Chapter 78

Chapter One Hundred Forty Two: Undone by a Smile

When the dance was over, everyone applauded and then a new song commenced and some of the assembled danced while others resumed to drinks and conversations.

Lord Akash took Payal for a stroll in the garden while Kushi strayed away from the center of the ballroom, trying to disremember the effects of the recent dance from her mind.

She looked up and saw Lord Arnav conversing with some man, but she saw how he was only half-paying attention. This was very unlike him for he was notably a man of great focus. But tonight, his center was distracted and though he never looked directly at her, she knew he was aware of her presence and was watching her every move from the corner of his eyes.

She felt her heart flip at the realization but at the same time a thought nagged at the back of her mind as to why she was feeling so towards a man whom she could only remember reasons to hate. And then again, she wasn't sure she remembered any of those reasons anymore.

She saw Lady Anjali standing a few feet away, talking with an elite woman, and to take her mind off the haunting face, she walked towards his sister. The woman she was talking too was nearly as aged as Kushi's mother.

"Mistress Vani," introduced Lady Anjali, when Kushi had appeared beside them and bowed low to them, "This is Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta, daughter of Shashi Gupta who once ran the chocolate mill up in the North."

"Ah, yes, the mill which my husband owns now, if my memory is right," said the woman, smiling politely at the girl, "I am sorry but I do not often venture into my husband's businesses, what with a home and family to look after...Have you come to the ball from the North?"

"No, ma'am," Kushi replied warmly, "We live in the South presently."

"I see," said the woman and then in her appraising of Kushi's form, her eyes fell on Kushi's barren neck, and Lady Anjali saw this and she answered for Kushi, "Kushi here had a necklace that was dear to her, being gifted by her mother, but she lost it in the premises of the Castle and we have scoured the place every day since we lost it but could not find it."

From the corner of her eyes, Kushi caught a movement beside her and she looked over her shoulder to stare right into the eyes of the man whom she had been trying to extract from her thoughts.

Lord Arnav was looking at his sister as she said those last words and the very moment that Kushi had looked at him, his gaze slid to her face. Instantly, they looked away and Kushi turned to face Mistress Vani again but she was being called away to dance by her husband and so, bowing to Lady Anjali and Lord Arnav and nodding to Miss Kushi, she left.

After watching Mistress Vani escorted away, Lady Anjali had barely turned to face her brother and Kushi when Lord Arnav in his spurt of impatience asked, "Di, who do you think among us was the better dancer tonight?"

Lady Anjali stared at them, as if trying to ascertain if she was not being asked a jesting query, and then seeing how serious his face looked and how expectant Kushi's, Lady Anjali frowned suspiciously, "Is this some sort of a game? Who the better dancer is?"

"It is not a game, just an enquiry of prestige," said Lord Arnav, and he frowned at his sister, "And I would suggest you name the worthy one quick and quit stalling my time with that disbelieving look of yours, Di."

"Well," Lady Anjali was thoughtful, "I saw quite too many couples in dancing tonight and didn't really focus on you two..." And she had a strange twinkled in her eyes when she said the last line, "but from what I remember on seeing, I would say that the better dancer among you is undoubtedly Miss Kushi."

"WHAT?" Lord Arnav's word echoed through the room and all dancing stopped to look at him, afraid if he was angered and was about to dismiss the ball. Even Nani, who had been engrossed in watching Ram play, looked up.

Lady Anjali saved the situation, smiling at the assembled, "It's alright, we were just having a little family joke."

Everyone nodded, relived and smiling, and returned to their conversations, drinking and dancing.

When Lady Anjali's verdict regarding the best dancer had sunk into her mind, Kushi's face had lit up, "Oh thank you, thank you, Lady Anjali!" and she reached out and embraced Lady Anjali. Even when she released Lady Anjali she was all bright and gleeful.

Lady Anjali looked at her brother and he was visibly fuming, "You side with her because you favor her more than me."

