Author's POV:-

Arjun and Maya arrived at the mehndi function. The venue was even more beautifully decorated than the day before, with intricate floral arrangements in shades of green and gold. Mehandi artists has already came and girls started doing their mehandi's.

Maya, dressed in a stunning green anarkali with her hair cascading down her shoulders.On the other hand Arjun was wearing a green kurta, matching her outfit perfectly, though it was purely coincidental-or so they thought. They are giving a perfect couple vibes.

She placed her chunni on her shoulder as Arjun helps her holding her bag.

Later Varun took Arjun in their boy's group at the corner.

Priyanka spotted Maya.. Mehandi artists has already started doing her mehandi..

Priyanka spotted Maya and called her over. "Maya! Come sit here, I'm already getting my mehndi done. You should get yours too!" She grinned, her hands covered in henna.

Maya laughs shaking her head, 'Tum lagao mehandi,mujhe utna shauk nahi-'

Priyanka wasn't having it. "No excuses! It's tradition. Come on, at least get a small design done." She winked, teasing Maya in the playful way.

She forces her to sit beside her and the mehndi artist began her work. "What's your husband's name?" the artist asked, pausing to dip her brush in more henna.

Before she could answer, Priyanka shouts ' Arjun..his name is Arjun '

'Priyanka...he is not my husband' Maya widens her eyes..

'Toh kya hua .. boyfriend toh hain na?? Aur kuch din baad husband bhi ho jayega' she teases but Maya couldn't help blushes hearing it.

Why she always end up blushing whenever they teases her with Arjun ?? It's not that he is her real boyfriend. She thought.

The mehandi artists smile adding his name over her palm.

Meanwhile, Varun had joined Priyanka, holding a plate of food in his hands. Her hands were covered in mehndi, so Varun was feeding her, a loving smile on his face as he took care of his bride-to-be.

Maya watched them from the corner of her eye, feeling a warmth she hadn't expected. Seeing them together like that, so effortlessly in love, made her chest tighten. Her stomach growled slightly, and she realized she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. But with her hands covered in mehndi, she couldn't do much about it.

Just as she was debating how to handle the situation, a spoon filled with food appeared in front of her. She looked up to see Arjun holding it out, a teasing smirk on his face.

Her smile grew, feeling touched by his gesture, but just as she was about to take the bite, he added with a playful glint in his eyes, "Par aise Priyanka aur Varun ko ghurti rahi toh bechari Priyanka ka pet kharab ho jayega."

She glares at him and pushes him not taking the bite from his hand.

'Are mazak kar raha hu...take it' he laughs pushing the spoon into her mouth..

'Are Maya tumhare mehandi toh bohut dark nikli??' priyanka adores her mehandi.

The results came out deep brown.

Arjun startled. He stares at her mehandi and find his name on it..

'You put my name on it??' he asked taking her palm.

Maya looks away feeling awkward.

'Kya karu ?? Priyanka ne zabardasti ki tumhare naame likhne k liye..so..' she trails ..

'Iska matlab janti ho Maya?' Priyanka asked her teasingly.

Maya looks away feeling totally flushed.

'Iska matlab yeh hain ki uska boyfriend usse beshumar pyaar karta hain' Arjun chuckles taking her in a back hug..

All gets aww seeing the duo.

The evening flowed into more festivities, with laughter, teasing, and dancing. People had gathered in the middle of the venue, dancing joyfully to upbeat music. Priyanka, despite her mehndi-covered hands, was trying to sway a little with Varun beside her.

Maya was caught off guard when Arjun suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the center of the dance floor.

"Come on, it's a mehndi function. Thoda dance toh banta hai," Arjun said, his voice dripping with playful mischief. His eyes sparkled with a boyish charm that Maya found hard to resist, though she tried.

"Arjun, mujhe dance nahi karni... tum karo," Maya replied, trying to wriggle out of his grip. But Arjun wasn't having it.

"Come on, it's a couple dance, Maya," he said with a grin, his hold on her firm yet gentle.

Maya glanced around nervously. "Haan toh kaun mana kar raha hai... koi aur ladki ke saath karo," she suggested, trying to laugh it off, though her heart had already started racing the moment his hand touched hers.

Arjun pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her waist. Her palms, now free from mehndi, pressed against his chest as he drew her into him. The warmth of his body enveloped her, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart under her hands. It was a simple touch, but it sent shivers down her spine.

"Par mujhe toh tumhare saath hi dance karni hai... Aakhir girlfriend toh tumhi ho meri, hmm?" he whispered, his breath grazing her ear, making her skin tingle.

Maya's breath caught in her throat. The way his voice lowered, the way his lips hovered so close to her ear-it was too much. Her heart stuttered in her chest, and for a moment, she forgot where they were, surrounded by people.

