Page 138 - Leadership in the Indian Army

"I was trying to annoy you," she said.

He gave her a sidelong glance. "It worked."

But she thought his grimace softened. And she thought that maybe the

sunburn on his cheeks deepened momentarily.

* * *

Laila didn't mean to tell him. She'd, in fact, decided that telling him
would be a very bad idea. Someone would get hurt, because Tariq

wouldn't be able to let it pass. But when they were on the street later,

heading down to the bus stop, she saw Khadim again, leaning against a

wall He was surrounded by his friends, thumbs hooked in his belt loops.
He grinned at her defiantly.

And so she told Tariq. The story spilled out of her mouth before she

could stop it.
"He did what?"

She told him again.

He pointed to Khadim. "Him? He's the one? You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Tariq clenched his teeth and muttered something to himself in Pashto
that Laila didn't catch. "You wait here," he said, in Farsi now.

"No, Tariq-"

He was already crossing the street.

Khadim was the first to see him. His grin faded, and he pushed himself
off the wall. He unhooked his thumbs from the belt loops and made