Zola’s eyes wandered to where Seero was. She was sitting close to Mahendra, half-asleep, with her head on a cushion, while Mahendra had his arm around a dancing girl and was whispering something in her ear. Prithusen smiled as he looked at the dancers, who, in their drunken state, were dancing out of step.

The orchestra started a new dance measure. A number of guests, who had gone into the bowers to relax, came back to join in. The guests began to choose their partners for the next dance. Bowls brimming with wine were again sent to Prithusen and Zola. When Zola saw that Vasumitra was looking at Prithusen, she caught his arm in both her hands. Prithusen looked deep into her eyes; those eyes were more intoxicating than wine.

The guests were tired and fuddled and the dancing was gradually tapering off. Any time the dancers wanted to stop, they would unceremoniously break off in mid-step and walk towards the mattresses, while other guests would step in and take up the measure and the abandoned partners. The ladies were almost exhausted and many had gone to sit with their friends. The young men and the dancing girls were still up, whirling about with complete abandon, emitting cries and uttering whoops incessantly. Taking Zola, who was incapable of dancing, into his arms, Prithusen moved away towards a clump of bushes.

From the grove came the sound of heavy snoring. Holding up Zola, Prithusen moved towards another grove. Seeing that the place was secluded, Zola, who was unable to stand on her own feet, put her arms round Prithusen’s neck. She was barely able to contain herself. ‘Oh, dearest,’ she breathed in his ear.

The musicians were playing away, while cheers and cries came from the young dancers. For Prithusen, everything was hazy and confused. Zola’s eager whisper rang in his ears. In the darkness of the grove all he could see was her half-closed eyes, shaped like the petals of a lotus. Inert in his arms, Zola sent thrills of excitement through his body.

Zola responded by holding Prithusen in a tight embrace. Prithusen too, in the languor brought about by wine, was letting himself ride on the wave of excitement. For a moment he thought of returning to the concert floor, but his legs would not bear his weight. He vaguely heard a jumble of the sounds of different musical instruments and of merrymaking. Then a voice fell on his ears from the other side of the grove, which abruptly brought him back to his senses.

‘Kumar, have you searched this side too?’

‘Yes, Arya. This side, and also the other side.’

Prithusen recognized the speakers. They were the army officer Indradeep and Rudradhir’s younger brother, Vasudhir. The stealthy behaviour of his old enemies filled Prithusen’s mind with a sense of foreboding. Holding his breath, he waited to hear more. The footsteps of two more men were heard approaching the grove.

‘Will all the preparation go for nothing?’ It was Vinay Sharma’s voice. ‘The planet Devas will soon be aligned with the constellation of the Seven Sisters.’