Mithra's POV

It was around 10:30, and the room was finally quiet. After hours of relentless teasing from my friends about my "date" with Jai, they'd finally let me go. They'd poked and prodded for every detail, but of course, I'd skipped the part where he'd kissed me on the cheek-or where I'd impulsively kissed him back. No way I was sharing that.

Now, lying on my bed in my comfy night suit, I stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day. My mind, unsurprisingly, wandered back to him.

Jai.

His stupidly handsome face, that annoyingly charming smirk, and the way he carried himself like he owned the world but still somehow made you feel like you were the only one in it. It was frustrating. And confusing."He's a player," I whispered to myself, rolling onto my side. "He's probably like this with every girl."

But then why did it feel different? Why did I feel different around him?

The thought of today-his random, cheeky kiss-flashed through my mind, and I groaned, burying my face into my pillow.

"Why did I even kiss him back?" I muttered to myself, burying my face in my pillow.

Before I could spiral further into self-inflicted embarrassment, my phone pinged from the nightstand. Stretching out lazily, I grabbed it and unlocked the screen.

A single message from an unknown number.

Unknown: You know, if you wanted to think about me all night, you could've just said so.

I froze. My eyes widened as I read the text again. And again.

The audacity.

My first thought: It's him. It had to be. This sounded exactly like Jai-arrogant, flirty, and completely insufferable. But how did he even get my number?

I sat up, staring at the screen like it might answer my questions. Should I respond? Should I ignore it? Should I block it?

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. If it was Jai, I couldn't let him have the upper hand. But if it wasn't...

Smirking to myself, I decided to play along.

Me: I'm sorry, who is this?

I hit send, already imagining his reaction if it really was him. Would he be annoyed? Flustered? Unlikely. But the thought of rattling him even a little made me smile.

Leaning back on my pillow, I stared at the phone, waiting for a reply. Let's see how you handle this, Mr. Devaraj.

Author's pov:

Mithra's heart skipped a beat when her phone pinged again almost immediately.

Unknown: Exactly who you're thinking about.

She couldn't help it-her lips curled into a wide smile. This guy. He had a way with words that made her stomach flip in the most annoying way. She bit her lower lip, trying to stifle the grin creeping across her face.

But Mithra wasn't one to let someone else win so easily. She smirked to herself as her fingers danced across the keyboard.

Me: No way! I must be dreaming! Is this Harry Styles?!

She hit send and giggled quietly, imagining Jai's reaction on the other end. If it was him, she could already picture the exasperation mixed with amusement on his face. Probably running a hand through that perfectly messy hair of his, trying to figure out how to respond.

The anticipation was killing her, but she didn't dare let it show, even to herself. Mithra threw her phone beside her on the bed, crossing her arms with a satisfied grin. Your move, Mr. unknown.

Unknown: "I'll give you a hint-office, roses, lunch, and a stolen kiss. Do these ring any bell?"

Mithra read the message as her cheeks flushed a deep red. Why did he have to bring that up? she cursed inwardly, biting her lip. That moment had already taken up more real estate in her mind than she was comfortable admitting, and now he had to go and remind her of it. She huffed, trying to steady her breathing, but her fingers betrayed her thoughts.

Mithra: "Why would you think I was thinking about you?"

She stared at the screen, lips pursed, trying to appear unaffected. He's wrong, she told herself, though a traitorous part of her was amused by his boldness. She didn't want to let him know he got to her. Not after how smug he'd been earlier.

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown: "Because I was hiccupping nonstop, and you know what they say-if you get hiccups, someone's thinking about you."

Mithra couldn't stop the wide smile from breaking across her face as she read his reply. The mental image of Jai hiccupping like a cartoon character amused her to no end. But she wasn't going to let him off easy.

Mithra: "Well, I wasn't. Must be one of your many girlfriends."

She hit send, feeling a small sense of victory. Mithra leaned back against her pillow, waiting for his response, but the screen stayed quiet for longer than she expected.

"Is he sulking?" she muttered under her breath, biting the corner of her lip as she stared at the empty chat. But before she could dwell too long on the silence, her phone pinged again. This time, it wasn't a text.

It was a picture.

Her breath caught as she opened the image. It was Jai, sitting casually on a sleek leather couch, his golden retriever sprawled across his lap. Both of them were pouting at the camera, and the resemblance was oddly endearing. Mithra's eyes involuntarily lingered on Jai.

He was wearing a snug white t-shirt that hugged his sculpted frame perfectly, his biceps peeking out in a way that made her throat dry. His hair was tousled, as if he'd run his hand through it moments before the picture. His eyes, crinkled from the exaggerated pout, made him look playful and irresistibly cute.

The background screamed luxury-subtle hints of expensive decor could be seen, even though most of the focus was on him and his dog. And the dog? Oh, the dog was adorable, with its fluffy golden coat and soulful eyes mirroring Jai's playful expression.

Her thumb hovered over the screen as she stared at the image, her heart doing an odd flip. Why does he have to look like that? she thought, annoyed at herself for noticing every little detail.

Unknown: "ouch!!"

