Salaam Namaste dears! 😛The wait is finally over!!
It's time for the great ball! As usual, give in your creative feedback and critical suggestions to make my FF better. Aand this time I'm threathening you guys *glares at everyone* If I don't get the required and proper feedback. I'll quit this FF! and that's indeed a threat so you'd better take me seriously.
Recap: Nikita takes Ridhima shopping for the party and gets her the best ensemble. AR have a last dance practice session before the ball which turns out to be more than a dance and AR share their first kiss!
Chp. 49 The masquerade ball
The storm had blown itself by the morning and the sky was a clear blue with the sun glowing brilliantly.
"Ridhima, good morning, how's mom today?"
Nikita startled Ridhima out of her thoughts and she accidently dropped the glass which crashed on the floor.
"Ridhima? Did I scare you? What happened?"
"Er, nothing. I'm sorry," Ridhima was still confused.
"Your gown arrived from Garcy's last night, thought I'd inform you," Nikita said.
"Yeah, BR is absolutely fine," said Ridhima.
Nikita was confused. She held Ridhima by the shoulders and asked gently, "What happened? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah... Yeah, everything's fine," Ridhima replied.
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
"Okay," Nikita shrugged. "Nida and Nafisa are coming in the eve from the salon; see you at my quarters then. I'll ask Bhanumati to send someone and clear this mess."
Ridhima nodded and Nikita left wondering what could have happened last night that Ridhima was so lost. When they'd returned to the palace, everything was fine and she had been her usual self, so what was the matter now?
Ridhima was too engrossed in her thoughts since last night. That sensuous dance last night and that sizzling, soul searing kiss was all she could think of. Ridhima could swear she'd seen fireworks exploding, bright colors flashing in every direction. Those moments had been priceless; moments of pure ecstasy and pleasure. Common sense said she should have stopped that kiss but during those moments she had been totally swept off her feet by Maan and she hadn't even been able to spell common sense, much less use it. She had been fascinated by those firm, sensuous and demanding lips. The question was not why did Maan kiss her but rather why did she respond like she did? Why did she enjoy that dance with him? What would happen tonight? How would she face Maan? How would he react? Did she regret that kiss? Did she want to see Maan again? Her own heart was hidden from her.
***
Nikita ran into Armaan on the way back to her room.
"Bhaiyya?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you and Ridhima bhabhi have a spat?"
"Nikita, what are you doing calling Ridhima 'bhabhi' right here in the corridors? No, we didn't have a spat, why?"
"Something happened last night that has shaken her up. She's too lost and aloof."
Lost and aloof? Not bad, it means she's thinking about us and last night.
"Shaken her up? In a good way or bad?"
"How would I know? Wait, are you trying to hide something bhaiyya?"
"Nope, why would I?"
"Okay. Maybe you should talk to her," Nikita suggested.
Armaan nodded and left.
***
The royal ballroom was a perfect sight. Garv had done an awesome job! The decorations put up were perfectly in accordance with the theme. The whole ballroom gave off a positively romantic ambience. The guests started arriving and the whole ballroom was abuzz with activity. The chandeliers sparkled the whole room. Rahul and Ryan were congratulating Garv for the whole arrangement.
"So buddy, hope you have a nice time too," said Rahul. Garv nodded. Anjali was his date for tonight but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. He waited patiently and mingled with the other guests while she finally decided to grace him with her presence.
"Ryan, spotted Armaan bhaiyya?"
"Nope, not yet."
"Wonder where he is?"
"Oh, right there!"
Armaan made an appearance sporting a debonair look in a sauve black tuxedo.
"Oho, doesn't look like he has a date. I'll have to find one for him," said Rahul.
Ryan nodded his approval.
The orchestra was playing and people had already begun enjoying themselves. However, Rahul wanted Armaan bhaiyya to open the ball and so he busied himself in finding a date for his brother.
Muskan also soon arrived looking stunningly gorgeous in a flowing white gown and a beautiful diamond wreath around her neck. She had let her hair loose today and it danced around her face. Rahul welcomed her with a peck on the lips and said, "Looking breathtakingly beautiful!"
Muskan blushed slightly and said, "You too."
"What? Beautiful? Muskan, guys ain't beautiful," he rolled his eyes.
Muskan gave him a painless smack on the shoulder and said, "I meant handsome."
Rahul grinned, "Muskan, I want Armaan bhaiyya to open the ball, as a thank you for supporting us through our engagement. You have any issues with that?"
She looked thoughtful, "Nope, no issues. In fact, it is a good idea. Who's his date?"
"Dunno, but will find out soon."
He excused himself and resumed his search for a date for his brother and Muskan was already surrounded by her friends.
When Anjali arrived she noticed Ryan, Afra and Garv huddled together and deep in conversation. They were laughing about something and Anjali yearned to be with them, especially Ryan.
No Anjali, he isn't your date for tonight, it's Garv. So let Ryan enjoy with Afra. She noticed that Afra was indeed looking splendid tonight. The girl had great taste in clothes. And jewellery. And people too...
"Okay Ryan, here I come," she said to herself and gracefully walked towards them.
"Garv, you're looking stunning!" she said curling a hand around his arm and leaning on him. "Hi Ryan; Afra, you're going to attract a lot of unwanted attention, darling. You're looking terrific!"
"Thanks Anjali."
"Guys, if you could please excuse us, I want Garv to meet a few of my friends. Come on Garv, let's go," she said dragging him away from there. Ryan and Afra shared a knowing smile.
Maybe agreeing to be Anjali's date hadn't been a good idea after all, hope the evening didn't turn out to be a nightmare, thought Garv.
Armaan scanned the room for Ridhima but she was nowhere to be seen. She should've arrived by now. For a fleeting moment he thought what if she was angry about last night and didn't want to see him again? No! That was impossible, she would come! She had to come!
