Her imploring eyes looked at him, and the callousness in them haunted her, making her

want to act upon what he said.

"Come on, Sheharzaad," he said. Darkness dripped from his words. He placed the cigarette

between his lips, smoked, pulled the cigarette bar out of his lips and puffed out smoke. All

the while looking at her. His eyes, intense, struck on her face.

"I'm not a man of patience, Sheharzaad," And she felt the time slowing down around her.

She wanted the earth to swallow her. She ...