0 comments/ 15063 views/ 2 favorites Out of Love and Affection By: lightsearcher With a sigh she sank back on her bed and started to relax. Now, safely tucked under the mosquito net she felt herself starting to calm down after the hustle and bustle of the day. It was very hot and she had rid herself of her clothes right after entering her room. Her body was glistening with a thin sheen of sweat and it felt really good to stretch her limbs and just lean back. She had spent most of the day at school, teaching English and Maths to a bunch of children from all around the small town she was staying at. Actually, to call it "town" was a little bit exaggerated, but it was the biggest place for miles in this rural area. Two weeks back she had come to India to work as a voluntary teacher at the small local school, which had more students willing to learn than they could cope with. Sometimes the teachers didn't see any money for several months, so there were naturally only few, who were willing to do the job for the sake of the children. When she had made the offer to help out at the school the headmaster jumped at her offer and guaranteed her free board and a nice cottage near the woods in exchange for her services. It was an arrangement which suited both parties equally. Back home in Germany Daniela had just finished her studies and even though she was still young at only 23 she was a fully qualified teacher now. All her life she wanted to become a teacher, but there was also this strange pull inside her urging her to travel around and see the world before she finally settled down somewhere. So she decided that she would take a break and reward herself after finishing her final exams, before she would search for a permanent job. Despite the worries of her family and all the attempts of her friends to change her mind, Dani decided to take the chance and take the job in India for six months. Actually she was glad to get away from her friends for a while to finally concentrate on herself once again. Of course she loved all her friends dearly and she would definitely miss them terribly, but she was tired of always being the one to solve their problems in their various relationships. Maybe being in the middle of the emotional rollercoaster of her friends all the time was the reason why she was never involved in a serious relationship herself. After a tearful farewell at the airport she was ready for the big adventure of her life. And what an adventure it would be. She was in no way prepared for what would expect her in India, even though she had read a lot about the Indian culture and talked to other people who had already been there. But most of them had spent their holidays there and didn't see much of the land and the people outside their guided tours. Which was sad from her point of view, because you can get to know a country only while getting in touch with its people and that goes beyond snapping pictures of the children on the streets. When she arrived at the airport in Kolkata she was very tired, because she was too excited to get any sleep on the plane. When she had finally checked out and collected her luggage she made her way outside the main entrance of the building, where Venkatesh, the headmaster of her school would pick her up. Her eyes scanned the faces waiting outside, but she couldn't find her name on any of the signs they were holding in front of them. Slowly her fellow passengers grouped up with the waiting people or found themselves a taxi until she was the only one waiting in front of the building. Soon she was surrounded by taxi drivers, who tried to win her as a customer, changing their prices almost every second to win her over the others. When they finally realised she didn't intend to go by taxi they lost interest and left her to herself. She couldn't do much more than wait, because she knew it was a far journey to her home for the next months and she didn't know exactly how to get there. In the meantime she tried to observe the busy airport life and take in all the changes she was not used to. Even the air smelled different than at home, more spicy, mixed with the smell of some unknown flowers and the stench of the traffic and the trash which seemed to lie everywhere on the streets. She was surrounded by sound, announcements from the airport, a blurring radio and the predominant honking, which was omnipresent. She was so wrapped up in her observations of the traffic and her fascination that they managed the obvious chaos without accident, that she didn't see the small man who approached her from the side until he laid a hand on her shoulder. Venkatesh was a short man in his midforties and everything on him seemed to be round and soft and he was sporting a friendly grin most of the time. He welcomed her to India and drowned her in a flood of words, mostly excuses why he was late (which he always seemed to be, she should find out later on) and she didn't get