Antha stood shocked. Pagan rested his chin on his fist. Antha coughed. "I'm sorry, you're what?" She stammered holding her drink. "Now I know you didn't mishear me" Pagan smiled. "Oh, I'm just, a little shocked" Antha thought, "yes, shocked. Pagan walked over to his painting. "She worked for me, as a spy". Antha looked at the ground. "Okay, I get that, but why marry her?". Pagan relaxed and raised his hand. "Ah, now you see, she travelled a lot from Kyrat to America, so much in fact people were getting, umm, suspicious" He explained. Antha relaxed. "So you married her so she could finish her work" Antha finished Pagan's explanation. "Unfortunately, she's just like any other woman I have met". Pagan rolled his eyes. "Excuse me?" Antha butted back. "She cared only for her looks, and soon went back to America".
Antha stood in her bare feet. She stared at the ground below her. Glass in hand, she thought. She thought about Kyrat, and the situation she was in - with her family, with her friends, and of course, with Pagan. She should be dead by now, she should've died when I was shot at. "Something on your mind, dear?". Antha looked up and found Pagan staring at her attentively. "Oh, no, nothing" Antha replied. "Honestly, if I knew she was coming, I would've gotten you some shoes" Pagan laughed. Antha stood silently. What kind of woman was she compared to Skylar? Skylar was perfect, like Antha used to be, but Skylar had the power, and money to stay perfect in Kyrat. "Sorry, too soon" Pagan apologized. He stood up. "Well, it is getting late". Pagan talked, trying to lighten the mood of the room, and cover his rejection. Antha laughed. Pagan stared. "What's so funny?" He asked. "Pagan" Antha looked up. :Care to dance?".
"What?" He asked.
"Well, if you're quiet, you can still hear the music"
Pagan laughed. Antha didn't say anything.
"Well, my dear, may I have this dance?" Pagan bowed as Antha chuckled. This was the first time Antha had been this close to Pagan Min, not physically, but mentally. Emotionally. Antha poured herself another drink. And another. And another. She wanted the pain of everything, everything about Kyrat that she wished to not remember, to go away. "Antha, it's getting late" Pagan commented. Antha tried to stand, but ended up falling into Pagan's arms. He carried her to her room.
Antha lay on the bed and Pagan stood by the door.
"Pagan?"
"Yes"
"I love you"
"Goodnight"
Antha awoke the next morning with a headache. She ran a bath and slipped beneath the water. Antha tried to remember what happened the night before, that's when it hit her. She grabbed her mobile and dialed Pagan.
"Good morning, my dear"
"Pagan, about last night, I didn-"
"Don't worry about it"
"No, but I didn't mean it, it was in the moment"
"Women do that, they can tell you they love you in the moment and mean it, men on the other hand. No, men only really love you in hindsight. When too much distance has built up"
"Pagan, perhaps we should talk about this in person"
"I'll be there in five"
Antha hung up and stood silently in the bathroom. She then realized that she was standing naked in font of her bath. "Crap, I forgot clothes". There was a knock at the bedroom door. "Umm, one minute" Antha fiddled with the towel. "Umm Pagan?" She asked. "Yes?" A voice was heard from behind the door. "I'm in the bathroom" Antha went silent and breathed in "And I've forgotten my clothes" She added. Pagan laughed. "One moment".
Antha was soon dressed, she smiled at her own stupidity. "Now, shall we talk?" He asked as he sat on the bed next to her. "What's the point now?" Antha laughed. "Well, I can think of many a point to continue this discussion" Pagan noted. Antha stood up. "I'm going for walk".
Antha walked for what must have been hours. It wasn't long before the stars were shining down on her. Meanwhile Pagan stood in the dining room with Skylar. "I think it's time you left, Kyrat means nothing to you".
...
Antha continued on her walk. At first she was worried about the route she took, but she felt like she knew where she was going. Antha headed back to the Palace. She tried to slip past to her room but was stopped by a familiar voice. "What about her?" Antha turned to see Skylar gesturing to her. "You go on about how she's not a woman, and yet she stays". Pagan went quiet. For once Antha had seen Pagan Min, THE Pagan Min, lost for words. "Yuma was right, she's just like Ishwari" Skylar scoffed. "Skylar" Pagan shot back. "Whatever, your loss" Skylar said as she pushed past Antha and ran out the door. Pagan slumped down in his chair. Antha saw, that at this time, it was her turn to comfort him, just as he had done so many timed before. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Pagan, you don't need to say anything" She spoke softly. "I know about Ishwari and Lakshmana". Pagan said nothing. "I'll be off now, perhaps it'll be better". Antha walked back to her room. She looked at her phone. It was ringing.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Antha?"
"Pra? I thought you were dead"