The room smelled like faint sandalwood along with a mixture of scented candles. The engraved ceiling, the golden and dusky interior with vintage furniture - it's like walking back into the past

Indian architecture is so detailed and fascinating. I have never imagined seeing it or even experiencing living in this palace.

When Jasmine mentioned about Veer's wedding in udaipur I expected hotels or some resort. Not a whole palace which is now used for destination weddings.

I open the zip of my luggage, careful taking out the clothes and setting them into this tall, hardwood wardrobe. An antique mirror placed beside the wardrobe which shined whenever the sun reflected through the curtains.

This place is amazing and calm. It's like I am living in an historical painting.

The palace - Suryagarh Palace , as Jasmine had called it, was stunning. A preserved symbol of royal India turned into a wedding venue, still heavy with tradition and beauty.

I slowly step towards the small balcony, the low railings which are painted in golden colour. I peek out at the view of a large garden, along the row of beautiful flower bushes and a fountain in the middle.

We landed a few hours ago, when Jasmine and I took our jet - Jasmine's family came through a flight. But we had to travel to this place via buses.

Rajasthan's temperature is relatively higher than Maharashtra's. During the whole ride, Jasmine was making me drink water and juices to make sure I wasn't feeling ill or uncomfortable. It was cute watching Jasmine fuss over me, at least I could be confident in the fact that she cares more than she admits. Though I had to take a shower as soon as I came into this room.

I sigh softly, getting back inside and continue unpacking. This place feels really silent and also sacred - maybe that's why I could hear the door creek open.

“Lucas?”

I turn quickly, hearing her call my name - it's always different depending on the mood, the timing and sometimes the feeling. This time it's soft, sweet, almost requesting me to look

And when I did. I don't regret it one bit

“Wow” it comes out in a single, silent whisper.

Jasmine stands at the door, draped in a satin suit like she wore when we landed in Mumbai. But this time it's Red. The rich and refined colour with gold embroidery.

A thin, soft dupatta grazed with the wind as she moved. Her long earrings brushed against her neck as she tilted her head watching me.

For a second - a very long second. I forget everything except her. Forget the palace, forget the wedding. Forget about breathing.

How does she always manage to swoon me away without even doing anything?

She steps forward, the tiny mirrors embroidered on the edges of her top catches the light of the sun reflecting it back to me. “Lucas?” She calls again making me nod foolishly

She Chuckles softly, catching the effect she has on me “You said I look good in red. Still true right?” She asks, almost teasingly

I blinked, startled by how dry my throat suddenly felt. “Yes! Of course. It's still true, very true, dangerously true” I mutter the last word.

A smile tugged on the corner of her lips, slowly, shyly and that pierced through my heart.

I step closer to her, trying to get a better look at or but internally it's just to feel her presence closer to me. My gaze flickers down to her face, the light make up that catches her beauty

Her hair is pulled back into a braid, leaving her honey-toned skin glowing under the golden hue of the room. She is heartbreakingly beautiful.

I thought she looked beautiful with her hair down. I love it when she keeps her hair open but right now I realized she would look beautiful in everything.

The tiny stone on her nose catches my attention. The delicate golden nose ring attached to the side of her nostril. I haven't noticed her piercing before. “I like it” I mutter out without realising, gesturing to her piercing

Her fingers brushed against it self consciously “yeah, ma made me wear this nath. It's just an attaching one. I might get a piercing later”. I nod, staring at her without blinking.

“Come on, compliment me” she asks, batting her eyelashes playfully. “Tell me I look beautiful” she whispers, standing on her tiptoes to increase her height. My breath hitches at her gesture.

“You look beautiful” I repeat, as if under a spell

Her smile widens, her eyes glistening with mischief and something deeper “Tell me I look eternal” she asks and my eyes zeros on her moving lips

I gulp, trying to remain calm. My hand clenches and unclenches by my side “you look eternal” I repeat again, my voice deeper than I intended.

She hums softly, satisfied by my response. She just has me wrapped around her finger “Now, tell me how I look. From your heart” she adds, her fingers gently brushing against my chest.

“Like a daydream that I never wanna wake up from” I blurt out without thinking. Quickly shutting my eyes and looking away - think it through!

Red, you will be the cause of my death

As I glance back at her - Jasmine tilted her head, a slow confident smile spread across her lips. She knows exactly what she is doing and is taking full advantage of it.

She is always flirty whenever dressed in Red

“So” she trails off, playing with the edge of her dupatta “red is your weakness? Or is it me?”

My cheeks heat up at her words, she is catching on. I clear my throat, trying to form words in my hollow mind but nothing comes out.

