Chapter 79

Chapter One Hundred Forty Three: An Unrequited Proposal

After the dance, Lord Akash took Payal for a stroll in the Castle garden. He held her hand and without words, beckoned her to discover the Castle garden in the moonlight.

"It's beautiful," whispered Payal, smiling around at the trees, whose shadowed leaves were touched by the tender moonlight.

While Payal busied in marveling the garden, Lord Akash admired the woman beside him, how her eyes sparkled through the mask, as she took in all that was around her.

"Yes," he replied in a low voice, "Beautiful, indeed."

Payal smiled at this response and looked up at him gratefully only to have her smile slip when she realized what he had meant. Blushing, she looked away instantly and tried to withdraw her hand from his hold.

But he held onto her hand and led her towards the white bench that was positioned in the center of the garden, among a few trees.

He helped her sit though she was afraid to, for just as she had feared, he too joined her on the bench, his legs stretched before him leisurely but his shoulders leaning towards her.

A cold breeze blew across the garden just then and she shivered, and he moved closer to her, letting the warmth of his chest press against her shoulder and arm.

She stood up suddenly but he held her hand.

She closed her eyes, "Please, my lord, let's return back..."

"Do you really want to return?" asked Lord Akash, looking at her yearningly, his hand holding hers.

She opened her eyes and stared at the night sky, that was devoid of stars, "It looks like a storm is coming, we must go in." And yet, somewhere she longed to remain here, alone with him.

"We shall go then," he assured her, standing up, still not letting go of her hand, "but first, I want you to answer my question."

"What question?" she turned to look at him, astounded.

"That which I am about to ask."

She didn't like the sound of this one bit and she stood there, staring at the tree branches over his shoulder.

He neared closer to her, lifted her hand, kissed its back, earning a light gasp from her, and then whispered in her ear, "Will you, Miss Payal Gupta do me the honour of being my-"

"NO!" Payal yanked her hand out of his hold and hastily stepped back and frowned at his surprised face, one of his hands still held in midair from where her hand had been withdrawn.

"No," Payal voiced in a more controlled but firm voice, "I cannot. And you know why."

Lord Akash was clearly hurt and the mask could not conceal it but his voice was hopeful, "If it is my wealth and lordship that apprehends you, I am willing to discard them all in return for you."

Payal frowned at him, "Discard who you really are and distress your parents over me?"

"My parents will understand why I decided to leave all fame and fortunes behind," said Lord Akash, "I have finally found what my life is worthy to find meaning in."

Payal was confused, "The Meaning of your Life?"

"You," Lord Akash said firmly, his eyes yearning when we voiced that word.

"My Lord?" Payal was startled.

"My love!" Lord Akash stepped towards her, his hands reaching for her.

"No, no, don't call me that," she shook her head, taking steps away from him.

"Why not?" he stopped, aggravated, "What is wrong?" and then he saw it in her face, "Why do you worry?"

"I do not know," Payal said, fidgeting with her fingers, as she looked anywhere but at the man before her, trying to not let him see the tears that had risen in her eyes, "Kushi has always been the uncertain, hasty one, and I the more controlled and convinced sister. And yet, here I stand in a moment of time when I am unsure as to the feelings of my heart."

"Do you question what we entail?" he asked, hoping against hope.

She sighed at the ground, "This is not friendship, that I am certain of."

"It is love," he assured her warmly.

"Then I fear I am lost," her shoulders and legs felt weak all of a sudden.

"Why so?" he felt his heart sink.

A teardrop broke its fortitude and slid down her mask and down her pale cheek, "To have fallen in love with a man I can never dream of belonging to is not only a folly on my part but a possible scar on my father's name."

Just then a hand brushed upon her cheek, wiping her tear away and she looked up to see him stand before her, his face understanding.

"You shall have me, my love, for you can belong to my heart alone," he told her, taking her hands in his.

"You are too kind, my lord," she said, watching him gently kiss her fingers while battling within herself whether to let him continue or to withdraw her hands again, "But you forget the huge void that stands between us. The void formed by our births."

"My birth cannot hamper with my love for you," he promised her, and leaned towards her face.

She looked away, "And I cannot let my love hurt my parents or yours in any way." She looked at him, her tear-filled gaze firm, and he knew she meant it when she said, "Unless our parents whole-heartedly bless our desire to unite, I shall not answer to the proposal you made to me tonight."

Lord Akash's gaze was equally determined when he replied, "Then we shall wait no further and end this torment of your heart and mine this very night itself."

You won't believe how much moved I was getting your lovely comments,deep thoughts expressed, sweet wishes, memories of the show, awesome pictures, the unexpected super-special gift from KP and that amazing song by Soul which I am still listening to...There is only one way I can thank you all individually and that is by intruding into the Book of Comrades Chronicles again. Just wait a day or two more and I am coming in spirit and strength: not only to thank you all on the Thread itself, but also with a tiny --what do they call it-- Arhilicious update...!!!! *wink*