Karishma and Harshad both dressed slowly, their eyes often meeting, the connection between them palpable. Once they were dressed, Harshad took her hand in his, their fingers intertwining as if they had been doing this for years. "Let's join the party," he suggested, his voice gentle.

As they emerged from the room, the music and laughter hit them like a wall, the stark contrast to the intimate moment they had just shared. Karishma felt a twinge of anxiety, wondering if their actions had been heard or if anyone would suspect what had just transpired between them. But the partygoers were too busy with their own conversations and antics to pay them much attention.