She steps forward, so close that her body brushes against mine. “Is that why you’re looking at me like that?” she asks pretending to be innocent, but her eyes sparkled like sin “Careful now, Mr. Williams or I might start thinking you actually like me”

How did she-

Is she catching on? Should I admit it before it's too late? But saying it randomly is too overwhelming. Should I approach gently?

“I-” that's the only word I could mutter out in my defence. How am I supposed to focus when she is standing there looking like that? Talking like that? So close yet so far.

I wish I brought my painting equipments here and spend hours drowning in admiration of her beauty

“Aww speechless again? Scaredy fox already?” She mocks “Is it too hard?”

That's it.

Her last words makes something snap inside me

Not just anger - but need

She has no idea what I go through every moment of her closeness

My control snaps for a second as I take a step forward, her eyes widen in surprise as she tries to step back but couldn't - I hold her waist pulling her against me. “Careful milaya, you are calling for trouble”

Her breath hitched but the teasing never left her mind “So? Maybe I am. What will you do?” She mocks

I lean closer, enough for our noses to brush against each other. Surprisingly she didn't pull away - her hand clenched my bicep “I might make you stuck with me, forever”

She lets out a forced scoff, yet her eyes looks away “Yeah, like that could happen”

I lean a bit back, but don't let her go yet “Anything could happen. Universe has a sick sense of humour” I glance at her, her fingers tightening on the fabric of my sleeves, I really like it.

A frown appears on her face as she thinks “Remember last night? Holding me tight spider monkey” I remind teasingly

Her eyes widens “Was…was that a Twilight reference?” She asks in disbelief, the frown slowly disappearing. I nod nonchalantly “yeah, well I can give better movie reference too”

She rolls her eyes “Better? Oh please”

I smirked at her expressions, she could only try to be teasing only for a few minutes before melting away. Her eyes flicker to me, her face flustered “Whatever, let me go” she mumbles, unclenching her grip from my sleeve but I continue to hold her.

“Not so soon” I whisper, making her step back “you wanted to know my preference about red, right?” I ask, my voice dropping lower with each step until she is backed against the door

She gasps in surprise, her fingers coiling around my arm for support. “You should finish what you started” I add, my eyes flickering to her face and her lips.

“Finish what?” Noticing my gaze, Jasmine presses her lips together. A flicker of uncertainty crosses her expressions. “You know, this ‘red’ conversation” I reply, trailing my hand down to her lower back.

She tilts her chin up, trying to look confident while she leans into my arms “So….you like red? Or you are shocked that I could pull it like no one else” She asks, her voice a slow murmur.

“Red isn't a weakness of mine” I reply, leaning close to her ear as it's a secret “But seeing you in red is definitely one of those moments that straightly affect my brain”

“Not heart?” She questions, her words careful - as if testing the waters. I raise my eyebrow, her expressions too suspicious. The wheels in my head spin - flirting, the sudden approach, no withdrawals, indirect words.

When I finally catch her act - a wide grin appears on my face “Heart? Why?” I shoot a question back, tilting my head in fake confusion

Her left eye twitches slightly in annoyance “Yeah. Whatever” She scoffs, gently pushing me away. I bite the inside of my cheek to suppress laughter.

She is trying to figure out my feelings.

All this teasing and flirting - just to get a hint if I like her.

She crosses her arms, a small frown on her face forming again. She is definitely not taking this well but if she wants confirmation - I need more bold confrontation.

“What?” I ask innocently as she glares at me. She looks even more beautiful when she looks like she would kill me. I place my fingers under her chin making her look higher “Did you dress up for me, milaya? to get a reaction out of me?”

Her eyes widened like a deer caught in the headlights. She doesn't speak for a moment - just stares at me.

So I am right.

She is trying to make me confess.

Suddenly, a knock interrupts us. Jasmine pulls away from me as the door opens. Sonia peeks in, a wide and excited smile on her face “Sorry to disturb this little moment” she says politely but her eyes squinted teasingly “But kavya di has arrived!” She yells cheerfully

“Kavya? Chalo chalo!” Jasmine gushes Sonia out of the room without even glancing at me.

[Translation - Kavya? Let's go!]

Kavya? I think that's her childhood friend. I remember Jasmine mentioning it during her family tree explanation.

I grab my notepad from my bag, flipping through the pages to remember about her friend. I hum as I see the information roughly scribbled on the notepad. I remember I was in a hurry and didn't focus much.

Instead I was just sketching her

I sigh, shaking my head while closing the notepad and tossing it back on the bed before following her. I glance up to see Jasmine a few steps away from me. She rushes through the long corridor towards the stairs - her red dupatta flowing behind her like wind caught by fire

I quicken my pace to match with hers, smiling through her laughter echoing through this corridor as she chases Sonia who has already escaped.

