The palace lawn looked like it had swallowed an entire festival that morning. Warm sun, cold breeze, marigold strings dancing above everyone’s heads, photographers running around with lenses and families posing like this was some royal magazine cover shoot.

Mayra breathed in, slowly… trying to absorb everything at once. The colours. The chaos. The happiness. It all shimmered together like someone dipped the entire moment in gold.

Kavya and Arjun stood in the center—laughing, glowing, holding each other like nothing could touch their joy today.
Every time Aarjun said something under his breath, Kavya's hands flew to her mouth as she laughed the way only she could—unfiltered, loud, blissfully unaware of the world.

“Tu seedhi khadi reh,” Mayra called out, adjusting Kavya’s dupatta.
“Main khadi hi hoon!”
“Arre nahi, seedhi tere dimaag ki tarah,” she teased.

Kavya laughed harder, and Arjun nearly choked.The photographer wiped sweat from his forehead, muttering a prayer to finish this pandemonium.

Everyone was getting pulled into group pictures—chachas, chachis, cousins, random kids who only appeared during wedding buffets... everyone.

And Mayra kept running around helping Kavya pose.
“Chin down… no, dude- down, not into your chest… okay, smile… not like you're crying…”

“Shut up,” Kavya whispered faking anger, posing again. Another burst of camera flashes.

She wasn't too shocked when she heard him calling her best friend -bhabhi.
He was her best friend's devar.
Great.

Kavya mentioned him many times. But she always used to say good things about him, like he is such a gentleman. But I find him anything but gentleman.

Mayra took a step back finally, letting the couple enjoy their moment, and opened her water bottle. Her throat felt dry maybe from shouting, maybe from smiling too much. She wasn’t sure.

That’s when she saw her. The peach colour lehenga girl. The one who had earlier told Mayra about the flower stuck to her dress.

She walked in gracefully now, the sunlight catching on the small crystals on her lehenga. Her hair fell in effortless curls down her back.She didn’t look left or right, she walked straight to Vivaan.

Mayra didn’t even realize she was watching him until the girl reached him.

“Viv,” she said softly, like the name belonged to her.
“Let’s take a picture?”

And then she just… took his hand.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world. Mayra froze for two seconds.
Not because she cared—why would she? But because it was unexpected.

Vivaan looked down at the girl’s hand, then up at her face, and he smiled.
A warm, easy smile.

“Okay,” he said.

Mayra blinked twice, her eyes automatically scanning the distance.
Who was this girl?

Cousin?
Childhood friend?
Or… girlfriend?

WHO CARES!?

She didn’t know. She didn’t even WANT to know. But her stupid heart gave a small, irritated thump anyway.

Ugh. Great. May be it's just curiosity.

She crossed her arms and looked away.
Why was she even thinking about this?
It wasn’t her problem.She wasn’t even supposed to notice.

But her eyes drifted back again without permission just in time to see the girl tug Vivaan gently forward to the photo backdrop. Mayra pressed her lips together.

Whatever.

People touched people at weddings all the time. It didn’t mean anything.

A group of cousins called out for another picture, and Mayra moved toward them, smiling for the camera.The photographer complained about the sun. Someone’s kid started crying. Kavya yelled at Aarav to stop blinking like a suspicious owl.

Normal wedding drama.
And yet…

Every few seconds, Mayra’s eyes flickered... just for a moment toward Vivaan and the peach lehenga girl.

Not because she cared.
Just… curiosity.

Right.
Curiosity.

The photo session stretched longer and longer until the sun started dipping slightly- turning afternoon light softer, warmer, almost sleepy.

Someone announced they want chai and snacks. Someone yelled about being hungry. Someone else tripped over a decoration box. But Mayra didn’t hear much. She was staring at the sky, pretending to enjoy the breeze.

While her mind repeated the same question:

Who is she…?

---

The sun had shifted from bright gold to a softer honey shade by the time the chaos finally slowed. Most of the family went looking for something to eat, the photographers bent down cracking their aching backs, and half the cousins had already run off toward the food counters.

But Mayra stayed where she was near the decorative arch of flowers letting the breeze cool her skin.Her pink lehenga fluttered lightly around her, matching the soft movement of marigold petals that occasionally drifted down from above.