"Do I?" Lady Anjali looked surprised, "Well, good if I do. Because unlike you, she is a worthy receiver of my love. She doesn't give me the feeling that I am loving a stone sometimes."

"Don't worry, Lady Anjali," piped in a very happy Kushi, "He is merely speaking from his defeated pride. Aren't you, sire?"

Lord Arnav shot a glare at Kushi but his frown froze on seeing the smile on her face. What amazed him was that she was smiling, looking at him. And it was not the smile of mockery but one of genuine happiness from being named the victor against him. He felt as though someone had pricked him in the inside but there was no pain. And if it did pain, he could take the pain again and he wanted to.

She smiled...for me...And this thought brought a grin to his face, a pleased triumphant grin, and with that grin plastered on his face and his hands in his pocket, he turned about and marched away proudly.

Lady Anjali stared confusedly at him, but his smug smile had undone Kushi's glee and she suddenly felt a sinking sensation in her heart, knowing not why by that proud grin of his, she didn't feel victorious anymore.

A few minutes later, Lady Anjali came to find Lady Lavanya standing by the balcony, sipping a glass of wine and Lady Anjali joined her.

"Enjoying the night sky?" Lady Anjali asked and Lady Lavanya smiled, her eyes on the wine sparkling in the moonlight.

She said nothing and Lady Anjali enquired warily, "Are you aright, Lady La?"

Lady Lavanya looked up and nodded and then Lady Anjali realized.

She stepped forward and embraced Lady Lavanya gently. Lady Lavanya stood still, surprised by the unexpected action, and then she slid her hand that held no glass around Lady Anjali's shoulder.

"I wish you wouldn't have to go," whispered Lady Anjali.

"I wish so too," said Lady Lavanya in a low voice, leaning her head against Lady Anjali's, "It hurts."

Lady Anjali released her from the embrace and stared at her worriedly.

Lady Lavanya sighed, "I know he said it openly he cannot give me what I seek. But with each passing day, as the truth really sinks in, it hurts to know for certain you will never be loved by the man you wanted to belong to."

Lady Anjali's eyes filled and she caressed Lady Lavanya's face, "My dearest Lavanya..." and here Lady La's eyes also filled because of the warm way in which she was addressed by her first name, and Lady Anjali continued, "My brother is cold and empty inside. He could never have completed you, nor you him...you deserve a better man than him."

Lady Lavanya gazed at Lady Anjali's face, wanting to believe and then Lady Anjali leaned forward, and kissed Lady Lavanya on her forehead, the pale moon casting its gentle light on them.

And when Lady Anjali looked at Lady Lavanya's face again, she was smiling with her eyes closed.

Seeing this, Lady Anjali smiled, and then decided on something, "You know what, Lady La?"

Lady Lavanya opened her eyes.

"We have a cake to cut to mark tonight's ceremony and it is ritually the youngest male in the family who should bring it to the ballroom," Lady Anjali took Lady Lavanya's hand, "Instead of Akash, I want YOU to do the honour of bringing it to ballroom. Will you do that for me?"

Lady Lavanya beamed gratefully and she nodded, "I would be delighted, my lady."

"But the cake is heavy," said Lady Anjali, "You will need one more person to help you. You can take Akash along or Miss Kushi."

Lady Lavanya paused a moment, thinking it over and trying to decipher the mixed emotions rising within her.

"Lord Akash is presently not in the ballroom," said Lady Lavanya finally, preparing to leave for the kitchen already, "I will ask Kushi to help me and in case you chance upon her before I do, do tell her where to find me."

"Certainly, Lady La," said Lady Anjali, smiling encouragingly, as she watched Lady Lavanya walk away.

Lady Anjali sighed and turned to look absent-mindedly at the moon, and it was only when dark clouds shifted beside the moon that she noticed the night sky. Her eyebrows lowered in thought, "A clear day it had been and suddenly it looks like there is a storm coming...how quickly things change in this land."