Sara's Trilemma

The Dazzling Night

Indigo coloured clouds smothered the cool January night sky, but the spirit of the group was high. When we finally reached outside the building, we saw Rishi's Audi SUV waiting. I carefully placed the gown inside the cabin, while Kush kept the door open for me. He joined me in the backseat, while Tanya took the front passenger seat with Rishi driving. Both of the guys, without their glasses, looked suave.

As Rishi drove the car, Kush looked sideways at me and smiled. I couldn't tell, but something between us changed, it became intimate in a way.

"I have a gift for you," he murmured, putting his hand to his blazer.

"You don't have--" I was interrupted by a box which he produced before me, with a suspense-filled smile on his face.

"I am not sure if it is a good idea, Kush," I said, barely breathing. The dim light was not helping to disguise my reaction to his well-thought gesture.

He ignored my plea, opened the box, pulled out a delicate chain with a small heart-shaped pendant, which seemed to be made of tiny diamonds set in white gold. The fleeting lights outside of the window flickered on the diamonds, which sparkled. He seemed to be breathing shallow, as he leaned into me with determination and nervousness. He locked the chain on my nape and then freed my hair, with a gentle touch. Then I saw a sapphire stone in the middle of the heart, standing out from the white emanating metal. My heart constricted in a fear over his apparent love for me, which I would not be able to reciprocate fully.

A tear escaped my eye, as I clutched his hand which was placed on the stone pendant. "This is too much! I am only your friend."

"No and no. This is all I could get for you in my modest earning. But you are worth more. And you are more than a friend to me, so much more! I will not be able to explain how much more." The truth of his words reflected in his eyes, there was no veil between his heart and his eyes.

I gulped and let go of his hands. And slowly placed my head on his shoulders, shuddering inside with mixed emotions.

After half an hour silent drive, we reached the venue, Hilton hotel at Mumbai sea-shore with a dome-shaped hall. The dome was lighted up in golden lights all over, the red carpet was laid out from the stairway till the road side. People were swarming towards the entry with beautiful dresses and suits. There were limos that stood by the pavement where the celebrities got out, with a smile plastered on their faces, the photographers were already capturing the arrival of the guests. The railing barely kept them from falling onto the red carpet.

As decided in the morning, Anamika was to meet me in the hall directly. So getting out of the car, we headed directly towards the stairway leading to the hall. Tanya had communicated her mixed feelings in that few minutes, saying that she was happy to be with him, all thanks to me. Her words, not mine! She gave an encouraging nod, seeing the chain and the pendant, not forgetting to mention that it looked elegant.

I freed my hand from Kush's arm to adjust the dress one more time and proceeded to the red carpet when suddenly I looked up and saw Anamika with her bold red gown on the landing, just before the wide door, talking in a group. I took a step forward to peer through the crowd to the man having his hand on her waist. I didn't know if she was coming with a date of her own. And then the face produced itself from her left side, which made my heart stop for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't end there, my foot caught in my gown and I toppled over, face down on the carpet. I was suddenly bathed with a flash of white lights, as I lay on my stomach, looking through the shiny stilettoes, cursing the fate.

"Sara! Are you alright?" Kush's voice fell on my ears from behind me.

I struggled to get up, but the dress was restricting my leg movements, though a second later, a set of hands pulled me in one swift motion, holding me whilst I regained my balance. And a sting of pain coursed through my ankle, forcing me to blur out the surrounding. Meanwhile, the photographers didn't stop capturing the most embarrassing moment I had to face in years, on the damn cameras.