Her lips twitched despite herself, torn between rolling her eyes and laughing. This guy was impossible. But also... devastatingly charming. She tapped out her reply with a shake of her head.

Mithra: "He's so cute! What's his name?"

Ignoring his flirtatious antics, Mithra focused on the dog in the picture. She'd always had a soft spot for dogs, and somehow, the fact that Jai had one made him seem... cozier. Less of the flashy playboy and more human. Her chest warmed at the thought, but she quickly brushed it aside.

The reply came sooner than she expected.

Unknown: "Did you say cute? Gotta be Mr. Jai Devraj then."

Mithra rolled her eyes so hard she was sure they'd fall out of her head. Of course, he'd find a way to make this about himself. She was about to type out a sharp comeback when another text popped up.

Unknown: "But the other (slightly lesser) cute guy is Leo."

Mithra let out a soft laugh, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth as she glanced around. Her roommates were either asleep or wearing earphones, engrossed in their phones. She relaxed, smiling down at her screen.

Mithra: "Leo's definitely the cutest. No contest."

She hit send, grinning as she imagined Jai's exaggerated reaction to her reply. Let him stew on that for a bit, she thought, her mood surprisingly lighter.

In came another picture, and Mithra's heart did a somersault.

It was Jai again-this time lying down, his right arm folded under his head in a casual pose that made his biceps pop effortlessly. His pout was exaggerated, almost sad, but his eyes held a teasing glint that seemed to pierce right through the screen.

Mithra stared at the photo longer than necessary, her heart fluttering wildly as her lips tugged into an involuntary smile. How is this man so ridiculously photogenic? she wondered, annoyed at how much the picture was affecting her.

She wasn't about to let him know that, though. No way. With a smirk, she typed back:

Mithra: "Not convinced."

She hit send and placed her phone down, biting her lip to stop the grin that was threatening to take over her face. When she noticed the other line go silent, she typed out again,

Mithra: "oi"

Jai: "ha :( "

Mithra couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

Mithra: "Are you free tmrw?"

Jai: "Well, let's see. Meeting at 11AM. Factory inspection at 2PM. Dinner with Russian delegates at 8PM. So yes, totally free."

Mithra: "I'm visiting the temple tmrw. So, I was wondering if sir would like to accompany me."

Mithra didn't even know why she was doing this. She had been visiting the temple alone every week for the past two years. So what changed now? As much as she wanted to answer that question she chose not to. her phone's notification holding her entire attention.

Jai: "Madam cheera kattukuntara?"

translation: "is madam going to wear a saree?"

Mithra couldn't help but rise her eyebrows at Jai's playfullness. She rolled her lips in holding her smile back as she typed out.

Mithra:"Choodam"

translation: "Let's see"

Mithra: "7:00 AM. I'll meet you at the temple."

Jai: "Okay madam"

Jai's POV:

The temple stairs stretched high in front of me, a blend of white stone and bustling devotion. And there she stood, right at the base, waiting for me, clad in a saree-a vision that almost made me forget to breathe.

A saree.

She had worn it because I'd insisted, probably thinking I was just teasing. She didn't realize how serious I was about it. Mithra in a saree wasn't just breathtaking-it was pure destruction.

I parked the Porsche and stepped out, rolling my sleeves up neatly. It was a ritual for me, almost second nature, but today, I couldn't care less about the stares or whispers my car or my entrance might have attracted. My focus was locked on her.

She looked... divine.

The fabric of her saree hugged her in all the right places, soft pleats draping over her waist, exposing just enough of her to drive me insane. The color was something light, but honestly, I wasn't paying attention to that. Her hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, and her earrings swayed as she shifted, waiting for me with her usual impatience.

I jogged toward her with a smirk, taking off my sunglasses and tucking them into my pocket. My eyes ran over her frame-her delicate neck, the curve of her shoulders, the small bindi on her forehead that added an extra layer of charm.

Somehow, she managed to outdo herself every time.

Her eyes darted to mine as I approached, and for a second, she looked away, adjusting the edge of her saree. She was blushing, trying to hide it, but the crimson spreading across her cheeks gave her away.

"Let's go," she said, snapping me out of my blatant ogling. Her tone was clipped, but the way she turned quickly, hiding her face, told me she was just as affected as I was.

I chuckled under my breath, falling a few steps behind her as she climbed the stairs. If she was trying to escape my gaze, she was failing miserably.

Because my eyes? They had a mind of their own.

Every step she took made the saree shift slightly, the fabric snug around her hips, her bare waist flexing gently as she climbed. The soft curve of her waistline, exposed just enough by the drape of her pallu, was like a beacon for my gaze.

My smirk deepened as my eyes stayed glued to her. There was something mesmerizing about the way the pleats moved with her steps, about the way the sunlight kissed her skin.

Mithra suddenly turned her head, catching me mid-stare.

"Jai, are you coming, or are you planning to admire the stairs all day?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I bit back a grin. "Oh, I'm coming," I replied smoothly, quickening my steps to catch up.

As we reached the top of the stairs, she folded her hands, bowing her head in prayer, her eyes closed in pure devotion. For a moment, I forgot everything else. The temple bells, the murmurs of the crowd, even my own plans-all faded into the background.

