During the muhurtam, Jai and Mithra were separated, each busy with their respective friends and family. Mithra was laughing and chatting with Swati and her other friends, completely carefree. Jai, on the other hand, was surrounded by his own friends, but his attention was elsewhere.

His eyes constantly scanned the crowd, searching for Mithra. He would catch glimpses of her dark hair and saree, and his gaze would linger on her, following her every move. He watched as she expertly navigated the crowd, her smile radiant and infectious.

Jai's friends tried to engage him in conversation, but he was distant, his responses monosyllabic. They teased him about his distraction, but Jai just shrugged it off, his eyes never leaving Mithra.

As the ceremony progressed, Jai found himself growing increasingly possessive. He glared at any guy who dared to look at Mithra, his eyes flashing with a warning. He even caught himself growling softly when a nearby guest accidentally brushed against her.

Meanwhile, Jai was also dodging the female attention he was receiving. Women of all ages were vying for his attention, but he politely extricated himself from their clutches, his eyes always drifting back to Mithra.

As he watched her laugh and dance with her friends, Jai's heart swelled with a mix of emotions. He felt proud to see her so happy, yet simultaneously, he wanted to be the one making her smile. He wanted to be the one she leaned on, the one she looked at with such joy.

Jai's friends noticed his distraction and started teasing him, but he just grinned sheepishly, his eyes never leaving Mithra. He knew he was in trouble – he was falling for her, hard.

As the thali tying ceremony approached, the atmosphere became electric. Mithra, resplendent in her saree, was already on the dias, surrounded by her friends. Jai and his friends joined them, and the two groups stood on either side of the bride and groom. Jai's face was a picture of joy, his smile radiant as he chatted with his friends and teased Arjun.

Mithra couldn't help but be drawn to Jai's infectious energy. She found herself watching him, a smile spreading across her face as she observed his antics. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he joked with Arjun, and his laughter was contagious, making Mithra giggle.

As the priest began the thali tying ritual, Jai's gaze met Mithra's, and they exchanged a warm smile. Mithra's heart skipped a beat as their eyes held for a moment, the connection between them palpable.

The ceremony progressed, and Jai's attention was focused on the ritual, but his eyes kept drifting back to Mithra. He was acutely aware of her presence, and his happiness seemed to amplify with every glance at her. Mithra, too, was conscious of Jai's gaze, her skin tingling with pleasure.

As the thali was tied around the bride's neck, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Jai and Mithra joined in, their eyes meeting once more, their smiles mirroring each other's joy. In that moment, it seemed like they were the only two people in the world, connected by an invisible thread of happiness.

............

Mithra glided through the garden, her saree fluttering behind her like a rainbow-hued cloud. Jai leaned against a pillar, his eyes fixed on her as she effortlessly charmed everyone around her. He chuckled to himself as she playfully posed for photos with a giggling baby, her smile radiant and infectious.

But then, Mithra did something that caught Jai off guard. She gently kissed the baby on the cheek, her lips brushing against the soft skin with tender affection. Jai's heart skipped a beat as he imagined how her lips would feel against his own skin. He felt a pang of jealousy towards the baby, which made him laugh at himself. What was he doing, anyway? He shook his head, trying to snap out of it.

As Mithra continued her stroll, Jai pushed off from the pillar and followed her, his eyes drinking in every detail of her graceful movements. He couldn't help but admire the way she lit up the entire garden with her grace.

Jai's attempt to follow Mithra was thwarted when Rohini, an old college acquaintance, caught up with him. She had always had a crush on him and tried to engage him in conversation, her voice dripping with sweetness. Jai tried to politely extricate himself, but Rohini wouldn't take the hint.

As Jai searched for a way to escape the conversation, his eyes scanned the area for Mithra. But she was nowhere to be found, and Rohini continued to chat away, oblivious to Jai's distraction. Just as he was starting to feel trapped, a soft hand grasped his wrist, and a familiar scent enveloped him.

"Jai, did you have lunch?" Mithra asked, totally ignoring Rohini.

"Huh?" Jai was surprised and didn't know what to say. His mind focusing on nothing but how soft her hands were.

Mithra smiled sweetly and turned to Rohini. "Sorry, we had to eat," specifying on the " we.

Mithra dragged Jai away, her hand still wrapped around his wrist. Jai couldn't help but follow her lead, his eyes fixed on her as he stumbled along beside her. As they put distance between themselves and Rohini, Mithra suddenly released his hand, stopping abruptly and turning to face him.

The sudden stop caught Jai off guard, and he found himself inches from Mithra's face. She had to stretch her neck to meet his gaze, her eyes wide with nervousness. Jai, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled down at her.

Mithra's nervousness grew as she took in the proximity of their bodies and the fact that they were still in a crowded area. She gulped hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank me later," she mumbled, her eyes darting around them before returning to Jai's face.

