Chapter 77

Chapter One Hundred Forty One: In His Arms

"So, how do you find the ball, Madhumati?" asked Master Happy, coming to stand beside her where she stood watching her brother and his wife happily dancing.

Madhumati looked up at Master Happy, "A grand ball, I say. But I came here more to see Lady Anjali specifically for we have only heard of her and her gracefulness."

"And?" Master Happy asked, looking towards where Lady Anjali was dancing with his apprentice Ram, "How do you find her?"

"More beautiful and kind of heart than what we have heard her to be," said Mistress Madhumati, smiling at the sight of the small boy trying to match to the steps of the carrying young woman who was laughing as she danced with her little friend.

The music changed just then and another slow melody was played by the Orchestra.

"Do you not feel the music good for a dance, Madhumati?"

Madhumati nodded absent-mindedly, her surprised gaze now on her niece dancing with the Second Lord.

"Then come and dance with me."

Madhumati turned to stare at Master Happy, "Didn't we already?"

Master Happy placed his glass on the nearby table and then looked at her, "The first dance was mere formal beginning to the ball. But this I ask for us."

"I don't think I should," said Madhumati seriously, "It is not right for a widow like me."

"You have been a widow for quite a long time now," said Master Happy, "Come and forget your emptiness for a night. Come and be young again."

Madhumati looked doubtfully at Master Happy, his grey hair glistening under the chandeliers and his middle-aged eyes eager with the sparkle in them.

He stretched his hand towards her. She frowned at his hand but then slipped her hand into it, "Can't waste a wondrous ball and a magnificent music over my adamancy, now, can I?"

Master Happy only smiled as he led her to stand beside where her brother was dancing.

Madhumati began waltzing with Master Happy, and she caught her brother looking over his shoulder at her. He winked at her before turning his sole attention to his wife.

A little distance away, even Lady Manorama was dancing with her husband, who kept telling her how his 'Manu' was looking quite radiant and colorful that ball evening. "I feel like I am holding a rainbow in my arms," said her husband, and Lady Manorama blushed.

Lady Lavanya was standing beside the table, sipping her glass of wine thoughtfully as she watched manifold couples dancing before her. Then her gaze was drawn to the couple entering the ballroom and she stopped and stared.

Lord Arnav marched in the front as though he had a mission waiting to be accomplished and he walked right up to the center of the ball. Right behind, following him as though she were being dragged by an invisible noose around her neck, came Kushi. She stopped a few distance away from Lord Arnav, looking uneasily around at everyone. Her eyes fell on her sister and Lord Akash dancing and she gaped and her eyes immediately sought her parents who were dancing on her other oblivious to everything around them.

She would have stood there, watching her sister and her parents dance, if she hadn't felt a warm hand brush against her hand. She looked down and her eyes followed he owner of the hand who was taking hers. Lord Arnav's eyes looked determined as he held her hand in his and drew her towards the center of the room.

"Is this for the challenge?" asked Kushi uneasily, as he held her before him, his hands pressed on her back in preparation for the waltz.

"Evidently," muttered Lord Arnav, lifting her hands and placing them on his shoulder. She slid her hands across the back of his shoulders to encircle his neck and then she frowned at his chest, unable to look into his face, "Shouldn't we tell Lady Anjali then, so that she can watch us and decide who the better one among us is?"

"She is already watching us," said Lord Arnav and then they began swaying and Kushi closed her eyes, feeling nervous suddenly. Was she nervous because he was holding her? Or was she nervous because her parents might notice their dance? It was not like the quadrille. She had been shifted into his hand then, but here, for this dance, she was chosen.

Watching all this, Lady Lavanya felt suddenly weak inside. She turned around and put her wineglass on the table. With her hands holding onto the table for support, she turned to face the ballroom again when a face appeared before her, looking at her with eyes that seemed to reach out to her heart.

"Will you dance with me, my lady?" asked Master Aman, his hand held before her.