a word in edgewise for a long time. Not that it mattered much for her, because he told her a lot about the places they were passing and about his family and people from the village that she had trouble remembering all the names, which for her seemed to be very complicated and thrice as long as she was used to. After long hours in the car they finally arrived and Venkatesh insisted that she first visit his place and meet his wife. Dani wasn't fully out of the car, before Deepa came out of the house with a big smile and open arms. "Welcome to our home. Please feel like we are your family and don't hesitate to ask for anything. I already prepared some tea for us, because you didn't arrive in India properly, before you had some chai. And I think my husband in his usually rude self didn't offer you any." "Oh, stop it! I am not rude, I was late, there was no time and we were talking most of the time anyway, right Dani?" "Yes, he was a very informative guide." "Don't be too polite, Dani, I know you probably didn't get the chance to say more than five words. This husband of mine loves to hold monologues." "Yes, I do, but only because I don't seem to have a chance to say much, when I am at home." "Oh, come on, stop being such a sissy. You know you love me anyway." "Sometimes I am not so sure about it." Dani was very amused about their loving banter and felt right at ease with the two, who would be her colleagues and friends for the next months. After she stayed for dinner, Venkatesh showed her to her cottage, which turned out to be more like a small cabin with one room, a small bath and a veranda. The veranda was facing the woods and there was a comfortable chair Dani used often to sit and listen to the sounds of the forest. Her room was sparsely furnished with a bed, a cupboard and a small table with a chair. Unfortunately Dani was not the only inhabitant of this room. She had to share it with mosquitos, some lizards, which were thankfully eating some of the mosquitos and other bugs around and she saw a big spider in the far corner of her room. Dani was not afraid of spiders, but she didn't want to have them in her bed either. That's why she loved her mosquito net. It created her save haven, her sanctuary. She didn't have to bother about small things crawling over her at night. The fan was her second favorite item in her room, because it was always very hot and sticky in her room and the fan brought at least some relief. This day it was very hot and humid and she had trouble concentrating at school. Of course children are very sensible and they caught up to the mood of their teacher quickly, increasing their sideway activities more than usual. After school she went to bazar and argued with the shop vendors, because Deepa had told her, that they wer charging her higher prices, because she was a foreigner and didn't know the measures. Very tired and sweaty she returned home and looked forward to some relaxation. She switched on the fan, threw her clothes carelessly on the ground and made her way to the bathroom to take the bath she longed for all day. Having a bath ment to fill a bucket with water, take a smaller pot and use it to run water over you like an improvised shower. After her shower she didn't bother to put on clothes, she just opened a window to let in an additional breeze and slipped under the mosquito net. She took her book and started to read, but soon the lights went out and the fan gave a last sputter, before dying also. Dani was already used to the frequent power cuts and she didn't feel like getting up to light some candles. So she just lay back and listened to the sounds drifting through the window. The steady chirping of some birds and insects made her drowsy and she started to drift into a slumber. She didn't see the silent shadow jumping through her window. Dani awoke when the lights returned and let out a toenail curling scream. She was face to face with a big black animal. Surprised by her scream the panther jumped back, but he got caught in the net, which came crushing down on both of them. Feeling trapped the panther started clawing at everything around. Dani felt a searing pain in her backside, but she was already tangled in the net and couldn't move because the big cat was struggling so much. She tried to stop moving and started to make soothing noises to calm down the cat. She started talking to it, even though she knew it wouldn't understand her. Nevertheless it seemed to work. The cat tilted its head to the side and seemed to listen to her voice and stopped moving. Dani kept on talking and started to free herself. Finally she managed to crawl out of the net and observed the whole situation. The cat had managed to wrap the net around itself, so it was impossible for her to simply untangle it. Part of it was already shredded by sharp claws. With a sigh she decided to cut the net off. With a knife in her hand she was a little hesitant to go near the wild