Author's POV:

Mithra stood on a chair, struggling to hang a delicate garland above the wedding mandap. Her fingers trembled as she tried to secure the fragile threads, her eyes fixed on the intricate design. Jai watched, mesmerized, as her hair fell in loose waves down her back, her skin glowing in the soft light. He found his eyes following every slight movement of hers, from the way her fingers held onto the threads, to the way her toes held her as she stretched herself to reach the ceiling, from the way her chest heaved up and down with the deep, uneven breaths she drew to the curve of her slender waist that was barely covered.

As she stretched further, her foot slipped, and the garland began to unravel. Mithra's eyes widened in dismay. Before she could react, Jai appeared beside her, his hands grasping the garland, his fingers brushing against hers. Mithra found her breathing go irregular and hazy with the close proximity. His cologne engulfing her like a warm blanket.

"Let me help," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Together, they worked in silence, their hands moving in tandem as they rethreaded the garland. Once they finished, Jai turned to her with a warm smile.

"I'm Jai," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And you are...?"

Mithra's cheeks flushed as she gazed up at him, her eyes locking onto his. "Mithra," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jai's smile widened. "Lovely to meet you, Mithra. And may I say, you're doing an amazing job with the decorations?"

Mithra's eyes dropped, her face growing more flushed, but a small smile played on her lips.

Jai leaned against a nearby pillar, his eyes fixed on Mithra with an unmistakable gleam of interest. "So, Mithra, what brings a beautiful woman like you to this wedding?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

Mithra raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. "Oh, just the free food and a chance to witness true love. You know, the usual," she replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. She gestured with her hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief. But only mithra knew what was happening inside her. His strikingly good features looked even more chiseled from this close and she couldn't hide the blush that covered her cheeks.

Jai chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ha! Well, I'm sure the open bar doesn't hurt either." He pushed off the pillar, taking a step closer to her, his movements fluid and confident.

Mithra's eyes narrowed slightly, her smile still in place. "You know me so well already, Jai. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've only just met." She tilted her head, her hair falling in a soft cascade down her back.

Jai's gaze followed the movement, his eyes lingering on her hair before returning to her face. "True, but I like to think I'm a quick learner. And I can tell we're going to get along famously." He flashed her a charming smile, his teeth gleaming in the light.

Mithra's expression turned skeptical, her eyebrow arching higher. "Famous last words, Jai. Don't get too comfortable." She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes glinting with a hint of challenge.

Jai's smile only grew wider, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots. But seriously, Mithra, you're captivating. I can't help but want to know more about you." He took another step closer, his voice dropping to a low, husky tone.

Mithra's eyes locked onto his, her gaze unwavering. "Save it for the girls who fall for your charm, Jai. I'm not impressed." She raised her chin, her lips curving into a subtle smile.

Jai's eyes gleamed with appreciation, his face inches from hers. "Ouch! But I like your sass. It's refreshing." He leaned in closer, his breath whispering against her ear. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun together, Mithra."

Mithra's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, her cheeks flushing softly. She didn't step back, her gaze still locked onto his. "Just keeping you on your toes, Jai. Don't get too cocky." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her words sending a thrill through the air.

Mithra returned to arranging the flowers, her focus solely on the task at hand. Jai lingered nearby, his eyes fixed on her with an unmistakable interest.

"Hey, Mithra, what's the theme for this wedding? 'Love in Bloom'?" Jai asked, his voice laced with amusement, trying to catch her attention atleast for a minute.

Mithra's hands didn't stop moving, but her eyes rolled heavenward. "Oh, how original, Jai. You must have spent hours coming up with that one."

Jai chuckled, unfazed. "Hey, I'm a romantic at heart. What can I say?"

Mithra snorted, her lips curling into a wry smile. "I'm sure your heart is filled with roses and chocolates."

Jai's grin only grew wider. "You're making fun of me, but I can tell you're secretly impressed."

Mithra's eyes flickered up, her gaze meeting his for a brief moment. "Impressed? By your cheesy lines? Please."

Jai's laughter echoed through the hall, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, I love a good challenge. And you, Mithra, are the ultimate puzzle to solve."

Mithra's expression remained skeptical, but a hint of a smile played on her lips. "Good luck with that. You're going to need it."

As they continued to banter back and forth, Mithra's focus never wavered from her task, but Jai's persistence only seemed to grow, his eyes never leaving hers. It was clear that he was determined to crack the code that was Mithra, but she remained an enigma, her sassiness only fueling his interest.

For the next hour Mithra indulged herself in the preparations and Jai in her. He lingered around a little too much to her liking, casually flirting

Mithra's hands stopped mid-motion, her eyes flashing with a hint of annoyance. "Okay, Jai, enough."

Jai's grin faltered, his eyes questioning. "Enough of what?"

Mithra's voice was firm, her words direct. "Enough of this banter. Enough of you following me around like a lost puppy. What's your game?"

Jai's expression turned innocent, his hands spread wide. "I'm just trying to get to know you, Mithra. You're fascinating."

Mithra's eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident. "Fascinating? You don't even know me. And yet, you're getting way too comfortable, way too fast."

Jai's smile returned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe I'm just a quick learner. Or maybe I'm just drawn to your captivating personality."

Mithra's eyes rolled, her voice firm. "Save it. I'm not buying what you're selling. Just back off, okay?"

The air was tense for a moment, Jai's eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded, his smile still in place. "Okay, Mithra. I'll back off... for now." slightly winking at the end and walking away.

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