Vaani was glad Megha couldn't see her current expression, She cursed herself for talking so much nonsense when she got caught off guard ' If Megha asked around doesn't that mean she will find out... damn I have to ask elder Seema for a favor this time! '
She felt Elder Seema wasn't a difficult person to deal with. He was a ground to earth type as he never showed off his position. It's true she wasn't easy to bully with her background but she wasn't a person they went out of their way please.
' So it's possible he has a good impression of her hmm, I guess if I ask him carefully made sure this doesn't come out as in anyway disrespectful to him, he will agree to my request'
All these thoughts reeled in her mind with giving all kinds of thoughts to priorities. She didn't bother to pay attention to anything else in her excuse. Things like the help and other things Vaani knew how Megha would take it, was Vanni, someone in position to help an elder of the sect.
Vanni calculated in her mind quickly " What's there to enjoy though he looked pretty pleased when I took up on his invitation and nice to me" Vanni spinned a believable enough story subconsciously her eyes shifted from Megha's face to Glitters in her hands.
" Was he that talkative? Big sister I'm impressed you have made connections with this many elders and officials" Megha on the other hand praised her with a bright face.
Vanni looked startled When did she go around making such connections? Moreover from her words it's sounded like I made friends with more than few was she misunderstood something, besides why would this old people even take someone like her seriously much less making many connection *cough, cough* " Are you trying to pull my legs or something? "
"Huh! Why would I do that? don't you ever think anything better about me?" Megha sounded a little displeased.
" What does that supposed to mean? " Vanni frowned at her sudden accusary tone ' Wasn't she praising me just now? what's with her today?'
" Now, Who's kidding here huh? How can you possibly create a brand new technique like that ? If you are in my shoes would you really believe this?" Megha imitated Vanni's voice with a mocking smirk.
Vaani speechless as she changed the topic back unwillingly, Vanni never has been good with her words or liked gossiping but she would choose the latter anytime if she got a choice whenever she got into any unreasonable arguments with Megha she would steer away from such a topic.
" Anyway, I don't have connections with sect elders or high rank officials, I'm still a rookie and child in their eyes for heaven's sake " she huffed looking indignant " If I remember correctly I have told you about how I got to know elder Seema, it was kind of accident okay? Don't make up anything " her face was very serious.
"Duh!" Megha acted like she bought her story to let her have some momentary peace.
" So, what did you guys talk about... I mean big sister, I didn't see you as a talkative person, however I could imagine " Megha made a childish expression as she teased her with a laugh.
Vaani let out a relieved sigh and put on an annoyed expression " Ugh, You only ask this now! He almost chewed my ear off with all this unnecessary stuff. Why would I want to hear anything about whom the young officials interested in courting or the recent wedding of an Eldest daughter of some old deacon Vaani made up thinks she wouldn't be interested in.
" Hahahaha, no wonder look at your face it's all scrunched up, Then why did you go there on your own ? You did go there on your own right?" At Megha's enquiry Vanni nodded without much of thought not knowing she was walking straight into where Megha wanted her to be "should have brought some senior sisters... I mean the ones who are more talkative than you at least."
"Say if you bring Ponni with you, she would have saved you from wasting your breath wouldn't she, you are too much of a hassle hehe!" Megha casually said playing along with Vaani's story.
" I didn't know, he was this nice, Did he invite you for another tea party, or anything like that" Megha asked her suddenly not understanding where she was going with this Vaani decided answer vaguely.
" Only, you would think it was funny hmph, why am I not surprised... Umm about that he did invite me a week later though I'm not going, one time is enough " her voice almost had a thing of whining for Megha's benefit.
Megha took a furtive glance at Vaani and her eyes flashed with cunningness. She casually put on a sad expression with practiced ease and commented with some emotion which attracted the blonde.
" Hehe, how could you do this to Elder seema? Big Sister, you have to go and don't hurt his feelings, I heard that he has no family left his only daughter died in some mission with her newly Wed husband, you know more over she was pregnant at that time ....it's rare for someone who wallowing in sorrow like him to treat anyone cheerfully without annoyance of some kind. I think he probably sees you as his daughter or granddaughter.... hmm it's highly likely think about this he, must feeling lonely if he died there was no one to send him off"
Vaani looked at Megha with nothing sort of amazement, Megha could tell she was wondering how she knew this much about Seema anyway what she said wasn't a made up story.