animal, but she couldn't leave the poor thing caught in the net. She took up all her courage, took a firmer grip on the knife and started to walk slowly towards the panther. It eyed her curiously and started to shrink back, but she kept on talking soothingly and started to cut the net gingerly, starting at the backside. She didn't want the beast to have its teeth available too soon. She was very careful not to hurt the animal and started stroking it to keep it calm. When she peeled off the last remainings of her net, the panther jumped up, brushed her and leaped through the window in one long and elegant jump. Dani still sat on the floor, her heart beating wildly, feeling shocked about the whole situation. Did she really just come face to face with a junglecat without having a scratch? Looking down on what was left of her net there was no doubt and due to the slowly descending adrenaline she was aware of the pain in her backside. He was strolling through the woods all day, hunting and checking his territory for intruders, refreshing the markings. He enjoyed running free in this form. All his senses were more hightened. He knew all the villagers by smell and he always knew if some of them ventured into his territory. There was a strange smell tantalising his senses, drifting from the edge of the forest. He tried to ignore it, but he was curious and he kept going in the general direction of the smell which grew continuously stronger. Something with this particular smell was different. He knew it belonged to a female, but he was never drawn this strong only by smell. Who could it belong to? He was very familiar with every female in the area, but this one was untouched and her smell was calling to the males around to claim her. He finally found the place where the scent was strongest and he chose himself a tree at the edge of the woods to observe. He waited paitently and scanned the air for the smell, which seemed to drift out of an open window. When the lights inside the window went out he waited some more time, before he decided to investigate. When he sensed no movement inside he moved in. The smell was overwhelming and he sniffed at some clothes on the floor. When he burried his nose into some panties something inside him stirred, he had never felt like this before. A small movement on the bed caught his interest and he moved closer on silent paws. There under a net was the woman exuding the smell. She looked different to him, with her very light, almost transparent skin, pale and beautiful, lying there in all her glory. He found the opening of the net and pushed his head through to take a big sniff. Just at this moment the lights came back on and the female awoke with an earsplitting scream that hurt his sensitive ears and made him jump back. Something brushed his back and his instincts took over. Feeling attacked he started clawing at the attacker until he heard a groan of pain and realised he was fighting the mosquito net and trapped himself ever more with his struggles. He aimed some more slashes at the net, but he was almost immobile, because the net was wrapped very tightly around him and the female who didn't move much. He could have easily freed himself, but therefore he would have to change back into his human form and that would definitely freak the woman out. Besides he didn't want her to reveal his true identity. She was talking to him he realised. He stilled. Did she just call him kitten? If she didn't recognize his pure maleness until now he would have to change tactics soon, because he didn't want to be cuddled like a small kitten, even though it had some appeal with this woman. No, he had something different on his mind. Lost in his thoughts he didn't realise that the female had freed herself, until she returned with a knife in her hand. He didn't like the feeling of helplessness at all, being trapped like this. It made him shrink back a little, but the woman kept talking soothingly to him, even though he could smell her fear. He had to give it to her, she was a courageous one. He stayed very still when she started cutting the net away. When he felt her hand stroking his fur he almost began to purr. Her hands felt wonderful and he had to hold himself in a tight grip, not to roll on his back to offer his stomach and other parts for stroking. He was overcome by a strong urge to claim her, but he knew it wouldn't be right to force her like this. It was a hard struggle between his instincts and his sense of reason. When the net finally fell, he left as quickly as possible, but not without brushing her and rubbing some of his scent on her. It wouldn't be enough to keep other males away, but it satisfied him, that some part of him stayed with her. He would have to keep watch over her to fight other suitors off and find a different approach to her. He retreated back to his tree and settled on a big branch. To calm his senses he started grooming himself. That