Warning :- slight mature content at the beginning of chapter. and little bit long chapter.

It felt horrible to entertain the idea, but not doing it made Anbu feel like a culprit. She wanted to tear her gaze away from Rishi's chocolate brown eyes, which seemed to evoke a strange sensation within her. It was a weird feeling, one that she couldn't quite put into words.

Not wanting to disappoint him, Anbu nodded slightly, giving him the signal he had been waiting for. She sensed the tension thickening in the air as Rishi closed the remaining gap between their lips. With a jolt, he kissed her, his eyes shut tight in the moment. Anbu's eyes widened as she felt his lips moving against hers, unable to resist the urge to wrap her arms around his neck. The tender yet intense connection left her momentarily speechless. She had to admit, he was a good kisser.

Part of her wanted to stop him, to put an end to this. But another part of her craved the thrill of his touch, the warmth of his hands exploring parts of her body that were off-limits to anyone else... except him.

She had never experienced these feelings before, and despite knowing it was wrong, she found herself unable to resist. He was special not just because he made her feel special, but because he made her feel... them, in just a matter of moments. Yet, even as her heart raced with excitement, her subconscious mind sounded warning bells that she chose to ignore, allowing herself to be consumed by the kiss.

Breaking away from the kiss abruptly, Rishi searched her eyes for something she couldn't quite comprehend. When she nodded in response, he dipped his head lower, planting kisses along her shoulder and neck. Anbu could feel his hands reaching for her bra hooks, and in that moment, she knew she was about to make a decision she would regret for the rest of her life.

"You're screwed up, Anbu," she scolded herself internally as he finally unhooked her bra. Suddenly, discomfort washed over her. She wasn't ready for this, not now at least. Negative thoughts flooded her mind, sending shivers down her spine. She felt lost.

Breathing became difficult as she struggled with conflicting emotions. She couldn't bear to let him see her vulnerable, yet she couldn't ignore the raw lust in his eyes. It was devoid of care, devoid of love... and that realisation only fueled her resolve.

How could she let him take control without knowing what he truly felt for her? She knew that giving in now would only lead to chaos in the future. This wasn't about sex being inherently wrong, but about giving in to lust without genuine emotion. And that was something Anbu refused to do.

"I need to stop him," I thought urgently as Rishi continued to advance. "Rishi... listen," my voice barely made it out, but I was sure he didn't miss it. "Rishi, I don't want this to stop," I whispered again.

It seemed like he heard me but chose to ignore it, hastily pulling off his t-shirt. This was getting scary. He needed to stop.

"Rishi, I don't want..." I began, but before I could finish, he shot me a sharp glare, silencing me in defeat. Was he telling me to shut up and lay down until he finished?

Things were spiralling out of control. I panicked as he loomed closer, my mind racing with desperate pleas for him to stop. But none of it seemed to make a difference. Finally, unable to contain my fear any longer, I screamed as his lips hovered dangerously close to my chest.

"Rishi, stopppp!" I cried out, jolting upright in bed.

Breathing heavily, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and neck, only then noticing Rishi's sleeping figure on the couch.

"Ugh, gosh, it was just a dream," I murmured to myself.

Relief washed over me. Thank goodness it wasn't real. Whatever I had experienced was horrifying. I couldn't fathom Rishi being capable of such actions. He was a gentleman, and he would never force me into anything like that. I knew him. Despite only knowing him for a few months, I felt like I had known him for years. He was a good guy, with both looks and a heart to match.

I reached for the water bottle, draining it in one go to calm my racing heart. Was I so desperate for intimacy with him that I began having dreams like this? I questioned myself, finding no satisfactory answer. Perhaps I was just overthinking everything about him, I reasoned.

Placing the water bottle back, I looked at Rishi's peaceful face. Despite his large frame barely fitting on the couch, he seemed content. His hands were tucked under his head, creating a makeshift pillow.

I got down from my bed slowly, taking exactly six steps to reach him. Well, my room wasn't too big; it's small and cosy for me. My bed and couch were just a few steps apart. Standing near him, I keenly observed him. Once I made sure that he was in deep sleep, I sat on the floor beside the couch.

