It didn't bother her, Saavi told herself. But who was she really kidding? Of course, it bothered her. How did Mihir Gehlot—the charming, flirtatious guy in the room next door—know her name?

Maybe he had stumbled upon one of her ID documents when he stepped into her room for a couple of minutes. Perhaps she had left something on her desk—yes, that could explain it.

"Thinking about him, aren't you?" Alia's voice broke her thoughts as she settled into a chair beside Saavi.

"Hmm," Saavi replied absently, still unconvinced by her own explanation. She couldn't shake the memory of how he had said her name, followed by that momentary pause. Had he been waiting for her to react? To show surprise or recognition? Or maybe he had just been ready to drop another flirty comment once he had her attention.

Saavi sighed and decided it was time to stop thinking about it. She had already met Richa, presented the gift, and been introduced to several of Richa and Amit's family members. Now, she had made her way to the lunch table. It had been over two hours, and yet her thoughts were still tangled up with that man. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind, and turned to face her friends. They were all staring at her, seated around the elegantly white-draped round dining table.

"What?" Saavi asked, eyeing them all suspiciously.

"You just admitted to thinking about a guy you met only a few hours ago. Excuse us for being surprised," Tanya remarked with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't meet any guy," Saavi quickly countered. "What are you talking about?"

"Quit it," Shweta said, shaking her head, her expression telling Saavi they weren't buying the denial.

"We saw you with him," Tanya added, leaning forward slightly.

"With him holding the gift for you," Alia chimed in.

"And you smiling at him," Tanya added with a teasing grin.

"And him smiling back at you... with heart eyes," Alia said, unable to hide her smile.

"What's going on, Saavi? Who was he?" Shweta asked directly, her gaze fixed on Saavi.

"Oh, that? He's just the guy in the room next door. My dupatta got stuck in the door, and he helped me..." Saavi said casually.

"Oh my God! Your dupatta got stuck? And he helped you? That actually happens in real life?" Alia was the first to react, her eyes wide with amusement. "I thought that was just soap opera stuff. So, what happened next?"

Saavi rolled her eyes and let out a long sigh. "Then I gave him the gift to hold, and helped myself. Nothing else. He just carried it down until he found a servant to take it."

"How sweet!" Tanya sighed dreamily. "Did you feel it? The butterflies in your stomach, the heat in your face, and that sinking feeling in your heart?"

"No," Saavi replied flatly. "None of that happened... at least, does not happen for most of us. There were no butterflies, my heart didn't drown anywhere and my face did not have any heat on it." 

"He looked nice, though, didn't he?" Alia asked with a teasing smile.

Saavi shrugged nonchalantly, raising her glass of water to her lips. He did look decent enough. However, her friends were blowing this out of proportion. It was just a stranger helping someone out—nothing more. She tried to convince herself of that. All of this is silly— there was absolutely nothing to think about, nothing to give brain space to.

"You two would look nice together," Shweta said, popping a fried soya nugget into her mouth. "I'm assuming he's single, since he's in the room next to yours, in that same wing."

"Girls, what if that's Richa's mother-in-law's plan?" Tanya blurted with a look of  realization. "Matchmaking, maybe? I mean, all the single people being in the same wing—it's practically a setup for them to run into each other."

"Could be. That would be a wicked plan... but a brilliant one," Alia added, nodding in agreement.

"What's his name?" Shweta who had been eyeing Saavi curiously, asked.

Saavi hesitated, torn between lying and telling the truth. She didn't want them to start teasing her, but on second thought, they'd definitely tease her even if she didn't know his name. "Mihir Gehlot," she said, finally giving in.

"He has a good name," Alia approved, nodding with a smile. 

"Oh wait—he's from Amit's family?" Tanya remarked, her voice laced with surprise.

"His cousin," Saavi muttered, taking a bite of her roti wrapped in delicious mushroom gravy.

"Wow, so there's a chance you and Richa could be family," Alia added, stuffing her mouth with a spoonful of pulao.

"Girls, please, stop this," Saavi protested. "He's just a stranger who offered to help. Don't blow it out of proportion."

"If you like him, don't resist," Shweta said with a mischievous grin, "besides if he is single, which he most likely is, maybe you could ask him out on a date. It's a beautiful city for a date."

"Gee, thanks for the advice," Saavi replied dryly. "Now, can we move on and talk about the evening's party?"

"Oh yes," Tanya wiped her mouth with a tissue and set it aside. "We need to divide up the duties."

"I'll take the decorations," Shweta volunteered. "Richa said one of the terrace gardens is booked for us, and hopefully, we won't be disturbed."