always helped him to settle down, but not today. He smelled blood on himself, and it was not his blood. He had hurt her! He hurt and left her without checking that she was alright! He licked off her blood and was further addicted by her taste. It wasn't a big amount of blood, but his instincts jumped in immediately, demanding him to go back and claim her as his mate. He resisted, but he waited on the tree until he saw her closing the window tightly and switching off the lights. Satisfied that no one would bother her this night, he left his observation place to go home, where someone else was waiting for him. Out of Love and Affection Ch. 02 When the pain fully registered in her brain, Dani fetched her first-aid-kit and started her examination. The source of the pain where some pretty deep scratches right on the left cheek of her backside. She started to clean the cuts with some antiseptics and yelped with the sting of it. She would have to see a doctor in the morning to make sure she didn't get an infection. She still couldn't get a grip on what happened only a few minutes ago. Realising that her window was still open, she hurriedly limbed to it, to shut it, scanning the darkness outside for possible dangers. She felt watched and a shiver ran down her spine, but it was impossible to see through the dark shadows of the woods. Looking sadly at the shreds of her mosquito net, she switched off the lights and went to bed. She winced with pain when she sat on the edge. She would have to sleep on her stomach this night. With a sigh she settled down, postponing the analysis of the events to next morning and just enjoying the cooling breeze of the fan on her clammy skin. ****************************** "A doctor? You would have to drive to the next city to the hospital. What is the problem?" Dani had decided it was best to talk to Deepa and ask for help. " I had some late night visit of a panther." "You had what? Are you alright? I cannot believe it, what happened?" Dani tried to sum up the events of the last evening, while Deepa ushered her into an empty class room and demanded to see the scratches. " Well, you know, ehm, they are at some very private place." Dani tried to wiggle out of it, but Deepa would have nothing of it, so finally she relented. " Oh dear, you sure had some run in with a big cat. I still don't believe it, usually they are very shy creatures and won't come near civilisation." Dani snorted. "Civilisation? You don't even have a doctor around to tend to the heavily wounded!" " Stop whining, it is not that bad and we do have some kind of doctor, even though you wouldn't call him that in Europe, because he doesn't have a degree. Just go and see Narayan after school. Ramesh can take you home with him, he is his son. Narayan is living some way into the woods. He can help you. Don't worry, he won't amputate your leg and if you still need a "real" doctor Venkatesh can drive you to the city tomorrow." "Fine. I only hope I won't meet the big nasty cat a second time. Because if I do, I might take a chunk out of its backside, only to see it limping." Ramesh was a quiet six year old boy. He was in his first class, but he seemed to be very intelligent. Dani liked him, because he always thought thoroughly, before he gave an answer. On the way to his father she tried to find out as much about the 'doctor' as she could, but she didn't like most of it. The way seemed endless to her and she wasn't sure, how she would manage to walk back without any painkillers. When they finally arrived at the small house in the woods she was glad to sit down. But when Ramesh offered her a chair she jumped up again, because it was too painful for her to sit on both cheeks. Ramesh went in search for his father, who was nowhere to be seen. Narayan was down at the small stream fishing for his and Ramesh's dinner. While waiting for the fish to bite, his thoughts drifted to the female from last night. He couldn't forget her smell and her taste was still on his tongue. He knew. After searching for a long time and making a lot of mistakes he had brushed it off as a myth, but now he had tasted her and he knew the myth was still alive. After all, he should be the one to believe in myths, because his own existance was one. He had to find a way to approach the woman. He still didn't even know her name, but his reaction to her was strong after smelling her scent. He just had to find a way for her to smell him too and she would be all over him, because she wouldn't be able to resist the magic call of his scent. He smiled over his plan, because it simply couldn't fail. Nobody was able to resit nature's call. "Pa, Pa, you have to come. I brought my teacher with me. She is hurt and you have to help her." Narayan let out a low groan. Great, now he would meet the annoying teacher, who told his son some stupid stuff that he eagerly believed. Ramesh kept talking about her, like she was the new moviestar. "Hang on, I