"And here, you see how Samir gets him to fetch the toy, as if he were a big dog!" Rajveer laughed heartily. Sally politely clapped and smiled. Samir walked the bear past Sally and she caught his gaze, raising an eyebrow. He walked Raja back and had him halt in front of the girl. Unlike when she had examined him earlier, when he was sedated, now he was fully awake and aware of his surroundings. Raja truly did act like a giant dog. He had come running out of his penned area when Samir called him, had stood up on his hind legs and begged for a treat that Rajveer held out for him. Sally was careful to call Rajveer Malik, as she wasn't supposed to know he went under a pseudonym; Bethany, Rajveer's ex-flame, hadn't explained exactly why he did this when she was spilling the tea to Ujurak earlier, but Sally accepted it as part of his shifty, morally-gray past.
"You may pet him, Sally," called Rajveer. He sent her an encouraging smile, and Sally put her hand out Raja to sniff. The bear nudged her hand and snuffled up her arm, making her laugh.
"That tickles!"
Samir loosened his taut hold on the leash, and Sally admired the bear's white coat and jewel-studded, turquoise collar. The young man stayed silent, as though he was nervous. Sally kept her eyes on the bear and stroked him, scrabbling for something to break the ice with Samir.
"His fur is so white, not nearly as dirty as I expected." She admired the albino bear's well-groomed coat. "How often do you bathe him?"
Samir's face brightened, and Sally understood why Bethany spoke so kindly of him.
"Twice a week, like clockwork," Samir replied, his voice filled with pride. "Raja loves the water, believe it or not. And he knows he gets extra treats after a bath, so he cooperates quite well." He ran a hand affectionately over the bear's head, earning a happy rumble from Raja.
Sally smiled at the interaction between man and bear. It was clear that despite the circumstances surrounding Raja's captivity, Samir genuinely cared for the animal. While she got the feeling that Rajveer was merely trying to impress her with his skill at handling the bear, Samir loved him for his inherent worth as a living creature.
"Did you train him?" She asked Samir. "I heard he was born back in Punjab, but Ra—Mr. Malik brought him here." She coughed lightly. If Samir heard her slip of the tongue, he didn't acknowledge it.
Samir's gaze softened as he looked at Raja, a flicker of something akin to sadness crossing his face. "No, miss. Raja was already trained when Malik brought him to Canada. I've only been taking care of him since he arrived here." There was a hint of reluctance in his voice,
Sally sensed there was a deeper connection between Samir and Raja than what met the eye. She decided not to press further, respecting Samir's boundaries. Instead, she focused on the bear before her, enjoying the feel of his soft fur beneath her fingers.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the animal sanctuary, Rajveer approached Sally and Samir with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I love seeing you with him. He's so good-natured with his visitors."
As Samir lead Raja back to his pen, Sally felt slightly nauseous. She didn't want to be alone with Rajveer, to be the main center of his attention. She felt him turn and gaze at her. She licked her lips.
"So. Uh…I've contacted a few wildlife sanctuaries in the province who might be interested in taking him in. One might even send one of their managers here to look him over and see if he's a good fit. Sounds good?" She gave him a hopeful thumbs up, and a grin so wide it made her cheeks hurt. Rajveer's lips quirked, and he nodded, his eyes on Samir and his pet bear.
"I know you'll miss him. And he'll miss you. And Samir. But, I'm hoping he will learn to bond with the sanctuary employees. Maybe even find a lady friend," she said slyly. At that, his gaze whipped back to her.
"Ah, truly. I will envy him," he said sadly.
"Aw, no kidding?" she answered playfully.
He shook his head sadly. "I am alone in this life, my girl."
She looked down and dug the toe of her boot in the dirt, making a small indentation. She knew if she said nothing, he would reveal more details.