Would it be too cliché if I admired him in the middle of the night? Perhaps it should be. Not caring about the time or the growing darkness, I sat there, feeling his hot breath falling on my face. His face looked more adorable while he slept, with messy hair falling over his face and his almond-shaped eyes closed gently, his breathing slow and steady. He's too good to be true. His stubble and perfectly shaped jawline were a major plus to his facial features. Not to mention his newly grown beard that gave him a soft look, not too sharp or too rugged. No doubt he could pull off any look effortlessly; it's all part of his charm.

A wave of chilly breeze hit my skin, making my heart flutter, and putting my few hair strands which were jiggling due to the sudden breeze. I leisurely looked up at him, sleeping peacefully like a toddler. I couldn't believe this was the same man who snuck into my room through the balcony in the middle of the night, too drunk.

It had been two hours since he fell asleep, and he had been blabbering from the moment he stepped inside. I was almost terrified of getting caught by my parents who were just downstairs. Seriously, he gave me a heart attack.

---

As Rishi stumbled into the room, Anu couldn't help but notice his unsteady steps and distant gaze. She reached out to support him, immediately catching the strong scent of alcohol emanating from him. Anu's mind raced with questions. Was he intoxicated because of her?

"Are you drunk, Rishi?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. Rishi's feeble denial only confirmed her suspicions. Anu quickly covered his mouth, concerned that her parents might overhear. She guided him to the bed and took precautions to ensure their privacy, locking doors and drawing curtains.

Rishi's voice broke the silence, asking if he had disturbed her. Anu couldn't hide her frustration as she questioned his presence, especially in his intoxicated state. His response about a message she had seen but not replied to left her bewildered. Anu needed time to process his unexpected confession.

As Rishi sat silently, staring at the ceiling, Anu couldn't help but notice his distress. She wondered how to handle the situation, feeling unprepared for his sudden revelation. Observing him closely, she noticed his dishevelled appearance and wondered how he had managed to climb the balcony in his slippers.

Anu felt torn, worrying about how to conceal Rishi until morning without arousing suspicion from her parents. Sitting beside him, she called his name softly. Suddenly, Rishi embraced her tightly, tears wetting her shoulder. Anu returned the hug, providing the comfort he seemed to need, even though she sensed his tears were not for her.

As she held him close and whispered soothing words, Anu couldn't shake the feeling that something else was troubling Rishi.

Anu confronted Rishi upon his entrance, noticing his avoidance of eye contact and unsteady movements. As he stumbled, Anu supported him, detecting the strong scent of alcohol emanating from him. She wondered if his intoxication was somehow related to her.

"Huh... Rishi, are you drunk?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. Rishi denied it, but Anu silenced him, wary of her parents overhearing. Guiding him to sit on the bed, she hurriedly secured the room for privacy.

"Did I disturb you?" Rishi's slow voice broke the silence.

"Of course you did, and what are you doing here, especially in this state?" Anu questioned, her tone low and concerned.

With his hands firmly planted on either side of the bed, Rishi leaned back and directed his gaze at the ceiling for a few moments before speaking. "I confessed something. You saw the message and didn't say anything in return."

"Are you crazy? You came all the way here, ignoring the fact that you're drunk, just to ask me why I haven't replied to the message?" Anu frowned at him, wondering if his behaviour stemmed from his intoxication or something else entirely. She felt unprepared for his sudden confession, unsure of how to respond. Moments earlier, she had envisioned their time together differently, and Rishi's unexpected revelation caught her off guard. Needing time to process her thoughts, she wished for solitude to gain clarity.

Rishi remained silent, fixated on the blank ceiling as though he had never seen it before. Anu couldn't help but notice the gulp in his throat as she observed him in his night suit and loose slippers, wondering how he managed to navigate her balcony in such a state.

Concerned about hiding Rishi until morning, Anu hesitated to send him home in his current condition, fearing her parents' reaction if they discovered him intoxicated. She valued Rishi's standing in her parents' eyes and didn't want to tarnish his image.

Approaching him softly, Anu called him softly Rishi, sensing the depth of his thoughts.

Suddenly, Rishi embraced her, prompting her to reciprocate the hug. As she felt his tears on her shoulder, she comforted him, unsure of the true reason behind his emotions.

His grip tightened as Anu whispered sweet words, though she couldn't shake the feeling that his tears weren't solely for her. Uncertain of what lay ahead, she pondered the implications of Rishi's unexpected visit.