“Jasmine, slow down” I call out as she starts running towards the stairs. I don't think she is even hearing me properly. I need to slow her down

That's when I notice it - the loose strap of her heel. Her steps faltered near the edge of the staircase, a sudden sharp gasp escaping through her lips.

My heart drops

I surge forward, my arm locking instinctively around her waist and pulling her back against my chest. My heart raced against her back in fear, my grip tightened on her.

I let out a sigh in relief resting my forehead on her shoulder. The moment I saw her foot slip, I felt my world slip too.

“Careful, Please” I plead looking up, watching the numerous stairs below us. “Were you planning to roll down these royal stairs like a Bollywood stunt double?”

Jasmine blinked, unclasping my arms and turning to face me. Her hand moves aside to hold the bar for support “I didn't notice the strap”

“I did” I reply sharply, not moving my hand from her waist “can’t have you breaking bones before the wedding”

I might sound a bit harsh and sarcastic but she was careless. Almost falling down the stairs just to reach a few seconds early. Noticing my stern expressions, Jasmine looks away “I could have caught myself” she mutters

I scoff in disbelief, caught herself? How? With imaginary ropes? “of course you would have, collecting bruises with each stair like Pokemon” I say sarcastically.

Jasmine bites her lip to suppress a laugh but fails miserably “I didn't know you were a Pokemon fan-” she opens her mouth and closes it as I shoot her a glare. She nods, clearing her throat “yes, I was careless. I am sorry” she says in a half unapologetic tone

“Yeah right” I crouch down to her feet, adjusting the strap of her heel. My fingers accidentally brushes against her ankle making her slide her foot back “don't touch me feet” she requests

I nod without looking up, making sure both of her heels are alright. I rise up to my level “there, princess proofed” I give her a tight smile and gesture her towards the stairs.

“Thank you…” Her eyes drifted at her heel, at me and then at the stairs. She looked back and forth at me and the stairs before slowly stepping down, holding the railings for support until she reached the ground. I followed her soon after.

The ground floor consists of a large hall along with some rooms in the corridor, the kitchen and dining hall. Each and every bit of the place is filled with either gold or red attractions

Just at the entrance, there stood two cars and lots of luggage being brought in by the helpers.

Jasmine's parents were greeting a couple around their age. I step out into the sun, the warm breeze messing up with my hair

Then I hear a loud squeak, a girl around Jasmine's age. Dressed in a suit like Jasmine - her black hair slightly dyed at the ends. She approached Jasmine half way. Jasmine's eyes lots up like never before, her eyes catching the sunlight.

“Kavya!”

“Jasmine!”

They both embrace each other with full excitement. While Jasmine almost squishes her friend against herself. Their parents laugh at the sight while my gaze remains fixed on their interaction.

They both seem close

If I am not wrong, Jasmine is meeting her after three years. While Jasmine came to Sydney to study, Kavya went to the United States. As soon as they pull apart, they both start talking quickly. Their smiles never leave their face.

But it wasn't her presence that made something inside me still

It was the guy who approached soon after

Tall, sharp jawed, his hair was slicked back. He moved confidential which looked both casual and practiced, sunglasses hanging from his collar “it's been a while Jasmine” he calls out

Jasmine turns to face him - surprised, shocked. Her eyes widens as she looks at Kavya and back at that guy “Kabir! What a surprise!” She exclaims with a nervous laugh.

My eyes narrows at the way she looked at him. Kabir - that's what Jasmine called him, smiles brightly opening his arms for a hug. I watch it silently, expecting her to reject it but she hugs him. Wrapping her arm around his waist and hugging him sideways. Kabir reciprocates, patting her back for a second before pulling away.

He says something more, leaning slightly closer that makes her laugh. My hands fists at my side, who is he? I think I missed his introduction back then.

“She used to have the biggest crush on him” Sonia's voice chimed beside him, her words are playful but I felt an accidental dragger push through me. “Kavya di used to tease her that they will get married one day” she adds, her information entirely unhelpful

I don't respond

Watching them interact silently

Jasmine chats with Kabir, while Kavya is clinging onto her arm with a teasing smile. Something in my stomach twists watching how he looked at her a moment longer.

A direct lit inside my chest. It wasn't loud or it didn't burn. It was silent, slow and tight that I am trying to restrain. My jaw clenched, not because I don't trust her, but because for the first time since I came to India - I don't trust myself not to walk down, reach out for her and do something incredibly stupid.

Like kissing her infront of everyone to prove a point.

I take a step forward, ignoring everyone around me. But that's when she glances at me - her eyes flickers to my face and she notices my clenched fist before

I could release it.

For a second, a spark in her eyes changes - it grows softer, warmer. She takes a step back, creating a distance between Kabir and herself.

She noticed.

She wasn't mine yet

But God, I am already hears