Arjun's voice broke through the thick silence in the room, raw and emotional. "I don't want to talk to you, Dad. Just leave me alone. I finally found someone who understood me, someone who taught me in a way that made sense, but I guess that didn't please you, right?"

Ram's heart clenched at his son's words, but he tried to remain calm. "Arjun, I'll find someone better than her, I promise."

Arjun's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and despair. "No, Dad, please! I don't need anyone else. You never cared about my happiness. You're just being selfish, as always."

The room seemed to shrink under the weight of their confrontation. Arjun stood up abruptly, his emotions boiling over. "I'm going to stay alone for a while. Just leave my room."

Ram's shoulders sagged slightly. He saw the pain and frustration in his son's eyes and realized that this was not the right moment for a discussion. The intensity of the moment told him that forcing a conversation now would only push Arjun further away.

With a heavy heart, Ram nodded slowly, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and resignation. "Alright, Arjun. I'll leave you alone."

As he turned to leave, Ram's mind raced with thoughts of how to mend the rift between them. He closed the door gently behind him, the soft click echoing in the quiet corridor. The mansion seemed eerily still, the usual hum of activity muted by the emotional storm that had just passed.

Ram walked down the hallway, his steps slow and deliberate. He knew that he had to reflect on his actions and their consequences. The day's events had left him with a profound sense of urgency to reassess his relationship with Arjun and the role he played in his son's life.

A couple of days later, Priya was in the common room at the college, preparing to leave for the day. As she gathered her belongings, a peon approached her, informing her that someone was waiting to meet her outside. Curiosity piqued, she quickly collected her things and stepped out of the room.

To her surprise, she saw Ram standing outside, leaning against his car, engrossed in his phone. Clearing her throat to get his attention, Priya watched as he glanced up and met her eyes. "Oh, hi," he said, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I was waiting for you."

Priya's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Waiting for me? Why?"

"Can we sit somewhere and talk?" he asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Sorry, I'm getting late. Not today," Priya replied, preparing to walk away.

But Ram's next words made her pause. "It's about Arjun. Please."

Priya stopped in her tracks. "What is it?"

"Get in the car," Ram said.

Reluctantly, Priya agreed. She climbed into the passenger seat, and Ram got in beside her. They drove in silence, the air heavy with unspoken words. After a while, Ram pulled up in front of a quaint café. They got out and went inside, sitting across from each other in an awkward silence.

Priya glanced around, avoiding Ram's gaze. Finally, Ram broke the silence. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere.

Priya looked at him, surprised. "What? What did you just say?"

"I'm sorry. Maybe I was mean to you," Ram admitted.

"Maybe? So you're not sure?" Priya retorted, her tone sharp.

"Fine. I was mean to you," Ram conceded. "Please, start tutoring Arjun again. He's so sad since you left. He's stopped going to school and isn't eating properly."

Priya's expression softened, but she remained firm. "It's not because of me. I guess you never took him seriously."

Ram's shoulders slumped slightly. "Say whatever you want. My hands are tied here."

"No, no, you're independent. I'm sure you can take care of your son better than I can, if you've ever cared," Priya replied, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ram looked at her, a mixture of desperation and regret in his eyes. "I do care, Priya. I just... I just didn't realize how much he needed you until you were gone. Please, help him."

Priya's voice was steady, though tinged with frustration. "He's going to leave in a few days anyway, isn't he? You're sending him away."

Ram sighed, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. "What can I do? I have a lot of responsibilities."

Priya cut in, her eyes flashing with determination. "Isn't he your responsibility too?"

Ram bristled at her tone. "Why are you being so authoritative? Just because I have no choices now? I don't know what's gotten into Arjun."

"Nothing's gotten into him. Maybe he just found someone who understands him properly. That's what he's expecting from his parents," Priya said, her voice softening with empathy.

Ram's patience snapped. "That's enough. You're his teacher, I know, but don't be so bossy with me. I know how to handle this. I can pay you whatever amount you want."

Priya chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "See, that's your problem. You think money can buy anything. Anyway, I'll tutor him, but only for his sake. Tell him I'll be there by 6 tomorrow."

With that, she stood up and walked away, leaving Ram sitting there, fuming. He had never liked women who spoke to him so rudely. As he put some money on the table to cover their drinks, his irritation was palpable.

Outside, Ram saw Priya heading toward the cab stand. He rolled his eyes, muttering to himself, "So arrogant," before walking back to his car.

The day had not gone as he had planned, and as he drove away, his mind churned with a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration for the woman who dared to stand up to him. For all her bluntness, Priya had managed to make him see something he had overlooked: the simple, profound need of his son to be understood and valued.