"...."
"I-I'm not going " Vanni whispered in a bit of a feeble voice.
"Big sister come on, you are no fun, you can do it" Megha presses her little.
" I AM NOT GOING " Vaani enunciates every single word, this time with firm conviction, there was a trace of panic and guilt in her eyes as well.
Knowing what's going on in her head Megha tried a different approach, Megha wasn't planning to let Vaani back off like this.
"Then who should introduce me, aren't you familiar with him? You didn't lie to me right? Come on, do this favor...pretty please!" Megha pleaded with a pitiful face.
"I'm not- Er.. Did you say you were going to Accompany me ?" Vaani had an alarmed expression, there was a slight doubt as well wondering if she heard it right.
" Uh-huh, he seems pretty nice to me, how long it has been since we visited anyone, Father allowed me to attend the next sect year end meeting." Megha gave her a reproachful look " You don't expect me to attend not knowing anyone right?"
Vaani was at loss, what Megha was saying us reasonable though she might exaggerating little since Vaani doesn't know how sect meetings proceed but even if Vaani knows Megha would feign ignorance her no big deal after all Megha never showed any interest in sect matters especially administration and politics at this time.
Her father would have forced her attend meetings in couple of years later, to claim this as attending was rather far fetched she doesn't given official seat yet as neither as official nor as a heiress so all she could do is sat in one corner listen to their boring reports perhaps if she was lucky enough the factions got into heated argument or fight she would entertained.
But this time her father chose a different approach, he proposed he would only willingly teach her the technique If she agreed with her in his condition.
" When did we ever visit anyone's place ?" Vaani asked, disrupting her musings, ' What was she talking about? Is she talking about visiting her Father's or Uncle and Aunt's estate? '
" Exactly! Big sister we are no longer children, we are almost adults, everyone expecting me to do something or had some high hopes having some connection was the least I could do if I wanted to be officially nominated as heiress. Some elder has to support me right? besides he sounds like a cool person from what you told me " Megha lectured her with a straight face.
Vanni became dumbfounded not sure which part of her nonsense sound cool " He is just an who ignores sect meetings acted as warden maintaining some servant quarters and few odd job assignments what do you mean by connection " Vaani couldn't understand Megha's reason, how come a loner would help her in anything, it felt like Megha trying to convince her to agreeing with this.
" Who cares!? " Megha waved her hand nonchalantly " I'm not going to have my adult ceremony tomorrow or the day after that right? for now this will do, I know what you were thinking I'm not going to curry favor with everyone just because they are elder they should have good heart not just some hypocrites" Megha reasoning were flippant Vaani's stomach sank as she become worried about what to do her sudden changes worried her, she wasn't surprised by the righteous cause and ethics she expected for quite some time with having such a father, Vaani would surprised if Megha didn't hold justice and righteousness close to her.
Megha observing her reaction from reflection, Vanni wondered if she should try and bribe Elder Seema to help her out, Vanni wasn't that close to him either so she has to be careful with this matter.
" Megha, is this really alright with you though?"
"What are you talking about?" Megha looked up with curiosity; she, just had to know what other excuses Vanni came up with so she could think up some countermeasures.
" I mean, Your schedules are very tight. How are you going to accompany me to this tea party? Could it be that you were already bored with your training and this stuff? '' Vanni asked also curious about this matter as well it was possible Megha was indeed lazy.
" Why would I care about mere few hours, it's not like I'm going to fighting any life and death duel in few weeks, I'm not in that tight schedule " Megha scoffed " I mean it, We should often go out see places, just the two of us, you don't have to hole up here for all year long you know? I already showed my father how capable I am he, wouldn't obstruct me, Even if we want go out of the sect to play little longer so don't worry"
" I know you like to tour Dual mystic plain and flowing light Empire and one day beyond that don't you, we will definitely do that... hmm at most in couple of years or little longer for the first two but even for that we should have some strength" Megha raised her head with arrogant expression " I mean we have to rely on ourselves well, I don't know about you but I'll broke through martial arts Master realm in this time you have to try much harder to catch up with me if you are this hesitant, haha! "
" I thought you didn't like to waste your time training, walking in the Martial path?" Vaani's voice choking redness in her eyes was clear as she looked at Megha with touched look and jutted out lip if her eyes wasn't brimming with tears anyone would think she was cute.
