Jai strolled down the hallway, his steps unhurried and his demeanor casual, humming a soft tune under his breath. One hand rested in his pocket while the other held his phone, his sharp eyes scanning through a series of messages from his assistant. His mind was half-focused on the updates when, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed his arm, yanking him into a room with surprising strength.

Before he could react, another hand clamped over his mouth, muffling the startled sound he instinctively made. The door clicked shut behind him, and he found himself pinned against it.

"Shh," came the urgent whisper.

Jai blinked down at the figure before him, only to realize it was Mithra. She leaned against the door, her head tilted slightly as she peeked out the small gap to check if anyone had seen her stunt.

Jai's lips twitched into an amused smile, his earlier surprise dissolving into pure delight at the situation. Mithra's body was pressed against his, her front flush with his torso as she angled herself to glance outside. Her soft floral scent filled the small space between them, and he felt the warmth radiating from her through the thin fabric of her half-saree.

As Mithra focused on ensuring their privacy, Jai took the opportunity to unabashedly take her in. His gaze roamed over the way her eyes darted, scanning the corridor with urgency; the faint crinkle at the bridge of her nose that betrayed her tension; and the way her teeth grazed her bottom lip as she worriedly bit down.

He couldn't resist a playful impulse. Leaning forward slightly, he caught the inside of her palm between his teeth, biting down just enough to draw her attention without hurting her.

Mithra flinched slightly and turned her head, her wide eyes locking with his.

"For someone so cultured and traditional, pulling a random guy into an empty room seems a little too... bold, don't you think?" Jai said, his voice low and teasing as he rolled his lips in to stifle a smirk.

Mithra narrowed her eyes at him, her expression caught somewhere between indignation and embarrassment. "Anasuya Attha is a little too conservative," she muttered defensively, peeking through her lashes. "She's... a bit old-fashioned."

Jai raised a brow, amusement dancing in his eyes. He could tell there was more to Mithra than the innocent image she projected. "Oh, really?" he drawled, pulling his phone out of his pocket in one smooth motion.

Mithra's brows furrowed in confusion as she watched him unlock his phone and scroll through something. Then, without warning, he held the screen up to her.

Her breath hitched. On the screen were a series of pictures—her pictures. One was from the wedding, her face glowing under the golden light of the ceremony. Another showed her in the reception outfit, laughing at something out of frame. There was one of her tying her hair in his car, her expression unaware and candid. And, of course, there were shots from their impromptu date—moments she hadn't even realized he'd captured.

Her mouth fell open in shock. "You... what...?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Jai chuckled, the sound deep and full of mischief. "So, this is what they think of you, bangaram,"

Mithra snapped out of her daze and lunged for the phone, but Jai anticipated her move. He smoothly moved it out of reach, causing her to stumble forward. Her hands landed on his chest for balance as her body pressed against his.

Jai's smirk grew wider, and before she could pull away, he snaked his arms around her waist. His hands settled on the soft, warm skin of her bare waist where the half-saree didn't cover her.

The contact sent a jolt through Mithra, and she instinctively fisted his t-shirt in response, her breaths coming faster. Jai's fingers splayed against her waist, his touch deliberate as he gently tugged her closer.

She glared up at him, her cheeks burning. "Delete those photos," she demanded in a low, shaky voice.

"And why would I do that?" Jai asked, his voice tinged with amusement, his eyes dancing with mischief as he gazed down at her.

"Please..." she breathed, her tone softening into a plea.

Jai tilted his head, feigning consideration. "Fine, I'll delete them," he said, watching her eyes light up with hope.

But before she could fully relax, he added, "But you know I'm a businessman bangaram. I do deals, not favors. So..." He trailed off, his gaze locking with hers, his expression teasing.

"So?" Mithra prompted, her brows knitting together in suspicion.

"I need something in return," he said, shrugging nonchalantly, though his smirk betrayed the satisfaction he felt at turning the tables.

