Ram hurried down from the car, worry etched across his face as he saw the figure lying on the pavement. "Are you okay, miss?" he called out, his voice laced with concern. But as he approached and got a clearer view, his breath hitched in surprise. "Priya? What on earth are you doing here at this hour? Where's your car?"

Before she could answer, a sharp wince of pain crossed her face, drawing his attention to the gash on her knee. Blood was trickling from the wound, staining the fabric of her saree. Ram's expression shifted to alarm. "Oh, shit. It's bleeding. Hold on to me, try to get up," he instructed, his tone firm but gentle. Priya tried, but the pain was too much, her legs faltering beneath her.

Without a second thought, Ram scooped her up into his arms. "What are you doing?" Priya protested weakly, caught off guard by his sudden action.

Ram shook his head, a mixture of exasperation and worry in his voice. "You're so light! How do you manage on your own? Do you even eat anything?" he muttered, carrying her as if she weighed nothing. He gently placed her inside his car, settling her into the passenger seat with care.

"My car broke down," Priya managed to explain, her voice tinged with frustration and lingering pain.

Ram frowned, already moving to buckle her in. "Then you should have booked a cab. This place isn't safe at night—there were abduction cases here just a few days ago! Are you out of your mind?"

Priya bristled at his scolding, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "Did you bring me here just to lecture me?"

Ram shot her a look of disbelief. "This is the attitude I don't like. How can you be the mother of that girl? She seems more mature than you!" He let out a frustrated sigh, turning the key to start the car.

Priya rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in defiance. "Where are we going?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

"It's going to rain soon, and you won't find anything open on the main road at this hour. Besides, that wound of yours needs to be treated," Ram replied, his voice softening slightly. "I'm taking you to my home."

Without waiting for her response, he steered the car towards Kapoor Mansion, the headlights cutting through the dark, rainy night. Priya, caught between annoyance and gratitude, could only sit in silence as they drove through the quiet streets, the weight of the evening's events hanging heavily between them.

When they finally arrived at Kapoor Mansion, Ram quickly got out of the car and walked around to open the door for Priya. She hesitated as she stepped down, her knee still aching. Ram watched her closely, his concern evident. "Can you walk? Do you need help?" he asked, his tone softer than before.

Priya shook her head, determined to maintain some distance. "No, I'm fine. Don't worry," she replied, but her resolve faltered slightly as she instinctively reached out to steady herself by holding his hand. Together, they made their way inside, the warmth of the mansion contrasting with the cold, damp night outside.

They entered his study, a room filled with bookshelves, soft lighting, and an air of quiet sophistication. Priya sat down on a plush couch nearby, her gaze wandering around the room. As she settled in, she couldn't resist asking, "Do you always bring your girls here?"

Ram arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Why is that so important to know? It's irrelevant," he said dismissively, before walking off to fetch the first aid kit.

When he returned, Ram knelt in front of her, his movements surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the cut on her knee. The sting of the antiseptic made Priya wince, but she was more taken aback by the care with which Ram tended to her wound. He carefully applied a bandage, his touch almost tender. Priya found herself watching him, thoughts swirling in her mind. This man can be this sensible and gentle too? I never knew this side of him.

Ram finished his task and stood up, moving to sit across from her. There was a moment of silence before he broke it. "What took you so long today? Why Didn't you leave early?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

Priya glanced at him, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "i had some reasons," she replied, not wanting to delve too deeply into her reasons.

Ram nodded thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. "Do you want something to eat?" he offered, his eyes assessing her as if trying to gauge her needs.

Priya shook her head, but her expression betrayed a touch of uncertainty. Ram huffed in mild exasperation. "Do you even eat?" he muttered, rising to his feet. "I'm going to get a drink. Do you want something?"

Priya's eyes widened slightly. "A drink? No, not again," she said, her voice laced with apprehension, memories of their last encounter surfacing.

Ram smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, that won't happen again. I'll get you some wine—it'll soothe your pain as well," he said with a wink before heading toward the bar.