Arjun's fingers lightly traced the side of her face, brushing away a loose strand of her hair. The soft touch of his fingertips gliding across her cheek made her pulse quicken. She didn't know if it was the way his eyes held hers, deep and intense, or the way his hand rested so possessively on her waist.

Her hands, almost involuntarily, wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as they began to sway. Their movements were slow, intimate, and the rest of the world seemed to blur around them. Arjun's gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on hers.Maya tried to look away, but his gaze held her captive . And then, without warning, Arjun's face dipped closer to hers. His breath brushed her lips.

But just as his lips were about to meet hers, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

'Ahhh' she gasped instinctively clutching his shoulder for support.

'Maya ?? Kya hua??' Arjun immediately kneel down infront of her touching her leg..

He helps her in sitting down in chair..

'Arjun ,sayad moch aa gyi...it got twisted ..ahh!!! Don't touch it 'she shouts..

Arjun glanced down and noticed the ridiculously high heels she had been wearing. His brows furrowed in frustration. "Kya zarurat thi itni high heels pehnne ki? You know you're not used to them!"

Maya winced half from pain and half from his scolding,

'Arjun its perfectly goes with my outfit and besides its wedding function'

Arjun didn't said anything but put her leg into his lap ,opening her fucking heels,massaging the part slowly...

Both Varun and Priyanka came seeing it..

'Kya hua Arjun...??' Priyanka asked in worry ...

Maya says, 'Kuch nahi bas thodi si moch aa gayi'..

Arjun gets up, 'Sorry Varun ..Hume abhi hotel Jana hain..she's not even able to stand'.

'Aree par kyu??' Maya whines..

Arjun glare at her . She glares back at him.

Understanding the seriousness, Varun replied, 'Its ok ..hum tum dono k dinner pack kar dete hain...par ho sake toh please kal ana ..it's our wedding '.

Arjun nods his gratefully.

With that he took her in his arm effortlessly

'Arjun yeh kya kar rahe ho...I can walk' she gets embarrassed as people are watching them.

'Ha bohut chal liya...' he says taking her towards their car.

She fist his shirt in tight grip maintaining her balance ,looking away.

Arjun's POV:-

As Arjun led Maya onto the dance floor, his heart was pounding in a way he wasn't used to. He had always been the one who teased, the one who flirted casually, playing along with the charade of being Maya's "boyfriend" for everyone else's amusement. It had never been serious-at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

But tonight felt different.

The moment he had seen Maya in her green anarkali, looking effortlessly beautiful, something in him had shifted.

It wasn't just about appearances anymore. There was a pull, a magnetic force drawing him toward her, one he couldn't quite explain. And when his hand had slipped around her waist, pulling her close, it had felt natural, almost instinctive. The easy banter, the playful teasing-all of it fell away when he looked into her eyes.

Why does she make me feel this way? he thought, a flicker of uncertainty in his chest. Arjun had always been confident, always sure of himself when it came to women. But with Maya, things were different.

He couldn't brush off the warmth that bloomed in his chest whenever she smiled, the way his heart seemed to race whenever she was close.

As they moved together on the dance floor, her hands resting on his chest, he felt conflicted. What is happening to me? he wondered. He had brought her out here to dance, almost without thinking.

The moment had felt right-pulling her toward him, wanting to feel her close. But now, with her soft gaze on him and the feel of her body moving in time with his, he wasn't sure if it was just for fun anymore.

His mind raced. Was it possible he was falling for her? Had the lines between their fake relationship and reality blurred so much that he couldn't tell the difference anymore?

He watched her, the way her cheeks flushed when he whispered to her, the way she looked away shyly when their eyes met. He liked how she reacted to him, how easily she blushed at his teasing, but now...now it wasn't just about the teasing and most important fact is- he was about to kiss her???

A part of him wanted to believe this was all still a game. After all, wasn't that what they had agreed on? To act like a couple for the sake of appearances? Why was he noticing every little detail about her, the way her fingers curled against his chest, the soft rise and fall of her breath, the way she felt in his arms?

What are you doing, Arjun? his mind screamed. This isn't supposed to happen. Yet, even as he thought it, he couldn't stop the way his hands slid around her waist, pulling her even closer. He couldn't ignore the way his heart raced when her fingers brushed against his.

And then, when Maya twisted her ankle, the concern that flooded through him was instant and overpowering.

Without thinking, he had scooped her into his arms, holding her close as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It wasn't just about teasing or showing off anymore. He didn't care about the amused looks from others or what anyone thought.

All he cared about was her.

But that realization scared him.

Do I really feel something for her? The idea terrified him, but at the same time, he couldn't deny the warmth spreading through his chest, the protectiveness that surged whenever she was near.

He glance at her sleeping face who is now cuddling him like a teddy bear.

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