Empire of Ash and Silk

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Farewell of Dashami

The morning sun cast a soft glow over the palace, warming the courtyard where Anaya and Laxmi sat for their final singing practice together. The preparations for Dashami were underway; the priests chanted, the aroma of incense wafted through the corridors, and everyone's heart felt the bittersweetness of the occasion. After today, Laxmi, Azeem, and Zahir would all leave, returning to their kingdoms, leaving only memories behind.

Anaya adjusted her sitar, looking over at Laxmi, whose eyes mirrored her own sadness. But today was not for tears—it was for music, for their last duet. Anaya took a deep breath, closing her eyes as her fingers began to pluck the strings. Slowly, her voice rose, gentle yet filled with the depth of emotions they shared.

"मोरे नैना, बावरे हुए, तेरे ही देख के सपने,
मेरा मन भरमाए..."

Laxmi's voice joined hers, their voices intertwining in perfect harmony as they sang of longing, of heartache and joy all at once. Their voices flowed together like two rivers merging, filling the air with a haunting beauty that spoke of old promises and uncertain tomorrows.

As they reached the end of the song, a quiet hush fell over the room. But the stillness didn't last long—Anaya felt a presence, a familiar warmth, and turned to see Aarav, Azeem, and Zahir standing near the door. They'd been listening. Aarav and Azeem clapped, and Zahir's eyes held a quiet admiration, his smile gentle but filled with unspoken words.

Anaya tried to hide her surprise and playfully raised her chin. "Eavesdropping, were you?"

Zahir shrugged, a twinkle in his eye. "Maybe you're just that captivating."

Anaya rolled her eyes, though her cheeks warmed at his words. Just then, Aarav, ever the jokester, piped up. "We were just here to make sure you weren't singing so terribly that the palace guards thought it was a battle cry!"

Laxmi laughed, nudging Aarav. "Careful, Aarav! Or I might sing so loudly, the palace might think you're a lion and try to cage you up!"

As the laughter died down, Anaya hesitated. She was about to start another song, one that she'd grown up hearing in her family, filled with nostalgia and yearning. She closed her eyes again, her voice soft as she began:

"रघुपति राघव राजाराम, पतित पावन सीताराम..."

To her surprise, a second voice joined hers—strong, deep, and steady. It was Zahir. His voice blended effortlessly with hers, the sound filling the room like a shared secret. She glanced at him, momentarily losing her place in the song as she realized how beautifully he sang. Zahir's eyes were closed, his expression serene, as if he too was lost in the music.

When they finished, everyone stared at Zahir, stunned.

"Since when can you sing like that?" Aarav asked, his brows raised.

Zahir just shrugged. "It's not something I share often." He shot a quick glance at Anaya, who tried not to let her own smile show. "But it seems I couldn't resist joining in today."

Laxmi smirked, her gaze shifting between Anaya and Zahir knowingly. "You two sound rather lovely together. You should sing more often."

The group lingered in the courtyard, enjoying the warmth of one another's presence. It was Azeem who broke the silence, his tone half-joking, half-serious. "I can't believe this is our last day here. Doesn't it feel like we just arrived?"

Laxmi sighed, her hand slipping into Aarav's, who gave it a gentle squeeze. He was quiet, his usual cheerfulness dimmed by the thought of her leaving. But Anaya caught his gaze, nodding to remind him of her promise. He held onto that, and as he did, a small smile appeared, the glimmer of hope softening his sadness.

The rest of the day passed in a series of treasured moments. The group wandered through the palace gardens, laughing over old stories, stealing glances at one another, and grasping at every last second they could spend together. Anaya couldn't help noticing the silent glances between Aarav and Laxmi, the way they lingered when they thought no one was watching. And when Zahir's gaze met hers, something inside her chest tightened and warmed at the same time.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, they found themselves sitting near the temple steps, the orange glow of the sky casting everything in a warm light. Zahir sat beside Anaya, close enough that their shoulders brushed. After a moment of silence, he leaned in, his voice soft.

"So, tell me," he said, tilting his head with a teasing smile. "Are you going to miss me?"

Anaya glanced at him, rolling her eyes to hide her own flustered feeling. "Not even a little bit," she replied with a smirk, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

He raised an eyebrow, feigning a hurt expression. "Is that so? You wound me, Rajkumari."

She tried to stifle a laugh, her voice softening. "Fine, maybe... a little."

Zahir chuckled, looking at her in a way that made her heart skip. "I'll miss you too, Anaya. More than you know."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, words became unnecessary. They both understood the weight of what they weren't saying, and the silence spoke of everything that was still unsaid.

The afternoon stretched on, filled with laughter, secret smiles, and glances that would stay in each of their memories. The group made their way back to the palace, the mood somber yet brimming with the joy of having shared these moments. For the first time, Anaya felt a deep sense of peace, the kind that came from having loved and been loved in return, even if only in fleeting, silent gestures.

As night descended, Anaya and Zahir found themselves alone in the courtyard. He took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I meant it, you know. I'll think of you every day, even when I'm away."

Anaya's heart swelled with a mix of sadness and something she couldn't quite name. She squeezed his hand back, offering a soft smile. "And I'll think of you, Zahir."

With that, he pressed a gentle kiss to her hand, lingering there a moment before stepping back. They said nothing more as he walked away, leaving Anaya alone in the courtyard, her heart full with the memories they'd created. The Dashami celebrations continued on around her, but for Anaya, this moment—these friendships, these connections—would remain, long after the music and lights faded.