The rain was coming down in soft sheets, a constant patter against the window that somehow made everything feel more surreal. Ruchika stared out, the cool morning air sneaking in through the crack in the window. The streets of Mumbai were still mostly silent, the early hours offering a rare peace—except for the incessant noise that came from across the street.

Ruchika sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was tired, having stayed up late sketching ideas for the Euphoria characters, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night before. Diya was still recovering from her hangover, passed out on the couch, and Ruchika had been left alone to her own devices.

She glanced over at Diya, who was buried under a pile of blankets, her hair in disarray from the night out. Ruchika had barely gotten any sleep, but she couldn't help but feel a strange mix of satisfaction and frustration. Diya was always the one with the whirlwind romance, the perfect life to dream about—and Ruchika was... well, Ruchika was just trying to get through the chaos of her day.

As she continued to stare out the window, she caught a glimpse of a figure across the balcony—Abhishek. He was sitting on a chair with a steaming mug in his hand, his eyes squinting against the rain, seemingly unfazed by the downpour. His shirtless form was, as always, completely infuriating to Ruchika. The sight of him, so casually enjoying his chai like the world wasn't falling apart, sent a strange rush of annoyance through her.

"Seriously? At five in the morning?" Ruchika muttered under her breath, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.

It didn't help that the sound of Diljit Dosanjh blared from his speaker, the vibrant beats cutting through the stillness of the rain like an unwelcome guest. Of course, Abhishek had to be the kind of guy who blared music at ridiculous hours, making sure the whole neighborhood knew when he was having his chai break.

She shook her head, turning away from the window, but it was impossible to ignore him. There he was—relaxed, casually sipping his tea, his muscles flexing ever-so-slightly as he raised the mug to his lips. The rain didn't seem to bother him at all, and his confidence—so loud, so annoyingly there—only made Ruchika want to throw something out of frustration.

But she didn't. She couldn't risk it. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, trying to focus on her work again, but her mind kept wandering back to the image of him. His sheer, infuriating presence was enough to derail even her most focused moments.

She glanced at the clock: 5:15. Diya would be out for hours, most likely. She had texted Abhishek last night about how "fun" their date had been, and Ruchika, ever the supportive friend, had pretended to be happy for her. But right now, with the rain pouring down and Abhishek casually drinking his chai, she couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in some weird, never-ending loop of annoyance.

Ruchika stood up, pacing around the room. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the frustration of dealing with Diya's over-enthusiastic crush on the most irritating guy in existence, but she couldn't focus. The rain outside wasn't helping; it made everything feel more intense, more complicated than it needed to be.

Suddenly, a loud knock on her door broke her out of her thoughts.

"Ruchika!" Abhishek's voice rang out, as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment to annoy her. "You up? I made too much chai. You want some?"

Ruchika froze. Her first instinct was to ignore him, to pretend she wasn't home. But she knew that wasn't going to work. Of course, Abhishek *had* to come over now.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I'm fine, Abhishek. Go enjoy your chai by yourself," she called out, her voice laced with barely disguised annoyance.

"Come on, Ruchika! You're always so serious!" he teased, his voice annoyingly cheerful. "It's raining, and I'm pretty sure you could use some company. What's the harm in a little chai?"

Ruchika sighed, glancing over at Diya, still asleep on the couch, her soft snoring a stark contrast to the loud, intrusive energy of Abhishek's presence. "I really don't need you barging in here at five in the morning, Abhishek," she snapped, making no attempt to hide her frustration now. "I'm trying to get some work done."

Abhishek didn't seem to take her irritation seriously, of course. His voice came through the door again, louder now, almost as if he was daring her to respond. "Work? It's early, Ruchi. You need a break. Come on, just five minutes of chai. I'll even let you complain about how much you hate me."

Ruchika stood still for a moment, trying to collect herself. She could hear the rain continuing to pour outside, the rhythm of it somehow mocking her inability to focus. She couldn't do this. She couldn't keep pretending she wasn't irritated by his every move, by his loud, unbothered existence that always seemed to intersect with hers.

But there was a part of her—one she wouldn't admit out loud—that wondered just why she cared so much about this absurd rivalry between them.

"Fine," Ruchika muttered, opening the door slightly. "But just for a minute, Abhishek. I'm not here for your whole morning routine."

