The scent of rich Indian spices hanged in the air along with the clinking of cutlery. Jasmine moves around from table to table for taste testing the dishes.

She hasn't talked to me since yesterday

She was busy with Kavya and her the whole day and now she is busy with this

She looked radiant dressed in that pistachio-green anarkali - that's the name Sonia told me. Her bangles clicked softly as she dipped a spoon into the bowl of a paneer curry and tasted it. Her brows furrowed in concentration with each dish.

Her nose pin glittered under the warm light. I love seeing her like this - desi, bold, unafraid to shine.

She tasted each dish with interest, making the right choice's for her brother's wedding.

I stood a bit afar, leaning against the ornate pillar of this palace turned wedding venue. A video camera held against my hand - Liam gifted me this for graduation.

It's a nice excuse to watch her

Clicking the record button, I zoom in

I look through the lense, watching her eyes light up when she tasted something delicious. They way she spoke to the caterer, gesturing with her spoon.

I exhale softly and lower the camera. I let my jealousy speak for me. Letting the fear paint my defences. But watching that guy touch her made my head spin and I couldn't stop myself. He hugged her, talked to her and then held her.

Yet now watching her made my heart ache with the heaviness of my mistake. I did try to talk to her yesterday but she was busy, already having lots of work to handle. Then, I messaged her - she did read it but didn't reply. I haven't seen her with her phone the whole day.

I spend hours watching her, recording the small moments of her happiness.

Jasmine stood up, walking over to the table arranged with the rows of sweets. Her smile widens as she looks through them with excitement. A smile appears on my lips just by watching her, I step forward to approach her.

But someone else comes into the view from behind her.

Kabir

He stood beside her, draping his hand over her shoulder so casually. I watch Jasmine lean in to say something to him and they both laugh. She doesn't move away or even make an attempt to

I feel the same feeling coiling in my chest

"Lucas! Bhai! Listen!" Sonia's voice makes me force my gaze away from her. I watch her nudge me to get my attention, I didn't hear her call me before. "Please help me" she requests.

I couldn't get the time to reject before she gestures me to follow. I sigh and follow her - not wanting to disappoint her or leave her in trouble.

To my surprise, she takes me to the table where Jasmine and Kabir were earlier. Now they are sitting on chairs talking while eating from the same plate.

Get that horse away from her!

"Veer bhaiya said that we all can choose one sweet. Which one do you want?" She asks, holding a plate in front of me. My jaw tightens as I look at the different kinds of colourful sweets.

"What happened?" she asks with concern. I try to relax my expressions "Nothing. Which one should I select?" I ask changing the topic, I also have no idea about these and don't wanna eat them either

She hums thinking, looking at them "I selected a barfi. Maybe you should try this - laddu" she says pointing at an orange coloured round sweet. I nod without protesting and pick it up, it slightly deforms in my hand due to its soft texture.

I take a small bite out of it, chewing the taste of this sugar and ghee mixed sweet.

That's when I hear her laughter. Soft, sweet.

"Here, try this" Kabir's voice follows

My head snaps in her direction. Jasmine smiles looking at him, tugging her hair behind her ear as Kabir holds that same sweet to her lips. She leans forward, taking a bite from his hand - her lips brushing against his fingertips.

It was like a slap

My jaw clenched watching her lean back against her seat. Wiping her lips with her fingers as she eats it, her eyes never leaving Kabir.

Suddenly, the sweet flavour tastes like poison on my tongue. My hand turned into a fist around that sweet - crushed it between my fingers. The syrup oozes out from my hand like the last thread of my patience.

Sonia's eyes widens as she looks at me horrified "It's soft but it's not clay for you to play like that!" She says handing me some tissues

I clean my hand and toss it aside in anger. My breathing heavies "Keep whatever sweets you want - cancel this thing" I say sharply, gesturing to those laddu

She blinked "What? But why! They are almost everyone's favourite-"

"I don't care. I am allergic to them, so now cancel it" I order before turning around and walking away. If this continues then I will definitely do something reckless - I don't care what others might think but I am so close from pulling Jasmine away from him. Or shoving Kabir into any pillars around here.

I hear straight to my room, slamming the door shut and collapsing on the bed with a groan.

I am going crazy

✄-------

"Lucas!"

I slowly open my eyes, my vision a bit hazy as I lift myself off the mattress and look around. The darkness in the room surrounding me, I reach out to the lamp on the side table and switch it on.

I blink a few times to come to my senses and sit up straight feeling my shoulders tensed. Glancing at the clock I realised that I feel asleep - I haven't been able to sleep properly she I came to India.

"Lucas?" Another knock hits the door. I take a deep breath composing myself, running a hand through my messy hair to fix them. I push myself to my feet and approach the door "coming!"

