Rani slapped him hard, hoping to jolt him back to reality. He looked up at her with total incomprehension, then his face puckered with rage. Leaping angrily to his feet, Imran smashed her across the face with all his strength—not just a slap but a hard punch—sending her flying across the room. Then his anger evaporated just as instantly. He fell to his knees and began to cry.