It was just her.

And damn it, I was in trouble.

Real trouble.

The temple bells chimed softly in the background, their rhythm blending with the faint hum of prayers and the aroma of incense swirling in the air. I stood beside Mithra, my hands folded as if in prayer, but truthfully, my mind was far from the divine.

It was on her. Only her.

Mithra stood there, her head slightly bowed, eyes closed in earnest devotion. The golden sunlight filtering through the temple's intricately carved dome highlighted the soft contours of her face. Her lips moved slightly as she whispered her prayers, and for a moment, she looked... ethereal.

It was surreal being here, standing like this. Temples weren't exactly part of my life-hadn't been for a long time. After my mom died, there was no one to take me to places like this, no one to tell me what to pray for or how to fold my hands. And I never sought it out on my own. The closest I came to devotion was survival.

Yet here I was.

When Mithra had asked me to come, I didn't think twice before agreeing. It surprised even me. I mean, I didn't really say no to her for anything, but agreeing to a temple visit? That was new.

I kept my hands folded, pretending to look at the idol, but my gaze lingered on Mithra. There was something so captivating about the way she stood there, serene and lost in her world of faith. It wasn't about her looks-not entirely. It was the calm she exuded, the quiet strength in her that pulled me in.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice the priest walking up to me until he nudged my arm gently.

"Focus on God, not the girl," he teased, handing me the pooja thali with the holy fire.

Mithra turned, catching the exchange, and I caught a glimpse of her smirk. Her eyes glinted with amusement, but she quickly turned away, trying to hide it. She walked off toward the prasadam counter, her saree swaying softly with each step.

I cleared my throat, smiling awkwardly at the priest as I took the thali. "I'll try," I muttered, but it wasn't a promise I could keep.

Not when she was around.

Not when everything about her demanded my attention, pulling me away from everything I thought I'd ever wanted.

The soft murmur of temple-goers drifted in the background as Mithra and I settled into a quiet corner, away from the bustling crowd. The canopy of trees overhead provided shade, and the gentle breeze carried the faint scent of incense and flowers. It was peaceful-too peaceful for someone like me, who was used to chaos.

Mithra sat beside me, the delicate pleats of her saree falling gracefully around her. She held the small leaf bowl of prasadam in her hands, her fingers lightly touching the edge as she closed her eyes for a brief moment. Her lips moved in a silent prayer before she picked up a morsel and brought it to her mouth.

I didn't even realize I was staring.

There was something captivating about how she immersed herself in every small thing, giving it her full attention and reverence. It was a stark contrast to the world I came from-where nothing was sacred, and everything was a transaction. Watching her felt like a privilege I hadn't earned.

My prasadam sat untouched in my hand, forgotten.

Mithra turned toward me then, her head tilting slightly, and I met her questioning gaze. Her cheeks puffed out slightly, her mouth still full of prasadam, and she raised her eyebrows in a silent question.

It was enough to pull me out of my trance.

I quickly shook my head, smiling to brush it off, and brought a spoonful of the prasadam to my mouth. It wasn't just the taste of the sweet, warm offering that struck me-it was the unspoken connection in that moment.

Not a word passed between us, but it felt like we were having a conversation anyway.

Her lips quirked into a small smile as she turned her attention back to her bowl, the sunlight catching the delicate curve of her face. And just like that, I was back to watching her.

It was unsettling, this pull she had over me, how she turned even the simplest of moments into something that felt profound. And as much as I tried to deny it, I knew one thing for certain: Mithra wasn't just a part of my plan anymore.

She was becoming my plan.

"Do you visit the temple very often?" I asked, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

Mithra turned her head to look at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Yes, every week."

I couldn't help but let out a small scoff, teasing her with a smirk. "Every week? Wow. How many wishes do you even have?"

Her smile faltered, just for a second, and then she said softly, "Just one."

Her words caught me off guard, the teasing smirk slipping off my face. I frowned slightly, confused. "Just one?"

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I just want my family to be safe," she said, her voice quiet but heavy with meaning.

The weight of her words hit me harder than I expected. "Mithra-" I began, but she cut me off, her voice carrying a quiet strength.

"Whatever you see right now, Jai... this isn't really me," she said, her eyes still fixed downward. "This carefree life, the laughter, the smiles-it's not who I truly am. It's who I wish I could be."

Her voice wavered slightly, and she glanced up at me briefly before looking away again. "The truth is, every moment of my life is shadowed by fear. Fear that one day, everything I love, everything I've built my life around, could be taken from me."

Her vulnerability hit me like a punch to the gut. I could see the faint glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes as she quickly blinked them away, trying to mask her emotions.

I wanted to say something, to comfort her, to promise her that nothing would harm her family-but I couldn't. Not when I knew that her fear was rooted in a reality I was a part of.

For the first time, I noticed the slight tremble in her fingers and the way her shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. This was a side of Mithra I hadn't anticipated-a side that made her more real, more human, more vulnerable. And for reasons I couldn't quite understand, it made my chest ache when I saw the hint of a tear in her eyes.