Drip...drop...drip...drop...

The only sound heard in the empty basement tunnel was that of the water drops that were leaking from the broken water pipe. Gauri stood at the dark corner of the tunnel, hiding her body.

She closed her mouth with her palm to even stop the sound of her breathing when she heard footsteps inside the tunnel.

Few men equipped with guns and weapons were searching something or rather someone like sniff dogs.

"Damn it, that girl sure is a trouble. Only few minutes, few minutes of distraction and we lost her," one of them snarled. The one who seemed the leader said, "Don't worry. She underestimated us. This time I'll teach her a lesson worth her remembrance for a lifetime."

All of them cackled in laughter.

Gauri was sweating profusely, and tears had already found their way.

She wiped off the tears. No, she definitely would not go down without a fight. She had been a fighter, always. If god has written her demise tonight, then she will accept it but not without a fight.

*****

Gauri was running as fast as she could, drenched to the bones in rain. Laughter echoed everywhere, those men were chasing her. The leader started moving towards her with an evil smirk.

Gauri closed her eyes in fear. Strange enough, the hand never reached her. Something hot and viscous splattered over her face.

Her eyes flew open. She touched her face, her palm painted in red, blood. She looked ahead, only to let out an earthshattering scream.

*****

A well built man; tall, more than 6 feet stood drenched in rain and...blood. The ground around him was covered with bodies of eight men. No one could say whether they were alive or not. Gauri was standing, motionlessly, staring at the man's back who had saved her.
Sound of footsteps resumed but they felt safe. Men who appeared to be guards but something was different about them, surrounded them. One of them came forward and dropped on his knees."My Lord, all is clear", he spoke.

Gauri saw his face matted with blood.

"Oops," The man smiled or rather smirked.

She couldn't believe her eyes. She gasped loudly and a name left her mouth before going unconscious in his strong arms.

"Rudra"

*****