Bonding with a Rescued Hostage

The next day after the events of the previous chapter

It’s late evening and the sky is dark. And every member of the Flower Storm is celebrating the birthday of its new member who turns out to be one of the hostages rescued from the Blizzard during the mission of “Operation Tempest“. Her name is Divya and she is in her mid twenties.

Divya is now in a golden salwar kameez that with a middle opening at the front that exposes her irregularly shaped navel just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please ignore the jewelries.)

2 hours later

All the members of the Flower Storm have had their grand dinner and are chit-chatting.

Meanwhile, Divya is seated on a wooden bench of a flower garden within the Flower Storm headquarters. She is silently watching the night sky and listening to the chirping sounds of crickets.

A few seconds later

Roy, clad in a dress just like in the pic given below, shows up.

ROY: I hope you don’t mind me sitting next to you.

Divya reluctantly nods her head and signals Roy to sit next to her on the bench.

Divya and Roy are now seated on the bench next to each other. And they have a conversation.

ROY: Your name is Divya, right?

DIVYA: Yes. And what is your name?

Roy responds with a calm smile.

ROY: My name is Rajendran. You can call me “Roy”.

Divya chuckles softly.

DIVYA: Sounds funny and creative at the same time.

Roy laughs softly.

ROY: You could say that.

Roy’s laughter then slowly fades.

ROY: By the way, now that you are rescued from the Blizzard and are safe with the Flower Storm, how do you feel?

Divya takes a deep breath.

DIVYA: I’m glad that I’m no longer a part of such a tyrannical cult which has bullshit principles.

Roy is surprised and is curious to know more.

ROY: Wait. You were really once a part of the Blizzard ?

Divya hangs her head down.

DIVYA: Yes.

ROY: Can you tell me more about it? Also please explain why you left the Blizzard.

Divya sheds some tears but eventually wipes them with her hankie. She then proceeds to explain her story.

DIVYA: I left the Blizzard because those extremists didn’t want loyalty. They wanted submission.

Roy listens intently without interrupting Divya’s speech.

DIVYA: At first, I believed in their order. The structure. The mission to “purify society” of taboos. But then… they started policing us. The women. Our bodies. Our clothes. Our words. Even our silences.

Divya’s voice cracks silently as she continues to speak.

DIVYA: One day, I asked why a man staring at a woman’s Thoppul wasn’t a crime, but a woman baring her Thoppul was. They called me dangerous.

Roy calmly listens to the speech without interrupting.

DIVYA: They put me in a room. No windows. Just propaganda recordings blaring on repeat. Three days. No outside contact. I think they were preparing to freeze me next. They have even frozen a woman named Haridra simply for letting Deepak, her little son, touch her bare tummy.

Roy clenches his fists but still keeps his calm.

DIVYA: Haridra is now gone. I hope you all have rescued the little Deepak along with me and the other hostages.

Roy loosens his fists and places one of his hands over Divya’s hands. He looks at her with a smile.

ROY: Don’t worry. All hostages are safe. And Deepak has now got a new family.

Divya sheds tears of joy.

DIVYA: Really?

Roy continues to smile at Divya.

ROY: Yes, Divya. Deepak is now adopted by Dheena, our leader, and his wife Nivedha, better known as Nivi.

Divya continues shedding tears of joy.

DIVYA: Let’s hope those hands that are currently having Deepak are good hands.

Roy laughs softly.

ROY: Those hands are way better than the hands of the Blizzard extremists.

DIVYA: How sure are you?

Roy takes a deep breath and discloses all the principles and the ground rules of the Flower Storm. Divya listens intently and nods her head.

DIVYA: I see!!!! So this is what the Flower Storm wants?

Roy respons calmly.

ROY: Yes. The Flower Storm aims to erase the taboos imposed on female Thoppul exposure and a male child touching his mom’s tummy and Thoppul once and for all.

Divya nods her head.

DIVYA: Then it’s a good thing to be here.

Roy smiles widely.

ROY: Absolutely.

DIVYA: Just a small request.

Roy is curious.

ROY: What is it?

DIVYA: I hope none of you will ever judge me based on how my Thoppul looks.

Roy laughs softly.

ROY: Don’t worry. We won’t judge you. We have seen women with uglier Thoppul than yours.

Divya lifts her eyebrows.

DIVYA: Are you sure?

Roy continues to smile.

ROY: Yes. We don’t mind your outward appearance. It’s your character that matters to us.

Divya lets out tears of joy again and wipes them with her hankie.

DIVYA: I have never come across anyone being non-judgmental towards me. And I’m glad to hear that this place is full of non-judgmental people. That’s why I like to be here.

Roy smiles warmly.

ROY: You are always welcome, Divya.

Divya wants to ask something but is too shy to ask. However, a few seconds later, she gathers courage to ask.

DIVYA: Roy????

ROY: Yes, Divya?????

DIVYA: If you don’t mind, can I hug you?

Roy is taken aback by Divya’s request and he looks frozen. Divya looks embarrassed on seeing Roy’s reaction.

DIVYA: Sorry!!!! Sorry!!!! Sorry!!!! I didn’t mean to offend you.

Roy takes a deep breath and then nods his head. He then spreads his arms, indicating that he is ready to hug Divya. This surprises Divya.

DIVYA: Seriously? I can hug you?

Roy responds with smile.

ROY: Yes. By all means.

Divya, with an excited smile, pulls Roy into a tight hug. The latter enjoys the hug and hugs the former back.

A few seconds later

The hug breaks.

ROY: Happy now?

DIVYA: Yes. To be frank, I’m really really happy to have found a place where I can be myself without any fear of being judged.

Roy chuckles softly.

ROY: Here, you are always free to be yourself. We will never judge you. Don’t worry.

Diyva once again sheds tears of joy.

