y as I walked toward the dimly lit waiting room. The entire atmosphere had such a calming effect on anyone who ca

ad offered me shelter, unconditionally. There were times when I used to sit here

me had made me a more confident person. The birth of

to myself, I en

statue of Lord Buddha. Dressed in a dark suit with a long overcoat, his salt and pepper head gleaming,

the one who had s

er of my

st

to him and throw my arms around him, fervently kiss

s face in shadow. But from the stillness, I

rembling as joy and su

hands buried in his pockets, rocking slightly o

at two men who had been standing silently at

eart

present b

adfastly ignored, he was always accompanied by the trusted men who shadowed him, alert and watchful. Once in my innocence, I had asked him why they

of that incid

was d

glided away discreetly. But I knew from exp

rge hall. The man who had contro

t in him. Loved him with the comple

found it was child's play to play with the heart of an adoring teen

n between us h

zli

im, he couldn't seem to keep his hands off me; he hated to take me outside and I felt the anger in his powerfully built body if he thought any

t was t

shivered at the menace in his voice and stood wher

ubordination, I saw

in his voice obvious n

I was. It wasn't defiance. It was simply that

ards me in waves and I made a supreme effort not to

athing heavily, not touching me but close enough to mak

y and up close I saw his bloodshot eyes and unshaven, cold face. Tipping my he

rip me as he asked cr

e are

ys when I was in the mountains but ne

udly, I looked him

are

, squeezing them painfully as he je

w who their fa

you!" I answered tremulously, my eyes filli

that was a moc

o believe you, y

rily, to hide the pain h

, "I whispered as the pres

ng into mine. The door behind me pressed into my back but I was only aware of his muscled body, the hard

e, “Yes, you fu*****b**ch, even afte