" I still don't like this at all so what? don't tell me you thought I could escape my fate? Did you forget I'm a heiress to the sect and I don't have any excuses to evade this burden and did I even have to explain my talent to you huh? it was a well known fact " Megha explained them in exasperated had a sad look in her face for Vaani to see.
" Think about it even If I laze around all day does my life going to change to my liking, my father might feel hurt or guilty but he will be definitely upset over me playing all these tricks to avoid responsibility and family inheritance. Yeah and one more thing....the truth is I didn't dislike martial arts but too lazy to practice, you should know how I am about my life " Megha smiled sheepishly.
" I mean who doesn't like to having power and certain status huh? if I use my talent show my worth I'll probably get my freedom back at least no one force me to do anything" as if she understood the look Megha further enlightened the blonde " There is indeed huge difference between the two If I do it on my own volition not only they will be impressed I'll obtain their trust and recognition hehe! "
She has two purposes in going this length to explain things to her, it was to make up sudden changes in her actions and habits subtly hinting and influencing Vaani and others is very simple.
That is emotionally move Vaani, Megha was the never type to talk about her care for others openly she wanted Vaani to think it was all partially because of her ; well it's certainly not false in sense as Vaani following her like shadow protecting her all her previous life and probably this life to but Megha wouldn't let Vanni have any regrets either.
Megha know about Vaani's likes and dislikes but Megha never care about them for even once and didn't understand her sacrifices to stick with her protecting her being good friend and good sister, with Megha taking everything for granted although she wasn't by no means evil but she definitely selfish in certain way she was more heartless than evil.
It was only after losing everyone did she understand especially Vaani's sacrifices to save her life even though she never might talk about how much she cares she would certainly show whenever she can but this time there were few purposes to doing this.
"M-megha... I..." Vaani broken down to tears but she didn't bother with it reached out and held Megha's hand gently her teary eyes brimming with emotions but Megha acted like typical clueless princess who didn't know how to face such a situation, Megha swatted her hand away and confusedly asked.
"Big sister, what are you crying for? "
"I.... to " Vaani couldn't speak coherently.
Megha awkwardly mocked " Don't imagine anything touching and talk any nonsense , I didn't do this for anyone but myself ..... and can you stop crying, you look very ugly like this" Vaani chuckled as Megha swatted away her hands and made sneering comments.
She got up and went to wash her face with the cold basin of water from the nearby table then dry her face and hands.
There was tenderness in Vanni's eyes as she looked at Megha with happy expressions she was beaming, she saw Megha's frowning expression and trace of awkwardness Vaani teased as she took her seat back held the sword voluntarily this time her heart felt very warmed " My, O My, how sensible, I don't know Little Missy has this, soft spot in her heart for me? "
"Try and act all delusional however you like, I said clearly this has nothing to do with you, I'm not talking about this with you anymore, hmph! " Megha acted along with her, then Vaani chuckled but didn't continue to tease Megha.
" Then what about Amara? "
" What about him, why are you bringing him into this?" Megha asked to put on clueless expressions with her wide innocent eyes had she seen herself in mirror even she might convince by her act.
" I was just wondering what are you going to do about Amara's situation " it was only now when she had little clear mind had she noticed she had completely paid Megha to herself as if she put Megha in spell effect.
With a nervous laugh she strutted " Hahahaha!.. H-he... Ahem I mean if I remember correctly you said he has no talent if you were show your talent and become expert .... things wouldn't work out with him right besides other might disagree with your-" as she noticed Megha's stony expressionless face she hurriedly point out something "Y-yeah I remember you yourself said something like that other day Didn't you?"
Her heart thudding like few war horses galloping all over her rip cage, she cursed herself for umpteenth time to bring him into their talk, Vaani knew better than anyone just how Megha is a certain redhead.
It wasn't simple infatuation but it was beyond obsession in Megha's case, Megha extremely possessive of him even though he was a skinny timid poor orphan who was considered as trash by even servant disciples but Megha didn't care in the least bit Vaani even felt Megha had this feelings ever since she has first meet him.
Vaani was well aware of that had this nagging feeling Megha would do something unpredictable when it's come to him likely go against anything so she was very careful Megha wary of any girls from getting close to him including her it wouldn't be a problem but now Vanni doesn't want get into this mess she afraid Megha would find out what's in her mind..