Before we start with this chapter, let's clarify a few things. Charlotte married a nobleman and had her happily ever after though she longed to meet Lily, but never did. Andrew lost his goodname. And Lily, well she was someplace where she could not be found, trying to sort out her emotions and attain the fullest spiritual awakening.

Back at the Taj Hotel, it was around 2 am. Lights were being turned on. Hurried footsteps could be heard. Anjali quickly left her spot and quietly slid away to her room, somehow unnoticed. The students and teachers were bewildered. Arjun witnessed the whole thing but did not say a word. This feeling was something he would have to sort out by himself. Who was the girl, why was she so familiar?

Soon rumours about the ghost who played piano at the Taj spread like wildfire. The owner would have to fix some big problems.

After the school trip came to an end Anjali and Arjun occasionally bumped into each other. But neither could hold a conversation for more than a few minutes. Anjali practiced on a synthesizer and old forgotten tunes came to her naturally. She could feel a force, something deeply rooted, pulling her in and urging her to drown in the music. One day, Manisha, the head girl caught her practicing playing the notes on the table. Usually no one cared about her, the head girl to notice such a thing seemed out of the blue.

"Do you learn piano?", Manisha asked.

"No-erm, yes, since the past few weeks."

"And with such less practice you managed to coordinate both your hands? Impressive!"

"Uh..haha", was her weak reply, but somehow she felt herself blush against her will.

"I've been practicing the piano since I was five. Let's play it together sometime. I'm curious to hear you.", and she smiled. A smile that could move even a terrorist's heart. And that smile seemed so familiar, like it was part of a dream.

"See ya.", Manisha said and snapped Anjali out of the reverie.

"Uh..yes you too.", she tried to wave but her hand stopped awkwardly in mid air. She was lost in thought.

Two months later it was time for the Annual Talent Hunt. There was excitement in the air and Anjali felt caught in it too. But she was nervous, so she didn't put her name on any of the contests. But she came to experience the festive atmosphere at the 'instrumentals eve'.

She froze in her tracks. That boy was the mc. That one who had caught her playing the piano at the Taj. Girls around her whispered." Oh my God He's so handsome!", "I wish he was my boyfriend.", "But he dates a different girl every month. You have little chance."

"What's his name?", Anjali asked.

"Oh look the weirdo's here. He's Arjun girl. The prince of the school. Do you live under a rock?"

"I bet she does.", laughed another.

Anjali was used to such bullying. It didn't bother her. But wait, on close observation, this Arjun guy is pretty hot.

"And now, our head girl, Manisha Kaur!"

Manisha walked gracefully to the piano and started playing.

"Cherubini" uttered Anjali. Fleeting images of a little girl dressed very differently, playing the same tune crossed her mind. She was lost in the music. Manisha-she certainly is beautiful, I'm a girl and even I can see. When the piece ended the whole auditorium erupted in applause.

Manisha bowed. "That was Cherubini's overture. I hope you all liked it."

Arjun announced. "Next up is Anjali Roy."

Anjali was thunderstruck. She hadn't put her name in, who did? In this school only two people knew that she could play the pianoforte- Arjun and Manisha. It couldn't be her, can it?

With such thoughts racing through her mind, Anjali walked up to the stage. She sat and placed her fingers on the glistening notes. As if in a trance she started to play. There was pin drop silence, no one dared to make noise, as if transfixated by the music. In her minds eye Anjali could see two elder men, listening to her play, and the girl correcting her gently whenever she made a mistake.

The piece ended. Beethoven's concerto.

"Beautifully played Lily!" –it was as if the dream was overlapping with reality. She could picture Manisha's face, or wait...was that someone – "

Manisha started clapping and time started to move again. The applaude grew louder, there was whistling and cheering.

"That was sweet as a nightingale Miss Roy.", said Arjun. But quickly he added,"My bad, nightingales sing, not play." And Anjali felt herself laugh, almost against her will.

Anjali won. Manisha came second. And with that Anjali became known. But she lost her sleep.

Nights tormented her with vivid experiences of being assaulted by Arjun, sometimes feeling an unexplicable feeling towards Manisha. She yearned to meet her again, talk to her and get to know her better.