Four hearts one story

Six moments one night

The ballroom had grown livelier.

The soft instrumental music had given way to something more upbeat, and the dance floor was now filled with couples moving beneath the golden chandeliers.

Shreya returned to the group, adjusting one of her golden earrings.

"Well, look who's back!" Dimple exclaimed.

Shreya smiled. "What?"

"Nothing. Just checking whether you've forgotten us already."

"Please. I was gone for ten minutes."

"Ten minutes too long."

Kai handed her a glass of water.

"Here. You've been dancing for a while."

"Thank you."

Somesh was standing beside the refreshments table, but his attention was somewhere else.

Or, more accurately, on someone else.

Shreya followed his gaze.

"Somesh?"

"Hmm?"

"You're staring again."

"I'm observing."

"Observing what?"

"The surroundings."

Kai looked in the direction Somesh was facing.

"Ah. The surroundings."

Dimple laughed.

"Go and talk to her, you coward."

Somesh immediately turned towards them.

"First of all, I am not a coward. Secondly, I don't even know her."

"That's generally how conversations begin," Shreya replied.

Somesh looked at the girl once more. She was standing near a table with a friend, occasionally glancing around the ballroom.

He took a deep breath.

"Fine. I'll go."

Dimple gave him an encouraging thumbs-up.

"Go, Romeo."

"Don't call me that."

And with that, Somesh walked away.

Kai watched him disappear into the crowd.

"Ten rupees says he starts talking about food."

"Twenty," Shreya replied.

Dimple laughed.

Somesh approached the girl with a slightly nervous smile.

"Hi."

She turned towards him.

"Hey."

"I'm Somesh."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ananya."

"Nice to meet you too."

There was a brief silence.

Somesh glanced at the table beside them.

"Have you tried the food here?"

Ananya laughed.

"That's your opening question?"

He looked mildly embarrassed.

"I mean, it's important to know these things."

"Fair enough. I haven't tried much yet."

"Then you're missing out. The desserts are actually quite good."

"Are you always this serious about food?"

"Only when it's important."

She laughed again.

After a little conversation, the music changed.

Ananya glanced towards the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?"

Somesh blinked.

"Me?"

She smiled.

"Unless you're waiting for someone else."

"No, no. I'm available."

He immediately realised how that sounded.

"I mean—yes. I'd love to."

Ananya laughed as she offered him her hand.

For someone who had spent most of the evening talking about food, Somesh suddenly seemed to have forgotten how to speak.

Meanwhile, Dimple was standing near the edge of the ballroom when the tall man in the navy suit approached her again.

"Enjoying the evening?"

She turned.

"Very much. And you?"

"Even more now."

Dimple raised an eyebrow.

"That was smooth."

He smiled.

"I'm Arjun, by the way. We never properly introduced ourselves."

"Dimple."

"That's a lovely name."

"Thank you."

He glanced towards the dance floor.

"Would you like another dance?"

Dimple considered him for a moment.

"One more."

"Only one?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

He laughed and offered his hand.

As they moved onto the dance floor, Dimple found herself enjoying his company. He was confident without being overwhelming, and his conversation was surprisingly easy.

At one point, he asked, "Are you travelling with your family?"

"No. Friends."

"That's nice. A group trip?"

"Yes. Four of us."

"Sounds fun."

"It is. Although they're all slightly crazy."

He smiled.

"Then you must be the sensible one."

Dimple laughed.

"Absolutely not. I'm probably the worst of them."

A little later, Dimple returned to the refreshments table.

Somesh had just finished his dance with Ananya and was looking rather pleased with himself.

Dimple noticed him immediately.

"Well, well. Look who's back."

Somesh picked up a glass of juice.

"Don't start."

"I haven't said anything."

"Your face has."

She laughed.

"So? What's her name?"

"Ananya."

"Pretty name."

"Yeah."

Dimple looked at him suspiciously.

"You're smiling."

"I'm allowed to smile."

"Of course."

Somesh glanced towards the dance floor.

"Your guy isn't bad either."

"His name is Arjun."

"Ah. So you remembered."

"Obviously. I have a functioning memory."

They both laughed.

For a moment, they watched the couples dancing.

Then Somesh spoke.

"Honestly, though, I don't trust vacation love."

Dimple turned towards him.

"Neither do I."

"Think about it. You meet someone on a cruise, spend a few days together, exchange numbers, promise to stay in touch, and then return to your normal lives."

"Exactly," Dimple said. "Everything feels different when you're on holiday. People are relaxed, everyone's dressed up, the atmosphere is romantic. But real life is very different."

Somesh nodded.

"Imagine falling for someone who lives thousands of kilometres away."

"Or someone who doesn't even remember your name after the cruise."

"That's unnecessarily cruel."

Dimple laughed.

"I'm just saying. I don't want to mistake a beautiful evening for something permanent."

Somesh took a sip of his drink.

"Agreed. Enjoy the dance, enjoy the company, but don't start planning a wedding."