Upon opening the door, I find Sonia standing there. She looks up and down at me - noticing the perfectly ironed shirt now in a wrinkled state.

"Sorry, I disturbed you. Again" She mutters in guilt. I wave my hand "It's alright, I am glad you woke me up. What happened?"

"You might want to come to the gardens. Something interesting is happening" She replies, her eyes slightly hesitant. My eyes narrows suspiciously "Why?"

"Just come! Jasmine and Kabir are practicing their dance for the Sangeet!" She exclaims.

That one sentence sliced through me

I follow her mechanically. My chest burnt at the images my brain is playing - Jasmine dancing with him. Why! She knew how I felt about him being around her yet she-

I move quickly down the stairs following Sonia. My breathing quickens as I walk through the hallway and slip out to the garden. It was light up around the fountain - creating an enchanted scene

And there she is

Stood just before the fountain, her back facing me. Dressed in a silver coloured lengha that made look glowing under the moon - a symbol of moonlight herself. The silly material glittered under the fairy lights.

It takes me a minute to understand her being twirled in Kabir's arms. Her dupatta flowed freely with the moment. That's when her eyes met mine, I step forward hoping for some reaction but she ignored me and turned back to him.

The music played softly in the background creating a romantic atmosphere. It was a melody of closeness.

Kabir's hand finds her waist as he steps back, his other hand caresses her jaw, lip syncing to the lyrics. Jasmine smiled, winking at him and spinning away. Her hands clenched her long skirt as she twirled in circles around him before he pulled her back against his chest.

His arms wrapping around her from behind as they swayed through the music.

My pulse quickened at the sight

I couldn't see anything but her in his arms. My heart clenched - even if this is some choreography, I hate it. I hate him with her, watching him get so close and touch her.

She made her choice

She chose to practice with him

She glances at me again, her eyes flickering across my face briefly. A smirk appears on her lips, a clear sign of mockery. She turned away, swaying her hips in the process.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

This is out of limits

I snap out of my thought, turning around and storming inside. I can't watch this anymore - one more second of his face and I will drown him in that fountain.

"You are leaving before the best part" Jasmine's voice calls out and I stop at my track, hearing the soft clinking of her anklets. I take a deep breath rubbing my palm on my face.

Slowly, I turn around to face her. She stood there with her arm crossed. That infuriating, irresistible smile on her lips.

"Did you enjoy our performance, Lucas?" She asks tilting her head playing coy

I scoff, it takes me three long strides to reach out for her. Before she could blink I snake my hand around her waist and push her against the nearby wall. She gasped in surprise "What are you doing?"

Anger won't work here.

I gotta do the same method she applied on me

"Isn't this what you wanted?" I ask, I brush my finger down the curve of her waist - slowly, teasingly. She sucked in her breath, her hands moving to my chest but she didn't push me away.

"Do you know what drove me crazy the most?" I whisper, lowering my voice, leaning closer to her. She gulps looking at me, her chest rises and falls with her heavy breathing "All confidence vanished?" I mock

"You danced so closely with him, let him touch you. You smiled at him like he meant something" I add my observation, resting my hand to her waist "But I know you did it on purpose"

I look up to watch her reaction - her eyes widens. I smirk, finding her caught off guard. I trail my other hand to hers, taking it and bringing it to my lips "Yeah. You wanted me to watch. You wanted me to burn with desperation"

I mutter, kissing the pulse point of her wrist watching her shiver under my touch. Her fingers clenches together in a fist and she tries to pull back.

"Not so soon" I say, holding her hand closer. Pressing my fingertips on her pulse gently feeling it beat . "Well congratulations, you have drove me insane. I was angry, desperate" I admit. She blinks, her lips parts slightly.

"But you know the best part?" My smirk widens, watching her attempts with a new light "Now, I know that you are as desperate as me. You wanted me her, to feel this" I release her hand letting to it fall to her side

I lean back creating some distance, watching her noticing my every action. Her hands clench her dupatta "Don't we both feel the same way" I point out.

I don't know what she is thinking or feeling, but I know that she has grown her feelings towards me - it's in her eyes and most importantly in her actions

She is nervous too

I lift her chin up gently, making her look at me. I could feel her heart race like mine. My gaze drops to her lips, the temptation too hard to resist now. She is so close yet so far, without her approval I couldn't.

She doesn't push me away

But I need to hear her 'yes'

"I can't stop thinking about you" I admit, "You are never out of my system. Every move you make, every word you say, every laugher that's heard by me is painted in the canvas of my heart"

My free hand comes to her hair, gently pushing them back off her shoulders. My fingertips traced the line of her jaw, fascinated by the glow on her skin "Ask me to kiss you, Milaya" I whisper leaning closer.

