Hearing her plea, Rahul no longer hesitated.
Under the lingering haze of the red wine and the electric atmosphere of the moonlit living room, he lowered his head and shared a long, passionate moment with Anisha. Her body went soft against him, and as they swayed, she gently pushed him toward the sofa.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Dhaka skyline remained a sea of brilliant lights. Down below, the late-night traffic continued its restless crawl. Alcohol is a powerful catalyst; it grants people the courage they usually keep locked away behind layers of social reserve.
Tucked away in her own room, Anika heard the muffled movement in the living room. A complex, bittersweet look appeared in her eyes. She wanted to get up, perhaps to join or perhaps to tease, but she had reached her limit with the wine. Her body felt heavy, and her mind was a muddled blur. Eventually, her consciousness drifted away, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Anika didn't know how long she had slept. When she finally blinked her eyes open, she realized she hadn't even drawn the curtains or changed out of her dress from the night before. Her skin felt sticky, and she reeked of red wine.
She scrambled out of bed, rubbing her temples to soothe the throbbing hangover, and headed straight into her private bathroom to turn on the shower. As the steaming water hit her shoulders, the memories of the previous night came rushing back.
"Wait! That's right!" Anika exclaimed, her eyes widening under the spray. "Last night, Anisha and Rahul..."
She finished her shower in record time, threw on her silk pajamas, and didn't even bother drying her hair, simply wrapping it in a shower cap as she bolted out of her room.
As she pushed open the door, she expected to see a scene of total chaos—toppled wine glasses or discarded shoes. Instead, the living room was spotless. The dining table, which they had left cluttered with plates the night before, was sparkling clean.
Her gaze shifted to the open kitchen. Rahul was already there, his back to her, quietly washing the last of the breakfast dishes and wiping down the counters.
In that moment, the softest part of Anika's heart was struck. In a country like Bangladesh, where gender roles were often set in stone, where could she possibly find a man as diligent, capable, and thoughtful as Rahul?
The realization hit her like a physical weight: she was going to miss him terribly once he left. No! While he was still here, she had to make every second count. And if he did go back to India... well, she had a passport and the means to fly to Mumbai whenever she wanted!
Thinking this, she walked barefoot across the wooden floor toward the kitchen.
Rahul heard the soft padding of her feet and turned his head. Seeing Anika in her pajamas and shower cap, he offered a calm, steady smile.
"Sobered up finally?"
He gestured with his chin toward the kitchen island. "Head hurt? I made some honey water for you; it's on the counter. It'll help with the hangover. And there are fresh sandwiches in the oven if you're hungry."
Anika picked up the glass of honey water, the warmth of the gesture making her desire to keep him here even stronger. She walked to his side, watching him work, and hesitated for a moment.
"Say whatever is on your mind, Anika," Rahul said without looking up from the sink. "Being this shy really doesn't suit your personality."
Anika took a sip of the honey water and went straight to the point. "Rahul... what exactly happened with my sister last night?"
Rahul, who was becoming increasingly comfortable in his role as a nomadic charmer, replied without missing a beat: "The atmosphere was right, the wine was good, and we're both adults. We couldn't help ourselves."
Anika felt a strange surge of happiness for her twin. Anisha had finally broken out of her shell.
"Rahul... if that's the case, can you stay in Dhaka a while longer? Don't leave so soon."
Rahul placed the last clean plate into the drying rack and turned to face her seriously. "Anika, I can't stay forever. My home is in India, and my career involves traveling the world. Bangladesh is a beautiful stop, but it's just one stop on my journey."
"I can promise to leave you both with amazing memories, but beyond that, I can't give you a permanent 'stay'."
His words were blunt, but they were the truth. He couldn't exactly explain that he was bound to a System that literally required him to keep moving and meeting new people.
Anika had told herself she only wanted a 'beautiful memory,' but looking at Rahul now—handsome, caring, and currently doing the dishes—she realized she wanted so much more. This man was a "Dimensional Strike" against every other guy she had ever known.
Rahul dried his hands and gently squeezed her shoulder. "Drink your honey water and eat your breakfast. Aren't we supposed to be heading to the mall to open the boutique today?"
Anika drained the glass in one go, the sweetness matching the feeling in her chest. "I don't want to go to the shop today. I want to close the business for a few days and just stay here with you."
Rahul's heart sank. Oh no. According to the System's rules, if his current "ambiguous targets" stayed glued to his side 24/7, no new Karma targets would appear. He was exactly 1 Charm Point away from being able to afford the Master-Level Combat Skills! He needed to get out there.
"Anika, a woman should prioritize her career," Rahul advised, trying to sound supportive. "I'm literally living in your house now; it's not like I'm going anywhere."
"I have plenty of money," Anika countered stubbornly. "Taking a few days off won't hurt the bottom line. Besides, my sister and I can drive you all over the city. We can be your local guides and your film crew! You can shoot whatever you want for your vlog."
Rahul was stuck. She had completely blocked his exit strategy. He realized he wasn't going to win this argument today.
"Alright, alright. Go eat. I'm going to go organize my footage."
He retreated to the guest room. The bed was perfectly made—because he hadn't slept in it. He picked up his phone and saw a barrage of notifications.
The most important one was a missed call from Anjali.
He called her back immediately. He knew she had likely tried to deliver breakfast to his old hotel this morning, only to find the building crawling with inspectors.
The phone didn't even ring twice before Anjali picked up, her voice a mix of shock and urgency.
"Rahul! I went to your hotel, but it's been cordoned off! The City Hall inspectors are everywhere."
"I've personally made sure the Front Desk Clerk was processed for intentional assault, and that manager is being prosecuted for harassment and defamation of a foreign guest. But Rahul... where are you? Where did you go?"
Expert Guide Follow-up:
Rahul is now in a delicate position: Anjali is asking for his location, while the twin sisters are planning to keep him "sequestered" in their penthouse. Should Rahul give Anjali the twins' address, potentially setting up a high-tension meeting between the three women, or should he try to meet Anjali secretly to keep his "bases" separate?