THE PRICE OF...

with caution. Police are on the scene.” and may not be comfortable for you. Plus, your father may not like the idea that I took you to my house.” said without hiding his feelings, “Yes, she is.” and employee but friends; a beautiful feeling even if it was for just that day.

On the way back, late afternoon, as they reached the East Coast, the police officer he had spoken to called and advised him to drive with caution because a sudden protest action had started.

“No, this is not good,” Sachin voiced.

“What’s happening?” Ahana asked.

“A sudden protest just started.”

“Oh no!” she exclaimed, “What are you going to do?”

“I was told to proceed

The traffic was starting to build up because the main road was blocked and Sachin knowing it could get worse wasted no time. In a swift, precise move he left the line of cars and took a street to the embankment road and drove skilfully, handling the car through the traffic. He managed to reach Success village and turned into a narrow street then two more cross streets and stopped in a dim lit corner.

“Are we safe here?” she asked, a rising fear in her voice.

“Yes, we should be. This is my village.”

“What do we do now?”

“We wait until I receive word that the road is safe.”

She exhaled in relief and called home to tell her family she was fine, but may be home a bit late.

“Yes, he’s with me and he’ll keep me safe,” she answered her mother’s question.

After a long while, she asked Sachin, “Where do you live?”

“Further down the street.”

“What?” she asked in surprise, “So why are we sitting here in the dark?”

“Well, my house is small

“You know what,” she said firmly, “I don’t care about your reasons. Let’s go.”

“Okay,” he complied but somewhat doubtful.

His house was indeed one of those small country homes, but nice and clean with a fresh scent new to her senses.

His mother, quite pleased to see her, made sure she was comfortable on the sofa and offered to cook some hot food for her.

“No, no, I’m fine. Thank you.”

She looked at Ahana with a warm smile and said to Sachin quietly, “She’s beautiful.”

Sachin, for the first time

Ahana looked at him and smiled, and for the first time he saw a touch of radiance in that smile. As it got late and no call came, she fell asleep and looking at her sleeping face from where he sat, he thought, “I wonder what’s the price I have to pay for falling in love with someone who can’t be mine? How did this happen?”

His eyes closed in sleep so he was unaware she awoke later and sat up looking at him for a long while, pain in her eyes.

“If only I can speak of my feelings for him. How did this happen?” she bemoaned silently.

Wealth, prestige and family would stand in the way, she knew, to deny her the love she wanted.

The phone rang at 1am to say the road was safe but he waited until the break of dawn to take her home.

He had kept her safe, her father’s little girl.

And as he turned to go, she called him, “Hey.”

He turned back and she said, “I did not say ‘Thank you’ for protecting me once again.”

“Doing my job,” he said but with a teasing smile.

She came closer to him and, touching his arm, she said quietly, “And this job is the only way I can see you, don’t leave it.” Until one day, nothing would stand in their way of being together

And that was when he saw the love in her eyes and for that love, he knew he could pay any price for.