Author Note: I wrote this a while ago and thought it might be nice to share it.

(This is set after they have run away from Raja Saab but before the song 'Tanhai'. Feedback is appreciated.)

They ran to the water's edge, Shankar looking over his shoulder repeatedly for the ominous shadow that had towered over him for the last twenty years. They had been on the run for hours and finally they had made it.

The silent couple lay next to the bank of the lake, hands entwined. Gauri turned to face Shankar. His eyes were closed and his entire face peaceful. She'd never seen him so calm; gone was the fear and the pain, instead there was a deep serenity that brought with it a certain beauty. This was the man Shankar was. Not the dog Raja Saab had raised him to be, but the kind, brave, caring soul lying next to her.

The wound from a previous beating had formed a scar on his temple, but the scars from his past ran far deeper. She reached forward, wishing to heal both his physical and mental pain, and ran her finger across the white line. His eyes shot open instantly and his head jerked to the side, the calm had been replaced by terror.

She started to withdraw her hand when he clasped her hand between his calloused palms and held it close to his face. Slowly, a light smile crept onto his face.

She wouldn't hurt me. She's not like the others, she's special. She cares about me.

Knowing this to be the absolute truth, he allowed himself to melt back into the tranquility he found so refreshing. Things would be different now, things would get better. He now had someone to live for.

Gauri felt the warmth emanating from his body, the kindness and protectiveness.

How can he still have so much devotion left to give? How does he still have the ability to trust?

Then the answer came to her:

The same way you find it in you to trust him.

The breeze drifted over them, the chill of the night starting to set in. Shankar shuffled closer to Gauri timidly, not wishing to encroach on her personal space in any way, and yet feeling the bite of the cold and wishing to be nearer to her warm body. In response, Gauri put her arm around him and huddled closer, putting her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

They lay like that until dawn.