The air in the Lucknow mansion had grown heavy, not just with the humidity of the approaching monsoon, but with a sexual tension so thick it felt physical. Alok was due to return in forty-eight hours. For Meera and Aryan, this wasn't a reason to stop; it was a countdown. The looming threat of discovery acted as a powerful aphrodisiac, transforming their desire into a frantic, all-consuming hunger.

They had spent the last three days in a state of near-constant arousal. They would touch in the hallways, quick, bruising grasps of hips and breasts while the servants passed by, their eyes locking in a silent pact of rebellion. By the time Friday evening arrived, Meera was a raw nerve of longing.