am coming." He walked out of the water, took his towel and made his way towards his home. Taking a deep breath he suddenly stopped. His mind was playing tricks on him. He could smell her. Here. But that would mean. She was the teacher. Ramesh had a firm grip on his hand and kept pulling him towards the woman, who was looking uncomfortable standing beside his home. "Pa, this is my teacher, you know, I told you about her." Well, maybe my plan will work out much faster than I thought. "Hi, my name is Narayan, it is a pleasure to meet you." "Dani, and I am not sure I can say the same for my part." Narayan looked puzzled because of her cranky answer. "Why don't you sit down and tell me about your probem?" "Thank you, but I prefer to keep standing." "As you like. But would you mind if I got a shirt for myself before we talk about what brings you to me?" "Do what you like. That's what you always do, isn't it?" "What do you mean with that? Wait a second." He grabbed his shirt and wrenched it angrily over his head. "What exactly is your problem?" "My problem? What is your prolem? Why do you leave a six year old boy alone in the woods, without someone to look after him? You should know best about the dangers lurking in this woods. Don't you have any sense of responsibility?" "Wait a second, you come here without knowing me, judging me for whatever you heard about me. What gives you the right to do so?" Now he was really pissed. "You think you are the superior white woman who comes to India to tell the underdeveloped uneducated jungleman what is right and wrong. Sorry to tell you, but you are seventy years too late to do so" "So you think it alright to leave Ramesh alone here, in the dark, when you are amusing yourself somewhere else?" "I am not amusing myself! I know about the dangers, but I am a single father and I do my damn hardest to give Ramesh a good life and for that I have to do a job. If you just came here to judge me about my way of caring for my son, then I have to ask you to leave again, or I can't promise to stay civilised in this argument." "Then how do you make sure he is save, when you are gone?" "I have my ways. And I don't think that I have to defend myself against you. Is there anything else you came for?" Dani already opened her mouth to decline the question, but Ramesh chimed in." She is hurt, Pa, and she needs your help." "Oh, it is nothing. I don't want to bother you anymore." With that she turned around and started to leave, but a strong hand on her shoulder turned her around softly. His voice didn't sound angry anymore, but almost ... caring. "Nothing, right? Then why are you limping? I can see you are in some pain, so why don't you let me have a look? I can help you." "No, thank you. I am fine." "No, you are not! Let me decide, if it is alright." "Can you at least send Ramesh out?" "What, alone into the woods? Why?" "Cause there is no need for him to see the bare backside of his teacher, is there?" "Well, it would be a good part of his education", he said smiling, but after an angry glare from Dani he sent Ramesh down to the stream to fetch the basket with their dinner. "Now tell me what's happened and show me where it hurts. Do you want to lie down?" After standing the whole day Dani was glad to rest her feet and lowered herself on her stomach on the bed, while telling Narayan about the incident with the panther. "It was very strange. I didn't even feel very threatened, like it would eat me for dinner, but it was scary." "Believe me, if he did want you for dinner you wouldn't be able to walk here. I think the cat was curious to see who was new in his territory." "How do you know it was a 'he'?" "Because there is only one panther in this part of the forest. There are some other leopards, but only one black male." "How do you know that?" "I grew up in this forest and I know every part and every animal in it. You know I like amusing myself in the forest", he said with a wink. "Now let me see your backside." With very gentle hands he lowered her pants and panties and inhaled sharply at the sight of her perfect round cheeks. She even had some lost freckles down there. He had got her pretty hard last night. Four long deep gashes were glaring at him, running across her left cheek. She had obviously tried to clean them, but because of the angle she had not reached every part and he would have to clean it properly. "How bad is it?" "You will have some pretty scars when it is healed, but it is nothing dangerous. I will clean the cuts and put some antiseptic balm on it." The thought that he had marked her so thoroughly satisfied him. Now every male could see that she belonged to him. Not that he would allow anyone close enough to her to see her naked bum. "I am sorry!" Narayan was surprised. "For what?" "I was very rude before. I just made some assumptions. It is just, I am afraid of doctors. But I still think it is wrong to leave Ramesh alone at night. He is only