As the rain lashed against the windows, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Adriti. Her eyes were wide, and I could see the mix of confusion and uncertainty playing across her face. She looked almost as if she’d been caught in a storm without an umbrella—both literally and figuratively. "Well," I cleared my throat, trying to break the silence. "I guess you’ll have to stay here for the night." She nodded slowly, her fingers curling around the edge of the dining table. "I... I hope it’s not too much trouble." "Not at all," I said quickly. "I mean, I wouldn’t want you to risk going out in this weather. It’s dangerous."

I stood, collecting our empty plates. Anything to keep my hands busy, to distract myself from the unexpected turn of events. I’d imagined many scenarios for tonight, but none of them involved a flash flood trapping us together. "I’ll set up the guest room for you," I offered, trying to keep my voice casual. "Do you need anything else? An extra blanket? A phone charger?" "No, I’m good. Thank you," she said softly. She trailed behind me as I led her back to the guest room. I could feel the weight of the situation settle in, a strange mix of responsibility and vulnerability. Once the room was ready, I lingered by the door. "If you need anything, my room’s just down the hall." She smiled, a small, grateful curve of her lips. "Umm... Do you have any Software toys with you ?" "Soft toys?...No i don't think I have any. Why?" "Well.... Umm... I can't sleep like that....I always sleep while cuddling something." She was soo embarrassed while telling this. I almost laughed at this.... But it was cute. "Why do you need a soft toy when you have me to cuddle?" I said this with a wink and a big smile on my face. "Shut up." She said laughing. She was soo red that she wasn't even able to speak further. "Just kidding don't take that seriously." Even she knows that I didn't actually meant it. But i meant it. Like I don't have any problem. "Thanks, Ishaan. For everything." I hesitated, then forced myself to leave, closing the door behind me. Back in my own room, I flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind raced, analyzing every moment of the evening, every word exchanged. I knew I had to keep my cool—after all, it wasn’t every day that the girl you liked ended up staying over because of a natural disaster.

A roll of thunder rumbled in the distance. I sat up, suddenly restless. After a few minutes, I wandered into the kitchen, my feet moving on autopilot. I found myself making tea, the familiar motions soothing. I hadn’t expected tonight to go this way. Honestly, I’d been nervous enough about introducing her to Dhruv. I knew how much his opinion mattered to me, and by extension, how much it might matter to her. He’d barely gotten a chance to know her before his emergency call came through. I hoped he liked her—no, I needed him to like her. Dhruv had always been my grounding force, and his approval meant more than I cared to admit. A soft sound behind me made me turn. Adriti stood at the edge of the kitchen, wrapped in the bathrobe again, her hair slightly damp. "Couldn’t sleep?" I asked, my voice coming out softer than I intended. She shook her head. "Too much on my mind. I saw the light on and thought..." She trailed off, her eyes dropping to the steaming mug in my hands. "Want some tea?" I offered, already reaching for another cup. "Yes, please." She stepped further into the kitchen, her bare feet silent against the tile.

We stood there, side by side, as the kettle whistled softly. I handed her the cup, and our fingers brushed—just a fleeting touch, but enough to send a spark through me. I hoped she didn’t notice the way my breath hitched. We moved to the living room, sitting on opposite ends of the couch. The rain continued its symphony outside, a backdrop to the quiet between us. "I didn’t mean to impose," she said after a while, staring into her tea. "I feel like I’m causing trouble." "You’re not," I said firmly. "I’m glad you’re safe. I’d never forgive myself if you’d gone out and something happened." Her eyes met mine, a flicker of something warm and hopeful in them. "You really mean that?" "Of course." I took a sip of my tea, using the moment to steady myself. "I care about you, Adriti. I know this isn’t exactly how I pictured our second date, but... I’m not mad about it." She let out a small laugh, the sound like a melody. "Yeah, me neither." We talked for what felt like hours. About silly things, serious things, anything that crossed our minds. Somewhere in the middle of it all, the gap between us on the couch closed. Her head rested against my shoulder, and my arm found its way around her.

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, or how things would be when the storm cleared. But for now, in this quiet bubble of warmth amidst the chaos outside, everything felt right. And I wasn’t going to question it. Not tonight.

As the night deepened, the storm outside seemed to wrap us in a cocoon of isolation. The world beyond the windows vanished behind a curtain of rain, leaving just the two of us, huddled on the couch. Adriti's breathing had evened out, her head a comfortable weight on my shoulder. I didn’t dare move, afraid to break the fragile peace of the moment. My arm was starting to go numb, but I’d have gladly sat there all night if it meant keeping her close. Her teacup was still on the table, half-full, the tea long gone cold. I reached over as carefully as I could, setting my own cup down beside hers. The movement stirred her, and she shifted slightly, blinking up at me. “Sorry,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” “It’s okay.” I smiled down at her. “You must be exhausted.” She sat up slowly, and I missed the warmth of her against me instantly. She tucked her legs beneath her, the oversized bathrobe swallowing her frame. “What time is it?” “A little past midnight.” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t realize it was so late.” “It’s fine. You should get some sleep.” She hesitated, her fingers playing with the edge of the robe. “Do you mind if I stay here? I mean, on the couch. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep alone.” My heart stuttered in my chest. “Of course. I’ll grab you a blanket.” I stood up, but her hand shot out, catching mine. “Ishaan?” “Yeah?” “Can you… Can you stay too? Just until I fall asleep.” I didn’t trust my voice, so I just nodded. I sat back down, and this time she didn’t hesitate. She curled up against me, her body fitting perfectly against my side.

The room grew quieter. Even the storm seemed to soften, as if it, too, wanted to give us this moment. “You make me feel safe,” she whispered. My chest tightened. “I’m glad.” Silence fell again, and I thought she’d drifted off until she spoke, her voice a soft murmur. “I was so nervous today. Meeting Dhruv. Being here. I kept thinking I’d say something stupid.” “You didn’t,” I assured her. “He liked you. A lot. And so do I.” She looked up at me, her eyes dark and searching. “Really?” “Really.” I brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. “I’ve wanted to tell you that since our first date. You’ve been on my mind ever since.”

Her lips parted, a tiny intake of breath that sent my pulse skittering. I couldn’t help it—I leaned in, slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. She didn’t. Her lips met mine, soft and warm, and the world outside ceased to exist. It was a gentle kiss, unhurried and tender. I could taste the remnants of tea, feel the warmth of her breath. When we pulled apart, she was smiling, a shy, beautiful curve of her lips. “I’ve wanted that for a while now.” “Me too.” We didn’t speak after that. There was no need. We settled back against the couch, our hands entwined, and this time when she closed her eyes, I knew she felt safe. I stayed awake a while longer, listening to the rhythm of her breathing, the soft patter of rain. I knew the morning would bring its own challenges—the reality of what tonight meant, the inevitable questions, the logistics of getting her home safely. But right now, none of that mattered. Right now, all I cared about was the girl in my arms and the quiet promise of something more.