Page 44 of Tiger's Voyage

A wooden aqueduct had been set up near the fire; its stream of water carried the lanterns to the nearby river. Nilima said the aqueduct was built recently so the women’s fancy shoes wouldn’t get muddy. It also made the choice more dramatic because no one watching knew whether the fire or the water would be picked until the last minute.

I stood in line and scanned the crowd for Ren but still didn’t see him anywhere. Kishan was all grins though. Nilima went first and placed her lantern in the water. I watched it float down the channel and then stepped forward and deliberated on the significance of my choice.Fireor water?I thought briefly about Li in Oregon and sighed thinking how easy my life would have been had I chosen him, but then I remembered why I didn’t. Li was not the man I loved.

I would do anything to go back and relive that time with Ren. How desperately short those happy weeks were. I looked at Kishan again and smiled back at him. I knew my choice was in India. The man I would pledge myself to was here. I threw my lantern into the fire with conviction and heard Mr. Kadam and Kishan cheer.

After the ceremony, Kishan asked me to dance, and Mr. Kadam and Nilima joined us. Dancing with Kishan this time was much different than when he first came home. Though still unpolished during the faster songs, he was a very smooth slow dancer. He cradled me close, holding me possessively while swaying, barely moving to the music. There was nothing for me to focus on except him, and I found it hard to resist the handsome man and the sparkling invitation in his eyes.

Kishan scowled unhappily when the dance was over and explained it was the local custom to dance with a girl for only one song, return her to her father, and then get back into line so that other aspiring suitors would have a chance to impress the girl’s parents too. Nilima had a group of men clamoring for her attention, but to my surprise, there were also several young men lined up forme. That made Kishan very grouchy.

Mr. Kadam seemed happy to orchestrate the whole affair and introduced me to several people, translating when necessary, which wasn’t often. Most of my “suitors” spoke English. Kishan stood near Mr. Kadam and glared at the men, which scared many of them off. He danced with me as often as he could and tried to intimidate everyone else who tried.

It didn’t look like Ren was going to come. I resigned myself to that and resolved to be happy without him.

Kishan brought me back after our fourth dance and then asked Nilima for a turn. As Mr. Kadam left to get me a drink, my golden fan slipped off my wrist. I looked at it on the ground and stamped my foot in frustration. There was no way I could bend over in my tight dress to pick it up.

A warm voice behind me purred silkily, “Allow me.”

“Ren!” I turned to him with a smile and sucked in a breath. He wore white slacks and a fitted blue pinstriped shirt open at the throat. The shirt was night-sky blue, the same color as my dress. He smiled, and my heart started thumping.

He walked a few steps and crouched down to retrieve my fan—then froze in place. His eyes followed the slit of my dress. Though he didn’t touch me, I felt his gaze caress me, moving up my bare leg slowly and purposefully from my ankle to the top of my thigh. I swayed, feeling a little light-headed. What Kishan could accomplish by holding me close, Ren could do with his eyes alone. He stood slowly and openly admired the rest of my costume, before finally settling on my face.

“That dress … was a very,verygood decision. I could write an entire poem on the virtues of your legs alone.Youare a feast for the senses.”

I smiled softly. “I don’t know about a feast. Maybe just an hors d’oeuvre.”

Ren wrapped my hand around his arm. “Not an hors d’oeuvre. The dessert. And I plan to spoil my appetite.”

He started to pull me off in one direction when Mr. Kadam approached. Ren spoke softly to him and then quickly returned to me.

“What did you say to him?”

“That I’d be keeping you occupied for the rest of the night. We’ll drive back in the Jeep.”

“Kishan won’t be very happy.”

Ren growled softly. “Kishan has had you all to himself for more than half the night already. The rest of the evening is mine. Come on.”

We started walking away when I heard Kishan shout. I turned, shrugged my shoulders, and smiled. He started after us, but Mr. Kadam put his hand on Kishan’s arm. Ren tugged me enthusiastically.

“Let’s go!”

He wove between some people and started moving faster. I had to run in my heels to keep up. I laughed as he pulled me along, my hand still clutching his arm.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”

We ducked under a flower garland, around groups of people who gaped at us as we rushed past, and through a park gate. As we neared the grassy center, he asked me to close my eyes.

When it was time to look, I found myself near a wooden bench. Lanterns cast their soft yellow light from the trees nearby, and in the center of a stone patio grew an old mango tree. Little colored paper wishes hung all over the tree, flapping in the light breeze. Ren handed me a sprig of lilac, tucked a few of the flowers into my hair, and touched my cheek.

“You’re a breathtaking woman, Kelsey,” he grinned, “especially when you blush like that.”

“Thank you.” I smiled back. Distracted by the flutter of paper, I said, “The tree is beautiful! There must be hundreds of wishes on it.”

“There are. My hand is still cramping.”

I laughed. “You did this? What on earth for?”