Jai's smile grew wider, his eyes never leaving hers. The air between them seemed to vibrate with tension, and Mithra knew she had to break the spell before it was too late. She took a step back, her eyes still on him.
Mithra suddenly spun around and walked away, leaving Jai bewildered. He didn't understand what was happening until he saw her a few feet away, hastily retreating as if trying to escape him. "Mithra!" He called out, starting to run after her as her steps quickened. Finally, he caught up, grasping her hand and pulling her to a nearby wall, pinning her to the wall with his hand still locked to hers. He glanced around to ensure no one noticed, then turned towards Mithra, noticing her erratic breathing. He leaned in, stretching his free hand to rest next to her bare waist on the wall, giving her no chance to escape.

Mithra bit her lower lip nervously as Jai's gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips. He gulped down, clearly controlling himself. His eyes burned with a mix of confusion and desire, his face inches from hers. Mithra's heart raced, her breathing labored, as she felt trapped and vulnerable.

"The thanking you part—" Jai stopped, his gaze fixed on Mithra's lips, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he gulped. "I have better ways of saying it," he said, his voice low and husky, his eyes locked on hers.

Mithra's mind went blank, and all she could manage was a weak "Huh?"

Jai's lips curled into a sly smile as he wet his lips with the tip of his tongue, his eyes never leaving Mithra's face. He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers, and Mithra's heart skipped a beat as she expected a kiss. But instead, Jai paused, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Mithra's eyes fluttered closed, her anticipation building, but the kiss never came. She opened her eyes to find Jai smirking at her, his expression playful. A frown creased her forehead, her annoyance evident.

"Lunch tomorrow?" He asked, his voice casual.

Mithra raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. "Hmm, I'll have to check my schedule...of avoiding you. But maybe, just maybe, I can squeeze you in."

Jai chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'll take that as a challenge?"

Mithra just laughed and pushed him away, escaping his hold and running off with a playful smirk on her face.

As the wedding celebrations came to a close, Mithra began her search for Jai, scanning the crowd with hopeful eyes. But he was nowhere to be found. She made her way to the entrance, her gaze darting around, until finally, her eyes landed on him. Leaning casually against his sleek Ferrari, a smile spread across his face, and Mithra's heart skipped a beat.

She couldn't help but bite back a smile as their eyes locked, the tension between them palpable. Jai pushed off from the car and sauntered towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Need a ride home?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, gesturing towards the car with a nod.

Mithra's smile broke free, and she walked towards the car, her heels clicking on the pavement. "Well, if you insist," she replied, her voice playful, as Jai held open the car door for her.

As she settled into the passenger seat, Jai closed the door and walked around to the driver's side, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at her through the window.

As Jai settled into the driver's seat, he turned towards Mithra, and his eyes were met with a sight that made his heart skip a beat. She was tying her hair into a bun, her fingers deftly twisting the strands into a neat knot, the hair tie held precariously between her teeth. The sight was so endearing that Jai couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and clicked a picture of her, capturing the moment perfectly. One strand of hair had fallen loose, framing her face, and her eyes sparkled with surprise as she looked directly at the camera, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Mithra's eyes widened in surprise as she realized what Jai had done. "Hey!" she exclaimed, her voice playful, as she reached out to swipe at his phone. "Delete that!"

Jai grinned mischievously, holding his phone out of her reach. "No way, this is going in my gallery. You look adorable."

Mithra's face flushed, but she couldn't help but laugh at Jai's teasing. "You're such a goofball," she said, shaking her head.

As they continued driving, Jai couldn't help but sneak glances at the photo he had taken, his heart filled with a warm sense of joy. He was so grateful for this moment, this chance to be with Mithra, and he knew he would cherish this memory forever.

The warm sunlight cast a golden glow on their faces, and the soft breeze rustled Mithra's hair as they drove off into the evening, the promise of a new beginning hanging in the air.

"So, 2 pm works for you?" Jai asked referring to the lunches had asked for , his tone effortlessly casual, but his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.

Mithra's eyebrows shot up in amusement, her voice laced with playful skepticism. "So much confidence, huh?"

Jai cut her off, his grin growing wider. "Well, let's see... your university classes ended three weeks ago, your exams wrapped up last week, and your best friend's wedding is now over... that makes you free tomorrow, doesn't it?"

Mithra's eyebrows reached new heights, her eyes wide with surprise. "How... did you...?" she stuttered, her voice trailing off as she stared at Jai in wonder.

Jai chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Let's just say I have my ways," he said, his voice dripping with charm. "And I know how to use my good looks and charm to get what I want."

He winked, his smile growing even more roguish. "Especially when it comes to friends."

Mithra shook her head, laughing, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're something else, Jai.

..............
Hey ppl!!! Hope u liked the update.
I just wanted to let u know that I want you guys to leave comments. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
That is truly something that pushes me to write and also makes it clear to me parts u like n parts u don't. So please comment down everything u feel from part to part, good or bad doesn't matter!
Now if u guys haven't commented go back n leave comments on the parts u like 🙃