The market noise came rushing back all at once.

Honking.

People yelling.

Street vendors arguing over prices.

But Siya heard none of it clearly.

Because suddenly-

The world tilted.

Her grip on the stranger's shirt loosened slightly.

A strange ringing filled her ears.

"Siya?" Aaru's voice sounded far away now.

The crowd blurred.

The lights around the market stretched strangely.

And then Siya realized-

She couldn't breathe properly.

Not panic.

Not fear.

Her body had simply... stopped cooperating.

Too little sleep.

Too much stress.

Too many nights surviving on chai and emotional damage.

"You're pale," the stranger said immediately, his voice sharper now.

"I'm fine," Siya lied automatically.

Then her knees buckled.

"WOAH-"

Everything happened at once.

Aaru screamed.

Books hit the ground again.

And Siya collapsed straight forward-

Only to be caught before she hit the pavement.

The stranger held her effortlessly, one arm around her waist while the other steadied her head carefully against his shoulder.

"Siya!" Aaru dropped beside them in panic. "Hey hey hey look at me!"

Siya tried to answer.

Nothing came out properly.

The market sounds faded further away.

Her vision blurred heavily.

The stranger touched the side of her face gently, checking her responsiveness.

His calm expression was gone now.

Completely gone.

"She's burning up," he said sharply.

Aaru looked horrified. "I told her to sleep! She studied till four in the morning like a possessed raccoon!"

Siya weakly frowned. "That's... rude..."

"Oh thank God," Aaru gasped. "She's alive enough to insult me."

But the stranger wasn't relieved.

If anything-

He looked furious.

Not at her.

At himself.

Or the situation.

Or the universe probably.

"Since when hasn't she eaten properly?" he demanded.

Aaru blinked. "Excuse me why are YOU interrogating me?"

"She's dizzy from exhaustion."

"Well yes, Sherlock."

The stranger ignored her completely.

"Water," he ordered.

Kabir appeared from nowhere so fast it looked suspicious.

Aaru narrowed her eyes immediately.

"...why does he spawn like a side character with admin powers?"

Kabir handed over a water bottle calmly. "Occupational hazard."

The stranger carefully helped Siya sit against him while opening the bottle.

"Drink."

"I can hold it myself," Siya mumbled weakly.

"You almost passed out standing."

"That sounds dramatic."

"You literally fainted."

Aaru nodded aggressively. "You dropped like a WiFi signal."

Siya groaned softly and took the bottle.

The stranger crouched in front of her now, watching closely to make sure she actually drank.

Which was honestly irritatingly intense.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Siya muttered.

"Because you look seconds away from collapsing again."

"I'm just tired."

"You're shaking."

Only then did Siya realize her hands actually were trembling slightly.

The stranger noticed too.

Something unreadable crossed his face briefly.

Concern.

Real concern.

Too real for someone she technically met eight minutes ago.

It should've been weird.

Instead-

It felt strangely safe.

Which was definitely weirder.

Aaru suddenly squinted suspiciously at him.

"Wait."

The stranger looked up calmly.

"You're weirdly invested for a random hot man."

Kabir choked on air nearby.

Siya covered her face instantly. "AARU."

"What?! I'm protecting you!"

The stranger's expression remained perfectly calm somehow.

Then-

"I'm not random."

Silence.

Siya looked up slowly.

"...what?"

For one dangerous second-

It almost sounded like he was about to say something important.

Something huge.

But then a little kid ran between them chasing balloons and slammed directly into Kabir's leg.

Kabir: "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME TODAY?"

The child's mother apologized aggressively.

A vendor started shouting nearby.

A dog barked.

And the moment shattered completely.

The stranger exhaled quietly like he'd changed his mind about saying whatever that was.

Instead, he stood and offered Siya his hand.

"Come on."

She stared at it cautiously. "Where?"

"You need food before you pass out again."

"I'm not going anywhere with a stranger."

Aaru immediately nodded approvingly. "YES. Kidnapping awareness."

The stranger looked genuinely offended for the first time.

"I'm not kidnapping her."

"That's EXACTLY what kidnappers say."

Kabir turned away because he was visibly laughing now.

The stranger rubbed his forehead once before looking back at Siya.

"...fine," he said calmly. "Bring the loud one too."

Aaru gasped dramatically. "I WON."