Abhishek grinned, his smirk too charming for her liking. "That's the spirit." He stepped back, offering her the chai, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Welcome to the chaotic world of Abhishek Sharma."

Ruchika rolled her eyes, but she took the cup, trying not to acknowledge how his grin made her heart do an annoying little flip. She didn't need to like this guy. She didn't.

But as the rain continued to fall outside and Abhishek leaned against the doorframe, chatting about something completely unrelated to her life, Ruchika couldn't quite shake the feeling that somehow, despite their constant bickering, the universe had a way of forcing these little moments together. And whether she liked it or not, it was starting to feel like they were in this ridiculous dance together—just the two of them.

She sighed, taking a sip of her chai, and reminded herself: this was just another day in the world of Abhishek Sharma.

Ruchika took a long sip of the chai, feeling the warmth of the cup seep through her fingers as the bitter yet comforting liquid slid down her throat. The rain still pounded relentlessly against the windows, but it was a kind of soothing noise now, almost like an old friend. She could feel the tension in her shoulders start to ease, just a little, as she closed her eyes for a brief second.

Abhishek was still talking—something about his neighbor's dog or how his plants weren't thriving, but Ruchika didn't really catch the details. She had gotten used to his rambling over the years, tuning him out when it got too much. And today, with the early morning calm and the rain, she felt like it was time to retreat into her own space.

"Thanks for the chai," she muttered, standing up and starting to make her way toward the small prayer room at the back of the apartment.

Abhishek raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing her shift in mood. "You going to pray now?" he asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

Ruchika shot him a look, trying to hide the genuine smile that was tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yes, Abhishek. Some of us need to clear their minds. Not all of us spend our mornings shirtless on balconies."

He laughed, his loud, carefree sound echoing down the hall as Ruchika walked away, but she didn't let it bother her. It was a routine she had built for herself over the years—a small escape from the chaos of her daily life. When the world felt too overwhelming, she would go to her prayer room. It was her sanctuary. Her space to breathe and connect with a sense of calm.

The room was small, cozy, and decorated simply. She had a few candles lit at the corners, their flickering light casting soft, golden hues against the walls. The smell of incense filled the air, adding to the peaceful atmosphere she had cultivated over time. The small altar was adorned with flowers, and an assortment of statues and pictures of gods lined the shelves around her.

Ruchika carefully placed the empty chai cup on the table next to her prayer mat, folding her legs beneath her as she sat down. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, feeling the calmness of the space wrap around her like a warm blanket.

Her fingers gently touched the prayer beads, and she began her small, personal ritual. It wasn't about grand gestures. It was about grounding herself, finding peace in the moment, and focusing her thoughts away from the world outside.

As she started reciting her prayers, the words flowed naturally, each verse slipping off her tongue like something familiar. She didn't need to think about them. They were a part of her, woven into the rhythm of her life.

With each breath, her mind slowed, and the tension she had been carrying—whether it was from Abhishek's obnoxious presence or the weight of her own thoughts—began to dissipate. She was here, in this small, quiet space, away from everything that was loud and chaotic.

A soft smile curved her lips as she finished the last prayer, her fingers still holding onto the beads. She sat in stillness for a moment, letting the silence of the room wash over her. It was moments like these that reminded her of what truly mattered.

But as she opened her eyes and stood up, she heard Abhishek's voice again, much closer this time.

"Ruchika, you're not going to pray for me, are you?" he called out, leaning against the doorframe, looking annoyingly too relaxed, even for someone who had just interrupted her moment of peace.

Ruchika sighed, shaking her head as she smiled at him, trying not to let his presence ruin the serenity she had just found. "No, Abhishek, I'm not praying for you. But maybe I should. You definitely need all the help you can get."

He grinned, unfazed by her teasing. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks, Ruchika."

She just rolled her eyes, but inside, her heart felt a little lighter. Maybe it was the chai, maybe it was the prayers, or maybe it was just the absurdity of it all. Either way, she was ready to face whatever was coming next—even if it involved more of Abhishek's ridiculous antics.

With a final glance at the prayer room, Ruchika walked back out into her apartment, preparing herself for the next round of chaos. The day was just getting started, and she was somehow, against all odds, feeling a little more at peace with it.