Dahlia and the Moonlit Knight:

Two Lives:

Since infancy, Mr. Airavata was raised by a kind couple Belladonna and David Lennan in a small town in England. To them, he was their darling son. To the Lennan's daughter, Brisa, he was her mischievous, yet caring, big brother. To Rakshak, they were his family. But in the  back of his mind, curiosity would not cease in knowing his brain. 

"Do you know where I came from?", little Rocky would ask, "Did you know my real parents?"

Every time he would beg for answers, David would often say, "No, my boy. I'm sorry to say that we hardly know anything about them. Except however, that their name was 'Airavata'."

This only got worse in middle school. Rakshak's appearance differed greatly from his kin. Belladonna had violet eyes, snow-white complexion and raven hair. David's eyes were blue-grey, had dark brown hair and almost a tannish skin tone. As for Brisa, she had her mother's eyes and skin with her father's hair. Rakshak, meanwhile, had black hair, brown eyes and a skin tone reminiscent of a Middle Eastern. 

No doubt students and teachers had noticed this. As a result, the poor lad would be ostracized and bullied for it greatly. As time went on, he had grown more alienated. Even with the Lennans. 

"If I was with my real parents,", he would say to himself, "maybe then I wouldn't be alone."

This mindset came to a pause once Rakshak had graduated high school. He enrolled into Bridgeway University to study graphic designs in 1964. During his four-year studying, he had joined a band called, "The No Names" as a more exciting way to make money. Preforming at Club Lolli's every weekend. The group consisted George Waverly, John Burns, and Keith Grover. Though the crew would have their arguments, they would get along most of the time. 

Then 1968 came along when Rakshak met the future Mrs.Airavata. It was the annual Battle of the Bands at Lolli's. The No Names were one of the contestants along with the Camdens.  A brother and sister duo from America who came to the event to get more notoriety. 

The brother, 22-year-old Daniel, is the elder of the pair. Sporting a dirty blonde mop-top, brown eyes and an ambitious disposition. Performing with his guitar, he would sing back-up. As for his younger 18-year-old sister, Katheryn was a sweet, brunette. Sharing her brother's eyes, she would not mind wearing pink despite being a tomboy growing up. And the fact that she was the crew's drummer.

Once seeing her, Rakshak could not help but find her kinda cute. He would have just kept the opinion at that but Keith, John and George encouraged him to talk to her. After much consideration, and after the contest (which was won by a different band), the youngster had gotten the nerve to talk to the little drummer girl.

The rest of the No-Names hid backstage while he went to the duo who were packing up their things before they leave. Seeing Katheryn putting her drums in their cases, he walks to her with a beating heart and bitten lips.

"Hey.", he said softly, yet loud enough to have Miss. Camden notice him. "You were great. You and your group."

"Thanks.". she smiled, "I was going to say the same to you. How did you guys not win?"

"The judges have bad taste. Should've picked you two."

Katheryn shrugged, "Oh come on, we weren't that great."

"Yes, you are. I mean-just listen to your voice! It's like an angel's. A silk-voiced angel."

"You're not just saying that to flatter me, are you?"

"Of course not, love.", Rakshak chuckles, "I really mean it."

Miss. Camden could not help but blush. "Well...", she giggles, "you got the voice of an angel too. But a more...powerful one." 

As corny as that compliment was, Mr. Airavata found it sweet to hear. And with much talk, phone numbers were exchanged. Leading to friendly outings between the bands. Letters being written when the Camdens went back to the US. And during these visits, Katheryn and Rakshak would go off on dates. From 1968-1970, this would go on until marriage was proposed and "I do"s' were exchanged. The Lennans were in sheer delight. Finally their son had found happiness! Someone to share his life with! Maybe now, he would not be so alone. 

    For Katheryn's family, it was polarizing. She is only 20 for Pete's sakes! How could she just throw her life away?! However, they should not have been too worried. Rakshak had moved to the U.S. so his new wife could be closer to her kin. And, once he had finished schooling, the new husband went to work for a catalog company while Mrs. Airavata had gotten a job a a local bakery in order to pay for Katheryn's studies. Studies that would be a pain in the neck to put up with. Yet, she was still able to finally graduate in May of 1971. Leaving her and her husband to work with one less worry.