She looked at his face and saw that he was serious. His hand waited before her, unmoved. Waiting for her to take him………

She slid her hand into his and he smiled. She saw his smile in his eyes. She smiled politely in return.

And then he led her to the center of the ballroom and she tried to forget the couple dancing beside her. She tried to look at the man before her, into the eyes that seemed to understand, and she tried to forget her sorrows for one last dance…….

The candles in the overhead chandeliers were dim and the gentle moonlight cast its glimmer on the wide floor through the tall windows of the ballroom. The Orchestra played the melody with rapture and Kushi found herself drowning in the music and melting in his secure arms around her, as the music rose with a mark of something magical and promising.

Lord Akash felt his heart tug yearningly as he swayed with Payal……….if you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today……..

Master Aman pressed Lady Lavanya's hand gently in his warm one……if you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way……

Lord Arnav leaned into Kushi and she breathed against his neck, feeling his hot breath on her forehead……if you are not mine then why does your heart return my call……..

Madhumati swayed slowly in Master Happy's arms ………if you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all……..

Lord Arnav pressed Kushi to his chest as he swayed her…..I never know what the future brings but I know you're here with me now….

He released her and held her at arm's length before him and she gazed at him……..we'll make it through and I hope you're the one I share my life with……….

He brought her slowly towards him…..I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand……

They circled where they stood, not letting go off each other's hands……..if I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?

He pulled her to him, and she gasped, his dark desirous eyes weakening her…….Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

Master Aman twirled Lady Lavanya and she closed her eyes as she danced to his lead……If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed……

Lord Arnav dipped Kushi backwards and then slowly brought her up to stand before him, not taking his eyes of her bewitching face upon which the overhead candles cast its tender light…….if I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?

Master Happy waltzed with Madhumati who was looking over his shoulder into the empty space…..if you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life……..

Payal inhaled sharply when Lord Akash pressed his hands that were on her hips….if you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife…..

Lord Arnav twirled Kushi around him……..I don't know why you're so far way but I know that this much is true….

He hoisted her up, her feet lifting from the cold ballroom floor and his strong arms holding her securely to him……we'll make it through and I hope you are the one I share my life with……..

He brought her down and dipped her again, pressing his face to her neck and she gasped….and I wish that you could be the one I die with……..

He brought her up and then they waltzed some more……and he slid his hands slowly from her shoulders and down her sides, and a shiver ran down her spine……and I breathe you into my heart…...his face was too close to hers, their noses touching…….cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right…….

He turned her about, pressed her back to his chest and leaned his face against the side of her head…..I don't want to run way…..I don't understand…….

She turned around and slid her arms around his neck and they swayed, his eyes drinking in her beauty and her's unwaveringly gazing into his deep dark eyes……If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am………….

He swayed her, his arms around her and she reclined her head against his chest and closed her eyes……….is there any way that I could stay in your arms………

Anachronism in the tale again: Daniel Bedingfield's IF YOU'RE NOT THE ONE. Officially my second favorite song (after Nick Lachey's What's Left of Me).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3bFOT1e-AU

When I first decided to make ArShi dance to Bedingfield's magic, I wanted it to be exclusively for them. But as the tale progressed, I realized the chapter would have more importance than just for ArShi. It was a chapter where some bonds were to find foundation.

Reading the chapter will not help you enough to know what the song really means. You HAVE TO listen to it and the way it is sung. Only then will the words find meaning in your heart……..

I am sorry I could not reply to any of the comments or like them either. I will when I return. For now, I hope you forgive me. I was afraid I would not be able to post this update on the promised date. But when my flesh was weak, my spirit was willing. I would like to thank Aura for coming to my house and through a single hug, giving me the strength to rise from the bed and take a trip to Arhasia. I will not stay, for I am weak and I need my rest. But I wanted to come to gift you all my grateful Valentine Wishes because you all deserve it. I am sorry. Really sorry that I cannot stay. That I cannot be there to tell you how much you all mean to me…………Hope you will understand it in my silences like how I understand yours. And if I am well on the morrow, I will try to update tomorrow.

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