Our lips are just inches apart.

"No" she whispered, her hands fisting on my chest restraining herself. I could see the same desire in her eyes, how her gaze dropped to my lips. Her breath hitched slightly from our proximity. I knew she wanted the same yet resisted.

She would never admit it before I do

A small smirk appears on my lips, I lower myself to match her.

"Order me to kiss you then" I breathed out, my grip tightened on her waist "Please" I beg, ready to be on my knees if she asks. My hand rests on her nape, tilting her head back and her neck arch.

She gasps softly, that sounds so intoxicating. Her resolve crumbled "Kiss me, Lucas" she orders softly

My eyes widen at her words, I watch her lean closer. Lifting herself up on her toes as she brushes her lips on mine. I feel my whole body tremble feeling on fire. Without wasting another second, I close the remaining distance.

My lips crashing against hers urgently. She responded back, her arms wrapping around my neck. I rested on her lower back pulling her closer as much as I could.

The kiss is intense, all consuming. She tasted like honey and spices. I couldn't get enough of her, my mind hazy with her touch. I could feel her heart racing, her body trembling against mine as we go through the same emotion

It's electric, how her lips felt. How her body melted against mine.

I couldn't stop myself - my mouth moves against hers, consuming her. Every argument, every brush or skin, every look it all seemed worth it. It wasn't as soft or gentle as I expected. I pour out my feelings into it - the longing, frustration, love

I angled her head to for better access, her gasps vanished between us

She pulls away slightly, making me groan. Her cheeks flustered, her eyes half closed "Slowly Lucas" She asks, her voice coming out as soft pants

I blink releasing her nape "Too much?" I ask, watching her lean against the wall, her hands holding my shoulders. She shakes her head "Too fast. Let me remember this for longer" she requests

Something in my chest cracks

I smile softly at her words, cupping her face "I will make sure you remember this"

I say before kissing her again, this time more slowly. Letting her feel every second of this moment. My hand held her waist lightly while the other cupped her jaw.

I feel her fingers tangling in my hair, her lips slowly moving against mine. She is hesitant, her actions inexperienced. I go slower, letting her take control, get comfortable.

"I am terrible at this" She mumbles, closing her eyes. I smile against her mouth "We have all the time in this world to get better" I reply teasingly. She chuckles softly "How are you so sure?"

"I am so tired of pretending. Watching you from a distance, swallowing every emotion, burying every feeling to stop myself from blurring that line" my comes out as a slow whisper.

Suddenly, I feel lighter and anxious.

But I can't hold myself

Her expression softens hearing my words but she doesn't speak, I cup her face "I need you - Jasmine. I need you like a lifeline. Not for a show or this wedding. I haven't recognised this before but I needed you since the moment I saw you in that purple saree"

"I dismissed it as a vision of my inspiration. Clinged onto that stupid reason to be around you. I have craved from everything that's you - your sweet smile or your angry words, your calming scent or your brightening excitement"

I take a deep breath composing myself "You brought colours to my life. You gave me a reason to smile. You brought that life back into me which I lost" my throat aches as I try to form words. I don't remember the last time I have expressed my feelings this much.

I rest my forehead against hers "I am in love with you"

Her body stilled

She moved back looking at me with a mixture of expressions.

I smile, pulling her against my chest and burying my face in her neck. I hold her tightly, afraid that she would push me away. Not accept this "I might not be able to repeat these words. I am not good at it" I mumble against her skin "But I promise to prove it to you everyday"

"Lucas" she whispers, almost pleading. Her hands clenched the sides of my shirt.

I smile as she takes my name. I lean back "and don't try to pull those stunts again because next time I won't find it so alluring" I add with a hint of broken humour

Her eyes flickers getting glossy. She doesn't speak anything but I notice her lower lip tremble with unshown emotions

My hand trembled with nervousness as I cup her face. The taste of her still fresh in my mind

"I am in love with you" I repeat, making my words more softer this time. "Tell me you feel the same way or at least show me" I plead, reduced to a mess just waiting for her answer.

Even if she feels a bit for me is enough.

Just one word.

The silence between us stretched long and I felt my heart clench with each second she didn't speak.

Did I read it wrong?

But then she moved

She leans closer, opening her mouth before closing it. She tries but no words come out of her mouth. Before I could say something, she wrapped her arms around my neck pulling me into a hug.

I froze in my place

She hugged me

tightly, burying her face in my neck. She felt relaxed like she felt comfortable. My arms instinctively circled her, holding her against me.

She whispered, her voice muffled "you talk about feelings when you made me feel a whole new kind of emotion"