The afternoon sun spilled golden light across the courtyard. Mani spotted Laya standing near a small, ornate chest — her mysterious box. Curiosity sparkled in her eyes, and a mischievous smile tugged at her lips.
"Oh lady with your mysterious box,
The box of mysteries, the mysterious box."
Mani tilted his head, trying to understand the magic she carried. Even if he closed his eyes, her presence seeped in like sunlight into a quiet room, filling him completely.
"What is this, oh girl?
What is this magic you possess?
Even if I close my eyes,
You enter like rice into a pot.
In this mix of magic,
You make everything flourish.
Even if I resist,
You come closer."
Krishna and Gajanan immediately noticed and started teasing Mani, pretending to hold their own invisible mysterious boxes, doing silly dance moves. Bharath and Ashik joined, spinning in circles with arms open, while Monal and Sunitha threw petals into the air, cheering at Laya's playful sway.
"You sway like a peacock's feather,
And I can't resist looking at you.
In the waves of your hair,
I am drowning like in a storm.
Even if I try to escape,
I fall into the trap of your gaze."
Laya twirled lightly, the box tucked under her arm, and the breeze played with her hair. Mani felt himself pulled in completely, laughing despite the fluttering chaos around them. Even the Telugu friends — Hari and Parthasarathy — joined the fun, jumping on imaginary waves as if enchanted by her magic.
"Oh the charming queen,
With you, my dear,
When will we have some fun?
Oh the charming queen,
With you, my dear,
When will we have some fun?"
The friends cheered, each trying to mimic Laya's graceful movements, turning the courtyard into a playful stage of magical chaos. Mani reached toward her, smiling, but Laya dodged just slightly, letting the mystery linger.
"Oh lady with your mysterious box,
The box of mysteries, the mysterious box."
Even the small gestures — a twinkle in her eye, a tilt of her head, the rhythmic sway of her dance — made everyone around her part of the magic. Krishna pretended to faint, Gajanan jumped dramatically, Bharath clapped like a drum, and Sunitha and Monal orchestrated a cascade of petals, each adding to the whimsy.
"You are a dreamlike beauty,
With your mysterious box and the flower in your hair.
Creating a ruckus, you enchant with your gaze,
In the heart, it beats di ri diri diri."
Mani laughed, swept up in the joyful chaos, realizing that the magic of Laya's mysterious box wasn't just in her charm — it was in the way she brought everyone together, playful, alive, and enchanted.
"Oh lady with your mysterious box,
The box of mysteries, the mysterious box."