's silence was a wall, impenetrable and unyielding.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, say something na," Indra urged, her hands grasping Jack's shoulder, shaking it gently.
But Jack's expression remained frozen, his eyes unresponsive.
Indra's grip tightened, her voice taking on a desperate tone. "Jack, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking to me?"
The river's gentle flow seemed to mock Indra's frantic attempts to reach Jack. His silence was a dam, holding back a torrent of emotions.
"Hey Jack, say something," Indra pleaded, shaking his shoulder with a gentle urgency.
"Jack," "Jack," "JACK," she repeated, her voice cracking with desperation.
Jack's eyes snapped towards her, blazing with pent-up emotions. "ENOUGH!" he shouted, his outburst making Indra shudder.
"Enough with this Jack, Jack," Jack spat, his voice venomous. "You think my name is a joke?"
Indra's eyes widened, confusion etched on her face. "What's wrong, Jack?" she inquired, her voice trembling.
"You don't know what's wrong?" Jack's voice dripped with disdain. "You named me thinking of a dog. My name, a constant reminder of your mockery."
Indra's face paled. "Wait, how did you know about that?" she stammered.
Jack's laugh was bitter, laced with hurt. "How do I know? You think I'm blind to the truth? Raghu told me."
Indra's eyes dropped, shamefaced. "No, Jack, my pet dog's name was Jack. I named you that because it was close to my heart, and I truly cared for it."
Jack's disappointment was palpable, his voice heavy with sorrow. "You still don't understand, Princess. You named me after a dog, making me equal to an animal, a plaything. You don't see me as an equal."
Indra's frustration grew, her voice rising. "No! Why are you repeating this? You're misunderstanding everything!"
Jack's voice cut through, firm and resolute. "The problem, Princess, is that you named me after a dog, indirectly calling me one. That's insulting. You don't have an ounce of respect for me."
Indra's words faltered, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, Jack, it wasn't my intent... I..."
"Enough, Princess," Jack interrupted, his voice firm but laced with sadness. "I'm just a peasant before royalty like you. Last night was fun, but I forgot my place. I thought we could be friends, but now I see the truth."
Indra's eyes spilled over, tears streaming down her face. "No, Jack, please—"
But Jack turned and walked away, leaving Indra alone by the river, her heart heavy with regret.
Jack hastened his pace, leaving Indra alone by the riverbank. His feet carried him away, but his mind lingered, replaying their confrontation.
"Oh man, I was so hard on her," he thought, remorse creeping in. "Maybe I said too much."
Doubts began to swirl, like the river's eddies. "Was I too harsh? Should I have listened more?"
Jack's footsteps slowed, his conscience pricking. He envisioned Indra's tear-stained face, her pleading eyes.
"Did I misjudge her?" he wondered. "Was she genuinely sorry?"
The memory of Indra's words echoed: "I named you Jack because it was close to my heart..."
Jack's resolve wavered. Had he misinterpreted her intentions?
As he walked, the scenery blurred, his thoughts consumed by the encounter. Jack's inner turmoil mirrored the river's gentle flow, now choppy and uncertain.
"Should I go back and apologize?" he pondered.
But pride and hurt still simmered, making his next step uncertain.
As Jack turned back to return to Indra, he accidentally collided with a woman in her early twenties. She was a vision of elegance, with a curvy, voluptuous figure that exuded confidence.
Her light complexion glowed radiantly, a stark contrast to the warm, earthy tones of the surrounding landscape. Her beautiful face was a beautiful, with features so finely chiseled they seemed almost divine.
She wore a stunning red lehenga, its vibrant hue accentuating her curves. The intricate embroidery sparkled, complemented by the dazzling array of gold jewelry adorning her neck, wrists, and ears.
The girl's almond-shaped eyes, fringed with luscious lashes, widened in surprise as she steadied herself. Her full lips, painted a deep crimson, curved into a warm smile.
"I'm sorry," Jack said, his eyes still apologetic.
"No, it's okay," the woman replied, her smile gentle.
As Jack turned to leave, the woman's hand shot out, her touch grazing his arm. "Wait... wait."
Jack paused, questioning, "What?"
"Umm, thank you for the other day," the woman said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The other day?" Jack's brow furrowed.
"You saved me," the woman stammered, her eyes locking onto his.
Realization dawned on Jack's face. "Oh! Umm, it's okay. I would have done the same for anyone else."
Jack turned to leave once more, but the woman's insistence stopped him.
"At least tell me your name," she pleaded.
Jack hesitated for a moment before turning back. "Jack. Call me Jack."
As he began to walk away, the woman's voice carried across the distance.
"My name is Megha!"
Jack turned around, his smile awkward but genuine.
As Jack disappeared from view, Megha's expression transformed. Her innocent face turned stern, her eyes flashing with a hint of calculation.
She glanced down at her hand, the one that had touched Jack's arm. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she swiftly brushed it off with a cloth from her sleeve.
With a deliberate motion, Megha discarded the cloth, as if purging herself of the brief contact. Her actions seemed to convey a mix of emotions - revulsion, perhaps, or a desire to erase the touch.
Megha's eyes narrowed, her thoughts obscured behind a veil of secrecy.
To be continued.....