Her breath hitched as her hands landed against his chest. 
His grip was firm yet gentle as he steadied her, his fingers resting lightly on her waist.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved. 
The world around them faded, and all that remained was the sound of their uneven breaths, the warmth of his touch, and the soft glow of lights reflecting in his eyes.
Then, he leaned in—so close that his breath ghosted over her ear.
"Doc, I saw you."
Her heart stuttered.
"There's something in your mehndi" he continued, his voice smooth but laced with amusement. "Initials, maybe? I.A...?"
Lavika's eyes widened. How did he—
"I love how you tried to hide them" he murmured, his tone dropping into something softer, something almost affectionate. "But remember, Lav—there's no need to hide them. I like you. I always have."
The song changed, the tempo rising once again, forcing them to step apart as the next dance partner took over.
But Lavika wasn't listening anymore.
Her heart was pounding. 
Her mind was spinning.
And Ishaan? 
He simply smirked before walking away, leaving her standing there—breathless, stunned, and unable to deny what she had known all along.
★ ★ ★ ★
As the night stretched on, the guests slowly dispersed into smaller groups. 
Laughter echoed through the haveli, but the real fun was about to begin in the groom's room.
Aditya, always the instigator, clapped his hands together. 
"Alright, people! We're not ending the night yet. We need one last game before bed. Truth or Dare? Or should we go for something new?"
Everyone exchanged excited glances.
Ishaan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Lavika. She pretended not to notice.
Adya raised a brow. "New game? Like what?"
Aditya smirked. "Ever heard of Secrets & Lies?"
Shanaya gasped dramatically. "Ooooh, I like this already."
Aditya explained, "Simple rules. Each person has to either confess something true about themselves or make up a convincing lie. If we guess wrong, they win. If we catch the lie, they drink."
The group erupted into cheers.
Lavika swallowed, suddenly regretting agreeing to stay. 
Something told her this game would be trouble.
But the real trouble?
That was sitting right across from her, staring at her like he could still see the initials in her mehndi.
And maybe—just maybe—she wanted him to.
The game of Secrets & Lies was about to begin, and everyone was seated in a circle on the plush carpet, anticipation crackling like a live wire.
Ishaan sat directly across from Lavika, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something teasing, something knowing. 
She swallowed, her palms slightly sweaty, the memory of his whispered words still fresh in her mind.