She stretched her neck a little.Her shoulders were sore from fixing dupattas, holding props and adjusting Kavya’s hair every few seconds.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Vivaan and the peach lehenga girl moving around the lawn for pictures.

The girl laughed easily, too easily.
She leaned close to Vivaan when the photographer adjusted the frame.
Her hand stayed on his arm a little longer than necessary. Her smile lingered a little deeper.

And Vivaan…
He didn’t exactly encourage it, but he also didn’t step away. Mayra told herself it didn’t matter.

He was the groom’s brother. A man she’d spoken to only once. And that was a fight. Nothing normal like hii-hello!

So why were her eyes following him again?

"Mayra!" Kavya’s voice snapped her back. She turned to see her friend rushing toward her, lehenga swishing like a colourful storm. “Help me fix this pin na… it's poking so bad!”

Mayra instantly switched back to duty mode.
“Kya karu main tere saath…”
She held the pin between her teeth, fixed the dupatta, straightened the necklace, and tapped Kavya’s arm.
“Done.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” Kavya sighed.

“Obviously.”

Before Kavya could run back, Mayra’s gaze briefly flicked toward Vivaan again purely instinct, not interest, she told herself.

He was standing a little distance away now, near the edge of the lawn. The peach lehenga girl was adjusting her hair while the photographer changed lenses.

Vivaan was looking at her—
Not the girl.
Her.

His gaze met hers from across the lawn, his expression unreadable under the soft afternoon light. Mayra froze for half a second. She didn’t look away. Not immediately.

There was nothing dramatic in his eyes—no smirk, no flirtation, nothing suggestive.
Just a steady, quiet look.
Like he had noticed her noticing.

The kind of look that makes your heart skip but not enough for you to admit it.
Before she could attempt to interpret that expression, a cousin auntie suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Beta, ek group photo bachi hain, Jaldi aao.”

Mayra blinked, the spell breaking.
“Uh—haan… coming.”

She walked away quickly before her mind could play games. As she joined the cousins for photos, she could still feel his gaze somewhere behind her.

Not burning.
Not intense.
Just… present.

She kept telling herself she was imagining things. After all, he was busy with his own circle. The peach lehenga girl was back beside him in the next frame, laughing at something he’d said.

Mayra looked at the photographer and smiled for the next shot, expression bright, shoulders relaxed. But her eyes…
Her eyes flicked sideways again, just lightly, just enough to check—

No.
He wasn’t looking at her anymore.

And she didn’t know why that felt oddly disappointing.

By the time the photographers finally announced they were done for now. I felt like I’d aged three years emotionally and at least one physically.

My cheeks hurt from smiling. My throat hurt from shouting instructions. My patience Hanging by a very thin thread.

I slipped away quietly, unnoticed, while everyone else drifted toward food counters. My feet carried me instinctively toward the far side of the palace lawn,the quieter corner.

A small decorative lake sat there, it's not deep, not real, just one of those aesthetic water bodies with pale stones, lotus flowers floating gently, tiny fountains humming softly. Flower petals rested on the surface. The air felt cooler here.

I lifted my lehenga slightly and sat on the edge, careful not to dip it into the water. The fabric settled around me as I exhaled slowly, watching the ripples dance under the afternoon light.

This…
This was nice.

Just the sound of water and distant laughter fading into background noise. I leaned back on my palms, letting my thoughts wander lazily about Kavya, about how happy she looked, about how surreal it felt that this wedding had become the center of everything.

And just when my mind started settling—
Splash.

Cold water sprayed up suddenly, splattering across the hem of my lehenga.

“What the—!”

I jumped up instantly, gasping, heart jolting like someone had shocked it awake. I stared down at the wet fabric clinging to my ankles.

“Are you kidding me?!”

A laugh followed. Low. Amused. Very familiar.

I didn’t need to turn around to know. I already knew.
Vivaan.

I spun around sharply. He stood a few feet away, hands casually shoved into his pockets, shoulders relaxed- far too relaxed for someone who had just attacked my outfit.

His lips curved into a deeply satisfied smile.

I snapped. “What was that?”

He shrugged. Actually shrugged. “Stone slipped.”

“Stone slipped?” I repeated incredulously. “from your hand? And then flew perfectly into the water?”

“Physics,” he said lightly. “Very unpredictable.”

I stared at him. “You did that on purpose.”

He tilted his head, pretending to think. “Did I?”

