6) Chapter

The grand Badami temple courtyard, illuminated by soft lantern light. The air is fragrant with jasmine, and the sound of temple bells and festivies echoes in the distance. The young devadasi, who had danced and sung so gracefully before , began to remove her heavy jewelry after the performance in the silent countyard. WIth the soft breeze she hyms a melody.

Suddenly, Ananta appeared in the temple courtyard as if from nowhere. His eyes widened in surprise as they fell upon the young devadasi.

"Oh you .... Your Highness, this is sacred ground. It is not fitting for royalty to wander here alone." Suddenly the girl spelled nervously with a suprise in her eyes.

She remembered seeing this young man before, watching her dance without blinking. Later, when she asked from the temple priest, she discovered that he was son of the emperor. but she never expect him to appeared here in the countryard like ghost.

"Ohh .... you are here... I was searching for you .. oh i mean you dance well. I  could not resist the call of the your voice. It draws me here like a moth to a flame. Tell me—what is this place, Is this the place where your soul learned to be that graceful?

"It is a temple dedicated to the supreme god Shiva. I am but a humble dancer, here to honor him with my movements. Your presence... it is an honor sir, yet it disrupts the sanctity of this space. What would your royal advisors say?" She said whith a racing heart.

"They'd probably suggest me to stick to the royal garden. But who wants to talk to flowers when there's a mesmerizing dancer right in front of me? Said Ananta with light smile. His eyes were staring at her.

"So, you prefer the company of a dancer over talking to flowers? Should I take that as a compliment.. sir? you know, it's not every day a prince crashes into the temple." she said while raising her eyebrow.

"Crashing? I prefer to think of it as "spontaneous royal attendance."Ananta said while sitting on a stone step.

"Spontaneous, indeed sir. The last thing I need is the empiror sending a search gurads to find you among the dancers.!" she said with a light smile.

"So... will the mysterious dancer finally reveal her name, or shall I simply call you "Enchantress of the  Badami Shiva Temple"? Ananta said with a playful smile.

"Enchantress of the Temple"? That sounds like a character from one of the old epics! It's a title sir , not a name." She spelled.

"Fine, I'll settle for an actual name then. How about Mohini?"Ananta said.

"Enough sir..I suppose I could give you my name. But only if you promise not to alert the royal guards cause i don't want take the responsibility of your late night escapes." She said with a pretending consideration.

"Swear cross my heart devi! The guards shall remain blissfully unaware of my late-night escapades. So, what is it?" Ananta said.

"Its Parvathi..."She said with a soft smile.

"Parvathi... Divine, beautiful and graceful ... just like your dance"Ananta repeated it softly while admiring it. His eyes spoke far more than his words ever could. Suddenly, there was a deep silence as he gazed at her without blinking.

"And you, Your Highness? Do I simply call you "Prince"? Or perhaps "Night Stalker," since you've been sneaking around the temple?"Parvathi said trying to brush off his compliment.

"Night Stalker? That's a bit harsh devi! I think I prefer something a little more princely."Ananta laught pretende to be wounded.

"Then tell me your name sir.."Parvathi asked.

"I am Ananta"He said while leaning little closer towards her.

Parvathi slowly stepped back."Ananta..  a name worthy of the crown." She whispers.

"Oh You don't have to sound so impressed. My name hasn't done much for me yet." Ananta said witha little grin.

"Perhaps not, but it did help you sneak into my temple uninvited. But you are  still a stalker, you know?"Parvathi said with a smile.

"I deserve that devi. but you know I've seen dancers before, but none quite like you. You don't just perform; you are  the dance. It's almost as if you're sharing a part of yourself."Ananta said while trying to hide his fascination.

"You see that sir? Most people see only the steps, the movements. They never ask what lies beneath." PArvathi said with soft voice.

"Maybe I wanted to know. There's something more... something you feel when you dance. Is there's any secret woven into  your every step."Anata said while gazing at her.

"You have a poet's heart, Sir. But a dancer's world is made of stories, not secrets."Parvathi said while looking at his dark eyes.

"Then perhaps are there stories you're afraid to share, devi. Or, are you saving those stories for someone special?"Ananta asked while teasing her lightly.

"And who is that special person sir? Dancers live for the temple, for the gods. Love isn't written in our fates."Parvathi said while meeting his graze.

"So you believe that dancers cannot love? What a sad fate to live with no one to share your secrets devi." Ananta said while smiling softly.

"It's not that we cannot love.... it's just that the world has no place for it in our lives. Love is like the moon .. beautiful and graceful but distant, out of reach."Parvathi said looking away, her voice was almost a whisper.

"Look at me Parvathi..Perhaps it isn't as far as you think. Perhaps love can be found in the quiet moments, like this one, beneath the night sky. Sometimes, I think it's even closer than we know." Ananta said pausing his voice was gentle.

"Maybe you are right sir? Then perhaps... we are simply too afraid to reach for it."She said while blushing.

"Maybe we're both a little afraid. But in this moment, devi, but I think I'd reach for the moon if it meant to understanding the feeling between us."Ananta said while stepping closer towards her.Parvathi felt his warm breath upon her cheeks. She gulped.

"A feeling we can't name sir. A dream, perhaps." Parvathi said almost whispering.

"If it's a dream, I don't want to wake from it."Ananta said while his lips were an inch away from hers.

"Parvathi!" .. "Where  the hell are  you girl?"Suddenly a voice start screaming from inside the temple.

"Sir.. Now you must wake up from your dream. Thats my grandmother go...and hide."Parvathi said in hurry while trying to move away from him.

But Ananta hold her hand. "I'm not leaving until you promise to meet me again." Ananta said.

"Perhaps.... Oh right we will meet again go.. Don't let my grandmother to see you sir.."Parvathi whispers in a hurry and ran into the temple.

Ananta smiled cherishly behind her and move  back towards the grand celebrations.

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ChronicleKeeper😉