Seeing that the hands and feet of the guests had begun to move to the beat of the music, Mallika suggested to the nobility that they join in the raaslila dance. At a sign from Mallika, Kusumsena stepped forward to take Prithusen’s arm for the dance. One by one, the other men moved up to the ladies and dancing girls. The orchestra, consisting of veenas, flutes, tambourines and kettledrums, struck up the raaslila tune. The dancers stood in a wide circle on the concert floor.

At the end of the first round, those who had danced well were showered with praise. Mallika complimented Prithusen on the nimbleness of his footwork. Of the ladies, besides the dancing girls Kusumsena and Vasumitra, Zola, wife of Martha, the Greek noble, and Amrita, Acharya Rudradhir’s younger sister, and wife of Indradeep, were the recipients of special praise. Amrita had received training as a dancer under Devi Mallika, along with Divya and other girls from high-born families. Feeling thirsty after the dance, the guests drank many more bowls of wine. Over the rim of the wine bowl, Seero cast an inviting look at Mahendra, son of Okris, the noble. Mahendra moved up to her and addressing the assembly, said, ‘Honourable citizens, we have to thank Devi Mallika for having provided us with this happy occasion after a long, long time. Let’s forget everything tonight and lose ourselves in dancing.’

In response to this, Indradeep shouted, ‘With the moon shining in the sky, if there is any such person who does not drink or dance, I would say he is a worthless fellow.’

The orchestra struck up another tune and the raas dance commenced once again. Zola came up to dance with Prithusen. At the close of the dance, Devi Mallika’s slave-girls came in with fresh white towels, wiped the perspiration off the necks and faces of the guests, sprinkled perfume on them and cooled them with fans made of white swan feathers. Once again, bowls brimming with wine were served to the guests.

Sakrid, emptying his bowl at one gulp and handing it back to the slave-girl, said, ‘Friends, shall we waste such a precious night in indolence? Such a night comes but once in a year.’

Old Ikrid, removing the bowl from his lips, expressed his agreement jocularly, ‘And youth also comes but once in a lifetime.’ His voice was heard only by Okris and Prestha who nodded their heads and smiled.

Sakrid had already moved up to Seero before Mahendra could. Seero laughingly stretched her arm towards him, but the influence of drink made her too languid to rise. She sat there sipping the ice-cold wine. Prithusen’s eyes turned in her direction, but he looked away. He saw that the dancing girl, Vasumitra was looking at him in the hope of dancing with him, and that Amrita, Rudradhir’s sister, was also coming towards him with the same intention. Prithusen moved forward and took Amrita’s hand. His eyes fell on Rudradhir. He paused for a second and then started dancing.