The cold breeze swept through the trees, rustling their leaves. Yellow leaves drifted down onto the tiny patches of green grass covering the ground. Joyful giggles filled the garden as children ran around in circles. In the middle of them stood a girl.

Her long hair fluttered in the breeze, and her lips curled into a wide smile that could melt anyone's heart. She tried to maintain a stern expression while dealing with the children, but their mischief soon melted her resolve.

"Enough! Now go back to your rooms and complete your homework. I'll check it in some time. Go!" she instructed them.

They nodded obediently and ran in a group towards the place she had directed them. The girl stood there, smiling as she watched their mischievous antics.

"Oh, dear God lady!"

Her attention was suddenly diverted as she turned towards the direction of the voice. Another girl, who appeared to be around her age, was walking towards her.

"Natasha? Where had you gone? I've been looking for you everywhere!" she asked in her melodious voice.

"I had gone to meet Aryan," the girl named Natasha replied, blushing heavily.

Her friend smiled mischievously and, walking up behind her, wrapped her arms around her neck.

"Blushing and all! These days, just hearing Aryan's name makes you turn red all over. I think the case is out of your hands now!" she teased, pinching Natasha's already flushed cheeks.

"Ruhi!"

Ruhi's melodious giggles filled the air as she ran a little distance away, with Natasha chasing after her. She continued teasing her friend until Natasha was nothing but a blushing mess.

"Okay, fine! Enough now!"

Both friends finally took their seats on the grassy ground.

"Listen! Aryan has invited me to his friend's birthday party," Natasha announced cutely.

Ruhi smiled calmly and nodded. "Yeah, then go and enjoy yourself. Why are you asking me?"

"I'm not asking you. I'm telling you that you're coming with me. No further arguments. It's final!"

Ruhi wiggled her eyebrows, trying to refuse, but Natasha's adorable puppy eyes left her speechless. She finally agreed.

"But we have to come back early, or else Merry Aunty will chew our ears off with her scoldings," Ruhi giggled, remembering the last time they had been punished for sneaking out of the orphanage. They had gone to watch a movie with some of their college friends.

"Okay, let's go and get ready. He'll be here to pick us up in some time. Hurry up!"

Natasha and Ruhi parted ways and headed to their rooms to get ready for the party.

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Aryan had already parked his car in the parking area. He marched towards the girls with a big smile on his face.

"Let's go!" he cheered, looking at Natasha.

"Wait! Listen, both of you. Don't be too late. It's seven, and we have to return before ten. Okay, Natasha?" Ruhi stopped them midway and laid down some instructions.

Aryan giggled softly, while Natasha joined her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Okay, my Lord! Now, let's go!"

The two grabbed Ruhi by her wrists and dragged her inside the club.

The music was playing loudly. In one corner, a few people were dancing on the floor, while on the other side, some were drowning themselves in alcohol.

Ruhi shifted uncomfortably. Although she loved parties, but drinking alcohol was something she hated. She disliked people who drank excessively.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Natasha's voice. She turned to see her friend approaching with two glasses in her hands.

"Here, have this. Your favourite orange juice!" Natasha handed her a glass and sat beside her.

"You came alone? Where's Aryan?" Ruhi asked, confused by his absence.

Natasha took a sip from her glass before answering. "He's gone out to get the gift box."

Ruhi smiled and took a sip of her juice, but soon, something felt a little strange.

"This juice tastes weird. It's orange juice, right?" Ruhi asked, widening her eyes as her expression turned serious.

Natasha shook her head. "I swear! If you want, you can ask the waiter. He served me this himself."

Ruhi wasn't convinced, but she trusted her friend, knowing that Natasha would never lie to her.

"But it tastes different. It doesn't taste like orange juice at all."

Natasha hummed absentmindedly, her mind occupied with something else.

On the other hand, Ruhi sat motionless. Her head was beginning to feel heavy. She placed her palm against her forehead and pressed it with her fingers.

Meanwhile, a waiter was busy serving drinks to the customers when Aryan approached him from behind and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Buddy, where are the glasses I gave you a while ago?" he asked.

The waiter looked at him in confusion.

"That madam took them!"

"What?! Which madam? And why did you give that to her? Are you crazy? I'd mixed alcohol into that orange juice! How could you give it to her?" Aryan demanded, his face tense. He almost yelled at the waiter.

"Sir, I didn't know! That madam sitting over there took those glasses."