The next evening, Priya arrived at the Kapoor mansion under a sky heavy with clouds, the air thick with the possibility of a storm. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a warning of what was to come. Arjun greeted her with a broad smile, his spirits lifted just by her presence. They chatted easily, their conversation light and cheerful, but outside, the weather grew increasingly menacing.

Suddenly, a deafening crack of thunder shook the mansion, and the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness. Both Priya and Arjun gasped in surprise, their cheerful mood abruptly interrupted. The mansion felt eerily empty, the silence only broken by the distant roar of the storm.

"Do you have candles?" Priya asked, her voice steady despite the sudden change in atmosphere.

Arjun shook his head, though she could barely see him in the dim light. "No, but I think we can find some in the kitchen."

"Where is everyone?" Priya asked, realizing how alone they were.

"Our cook is on leave today, and the other two servants went with Grandma to a charity program," Arjun explained, a hint of unease in his voice. "I think there might be some kind of malfunction. We never run out of power."

Priya nodded, trying to keep her own nerves in check. "Maybe it's just the storm. You stay here, I'll go downstairs and find something."

Arjun hesitated. "Is that okay? I want to come with you."

"No, it's fine," Priya reassured him, switching on her phone's flashlight. "I'll be right back."

She stepped out of the room, the narrow beam of light from her phone barely cutting through the inky darkness. As she descended the staircase, the shadows seemed to close in around her, and the sound of the storm outside grew louder, more insistent. She felt a chill crawl up her spine, a discomfort that had less to do with the cold and more with the oppressive darkness.

Halfway down the staircase, her phone flickered and then died, leaving her in complete darkness. Her heart skipped a beat, panic rising in her chest. She cursed herself for not bringing Arjun along. The mansion, so grand and welcoming in the daylight, now felt like a labyrinth of shadows.

Taking a deep breath, Priya forced herself to move forward, her hands brushing against the walls for guidance. As she made her way toward the kitchen, she stumbled on something in the hallway and lost her balance, a gasp escaping her lips as she felt herself falling.

But before she could hit the ground, two strong arms caught her, holding her tightly. At that exact moment, a flash of lightning illuminated the hallway, revealing the face of her rescuer.

It was Ram.

His expression was tense, concern etched in his features as he looked down at her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the storm raging outside the only sound. Priya's heart pounded, not just from the shock of nearly falling, but from the unexpected closeness of the man she least expected to see.

Ram's voice, when he finally spoke, was low and steady. "Are you okay?"

Priya nodded, still trying to process the sudden turn of events. "Yes, I'm fine," she managed to say, though her voice trembled slightly.

Ram didn't let go immediately, his grip firm as if to reassure himself that she was truly alright. In that brief, charged moment, the storm outside seemed to mirror the tension between them, an intensity that neither could quite name.

The lights flickered back on suddenly, casting the hallway in bright light. Priya blinked in surprise, her gaze locking onto Ram, who was standing before her clad in nothing but a towel. He was drenched, his skin glistening with water droplets that clung to his face and the muscular contours of his chest. The realization hit her like a wave—she was holding onto his strong, wet arm, a gesture that felt far too intimate for the circumstances.

Startled, Priya quickly pulled her hand away, her heart racing as she tried to process the situation. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the silence broken only by the sound of dripping water and the distant rumble of thunder outside.

"Ma'am, are you there?" Arjun's voice called out from upstairs, slicing through the moment and bringing them both back to reality.

Priya and Ram snapped out of their shared daze, stepping away from each other as if they had been caught in something they shouldn't have been. Ram's expression shifted from shock to a more composed, if slightly embarrassed, demeanor. He ran a hand through his wet hair, avoiding her gaze.

Arjun appeared at the top of the staircase, his eyes wide with surprise as he took in the scene. "Dad? You were here? When did you come back?"

Ram cleared his throat, forcing a casual tone despite the awkwardness hanging in the air. "Just a little while ago," he replied, quickly wrapping the towel more securely around his waist. "I... I need to go get dressed."

Without waiting for further questions, Ram excused himself and hurried down the hallway, leaving Priya standing there, her mind reeling from the unexpected encounter. She had never seen him like this—vulnerable, caught off guard—and the image of him drenched and nearly naked was one that lingered in her mind, sending a flush of heat to her cheeks.

Still in shock and feeling awkward, Priya turned her attention to Arjun, who had made his way down the stairs and was now standing beside her,

Priya allowed him to lead her back up the staircase. As they ascended, she couldn't help but glance back toward the hallway where Ram had disappeared, her thoughts a jumble of emotions she couldn't quite untangle.