Dengerous Devotion of Love
chapter 3
Afternoon, golden sunlight covering the green fields like honey
A soft golden light filters through the lingering mist above the emerald-green paddy fields. A narrow cobblestone lane winds past wooden cottages with terracotta roofs; laundry billows on lines, and the distant bleat of goats mingles with the chirping of sparrows. A gentle breeze carries the scent of jasmine and tilled earth.
The air is warm and lazy. A gentle breeze shakes the trees. Birds chirp from mango branches. A couple of cows lounge near a narrow path, chewing slowly and looking unimpressed by the world.
In the middle of this calm, quiet postcard...
someone
*She walks like she’s got music in her head, humming something off-beat, her yellow cotton kurti flaring with every step. Her blue dupatta flies behind her like a superhero cape, and her feet kick up little clouds of dust from the old village road*
someone
*She has a sling bag bouncing on her hip, two mismatched bangles clinking on her wrist, and a mischievous smile like she’s already planning something*
Anya ( FL)
*She pauses under a big banyan tree, stretching her arms wide*
Anya ( FL)
Oh wow, look at how peaceful it is here! It’s like the whole world paused just to take a nap. Do you think the flowers dream when the wind tickles them?
Anya ( FL)
*She twirls, nearly toppling over, then giggles*
From between the grass blades, a cat jumps out—elegant, white and grey, tail up like he owns the entire field
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
*Jumps out*
Anya ( FL)
(gasps dramatically)
Oh! Excuse me, sir! Didn’t mean to step into your kingdom.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
*The cat blinks once. Then sits. Like he’s judging her*
Anya ( FL)
(squatting to eye level)
Wow. You’ve got major main character energy. What’s your name? No, wait—let me guess... Sir Whiskers.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
(thinking)
(Finally. Someone who understands my importance🙂)
Anya ( FL)
*smiling*
Sir Whiskers it is. You look like you run this whole village.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
(I do. Now carry me.)🙄
Anya ( FL)
*trying to pick him up*
Come here, fluffy royalty. I shall carry you to your people.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
*The cat lets her pick him up. His tail twitches. He permits it—for now*
As Anya twirls back onto the road with the cat in her arms, far in the distance, someone calls her name
From between two mango trees, Cousin Leela emerges, brushing grass from her jeans. She’s mid-teens like Anya, with inquisitive eyes and a practical ponytail
Leela Sharma (FL cousin)
*hands on hips*
Anya! Seriously, I’ve been calling you for ten minutes. Mum and Dad are up at the chief’s house, worried sick!
Anya ( FL)
*Holding up the cat*
Behold—Sir Whiskers, guardian of the East Field. He insisted on a royal audience before we proceed.
Leela Sharma (FL cousin)
*Rolling her eyes but smiling*
You bring a cat and give it a title while our parents are searching all over? Come on, kitten queen.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
*The cat purrs, kneading Anya’s skirt.*
Anya ( FL)
*petting it fondly*
He’s got impeccable timing. But duty calls, Sir Whiskers—we have humans to appease.
Rajesh Sharma (FL uncle)
*hurrying up the path, a bit out of breath* Anya! Where were you? We looked all over the village!
Meera Sharma (FL aunty)
*Hands on hips* We even checked behind the goat shed! You had us worried sick!😕
Anya ( FL)
*grinning, holding Sir Whiskers like a baby.* Well, I wasn’t lost. Sir Whiskers just needed to show me the royal rice fields. Very urgent business.”
Leela Sharma (FL cousin)
*Laughing*
She’s been talking to that cat like it’s the king of the village.
Anya ( FL)
*Gasping*
Excuse you—it is the king. He’s royalty. He said so in meows.
Rajesh Sharma (FL uncle)
*raising an eyebrow*
The cat talks now?
Anya ( FL)
*pretending to whisper*
Only to me. It’s a secret. He also wants milk... and fish.
Meera Sharma (FL aunty)
*Shaking her head, chuckling*
Come inside, troublemaker. We’ve got milk, and I think there’s some leftover tandoori fish
Anya ( FL)
*fist-pumping*
Yes! Royal feast time! 🤤
Leela Sharma (FL cousin)
*Placing down a little bowl of milk and a dish of fish*
Here you go, your highness.
Anya ( FL)
*bowing dramatically to Sir Whiskers*
Your humble servants have prepared your banquet.
Mr whiskers (FL's cat)
*purring loudly*
Meowwwww.
Rajesh Sharma (FL uncle)
*Scratching the cat’s head*
He’s actually enjoying this, huh.
Anya ( FL)
*Feeding him a fish piece sneakily*
Of course. He’s royalty. Royals love attention... and snacks.
Meera Sharma (FL aunty)
*Narrowing her eyes*
Anya, are you sneaking him extra fish?
Anya ( FL)
*Mouth full of roti, eyes wide*
Who? Me? Never!
Leela Sharma (FL cousin)
*whispering to her mom*
She totally is.
Anya ( FL)
*Singing*🎤 🎶
La la la, I hear nothing, I see nothing.
Rajesh Sharma (FL uncle)
*Smiling*
You’re a tornado in a dress, you know that?
Anya ( FL)
*grinning*
Yep. But a fun tornado.
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