As he walked away, Priya leaned back on the couch, her mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. This side of Ram, this unexpected tenderness mixed with his usual swagger, left her feeling unsettled in a way she couldn't quite explain.

The morning sun began to peek through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue across the room. The faint sound of birds chirping outside slowly stirred Ram from his sleep. As his eyes fluttered open, he became acutely aware of the warmth beside him. Priya was nestled close to his chest, her breath steady in the peaceful rhythm of deep sleep. For a moment, Ram froze, his heart racing as he realized the intimacy of their position.

Shocked, he carefully tried to pull himself away, but Priya was sleeping on his arm, her head resting against his shoulder. He moved slowly, not wanting to wake her, and gently slid his arm out from under her, rising quietly from the couch. Standing, he looked down at himself, his clothes slightly rumpled from the night before. His gaze then drifted to the table beside them—two empty bottles of wine stood as silent witnesses to the night's events.

As the fog of sleep lifted, Ram's mind raced to piece together the fragments of the previous evening. He remembered how, after the wine had loosened their tongues and eased their defenses, they had talked for hours, letting down the walls that usually stood so tall between them. At some point, the conversation had faded into a comfortable silence, and they had fallen asleep, unconsciously seeking each other's warmth in the night.

Just then, Priya began to stir, her brow furrowing slightly as she slowly opened her eyes. The sight of Ram standing nearby brought her fully awake, and she sat up quickly, her expression mirroring the shock Ram had felt moments earlier. "What... How did I end up here?" she stammered, glancing around the room as if trying to make sense of it all.

Ram's voice was steady, though he could sense the awkwardness between them. "Nothing happened," he assured her, his tone calm. "We both got drunk and fell asleep. That's all.See our cloths are all on so dont need to worry"

Priya's eyes flicked to the empty wine bottles and then back to Ram, trying to gauge the truth in his words. She felt a mix of embarrassment and relief, unsure of how to navigate this strange, vulnerable moment. "I should go," she said quietly, trying to maintain her composure. "I'll take a cab."

Ram shook his head, already reaching for his phone. "I'll drop you home," he insisted. "It's the least I can do. I'll tell my driver to drive you back home."

Priya hesitated for a moment, then nodded, still too disoriented to argue. Ram's firm but gentle manner left little room for refusal. As he stepped out of the room to make the call, Priya ran a hand through her hair, trying to push away the thoughts swirling in her mind. The morning light now fully illuminated the room, and she couldn't help but feel that, somehow, everything had changed between them in those quiet hours before dawn.

Priya's thoughts raced as she suddenly remembered she hadn't informed anyone at home about her unexpected overnight stay. Panic surged through her as she grabbed her phone from the table, her fingers trembling slightly. But when she unlocked the screen, a wave of relief washed over her—there it was, a message sent the night before: "Car broke down, staying at Arjun's place for the night."

She let out a deep sigh, her shoulders relaxing as the tension drained away. Thank goodness, she thought, her heart still beating a little too fast. But then, a new wave of anxiety crashed over her. When did I even send that message? Priya wracked her brain, trying to recall the moment she had typed it out, but the memory was hazy, lost somewhere between the wine and the conversation that had blurred the edges of her usual self-control.

As the relief slowly gave way to self-reproach, Priya's inner voice grew harsh. Why am I being like this? she muttered to herself, biting her lip in frustration. I don't know the limits anymore—getting drunk like that, losing my mind, especially in front of him... The words echoed in her mind, each one a sharp reprimand.

She cursed herself under her breath, feeling the sting of her actions. This wasn't the way she was supposed to behave—certainly not around Ram, of all people. What must he think of me now? she wondered, a blush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. She could barely stand the thought of how she had let her guard down, how she had allowed herself to be so vulnerable in front of him.

Priya clenched her phone in her hand, a mix of regret and shame swirling within her. She knew she couldn't change what had happened, but she silently vowed to be more careful in the future. No more slip-ups, she told herself, as she steeled her resolve to never let herself be so exposed again.