The hotel suite was silent now except for the ragged breathing of five bodies tangled on the king-sized bed. The candles had burned low, their flames guttering in pools of melted wax. The scent of sex hung thick in the air, mingling with the faint traces of wine and perfume and sweat. Outside, the city hummed its endless nocturnal song, but inside, time seemed suspended, held in the warm, sticky aftermath of what they had just done.

Anika was the first to stir. She lifted her head from Dev's chest, her face still flushed, her lips still swollen from Meher's kisses. Her large brown eyes moved across the bed, taking in the landscape of tangled limbs and satisfied flesh. Priya was lounging against the headboard, her red anarkali discarded on the floor, her naked body glowing in the candlelight. Rajiv was on his back, one arm draped over Meher, who was curled against his side. Dev was still catching his breath, his chest rising and falling beneath Anika's cheek.