Rahul approached him with a few of his girlfriends and introduced them to him. Armaan paid attention to the conversation but kept stealing glances at the entrance to see if Ridhima had arrived. Rahul's friends kept hovering around making vain attempts to catch Armaan's eye. But he wasn't even vaguely into it. He was suddenly rendered speechless by someone's appearance. He just gaped at the entrance stunned. Rahul turned to look at the cause of his brother's distraction. He too was speechless. He was surprised that his brother was finally looking at a girl with such interest. But there was some appeal about her which the hovering beauties certainly didn't possess. As the figure came closer, Rahul couldn't help but gasp. It was Ridhima!
She was looking stunningly royal in her attire. The gown was an extravagant confection in pearly white satin and lace. The wide set straps of the gown held on to her delicate shoulders, the bodice tapered to a tight waist and a full, long soft pearly white skirt with a diamond sash around the waist, flowed till her ankles clinging to her body and accentuating her curves. Her hair, dark black and shiny was twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head in gleaming tendrils and coils in a becoming style which left her neck exposed due to a dcolletage. A few strands were falling loose on her face which clung to her cheeks gracefully. Her face held the faintest touches of make-up. Icy blue diamonds adorned her neck and wrist and an elegant sapphire sat royally on her finger.
Awesome choice Bhaiyya. You've kept up my reputation, Rahul grinned as he thought to himself.
So he had been right the other day. He had seen a girl with his brother and she was none other than Nikita's friend Ridhima! So it was Ridhima who had saved his brother's life. A sudden sense of gratitude surged through him. A volunteer at the entrance handed her a mask and Ridhima put it on. Time for some action, thought Rahul. He pulled his mask over his face, excused himself from his brother and said to himself, "Welcome to the party, Cinderella!"
Rahul made his way to where Ridhima was standing and said, "Excuse me, miss."
Ridhima turned and gave him a quizzical look.
"I want your help. My girlfriend really likes your mask and she is kinda really adamant. She wants only this and refuses to settle for any other. Um, so could you please exchange your mask for this one? Please?" said Rahul. He made a pleading face and showed her an incredibly beautiful mask. It was jet black with tiny silver diamonds around the eyes and a soft and pretty feather protruding above the left eye. Ridhima didn't mind.
"Sure, you can have it," she replied. She took it off and handed it over to him and took the other mask from him.
"Thanks. By the way, you're looking really gorgeous," he winked at her.
She just smiled in reply. Rahul thanked her and left. As he moved some distance, he crumpled the mask and threw it into a corner. Good job Prince! Let the show begin! he said to himself.
***
Ridhima looked around but there was no sign of Maan yet. Was he angry with her because of last night? But he couldn't! She had to make him understand that whatever happened last night was a mistake. Ridhima knew it was difficult for him but he would have to understand. Probably, this was her only last beautiful night with him. She would enjoy it and every memory of tonight would be hers to cherish forever. But where was Maan?
Ridhima was too busy looking for Maan when someone tapped her on the shoulder and asked, "Looking for someone miss?"
She turned to find an incredibly angelic looking Nikita beaming at her.
"Nikita! You're looking splendid!"
"Well, well, all thanks to you," she replied with a grin.
Nikita and Ridhima had decided to enter the ballroom separately -a strategy to avoid catching attention of Bhavayata and her likes- and so Ridhima had arrived first while Nikita followed later.
"Looking for Maan?"
Ridhima nodded.
"You'll find him around somewhere, have a nice time," she said with a wink and Ridhima couldn't help but blush.
"Hey, whom have you come with?" Ridhima asked suspiciously.
Nikita sighed, "No one. You see it was Rahul bhaiyya and you who forced me, I wasn't actually asked out by anyone."
Did Nikita not know that Abhimanyu was here too?
"Oh don't you worry Ridhima, I'll enjoy myself," she assured her and walked away.
Ridhima resumed her search for Maan but to no avail. She was beginning to wonder whether she should stay at the party or leave.
Abhimanyu was chatting with someone when a pretty female approached him, "Hey handsome!"
Abhimanyu was confused. He didn't recognize her but she was pretty casual with him. He excused himself and said, "Hi. Do I know you?"
She smiled and said, "Maybe. Hey are you alone? Even I don't have a date, we could team up."
Abhimanyu was hesitant, "Well thanks, but I don't dance and I do not want to spoil your evening by teaming up with you."
"Now, what kind of a thing is that to tell a lady?"
Abhimanyu was still trying to get rid of the girl without any success when suddenly the music faded and silence fell across the ballroom as a voice echoed throughout.
"Ladies and gentlemen, hope you're having a great time."
A positive cheer from the guests proved the statement true.
"Great. Now it's time to officially open the ball and have some real fun."
The crowd cheered excitedly.
"Okay, so we want Kunwar Armaan to open the ball and the exciting part is..."
What?! He was supposed to open the ball? But Ridhima was nowhere to be seen! He couldn't dance alone and nor did he want to pick a blind date. God, Rahul, what a mess you've got me in? Armaan thought.
"...the lucky girl to open the ball with Kunwar Armaan is gonna be one of you!"
All the girls were crazy with excitement.
"So, it goes this way. There is just one girl out there who is wearing a mask which matches exactly with that of our Prince here and that very girl shall get a chance to open the ball with him. So let's find our Cinderella for tonight!"
Rahul and his funny ideas! Now he'd have to put up with some random girl. Armaan just hoped that she wasn't the irritating types, those who'd want to stick with him till the end.
The chandeliers dimmed and the spotlights came on twirling across the ballroom over the girls present. The excitement was at its peak.
"Let's see on whom does our spotlight stop?"
The lights kept whirling across the room and then oh so slowly and suddenly stopped on someone in the centre...
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