six!" "No need to be afraid. I am not even a real doctor. I think you would call me a quack doctor or a charlatan in your country. You see, there is nothing to worry. I won't hurt you." "Ouch, and what was that?" He had started to clean the cuts with a burning fluid at the same time. "It's nothing you can't take." He stroked the soft parts of her uninjured skin under the pretense of examination and he felt her relax. "I know it is risky to leave Ramesh alone so often, but I cannot take him with me. He needs to sleep and to study. Sometimes Deepa is watching him, she is his aunt, but most of time she is busy herself." "Why don't you move into the village then? There would at least be neighbours in case anything happens." "I thought about it, but I feel caged around too many people and I can do my work only here. We're living from the forest. Then Ramesh would see me hardly at all. So, finished." He applied the rest of the ugly smelling balm and covered it with a cloth. "You should stay like that for a while. I will go and find Ramesh or else his teacher will cut off my head. Just wait ten minutes and you can get clothed again." Smiling down at her, he left Dani to her thoughts. Dani hadn't thought that she would meet such a fine speciman out here in the forest. She had expected some old, weird man, but Narayan was impressing. He was not very tall, maybe only a few inches taller than herself, but his body was well toned and he had muscles at all the right places. She had to swallow hard when she saw the water glistening on his upper body. When he smiled his eyes lit up and you had to simply believe in its sincerity. And his hands. They felt so perfect on her skin, rough and strong, but oh so gentle. It seemed they mirrored his character. He was strong and there was definitely a wild streak in him, but he showed a caring side that was very endearing. She would risk another encounter with the panther if she could feel his hands again on her skin. Could you become addicted by a single touch? God, he must think her a complete snob. How could she accuse him of something without even knowing him. The first impression was always most important and sticking to the mind. Well done. She removed the cloth from her backside and slowly got clothed. Dani found the two outside, sitting on the ground cleaning fish together. She paused in the door and felt very embarassed. The two seemed to get along fine. Ramesh looked up from his work. "Did Pa make it better?" "Yes, your dad was great. Listen, I have to go now. Thank you for everything and I am sorry. I am in no position to criticize you." Narayan nodded. "You have to hurry then, before it gets dark, or you could stay over night if you want to." "Thank you, but I better leave. If you need someone to watch over Ramesh, just tell me. I have a lot of time and wouldn't mind having company." "That would be great. Take care on your way." "Good night. See you tomorrow in school, Ramesh." After Dani left they were continuing their task silently. "Do you like her, Pa?" "What?" "Do you like her?" "Hmmm." "You are thinking about her now." "Hmmm. I just wonder if she will make it home before darkness falls." "Then go and check on her." "Hey, did you just tell me to go after your prescious teacher? How old are you?" "But you like her, don't you? And I like her, too. So go!" "What abut you? I don't want to leave you alone again. She won't speak to me again if anything happens to you." "I'll be fine. It is not the first time and I will keep all the rules. Lock the door, don't go outside, don't let anyone in, don't do something stupid." "Don't be a smartass now. Take care. I love you!" Rolling his eyes Ramesh only said "Go!" ***************** Dani made only slow progress on her way home. Even though it didn't hurt so much anymore walking was still uncomfortable and she was limping. The sun was already setting and it was getting dark. The last beams of the sun were finding their way through the branches of the trees and created dancing shadows all around her, when she saw something black moving out of the corner of her eyes. She immediately froze. It was the panther and it was now blocking her way. Dani felt very insecure about how to behave. Should she retreat back slowly, or better remain absolutely still? Running would be the wrong decision, about that she was sure, because he would hunt her down. She decided to just wait, maybe he would loose interest and leave. But the cat seemed to do the same. He lay down and just watched her with golden eyes. After some time Dani made a slow attempt to move, but stopped when the panther lifted his head, eying her curiously. Then he stood up and approached her. He walked leisurely towards her, sure that she wouldn't escape him. "Why don't they write a book "What to do when a panther crosses your way"?" He reached her and butted her with his head. Well, maybe she should move now. He butted her again and she started