After Priya left, Ram let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank God nobody saw us here," he muttered to himself, a mixture of anxiety and exhaustion still lingering in his voice. He turned back toward his study, determined to clean up the evidence of the previous night before anyone could stumble upon it. The empty wine bottles, the scattered pillows-he needed to erase any trace of their moments here.

As he tidied the room, something about the stillness triggered a flashback-a vivid, undeniable memory from the night before. Ram froze, a shiver running down his spine as the scene played out in his mind. They had been lying together, close enough to feel each other's breath. Their conversation had drifted from topic to topic until the words became less important than the shared silence.

And then, in that moment, Ram had pulled her even closer. He could still feel the warmth of her body as she instinctively nestled into his arms. Their faces had been mere inches apart, and as their eyes were closed in the dim light, something unspoken passed between them. Without fully realizing it, their lips had brushed-just a light touch at first. But then, slowly, Ram had parted his lips, and she had done the same. Before he could think, they had kissed.

Ram's heart raced as the memory hit him like a freight train. He dropped the pillow he was holding, staring blankly at the floor. "Fuck," he muttered, the word hanging heavy in the air. Did we really kiss last night? Panic began to swell inside him. If Priya remembered that moment, if she realized what had happened between them, it would be the end of him. He could already imagine her anger, her disgust.

Ram slammed his fist against his forehead in frustration. How could I let this happen? he berated himself, the regret and fear almost overwhelming. What was I thinking? He paced the room, trying to piece together the fragments of the night, hoping desperately that Priya's memory was as hazy as his had been before this moment.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that the memory wasn't going to fade away. And neither would the consequences if Priya ever remembered that kiss.

At college, Priya was still puzzled by the events of the previous night. The memory of Ram's crumpled shirt nagged at her, making her question what really happened. Unable to shake off the doubt, she decided to ask him directly. With hesitant fingers, she typed out a message: "Are you sure nothing wrong happened last night?"

Ram received the message while immersed in work at his office. His heart skipped a beat as he read her words, but he quickly composed himself and typed back a swift reply: "Nothing happened. I am sure."

When Priya saw the response, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she replied, "Oh, that's a relief." Despite his reassurance, a small part of her still couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the night than she remembered.

It was Friday, and the anticipation of a group dinner after college had everyone in high spirits. As the day wrapped up, Priya gathered her things, ready to head out, when Viraj caught up with her. "Come with me in my car," he offered, his tone warm and insistent. "I know your car is still broken down."

Priya hesitated. "No, Viraj, that will be so odd. Everyone else is going on their own."

"Oh, come on," Viraj replied, waving off her concern. "They all know we're close friends. They won't mind." Reluctantly, Priya agreed, and soon they were on their way, the car's hum blending with their easy conversation.

They arrived at the restaurant, joining the others at a large table filled with laughter and chatter. The group was deep in conversation, enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere as they ate and shared stories. But then, across the room, Priya's gaze was drawn to a couple sitting at a nearby table. As she watched them kiss, an unsettling memory flashed through her mind.

Suddenly, it was as if the air was sucked out of the room. Without a word, Priya pushed back her chair and hurriedly excused herself, ignoring the concerned glances from her friends. She darted to the washroom, locking the door behind her as her heart raced.

Leaning against the cold tiles, she clenched her fists and yelled at herself in a whisper, her voice thick with frustration and confusion. "What the fuck! Why did I let him kiss me? How could I have been so careless?" The memory of that night replayed in her mind with agonizing clarity. She was torn between disbelief and anger, not just at herself, but at Ram too. "Did he really forget? Or did he remember and just lied to me?" The thought gnawed at her, and she cursed herself again, wishing she could just erase it all from her mind.

On the way back home, Priya's mind was a storm of emotions-frustration, shame, and a deep sense of regret. How could I let myself be so weak? she thought, her fingers anxiously twisting in her lap. The memory of that night with Ram gnawed at her, making her feel tainted. She had always prided herself on staying strong, on keeping men like him at a distance. Yet, here she was, spiraling into the very thing she had always feared.

Why does this keep happening to me? she wondered, her thoughts darkening with each passing moment. I need to move on, I can't keep letting him haunt my thoughts like this. But the more she tried to push Ram out of her mind, the more tangled she became in her own doubts and fears.

She was so lost in thought that she barely noticed when the car rolled to a stop in front of her house. Viraj's voice broke through her daze. "Here you go, your home is here," he said, his tone gentle but laced with concern.

Priya glanced up at him, her eyes searching his face as if seeking some answer to the turmoil inside her. What am I doing? she thought, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. Without fully understanding why or how the words formed on her lips, she blurted out, "Viraj, let's see each other."

Viraj looked at her, almost in disbelief. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice a mix of surprise and cautious hope.

Priya's heart raced, her thoughts a jumble, but she forced herself to smile through the confusion. "Let's date. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Viraj sighed, a breath of relief and amazement all at once. "I can't believe this," he murmured, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

Before Priya could second-guess herself, he pulled her into a hug. It was warm, comforting, but as his arms wrapped around her, Priya's heart remained conflicted. She closed her eyes, trying to find solace in the embrace, yet deep inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was only adding to the confusion.

Is this really what I want? she wondered, her mind a tangled web of thoughts. In that moment, she couldn't decide if this was a step forward or just another way of running from the truth.

The days that followed were a blur of routine and distractions. Priya, now committed to distancing herself, would often find herself in places where she knew Ram might be, yet she chose to look the other way. Every time their paths crossed, she maintained a cold indifference, her heart a storm of emotions she refused to confront.

Ram, on the other hand, was engulfed in his work, deadlines and meetings filling his days and nights. Though his mind was occupied, a subtle restlessness gnawed at him, a sense of something left unsaid, undone. But with so much on his plate, he barely had time to dwell on it. He too avoided seeking Priya out, their once inevitable interactions reduced to distant glances and unspoken words.

And so, they continued like two parallel lines, close but never meeting, each trapped in their own world, trying to forget the connection they once shared.