"Yes," he sighed. "Not so long ago, a beautiful woman brightened my days. She left me. It was my fault, really. Sweet Bethany…" he whispered. Sally's head shot up. Bethany had told Ujurak how Rajveer had withheld all support and payment from Bethany until she slept with him, effectively becoming a sort of twisted concubine. Sally couldn't reveal what she knew, but knowing about Rajveer's exploitation of a girl in desperate circumstances made her blood boil.
"She was your…wife?" She asked gingerly.
"No. We never made it that far. She was quite younger than me, and she livened my bed for some time," he purred lustfully.
"Mr. MALIK!" said Sally. "How inappropriate."
Rajveer's eyes darkened at Sally's rebuke, the polite facade slipping to reveal a glimmer of something more sinister beneath the surface. His smile turned predatory as he took a step closer to her, invading her personal space. Sally fought the urge to step back, steeling herself against the rising tide of fear that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Why, my dear Sally, are you not flattered by my attention?" Rajveer's voice was smooth like honey but carried a dangerous undercurrent that sent a shiver down her spine. "I can see the fire in your eyes when you look at me. You desire me, don't you?" He reached out a hand to caress her cheek, his touch making her skin crawl.
Sally knew she needed to tread carefully, to keep up appearances while finding a way out of this precarious situation. She forced a nervous chuckle and sidestepped his touch, casting a quick glance around for any sign of Ujurak and David. Perhaps they were hidden.
She tried to take a step and her legs buckled beneath her. She sat on the ground and Rajveer, believing she was flirting back, grinned widely and settled himself down next to her.
"Sally, my dear, there's no need to be coy." Rajveer's voice was low and smooth, dripping with seduction. Sally felt a surge of panic rise within her, but she knew she had to play along to keep him talking. She met his gaze with what she hoped was a convincing mixture of fear and desire.
"You're quite irresistible, Mr. Malik," she forced out, her heart hammering in her chest. "But I must confess, I feel a bit overwhelmed by your attention."
Rajveer's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. She could almost see his thoughts in a speech bubble above his head; 'Ah, Jasdev, you have charmed the woman like the snake this day.'
"Ah, but my dear, you shouldn't fight your feelings. Embrace the passion between us," he murmured, leaning in closer.
Sally's mind raced as she searched for a way to buy herself more time. She coughed as his cologne overwhelmed her, and Mr. Malik ran a hand across her cheek, whispering alien words. Samir was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he'd skedaddled as soon as he sensed Rajveer was going to make moves on her.
"My smell is wonderful, no?
Sally's heart raced as Rajveer's hand rested on her cheek, the smell of his overpowering cologne making her head swim. She fought the urge to recoil from his touch, knowing she needed to keep him talking until Ujurak and David could come to her rescue. Gathering her courage, she forced a smile and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Mr. Malik, your cologne is quite...intoxicating," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Rajveer's grin widened at her response, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light.
"I knew you couldn't resist me, my dear Sally," he purred, leaning in even closer. Sally's skin crawled at his proximity, but she maintained her facade of false interest. "Trust me when I tell you that one hour of love between us would fix you karma, and your dharma, and your...yes." He broke off, running a hand down her arm. "Even your mother's worries. You will ascend to another realm, my sweet. Have faith in me." His gaze bore into hers, and Sally struggled to maintain her facade of compliance. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but she knew she couldn't show weakness now. Summoning her courage, she spoke with a faux innocence that masked her growing dread.
"Mr. Malik, I… I'm not sure if this is right. I… I need time to think." Her voice wavered slightly, but it was enough to give her a momentary reprieve as Rajveer considered her words. His smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he composed himself again.
"Oh, my dear Sally, there is no need for thought when destiny has already woven our fates together. And soon, you will be begging for more," he replied smoothly.
"Of course, Mr. Malik," she murmured, trying to sound alluring. "It's just that...perhaps we should find a more private setting for our...conversation."
Rajveer chuckled darkly at her insinuations. "The evening is drawing in. You gave someone who would miss you, if you come in rather late, and…" he slipped his hand under her shirt. "Rather messed up?" He kissed her gently, and Sally felt each and every of her muscles tense up. "My bedroom door is not far from here." He whispered, his words sending a chill down Sally's spine. She knew she had to act quickly before things escalated further. With a shaky smile, she leaned into him, playing along with his advances.
