As Priya stood before Ram on that deserted street, she felt a surge of emotions she hadn't anticipated. The man who once exuded confidence, who seemed unshakable in his resolve, now stood before her like a shadow of his former self—lost, fragile, and burdened by an invisible weight. His eyes, which once held a spark of determination, now seemed hollow, searching for an anchor in a sea of uncertainty.

For the first time, Priya saw past the walls she had built to shield herself from his presence. She saw a man stripped of pride and pretense, a man who had been weathered by life in ways she couldn't fully understand but could empathize with. He wasn't the Ram she remembered—this was someone else, someone who needed saving. And in that moment, her heart ached for him in a way it hadn't in years.

As the cool night breeze whispered around them, Priya made a silent promise to herself. No matter the pain, no matter the past, she couldn't let him fade into this abyss of despair. Her voice softened, and her tone shifted, no longer carrying the sharpness of their history. She realized that while life had given her the strength to rebuild herself, perhaps it was now her turn to lend that strength to someone who had lost his.

"You can't stay like this, Ram," she said gently, her voice firm yet laced with compassion. "You deserve to find yourself again. And whether you believe it or not, you have it in you to rise above this."

Ram looked at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a faint flicker of something—perhaps hope, or maybe just the relief of being truly seen. Priya didn't wait for him to respond; she reached out and lightly touched his arm, grounding him in the present.

In that moment, Priya knew this wasn't about the past anymore. It wasn't about the wounds he had inflicted or the regrets she harbored. This was about humanity, about giving someone the chance to find their footing when they had lost their way.

The cab came to a halt in front of a convenience store, its warm lights spilling onto the quiet street. Priya turned to the driver and said, "Wait here for a few minutes," before unbuckling her seatbelt. She was about to step out when she felt a hesitant tug on her hand.

"Where are you going?" Ram's voice was soft, almost unsure, as if afraid to let her out of his sight.

Priya smiled faintly, the concern in his tone catching her off guard. "I'll be right back. Just wait here."

Before he could say more, she hurried into the store, her mind racing. She couldn't bear to see him so vulnerable—walking the streets in pajamas, chilled by the night air. Her gaze darted around the aisles until she found what she was looking for: a thick, navy-blue sweater and a sturdy pair of shoes. Practical, warm, exactly what he needed.

When she returned, Ram was still sitting in the cab, his head tilted as he looked at the dimly lit street. She opened the door and gestured for him to step out. "Come on," she said, holding the items in her hands.

He climbed out, confused. "What's this?"

Priya held up the sweater. "You can't wander around like this. Wrap yourself up, or you'll catch a cold."

Ram took the sweater hesitantly, his fingers brushing against the soft material. As he slipped it on, Priya noticed his clumsy attempts to button it up. His hands fumbled, missing the buttonholes entirely.

A small chuckle escaped her lips, breaking the tension of the moment. "Here, let me." She stepped closer and gently guided his hands aside. Her fingers worked quickly, fastening the buttons with ease. For a moment, they stood there in silence, her hands adjusting the collar while his gaze remained fixed on her, as if trying to decipher her intentions.

"Now the shoes," she said, placing them on the ground in front of him. He leaned against the car and slipped them on, testing the fit with a faint smile of gratitude.

"Perfect," she said with satisfaction, stepping back to take in the sight of him looking much more presentable—and warmer. "Now, let's go grab something to eat before you decide to walk off into the night again."

Ram nodded, his lips curling into a small, almost sheepish smile. Together, they headed toward a nearby restaurant, the cold night air feeling a little less biting now. Priya walked beside him, her heart unexpectedly lighter as she realized that, for the first time in a long time, she was letting herself care without reservation.

The small burger shop glowed warmly in the cool night, its cozy ambiance filled with the low hum of an English song playing softly in the background. Ram sat quietly at a corner table, his gaze wandering around the room. The place was simple, yet welcoming. He noticed a young couple sharing a laugh at the far end, their joy filling the otherwise quiet space. It all felt unfamiliar, yet oddly comforting.

Priya returned, balancing a tray with their food. She slid into the seat beside him and placed a burger in front of him. "Here," she said with a small smile. "This is what you can have for now."

Ram picked up the burger, nodding his thanks. "Am I bothering you too much?" he asked, his tone tinged with hesitation.

Priya chuckled softly. "No, it's fine. Just eat before it gets cold."

She unwrapped her own burger, ready to take a bite, when Ram suddenly reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. "Wait," he said, his voice stopping her mid-movement.

Priya blinked, startled. "What is it?"

Ram didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned over, lifting the top bun of her burger with an almost childlike curiosity. He frowned slightly, then looked up at her. "There's tomato in this. You don't like tomatoes, right?"

Her jaw dropped slightly as she stared at him, stunned. "What...? How do you know that?"

Ram froze, his expression turning blank as if he'd said something he shouldn't have. "I just... I don't know," he mumbled. "It felt like you wouldn't like them. Nothing else."

Priya sat back in her seat, her mind racing. The simplicity of his answer only deepened her confusion. How could he know such a specific detail about her likes and dislikes without remembering her? She studied his face for a moment, but he had already turned his attention to his own burger, biting into it without another word.

She shook her head, her heart unsettled but unsure why. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her burger again, carefully removing the tomato before taking a bite. Across the table, Ram ate in silence, his eyes fixed on the wrapper in his hands.

And yet, the warmth of his small, unspoken gesture lingered between them, saying far more than either of them could in that moment.

The cab pulled up in front of Ram's apartment building, the soft glow of the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. As Priya and Ram stepped out, they were greeted by the hum of a small but anxious crowd gathered near the entrance. Priya's eyes immediately spotted Mrs. Mehra, standing rigidly amidst a few security guards, her face a mixture of relief and frustration.

The moment Mrs. Mehra saw Ram, she rushed forward, her voice trembling with both worry and reproach. "Ram, how could you do this? Do you have any idea how panicked I've been? You disappeared without a word—"

Before she could continue, Priya stepped in, her tone calm but firm. "Mrs. Mehra, please, take it easy. It's not his fault. He's still adjusting to everything here. It happens."

Mrs. Mehra, still flustered, glanced between Ram and Priya before sighing heavily. "Fine. But this cannot happen again." She turned to Ram, her voice softening just slightly. "Promise me you won't do this anymore, Ram."

Ram looked down, almost childlike in his guilt. "I promise," he said quietly, his voice barely audible over the murmurs of the onlookers.

With that, Mrs. Mehra gently took his arm, guiding him toward the building's entrance. Ram hesitated for a moment, his steps slow, and as they crossed the threshold, he glanced back over his shoulder. His eyes searched for Priya, filled with an unspoken mix of gratitude and longing.

Priya stood by the cab, watching them go. She noticed the way he kept looking back, his gaze almost pleading, as if silently asking her not to leave. Her heart felt a strange tug, but she shook it off, giving him a small, reassuring nod before stepping into the cab.

As the vehicle drove away, Priya couldn't help but glance at the rearview mirror. She saw him still standing there, just inside the building, looking after her like a lost soul clinging to a moment of solace. The image stayed with her, even as the streets blurred past her window, leaving her with a heavy ache she couldn't quite place.