..You're my honeysuckle...?

We both entered a magnificent house that resembled a mini  mahal , adorned with lights and floral decorations. The vibrant colors and the grandeur of the people, dressed in luxurious clothing and sparkling jewelry, created a surreal atmosphere. It felt like I had stepped into a different world of beauty and splendor. 

As I marveled at the arrangements, Lakshmi Amma approached us with a warm smile, holding a large silver plate containing what looked like an expensive outfit. Handing it to Vikram, she said, "Go change into these." Vikram smiled at her and headed upstairs to his room without a second glance at me. 

"The one who promised to take care of me just left me alone without a word," I muttered under my breath. 

Lakshmi Amma, noticing my nervousness, gently placed her hand on my head and said, "Come with me, dear." I glanced at Vikram, who was already halfway up the stairs. She reassured me with a smile, "Don’t worry; he’ll join us once he changes." 

Just as I hesitated to follow her, Varun rushed over. "Mom, I’ll take care of her," he said. Lakshmi Amma raised a questioning eyebrow, and Varun quickly added, "You have so much to handle already, and I’m free. Let me accompany her. She’ll have more fun with us youngsters than with middle-aged people!" He chuckled. 

Lakshmi Amma smiled and nodded. "Alright, I do have a lot to manage. You two go ahead; I’ll join you soon." 

"Uff… just narrowly escaped from the jaws of the tiger!" Varun sighed dramatically. "How could Vikram leave you with her? If the aunties had gotten hold of you, it would’ve been the end. They’d interrogate you to no end." 

I chuckled lightly. "Thank you, Varun." 

"No need to thank me," he said. 

"So, how did you end up here? I thought you’d be busy with Mallika," I teased. 

His face fell as he let out a sad sigh. "She stormed off angrily after you and Vikram left. I tried to console her, but she ignored me completely." 

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen," I said sincerely. 

"Hey, it’s fine," he replied. "One-sided love is always like this. No matter what I do, she doesn’t notice my feelings. I’m used to it by now. But I still have hope that one day she’ll see me for who I am." 

"I hope that day comes soon, Varun. And not only does she recognize your love, but she reciprocates it as well," I said with a warm smile. 

We both exchanged a small, bittersweet smile before Varun suggested, "Come on, let’s head to the activities and have some fun." 

I hesitated. "But…" 

"Don’t worry," he assured me. "I’ll guide you through everything." 

We walked into the garden, which was bustling with young people playing various fun games. The decorations were lively, and the atmosphere was electric. 

Varun guided me toward a group of people seated in a circle. They had left some space for new participants like us. 

"Hey, has the game started?" Varun asked. 

A girl from the group, raising an eyebrow, replied, "How could it start without you two? We’ve been waiting forever!" 

"Sorry, Neethu," Varun said with a sheepish smile. 

She turned to me and asked, "And who is this?" 

Varun answered before I could, "She’s your brother’s partner." 

"What? How? When?" Neethu looked surprised. 

"It happened recently and unexpectedly," Varun explained. 

Neethu turned to me with a bright smile. "Don’t worry, Mona. Vicky bro already told me about you. But I didn’t know you’d be his partner. Anyway, he asked me to look out for you." She extended her hand. "Hi, I’m Nithya." 

Still unsure, I shook her hand. "Hi, I’m Mona." 

"Relax," Nithya said warmly. "I’m not like those two. I won’t leave you alone. Let’s be friends. I’m sure we’ll vibe well." 

"Hmm…" I smiled nervously. 

She grabbed my hand and dragged me to sit with the group, pushing Varun aside in the process. 

Varun sighed and shook his head. Seeing there was a spot next to Mallika, he hesitated but eventually sat beside me when Mallika didn’t acknowledge him. 

Nithya whispered to me, "Ugh, how long do I have to watch this drama?" 

Just then, Gowtham, a tall, handsome man, stood up and announced the rules of the game. "We’ll distribute cards one by one. Whoever gets the king can order the others to perform any task. Those who fail will have to drink the concoctions from the pot in the center or complete funny tasks. The drinks include vegetable juices—bitter gourd, cucumber, bottle gourd, and even some wines!" 

My eyes widened in shock. "Oh no…" I whispered. 

Nithya and Varun chuckled. "Don’t worry. Since you’re new, they’ll go easy on you." 

Just as the game was about to start, Vikram arrived, looking stunning in his outfit. His confident stride and sharp features turned every head. 

Mallika called out, "Hey Vikram, come sit here!" 

But Vikram’s eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me. With a bright smile, he walked over and sat beside me, ignoring Mallika’s invitation. 

He leaned close to me, his warm breath brushing my ear, and whispered, "Sorry for being late." 

Flustered, I turned my head toward him, my eyes accidentally falling on his perfectly shaped lips. My heart raced. 

Mallika, sitting opposite us, burned with jealousy. She signaled Gowtham to start the game. 

The cards were distributed, and everyone revealed their hands. Shreya, a girl sitting next to Mallika, smiled mischievously and called out, "Numbers 2 and 5, come forward!" 

Mallika held up her card, revealing she was number 2. She gave a sly smile and walked to the center. Everyone waited eagerly for number 5 to reveal themselves. 

Vikram slowly raised his card and stepped forward. 

Shreya smirked. "The task is for numbers 2 and 5 to kiss!" 

The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" 

Mallika stepped closer to Vikram, placing one hand on his shoulder and the other on his face. My heart sank, and I looked away, unable to watch. 

As the gap between their lips narrowed, Vikram glanced at me and Varun. Despite my attempt to avoid his gaze, I could feel the intensity of his stare. 

What happens next? Let’s find out in the next chapter! Stay tuned.