"And what would happen if…I did something with you?" She forced her hands to play with his messy beard, which was disgusting.
He sighed and closed his eyes. "Hmmmm…Well, my dear Sally, if you were to come with me, we could explore the depths of our desires together. I could show you things you've never imagined, make you feel things you've never felt before. We could be lost in each other, away from the prying eyes of the world."
Sally's mind raced as she tried to keep up her act. She nodded slowly, swallowing the bile that rose in her throat at the thought of being alone in a room with this man. "Yes, Mr. Malik, that sounds...exciting," she said, trying to sound breathless and eager.
Rajveer's grin widened as he took her hand in his. "Then let's not waste any more time," he said, rising to his feet and pulling Sally up with him. "Come with me, my dear."
But just as they were about to leave the clearing, a sudden crack of a branch echoed through the woods, freezing them both in their tracks. Sally's heart leaped with hope as Ujurak and David emerged from the shadows, their faces set in determined expressions. Rajveer's grip on Sally's hand tightened, his facade slipping for a brief moment before he plastered on a charming smile.
"Well, well, looks like we have some unwanted guests," he said smoothly, his eyes flickering between Sally and her rescuers. Ujurak stepped forward and spoke in a low, commanding voice.
"Let her go, Malik. Your games end here," he stated firmly, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made even Rajveer falter for a moment. But the spell was broken as Rajveer chuckled and took a step back, pulling Sally protectively against him.
"My dear Ujurak, always the hero. But I'm afraid the lady has already agreed to accompany me for an evening of mutual pleasures..."
A crash sounded from the house. Sujit, ever the loyalist, came running out, babbling in Punjabi.
"The police have searched the restaurant, Sir. They are on their way here."
Rajveer narrowed his eyes and turned to the two men in front of him. "That weak little witch Bethany told you lies to ruin me, didn't she? I will have your names lambasted for trying to harm the respectable career of an innocent immigrant."
David spoke up, his teeth gritted. "I don't even like looking at your ugly mug, Jasdev. But my cousin Bethany told me how you used her, degraded her, and tossed her onto the street when you got sick of her. While that's not a crime, the police have been warned of your 'spice trade' dealings and have kept you on their radar for some time now. They've gotten some tip-offs from certain sources, and have a warrant to search your house."
Rajveer growled and grabbed Sally's arm. He whipped out a knife and held it to her throat. Ujurak's eyes widened.
"Wha—you're really doing this, dude?" He gabbled.
Rajveer sneered. "Yes, 'dude.' I am."
With a steely glint in his eyes, Ujurak slowly raised his hands in a placating gesture, his voice calm but firm. "Now, now, Malik, let's not do anything we'll regret. You know the consequences of harming her."
The tension in the clearing was palpable, Sally's heart pounding in her chest as she felt the cold edge of the knife against her skin. David stood beside Ujurak, his jaw clenched in anger as he assessed the situation. Sujit hovered near the house, fear and uncertainty etched on his face.
Rajveer's sneer deepened as he tightened his grip on Sally. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect myself, Ujurak. This woman means nothing to me, but I can't have interference from the likes of you."
Sally's mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of this dangerous predicament. She had to keep Rajveer distracted long enough for the police to get here.
"Mr. Malik, please. We were about to—"
"You think you can distract me with that NOW?" He snarled back at her.
Sally's heart raced as she searched for a way to diffuse the escalating tension. She glanced over at Ujurak and David, silently willing them to come up with a plan. Ujurak met her eyes briefly, a flicker of reassurance passing between them before he turned his attention back to Rajveer.
"Malik, think about what you're doing. You don't want to add murder to your list of crimes," Ujurak said in a calm yet authoritative tone, stepping closer to the unpredictable man holding Sally hostage.
To be continued...