"Decorations are my expertise," Alia countered.

"Sweetie, you can't be running around setting up decorations. You're eight months pregnant. Besides, there's something else you need to do."

"What?" Alia asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Invite all of Richa's female cousins," Shweta replied, her tone casual. "I'll send you the list on WhatsApp."

"Wait, why?" Saavi frowned, her hand frozen mid-air with a morsel of roti. "Isn't this supposed to be a party for just the five of us?"

"It was," Shweta nodded, "but then Richa's cousins caught wind of it, and now they're insisting on coming. Richa says there's no way to back out without causing a scene, so she asked me to add them. She can't handle the drama if they're left out."

"Oh, come on," Tanya scoffed, "she's not even that close to her cousins."

"It's a fact of life. At weddings, you need to present like the Hum Saath Saath Hain family. Hence, we need to invite them. Alia, you'll give them a call and subtly inform them about the dress code. Tanya, you're in charge of the food and cake. Saavi, you're handling the alcohol. And by handling, I mean you will need to outsource it because this place charges triple for everything. Also, ladies, there will be no pranks, no risqué dancers, no dubious games... Richa said that if her in-laws catch wind of anything inappropriate, it would be disgraceful. She's trying to win over her mother-in-law."

"Damn, so it's going to be like a kid's birthday party with booze," Tanya muttered, disappointed.

"Is it just me, or does it feel like Richa is changing too much for this marriage? I mean, I couldn't even talk to her openly when I met her. It's just... weird," Saavi mused.

"It's her wedding. Her in-laws are a family who still cling to their royal titles. Their societal appearance and what people say about them are of immense importance to them," Shweta interjected. "It's just that she's joining a slightly different family, so obviously she needs to put in the efforts to blend."

"I can't imagine what she's going through," Alia thought aloud.

"I bet she's excited, it's absolutely brilliant! Just imagine, her life will be filled with opulence, royal norms, and this rich culture," Tanya added, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Apparently their fleet of servants still use age old titles to address them. Her mother in law is called Raani Ji." 

Saavi absentmindedly moved the peas across her plate. "That's all so much work. I can't imagine what ut kust be like to fit yourself into roles that society and a stranger's family decides for you. Actually this whole concept of a marriage..."

"Not again, Saavi." Shweta interjected. "This isn't the place or the time for that discussion. You need to wrap your head around reality. It's better to get married and have a companion than to spend the rest of your life miserably alone."

"I am not miserable." Saavi replied instantly, looking up at her friend.

"Not right now, but who knows about the future?" Alia added with a shrug.

Tanya gently tapped Saavi's arm. "Don't worry, you'll find someone, and then you'll realize the need for it."

"And maybe that someone is around here," Alia added, bringing back the playful atmosphere.

"Hmm, maybe you've already met him," Shweta teased.

"Maybe his name starts with M," Tanya chimed in.

"Alright, I need to get some dessert," Saavi muttered, making an excuse as she rose from her chair. Lately her friends had made it a point to discuss her non existent love life.

"Yes, go get some real nice dessert in your life, girl. You'll be addicted to it," Tanya remarked suggestively. Alia almost choked on her food as she laughed with her mouth full.

"I don't disagree!" Shweta added, winking at Saavi.

"Gosh, you women have such dirty minds and all of you have gone crazy. Like absolutely mad," Saavi muttered, shaking her head as she walked away. Stupid dessert. She didn't need any dessert in life. Desserts spelled backwards was stressed. And she sure as hell didn't want to be stressed. She made her way to the dessert counter that boasted five different delicacies.

As she approached the table, the array of sweets seemed to mock her. Chocolate mousse, tiramisu, fruit tart, gulab jamun, and red orange carrot halwa. Each one looked more decadent than the last. She picked up a plate and hesitated, her mind still on the conversation she had just left. Did she really not need dessert in life?

"Spoilt for choice, huh?"

Saavi felt her heart flutter at the familiar voice. Slowly, she turned to her right and found Mihir standing just behind her. She fleetingly lost her senses, struggling to form a coherent response.

"Since someone criticized my skills at deduction, let me have another go at it. You're torn between the chocolate mousse and... uh, gulab jamun?"

Saavi was a tad bit surprised by his spot-on guess. "Or I could be confused between having dessert and nothing at all?" She remarked.

"You could, but anyone standing before a dessert counter with a fresh, empty plate has clearly made up their mind to indulge," Mihir quipped, his eyes twinkling.

"Hmm, your skill at deduction is improving," she admitted, glancing at him. Actually, he was damn good-looking.