DIVYA: I’m always indebted to you. To the Flower Storm.

This time, Roy pulls Divya into a hug.

ROY: Hey, it’s okay. You will be with us.

Divya hugs Roy back tighter.

A few seconds later

The hug breaks. And Divya wants to speak her mind out right now.

DIVYA: Roy, can I tell you something?

Roy is curious.

ROY: Of course, Divya. Go ahead.

Divya is initially hesitant but later she musters some courage to say what she wants to say.

DIVYA: I want to marry a Flower Storm member. Will you marry me?

Roy is once again taken aback by what Divya just asked. Divya once again looks embarrassed on seeing Roy’s reaction.

DIVYA: Please don’t think I’m forcing you. I just wanted to marry a Flower Storm member. Is it wrong?

Roy is panting as he still looks embarrassed.

ROY: Okay. Nothing wrong in it. But why specifically me? There are several others here more skilled, more composed, more… everything.

Divya’s hesitation slowly fades.

DIVYA: Because you’re the one who looked at me like I was human… not some damaged goods. You saw a fighter in me when even I had forgotten how to see one.

Roy trembles while speaking.

ROY: I just did what anyone here would’ve done.

Divya gets a bit closer to Roy, making the latter tremble further.

DIVYA: But there’s something special about you.

Roy looks unsure.

ROY: What is that? I’m not a leader. I stumble. I get angry. I don’t always say the right things. What makes you think I’ll be a good husband?

Divya smiles gently.

DIVYA: Because I don’t want perfection. I want someone real. Someone who walks beside me, not ahead. And in the silence between your words, I’ve always felt safe.

Roy still looks unsure and trembles while speaking.

ROY: You really think we could build something… in the middle of all this madness?

Divya speaks in an affirmative tone.

DIVYA: I don’t just think it. I want it. Even in chaos, we can choose love. And I choose you, Roy.

Roy looks away and still trembles while speaking.

ROY: You know… I’ve killed people, Divya. Some in rage, some in silence. Buried parts of myself. I’m not sure there’s much left of me to give.

Divya grabs Roy’s chin and forces him to look into her eyes.

DIVYA: Then let me help you find what’s left. We don’t need to be whole to start something beautiful. We just need to choose each other… every day.

Roy laughs faintly but bitterly.

ROY: Romance doesn’t last long around here. Bullets don’t care about promises.

Divya speaks in a gentle but firm tone.

DIVYA: Maybe not. But hearts still beat between the gunshots. And if we’re going to fight for a world free of taboos and fear… shouldn’t we start by choosing love when it finds us?

Roy sighs and nods his head.

ROY: You’re fearless, aren’t you? Despite the fact that you were just recently rescued?

Divya responds with a warm smile.

DIVYA: No. Just tired of pretending I don’t feel things when I do. I’ve already lived under fear once… I won’t let hesitation steal this from me.

Roy pauses for a moment and then speaks in a firm tone.

ROY: I don’t know how to be gentle, Divya. I’m still learning how to live without armor.

Divya places her hand on Roy’s shoulder. The latter gets anxious but manages to control his anxiety.

DIVYA: Then let’s learn together. You don’t have to promise me the stars, Roy. Just don’t run from the light we already have.

After 5 minutes of pin-drop silence

Roy finally nods; slow, uncertain, but genuine. He speaks in a soft tone.

ROY: Alright. One step at a time… Comrade Divya.

Divya grins and her eyes glint.

DIVYA: That’s “fiancée Divya” to you now.

Roy smirks despite telling himself not to do so.

ROY: Careful. You might actually make me believe in hope again.

Divya laughs softly.

DIVYA: How can you live without hope?

Roy lets out a long breath, as if shedding years of hesitation. He steps forward slowly, looking into Divya’s eyes.

ROY: I’m not good with words… but if what you’re offering is real… if you’re truly sure about me, then I won’t push it away anymore.

Divya smiles through misty eyes.

DIVYA: I’ve never been more sure of anything. We’ve both survived hell… now let’s try building something worth living for.

Roy finally opens his arms, hesitant at first. Divya doesn’t wait. She steps into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, head resting against his chest. His arms tighten around her, slowly but protectively. In the quiet moment, Roy lets his hand trace along her back—almost instinctively, his fingers drift across the side of her waist and then brush over her navel area.

Divya squirms slightly as Roy moves his fingers on the navel area of the former just like in the gif given below.

DIVYA: Hey, careful!!! I’m ticklish.

Roy immediately pulls his hand away and looks embarrassed.

ROY: Aiyayoo!!!! Sorry!!!! Sorry!!!! I’ll be more careful next time.

Divya grins and touches his arm reassuringly.

DIVYA: It’s alright. Just… warning you in advance. If you ever try to sneak up on me during training, that’s my weak spot.

ROY: Are you really ticklish in your Thoppul?

DIVYA: Very much.

Roy then taps Divya right on the navel, causing her to squirm but in a controlled way, just like in the gif given below.

Roy notices Divya’s reaction and immediately pulls his hand away.

ROY: You are absolutely right, Divya. I’ll be more careful next time.

Divya giggles.

DIVYA: You better be.

Roy and Divya share a warm laugh. The tension from earlier has melted into something softer, something real. The former rests his forehead lightly against that of the latter, for a brief moment letting his guard down.

ROY: (whispering) Thank you… for choosing me.

Divya smiles warmly at Roy.

DIVYA: (whispering) Thank you… for saying “yes”.

Both Divya and Roy silently smile at each other for some time.

A few seconds later

ROY: Alright. I think we have to sleep now.

DIVYA: Okay. Let’s sleep then. Goodnight, Roy.

ROY: Goodnight, Divya.

Both Roy and Divya look at each other for one last time before they eventually proceed to hit the bed.