The door closed behind him with a soft, heavy click.

Ananya kept her eyes lowered and her mouth open exactly as ordered. She heard the soft sound of the key turning in the lock again — this time from the inside. The solid brass bolt slid home. Then came the quiet rustle of fabric as Raghav moved across the room. His bare feet appeared in her limited field of vision, stopping just in front of the chair. The white dhoti brushed her cheek for a moment as he sat down.