4:35 PM - Hauz Khas Market

Delhi weekends were a punishment designed by God personally.

People shoved past each other aggressively.

Vendors screamed discounts nobody believed.

A child somewhere was crying like he'd lost custody in court.

And Siya-

Was struggling for survival under the weight of six books, one tote bag, an iced coffee, and academic trauma.

Aaru walked beside her peacefully eating momos like life wasn't falling apart around them.

"You know," Aaru said thoughtfully, "your type is very concerning."

"I don't HAVE a type."

"Yes you do. Emotionally unavailable men with criminal energy."

Siya rolled her eyes. "Please focus on your own disasters."

"I would," Aaru sighed dramatically, "but yours are more entertaining."

Siya muttered something under her breath and adjusted the stack of books dangerously wobbling in her arms.

Then-

Someone crashed directly into her shoulder.

"OH-"

Her coffee flew upward dramatically.

Books scattered everywhere.

And Siya lost balance instantly.

Strong hands caught her before she hit the pavement.

The world paused.

Literally paused.

Because when Siya looked up-

She forgot every language she knew.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Black shirt with sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.

Sharp jawline.

Dark eyes that looked unfairly intense for a random stranger in a crowded market.

For one weird second-

He looked familiar.

Not familiar familiar.

Just...

Like seeing someone you'd dreamt about once and forgotten.

Coffee dripped slowly down the front of his shirt.

Silence.

Then Aaru snorted so loudly nearby that a pigeon flew away in fear.

"Oh my God," Siya gasped. "YOUR SHIRT."

The stranger glanced down calmly at the cold coffee stain spreading across his chest.

Then back at her.

And somehow-

Instead of looking angry-

He looked amused.

"You throw drinks at everyone," he asked quietly, "or am I special?"

Siya blinked.

Then immediately got defensive.

"You walked into me!"

"You were carrying enough books to collapse a shelf."

"Because I study!"

"Congratulations."

Aaru physically turned away because she was already laughing too hard.

Nearby, Kabir stood beside a parked bike watching the interaction unfold with exhausted disbelief.

"...they started fighting in under thirty seconds," he muttered.

Back near the bookstore, Siya finally realized the stranger was still holding her waist to keep her steady.

Her brain malfunctioned instantly.

"You can let go now."

The man looked down like he genuinely forgot he was touching her.

Then released her immediately.

Too fast.

Almost cautious.

The weirdness of that hit Siya unexpectedly.

But before she could think about it-

He crouched to help collect her fallen books.

"No no it's okay-"

Too late.

He picked up one notebook.

The notebook.

The one with rough character sketches for her Wattpad story.

Siya froze.

Aaru froze.

The stranger opened it casually.

And paused.

On the first page was a sketch of her fictional male lead.

Dark eyes.

Sharp features.

Dangerous expression.

Unfortunately-

The drawing looked suspiciously like the man currently holding the notebook.

Siya's soul left her body.

The stranger flipped another page slowly.

Another sketch.

Another.

Tiny notes scribbled beside them.

Looks like he bites people emotionally.

Probably terrifying in arguments.

Needs therapy and sleep.

Aaru whispered, "I'm witnessing divine comedy."

The man looked back up at Siya.

One eyebrow raised.

"...you write mafia romance?"

Siya snatched the notebook violently. "Give that back!"

"You sketched him with trust issues."

"He HAS trust issues."

"You know him personally?"

"No!"

The stranger's mouth twitched slightly like he was suppressing a smile.

Which was deeply annoying because it made him even moreattractive.

Siya pointed accusingly. "Also you ruined my coffee."

"You threw it at me."

"You were in my path!"

"You walk like a confused GPS."

Aaru clutched her stomach laughing.

"Oh this is cinema."

A group of girls nearby openly stared now.

One whispered loudly-

"That man is unfairly good-looking."

Another sighed dramatically. "If a guy looked at me like that, I'd forget my Aadhaar number."

Siya wanted the pavement to swallow her whole.

The stranger handed her last book back calmly.

Their fingers brushed briefly.

And for some ridiculous reason-

Both went silent for half a second.

Then-

SCREEECH.

A bike sped recklessly through the crowded lane straight toward Siya.

Everything happened too fast afterward.

The stranger grabbed her instantly and pulled her sharply against him.

The bike missed her by inches before disappearing into traffic.

People shouted angrily.

Someone cursed the biker's entire bloodline.

Siya's heart hammered violently.

The stranger's arm was still wrapped protectively around her shoulders.

Too close.

Way too close.

For the first time, his expression changed completely.

Gone was the amusement.

Now his eyes looked dark.

Alert.

Dangerous.

Like he wanted to chase the biker down personally.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

Siya nodded automatically.

Then realized she was still clutching his shirt tightly.

And that he was staring at her like the rest of the market had disappeared.

Aaru slowly looked between them.

Then whispered dramatically to herself-

"Oh she's FINISHED finished."