Mithra's heart was racing, her wide eyes fixed on Jai as he casually tilted his head, a dreamy, almost innocent expression taking over his sharp features. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, knowing full well that whatever he was about to say would be far from simple.

"Well, that's quite a list," Jai began, his lips quirking into a devilish grin as he trailed off, his gaze momentarily drifting as if he were genuinely contemplating an extravagant demand. "But for now, I have something in mind."

Mithra frowned, her brows furrowing in suspicion, but she stayed silent, waiting for him to elaborate.

Jai's smirk grew as he leaned in closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Ever since you kissed me in my office, I haven't been able to forget it," he said, his tone low and playful, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, for now, one small kiss would do." He ended his statement with a deliberately innocent expression, his head tilting slightly as though he were a child asking for candy.

Mithra's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Huh?" she managed to squeak, her voice filled with shock and indignation.

Jai nodded enthusiastically, as if her reaction only encouraged him further. "Mmhmm," he hummed, his grin widening as he rounded his other arm around her, pulling her closer until there was barely an inch of space left between them.

"You took me by surprise that day," he continued, his tone dripping with mock seriousness. "Before I could even react, you ran away. So unfair, Mithra. Now, let me show you my expertise."

Her cheeks flamed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. "Jai," she hissed, her voice trembling slightly, her wide eyes filled with a combination of anger and panic.

"Or," he said, his voice taking on a casual, matter-of-fact tone, "I could always show Anasuya Attha these pictures." He lifted his phone slightly, a smug smirk playing on his lips.

As if on cue, a shrill voice echoed down the hallway. "Junnu! Junnu!"

Jai's smirk only deepened as he heard Anasuya calling out, her footsteps growing louder. Mithra's breath hitched as her anxiety skyrocketed. If her aunt found them like this, she was done for.

"Jai, please," she pleaded, her voice urgent, her eyes darting toward the door.

But Jai wasn't done playing. He leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's it going to be, bangaram? A kiss, or your oh-so-traditional reputation?"

Before Mithra could respond, Jai cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Anasuya Attha!"

Mithra's eyes widened in horror as she clamped her hand over his mouth, muffling his next attempt. "Jai, stop!" she hissed, but he only chuckled behind her hand, his eyes alight with amusement.

"Anasu—" Jai started again, his voice muffled but still audible.

Desperate, Mithra grabbed his shirt and pulled him toward her, crashing her lips onto his in a frantic attempt to silence him.

Jai froze for a split second, his smirk dissolving into genuine surprise before returning with a vengeance. His hands, which had been resting lightly on her waist, tightened their grip, his fingers splaying against her soft, bare skin. He took a deliberate step forward, pressing her back against the door, switching their positions his body fully encompassing hers.

Mithra's mind was racing, her senses overwhelmed by the proximity and the intoxicating scent of him—an enticing mix of spice and something inherently Jai. She tried to keep the kiss brief, but Jai had other plans.

He smirked through the kiss, tilting his head slightly to deepen it. One of his hands slipped lower, his thumb brushing teasingly against the curve of her waist where her half-saree exposed her skin. When he playfully pinched the soft flesh, Mithra gasped against his lips.

Jai took full advantage, his tongue slipping past her parted lips to taste her. The move was bold, commanding, and yet somehow still playful, as though he were savoring every second of her surrender.

Mithra's fingers curled tighter into his shirt, her body betraying her attempt to remain unaffected. Every touch, every movement of his lips, sent jolts of electricity racing through her.

Jai finally pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her dazed, wide-eyed gaze. His smirk was firmly in place, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "See? Told you I had expertise," he murmured, his voice a low, teasing drawl.

Mithra glared at him, her cheeks burning. "Delete those photos, Jai," she whispered breathlessly.

He grinned, leaning in to brush his lips against her ear. "Not a chance, bangaram. They're my favorite souvenirs." he finished as he playfully bit mithra's earlobe earning a hiss from her.