“Yes, you did!”

He smiled wider. “Relax. It’s just water.”

“It’s my lehenga,” I shot back. “And it’s not ‘just water’ when you’re wearing heavy traditional dress.”

“You shouldn’t sit so close to water bodies,” he replied calmly. “Safety hazard.”

My jaw dropped.

“Are you seriously just lecturing me after splashing water on me?”

“Someone has to educate you,” he said, completely unapologetic.

I took a step toward him. “You are unbelievable.”

“And you’re very dramatic,” he countered.

I gestured angrily at my soaked hem. “LOOK at this!”

He glanced down briefly. “Looks… wet.”

My jaw dropped again.

“That’s your observation?”

“Very accurate one,” he said proudly.

I huffed, bending slightly to inspect the damage. Thankfully, it wasn’t ruined but still. The audacity.

“Do you get joy out of annoying people?” I demanded.

“Only specific people,” he replied.

I straightened slowly. “Feeling unlucky to know that I made to the list.”

“Oh, but may be you are top of the list,” he said easily.

My eyes narrowed. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

He didn’t deny it. “You’re fun when you’re angry.”

“Excuse me?”
He shrugged again.

I crossed my arms. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” he said, taking one step back, grin intact, “you’re still talking to me.”

Before I could retort, before I could throw at least five carefully chosen insults his way...

“MAYRA!”

Kavya’s voice echoed across the lawn. I turned instantly. She was standing near the food area, waving both hands dramatically. “Come on, it’s already late! Let’s eat something and then rest. I’m starving!”

I looked back at Vivaan. He hadn’t moved. Still watching me. Still wearing that irritatingly pleased expression like this entire interaction had gone exactly as planned.

I glared at him.

“Uncivilized,” I muttered under my breath.

He chuckled. Actually chuckled. I turned away sharply, lifting my lehenga to avoid further damage, and walked toward Kavya without looking back.

As I passed him, I added quietly but clearly—

“Mannerless.”

Behind me, I heard him laugh again. And for reasons I refused to analyze, my steps felt lighter… even as my annoyance lingered.

God.

This wedding was going to test my patience in ways I hadn’t prepared for. But deep down may be I'm enjoying it.

I watched her walk away. She just… went.

Her pink lehenga brushed against the grass as she joined bhabhi near the food stalls, Kavya bhabhi already animated about something—hands flying, laughter spilling like it always did. Mayra listened, nodding, stealing glances at the counters, posture relaxed now that she was away from me.

And for some reason, that irritated me more than when she was angry.

I slid one hand into my pocket out of habit. My fingers brushed against cold glass.

Broken glass.

I pulled the phone out slowly, tilting it under the sunlight. The screen was cracked right across the corner. Still usable. Still annoying.

I let out a low sigh, shaking my head with a faint, unwilling smile.

“Great,” I muttered to myself.

She had a talent for chaos. Quiet chaos. The kind that didn’t scream or demand attention but still managed to leave marks behind.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket and leaned against a pillar, eyes drifting back to her again despite myself. She was laughing now really laughing head tilted slightly back, eyes bright, free.

Different from how she was with me. With me, she was all sharp edges and glare.

I didn’t hate it.

I took my phone out… then dialed. She picked up on the second ring.

“Hello?”
Her voice was cautious. Guarded.

I smiled.

“Hello, cutie,” I said lightly.

Then— “helloowww!! Handsome”

I could practically imagine her smile .

“I’m coming,” I continued calmly. “Wait for me.”

“Don't. I'll manage-”

“I’ll see you soon,” I added, cutting her off gently. “Don’t argue with me.”

And before she could argue or throw one of her perfectly timed insults, I ended the call. I tucked the phone back in my pocket, amusement curling low in my chest.

I pushed myself off the pillar and headed toward the parking area. The palace buzzed behind me music, chatter, laughter.

The drive was smooth. Quiet. I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel, replaying the look on her face when she’d glared at me near the lake. The way she muttered mannerless like it was a curse word meant only for me.

By the time I reached the airport, dusk had begun to settle in.

I parked, stepped out, and scanned the entrance instinctively.

And then—
There she was.

Standing near the glass doors, light catching her just right.

I smiled to myself.

“Oh,” I murmured under my breath.
“There you are.”

Thank you for reading!!!