Aryan snapped his head in the direction the waiter pointed, only to receive another shock when he spotted Ruhi and Natasha sitting with the drinks.

"Fuck!"

"Natasha! My head is aching terribly, and I'm feeling dizzy too. I think I should go to the washroom. Wait here for me. I'll be back in some time! We'll leave after that."

Ruhi's words were slurred, and her steps had begun to grow unsteady.

Holding her heavy head, she walked down the corridor, her eyes roaming around in search of someone who could help her find the washroom.

The images before her eyes grew blurry. She nearly stumbled to one side, colliding with a particular room's door. She steadied herself against the open door and pressed her palm to her forehead.

"Why is everything spinning?" she wondered, touching her head.

Her gaze followed the direction of the lights inside the room. Peeking in, she noticed that nobody was there.

Her face lit up. At last, she had found a room, and now she could make her way to the washroom.

The door banged shut as soon as she entered, but she didn't bother looking back. The alcohol had already begun affecting her senses.

Ruhi stumbled when her leg hit the couch. She was just a second away from falling when two strong, muscular arms wrapped around her. Instead of hitting the floor, she collided with them.

"Ahh!"

Ruhi screamed at the top of her voice, startled by the sudden touch.

The person holding her was startled by her scream. He pulled her upright and pressed his palm over her mouth, trying to stop her from screaming. He succeeded.

A wave of horror washed over Ruhi as she began struggling in his grip. She punched his chest, continuing to muffle her protests beneath his palm.

"Stop it! Why are you screaming? Do I look like a ghost to you?"

His deep, powerful voice rang in her ears, almost freezing her in place.

She opened her eyes and found herself looking directly into a pair of hazel eyes.

At that moment, she felt herself drowning in them.

"Mmm!" Ruhi's muffled voice grew louder as she patted his hand, gesturing for him to move it away.

He obliged, removing his palm from her mouth.

As he got a proper look at her face, he felt a strange pang in his heart. An unfamiliar connection seemed to tug at him as he stared at the girl standing before him.

Her plump lips were now pouted, and her soft cheeks were puffed up. Her eyes glared at him, while a few small curls fluttered around her face, making the entire scene seem almost dreamlike.

He blinked, making sure that she was real.

Was a beautiful princess really standing before him?

His trance was broken when he realised that she was saying something.

"Why did you hold me like that? What if I'd suffocated and died?"

"Me? Yeah, me! Why did you scream? And why are you in my room?"

"Your room?"

Puzzled by his statement, she looked around. The room was spacious enough to surprise her. She smiled as she took in the view before sitting down on the bed.

Her tiny body bounced slightly against the mattress, making her giggle.

The man continued gazing at her, a smile unknowingly curling his lips. Her giggles seemed to awaken his senses, drawing him towards her.

He sat down on the couch and picked up a glass of wine, gulping it down.

"Do you live alone in this big room? How fun it must be! Living all alone in such a big place!"

Ruhi giggled as she looked at him, but his expression turned blank.

He stood up and walked towards her.

"Why do you ask so many questions? And this isn't my home. Why would I live here?"

"Then what are you doing here?" she asked with a pout.

He opened his mouth to answer but suddenly stopped. Touching his forehead, he frowned.

"I... What am I doing here?"

"You don't know?!"

Bursting into fits of laughter, Ruhi sat down on the bed, clutching her stomach as she laughed at him.

"I can't remember... How did I get here? But... why are you here? Do I know you?" he asked in confusion, glancing around.

His head was growing heavy, and his voice was becoming unclear.

Ruhi rubbed her eyes with her fists and tried to stand up, only to fall back onto the bed.

"Arre! Why are you falling? Wait, I'll help you."

Stretching out his arm, he grabbed hers. But instead of supporting her, he lost his own balance, causing him to fall onto the bed over her.

Ruhi's palm clutched his jacket. Her breath hitched as she realised how close the unfamiliar man was to her. His warm breath fanned across the bare skin of her neck, sending a shiver through her.

Feeling him dangerously close, she grew uncomfortable and pushed him away.

His back hit the soft mattress as he landed on the bed, breathing heavily.

Ruhi held her already aching head and sat up on her own, trying to steady herself.

Her eyes kept closing, and her senses were barely functioning. She tried to stand up again, but a sudden hold on her wrist pulled her back against the stranger's broad, muscular chest.