walking slowly. The cat followed her and when she stopped he gave her a gentle push with his head. "You know you behave kind of strange for a panther. Wouldn't it be normal for you to just attack and kill your prey? Not that I mind if you don't do it. Not at all. Now I am talking to a cat and I am not even thirty. I think I need some professional help. But on the other side people talk to worse things than cats and you seem to understand what I am talking about, don't you?" Dani kept on her nervous blabbering because talking seemed to help last time. After a while she was sure the panther wouldn't harm her. He was just keeping her company. Now it was really dark and she didn't know which way to go. "I think I am lost. Did we come from the right or the left side? Maybe I should wait until it is morning. Then Ramesh will come this way to school. Or I could go back , but I am not sure if I can find the way in the dark." She felt a strong push from behind urging her to turn to the left side. "You think I should turn left? Do you know the way? Of course you know, you've already been there. You hurt me last time, you know?" He rubbed his head softly on her leg. "Now you behave like a cuddly pet. What's next, a bellyrub? But you know I am not really angry. Because of you I met Narayan. I think I really like him. At least his hands feel wonderful. Hey, why did you stop? Are you jealous?" The panther had stopped and just stared at her. "You don't have to be. I think he must hate me, because I insulted him pretty badly. Will you come now, without you I won't find the way home and you owe me something." He shook his head, as if to rid himself of a nasty fly and started walking again. He was amazed. She liked him. But would she accept him if she found out the truth? He would have to take it slowly. Gain her trust in both his forms. " I think nobody at home will believe me, if I tell them about you. It is just weird. Now it is really dark, I can't even see you anymore, not to talk about the way. You should wear a light around your neck, that would make following you easier. Ahhh, there you are." Narayan had come very close to her, placing his head so that her hand rested on top of it. "You have many talents, don't you? You could even work as a leading-cat for the blind. I know, I talk too much. Your ears must already ring, because of my blabbering. I will stop now." They walked in silence, sticking close together and brushing against each other from time to time. Dani started scratching him behind his ears and he responded by pressing his head closer to her hand. It made her chuckle. "You seem to like it." And she continued gliding her fingers through his soft furr. Out of Love and Affection Ch. 03 It was dark outside and Dani sat wih a mug of tea on her veranda. The forest seemed to grow thicker in the nights, as if to contain the animals inside and keep all intruders out. The shadows mingled, locked together, building a wall, which only let sounds through the impermeable thicket. Dani could make out the voices of several different birds, the chirping of insects and from time to time she could hear the chattering of monkeys. Those sounds had become very familiar to her in the last weeks and it had become almost a ritual before going to bed, to just sit and listen to the sounds of the night. A silent shadow broke through the wall of darkness and made its way towards her veranda. She could make out the shape of a man and tensed. She never got visitors at such a late time of the day. With slow movements, so as not to alert the stranger, she gripped the thick branch under her chair and brought it to her side. Ready to use it if necessary. "Who is out there and what do you want?" "It is just me, no need to worry." "Narayan, is something wrong?" "No, I just wanted to check on Ramesh." When he came closer, Dani could make out the outline of his strong features. His prominent chin and cheekbones under the deep and soulful eyes. "He is fine. He is already sleeping inside. Would you like to have some tea?" "That would be great. Thank you." He dropped his bag with plants he had collected from the forest and Dani left to fetch another mug of tea. When she returned and didn't see him on the veranda she turned to her room and saw him bent over the bed where Ramesh was sleeping. He was stroking his cheek and gave him a kiss on his forehead in a gentle gesture, before he turned around to her. He took the mug out of her hands and they both sat down on the veranda again. After a long silence Narayan started to speak in a soft voice. "You know, since I bring Ramesh to you when I go into the forest I have the feeling, that I don't get to see him very often. And when I do, he is talking about you all the time. I think you know that he admires you. I know it is silly, but sometimes I feel like I am reduced to a weekend-dad and I don't want him to see me like that. I want him to know that I am always there