What a lot of nonsense you are talking. she shouted. I could never think of such things of you! You're old! I could never like anything about you. I despise you; I cannot even see your face. So, forget all that stuff you are accusing me of!

Vikrant dropped his cigarette on the ground in anger and moved off the sofa. He felt his teeth and walked up to her.

"What did you just say? Say it again."

The closer he got, the faster Ishani became frightened. She began to back away, and Vikrant caught her by the hand and pulled her round reminding her, in a rough voice,

Repeat what you have just said to me.

His voice became more intense with aggravated tones. Ishani had tears in his eyes. She talked in a shaking voice, trembling.

"I... I made a mistake. I was a bit irritated by what you said, which is why I did it this way. I didn't mean it."

Vikrant bent near her, almost touching her face with his and looking into her eyes gleaming with tears. His manner was low, though menacing.

When you are angry, learn how to control it. As I may lose control, and then it will be something you cannot even imagine—it will be something you are already scared of at this moment, I tell you.

The tears in Ishani increased in pace as he talked. Now she understood fully that Vikrant knewall about her.

"Please do let me go," said she.

Vikrant clamped his hand more on her wrist, drew her nearer and said sternly,

That cannot be the case in the present life.

Ishani cried, What can you have of me? Why not go on and say it plainly?

Vikrant gave her a few thoughtful glances and then dropped her hand and took a step away. He put out a handkerchief in his pocket and wiped his hand, and said,

Well, then, I will make it plain to you.

Ishani stood waiting, looking with her tears. Wiping his hand, he threw the handkerchief upon the floor and stared right at her.

"I would fain have my personal servant," he said coldly.

Ishani was as surprised as possible. That was something that she had not anticipated. This had made her imagine Vikrant already knew everything about her and was about to do something terrible, as he had been kidnapping her and talking to her in that manner. He said a lot, but it bewildered her completely.

With a wavering foot towards him, she said in unbelief,

"What did you just say? I... I don't understand."

Vikrant walked to the sofa and sat there and drew a cigarette out of the pack that was lying on the table. and, lighting it, he made a long draw, and said, coldly,

What you said to me yesterday... what attitude you paid me... and most of all that a servant should have dared defy her master—that is my business as the master, to be reminded of her position. Last night you all appeared to have lost all your fright, and you even mustered the heart to attack me. That hurt my ego. So, I brought you here--stolen you--to get that scare of you again and to smash that pluck of yours. And I've almost done both."