He opened his eyes and stared into her beautiful, dark eyes.

His other hand lifted to her cheek, gently brushing her hair away from her face.

Ruhi grew nervous. She felt something powerful pulling her towards him, but what was it?

She had felt an unfamiliar sensation ever since she had encountered him, but why?

His leg brushed against hers, and he shifted their positions, turning her beneath him.

His senses had long since abandoned him. Whatever was happening now seemed to be driven by the demands of his heart or perhaps by his broken heart.

A lone tear slipped from his brown eyes and landed directly on her cheek.

Ruhi's eyebrows furrowed as she lifted her hand and wiped away his tear.

He then sat up properly, taking off his shoes and tossing them onto the floor.

Ruhi, too, removed her sandals and sat in front of him.

She leaned forward slightly and looked at him. He was crying, and the sight of his sadness crushed her heart.

"Hey, why are you crying? Please don't cry. You can tell me what happened."

Her voice softened as she reached out and held his face between her palms.

He, too, grabbed both her wrists and broke down even harder.

"Don't leave me alone, please! I don't want this loneliness. Nobody loves me. Nobody talks to me. Everyone leaves me alone... But please, you don't go."

His pleas broke her heart. He was just like her, alone. Was there really nobody in his life?

Remembering her own fate, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"Nobody loves me either," she whispered.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned into him, half- kneeling on the bed.

His arms slipped around her waist, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, crying his heart out. Ruhi, too, began to cry.

Both were heavily intoxicated and had lost control of their senses. The pain they had kept suppressed for so long was now spilling out before a complete stranger.

Unaware of each other's identities, they shared their pain and loneliness.

It was as though destiny had already planned their meeting, even if it had chosen the strangest possible way for them to cross paths.

Much later, Ruhi broke the embrace and sat back in her place. She gently wiped away his tears with her palms.

Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to each of his cheeks before softly stroking his head.

"Don't worry. I'm with you, hmm?" she said sweetly, offering him a smile.

Her smile touched his heart, easing the pain that had consumed him, if only for a moment.

Captivated by her smile, he smiled back.

His arms tightened around her waist as he leaned closer. His lips brushed against her neck, sending a shiver through her body.

Her palms gently caressed his back as she nestled into his arms.

For some reason, she felt warm and comfortable with him. She felt safe beside him, though she couldn't understand why.

Why did this stranger matter so much to her?

But at that moment, she simply followed what her heart seemed to be telling her.

He, too, wasn't thinking about anything except the girl in his arms.

He pressed feather-light kisses to her neck and cheeks. She giggled, and seeing her smile, he couldn't help but laugh along with her.

Their bodies sank onto the bed as they lost themselves in each other.

Ruhi's fist clutched his jacket, pulling it off his shoulders, while his fingers began undoing the fastening of her dress.

After removing his jacket, he leaned closer, and his lips brushed the skin below her neck.

Ruhi moaned softly and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Her eyes were now closed, and she was simply surrendering to the affection the unknown stranger was offering her.

His lips travelled from her shoulder to her neck and then to her face.

His eyes roamed over her beautiful features as he pressed soft kisses against them before finally capturing her lips in a kiss.

Ruhi's eyes snapped open as they met his brown ones.

She tugged at his hair, pulling him closer.

The kiss deepened as they poured their pain and loneliness into it.

When their lungs finally demanded oxygen, they reluctantly pulled apart.

But the kiss had only intensified the desires stirring in their hearts.

Ruhi's cheeks grew even redder, deepening into a darker shade. She shyly raised her lashes and looked into his eyes.

His smile captivated her to such an extent that she pulled him down and pressed her lips against his once more.

He held both her wrists and pinned them above her head.

After breaking the kiss, his lips travelled across her face and neck, leaving the innocent Ruhi overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensations.

Their intimacy had reached a point where neither seemed willing to pull away.

They surrendered to the moment, finding a temporary escape from the loneliness that had haunted them.

The room filled with their soft murmurs and heavy breathing.

"I'll never leave you alone. I promise!"

His broken voice faded as he drifted into sleep, his head resting against her chest and his arms wrapped possessively around her tiny frame. His fist remained tightly clutching the edge of the blanket that covered them both.

Ruhi, too, hugged him closer and slowly fell asleep.

Those blissful moments they had shared were witnessed only by the moon and the two of them.

The entire floor was scattered with their clothes and pillows...

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