"It is, isn't it?" He smiled, meeting her gaze. "Besides, everyone needs a dessert in life."

Saavi blinked, her mind momentarily drifting to the dirty talk her friends had put in her mind moments ago. This was the moment where she'd mentally chide her friends for spoiling her thoughts. Her gaze observed the man smiling at her. Did she really need a dessert in life? The kind her friends suggested. The kind that came in the form of a man.

As Mihir's smile lingered, Saavi felt a warmth spread through her, much like the sweetness of a well-loved dessert. Maybe, just maybe, there was truth in her friends' words?

"Mihir," someone called out for him, "Beta, come here."

"Oh God, not again!" he muttered, just loud enough for Saavi to hear.

Saavi leaned sideways to see an older lady dressed in a jaipuri pink saree talking to a younger woman in a floral blouse and palazzo pants. "Some trouble, is it?"

"Being a single, good-looking, charming bachelor at your cousin's Indian wedding is inviting trouble," he answered, quickly moving towards the big bowl filled with gulab jamun. He put two tiny ones on his plate and turned around. "You should definitely have both the desserts, they're good. But the gajar ka halwa takes the cake. The good thing about being in your twenties and thirties is you can have as much dessert as your heart pleases, without guilt." He winked and then hurriedly walked past her towards the lady who had called out to him.

Saavi watched him walk away, her eyes lingering on his retreating figure.

Single, good-looking, charming bachelor.

She stood there, observing Mihir as he interacted with the two women. It seemed like the older woman was introducing him to the pretty, blue-eyed younger woman. She sighed, glancing back at her plate and then at the array of desserts before her. With a resigned shrug, she scooped a bit of the gajar ka halwa, a dollop of mousse, and a tiny gulab jamun into a small bowl.

Before turning towards the table where her friends waited, she couldn't resist one last glance at Mihir. He was smiling, totally engrossed in conversation with the young woman. The older woman had disappeared, leaving Mihir to charm the young single lady. He didn't just charm her, he probably charmed every single woman in the party. Just another single, desperate bachelor, she thought.

Sighing, Saavi walked back to her friends' table, her steps slow and heavy. Their eyes were on her, filled with amusement and curiosity. They had definitely noticed her talking to Mihir. Oh great! It seemed like at this wedding, she was going to be the target of all their teasing, advice, and matchmaking schemes. God help her.

As she sat down, Tanya leaned in with a smirk. "So, looks like you found your  dessert?" she teased.

Saavi rolled her eyes, but couldn't help a small smile. "If by dessert you mean a dose of reality, then yes, I did."

Alia giggled. "Come on, Saavi, he seemed nice. Maybe he's the dessert you need."

"Or maybe he's just another guy trying to charm every girl at the wedding, in the hopes to be next in line to get married," Saavi retorted, gesturing with her spoon in Mihir's direction.

Her friends all turned to look at him in unison. "Gosh, you don't have to turn all together immediately," she muttered. From her vantage point, she could see Mihir clearly. She felt foolish for thinking he was only flirting with her. He was undoubtedly charming his new companion as well. She could bet he was desperate to get hitched.

Shweta nudged her playfully. "Either way, you got some attention. Now, let's see how sweet your dessert choices really are," she said, digging her spoon into the halwa on her plate.

Saavi glanced at her plate, then back at her friends. As she took a bite of the gajar ka halwa, the warmth of the dessert filled her. Her eyes drifted back to Mihir. His advice was sound; the delicacy was bursting with sensational flavors, made in the traditional Rajasthani way.

"Oh look, Tanmay is over there," Tanya spoke up. "Come on, I'll introduce you to him. I'm sure you'll like him." Saying that, Tanya grabbed her hand.

"No thank you, I'm not here to meet guys. I'm here for the food," Saavi protested.

"Oh come on, you need to have some fun too." Tanya literally pulled her off the chair while Saavi stuffed her mouth with the last bit of gajar ka halwa. The dessert was irresistibly good. 

Her gaze involuntarily returned to the man who had recommended it. He was still smiling and laughing, talking to the woman. She sighed, deciding she could do some socializing instead of thinking about that one man. Just as she was about to look away, he gently turned and his light brown eyes sparkled at her. His smile widened, noticing her gaze.

It was only then that Saavi realized she still had the dessert spoon in her mouth. Damn it! How utterly embarrassing! She quickly dropped the spoon on her plate and turned to follow her friend. Mihir was a mystery she definitely didn't want to indulge in—at least, not right now. Maybe not ever.

• — • — •

Would love to read you thoughts.

P.S. What are your thoughts about desserts in life? ;)

—Anami!♡