for him." "I am sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on your family, or your relationship with Ramesh." "You are not intruding. I am really glad that you are looking after him when I am gone. It is just ...I miss him. We used to be so close. Even when I went into the woods, he was there when I returned, sharing the bed with me. And we had always the mornings together. Now he goes straight from here to school with you and I see him only when I don't go to the forest. My life feels suddenly so empty without having him around me all the time. Does this sound ridiculous?" "Not at all. It just shows me that you really care about Ramesh like he does about you. He is looking up to you. Always telling, that one day he wants to be exactly like you. I think he is very lucky to have a father like you, who is a rolemodel for him. Boys in his age need that very much. But you are right. You should see each other more. Your relationship is special and you should protect it." "But what can I do? I need to do my job. It is important. But I also want to do what's best for Ramesh." "I could come and watch him at your place and when you return I can go home to my place. Then you would still have the mornings together." "Oh no, I would never allow that you have to walk alone through the woods in the darkness. It is too dangerous." "I am a grown woman. I can manage." "What would you do. Take this stick and throw it at the next attacker? This wouldn't help you against a tiger or another wild animal. If you watch him at our place you will have to stay over night." "Oh, but then I would feel like I am intruding on your family." "You won't intrude. Let's try it out if it works and then we can decide how to go from there, Ok?" "Ok, but if you feel in any way disturbed, or I am a burden for you, tell me and I will leave immediately." "We have a deal here. What about your family, don't you miss them?" "Yes, I miss them. But I never really had a very close relationship to my parents and it might sound strange but it seems like the distance is bringing us closer together. My parents just realised how much they care, because they are worried how I am getting along here. Now we write each other frequently and we know that it is only six months before we see each other again." "So you are going to leave us so soon again." "In the beginning six months did sound very long to me and I didn't get a longer visa. If I want to or not, I have to leave after the six months. But five are still left and I am going to make the best use out of this time." "Why did you decide to come to India? Why didn't you just take a job in Germany?" "I cannot explain it properly. There was always the urge in me to go somewhere else, far away. As if something was waiting there for me to discover. Didn't you have the urge to see some other places, other countries, other ways of life?" "No, I never had such an urge. I was always rooted to this place and I will always be here. There is this certainty that this is the place of my destiny, where the missing part of my life will find me. If I leave this place, I am running away from destiny and how can it find me then?" They sat a long time in companionable silence. Each lost in his own thoughts after this personal conversation. Narayan broke the silence when Dani let out a huge yawn. " I think I better leave now. I just came to check on Ramesh and you need some sleep before you face the little devils in the morning." "You can stay if you want. Isn't the forest dangerous for you, too? And Ramesh would be happy to see you in the morning." "I grew up in the forest. There is no danger I can't manage. And you have only one bed." "Yes, but it is big and it is nothing immoral if you stay with your child." In the end the weather decided the discussion, because it started to rain heavily and Dani refused to let him leave in it. She even offered to sleep on the floor but Narayan wanted to hear nothing of it. After all her bad was quite big. Big enough for two adults and a small child. When Ramesh woke up the next morning he was confused. He was used to have either Narayan or Dani close to him. But having both of them snuggled around him was a new experience. One he did want to savour. That's why he kept very still, so as not to wake them up. Due to the rain the temperature had cooled down during the night and they instinctly had moved closer together to the warmth of the others. Now Dani was spooning Ramesh from behind with an arm over his stomach and Narayan had curled himself around them from the other side. Holding both Ramesh and Dani in his strong arms. Ramesh felt very safe, like in a cocoon. But soon Narayan awoke, took some time, blinking confused until he realized where he was and broke the close hug they were sharing. Close behind Dani awoke also, because she missed the comfortable warmth. There was a short awkwardness until Dani decided to prepare breakfast for them all.