Ananya's hostel room was a mess of open books and half-empty coffee mugs, but she stood in the middle of it all, a picture of focus. She was carefully applying a winged eyeliner, her tongue sticking out slightly in concentration.

Her best friend, Radhika, was already dressed and perched on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone impatiently.

"Entha sepu ready avuthav ae, babu? Party kuda aypodhi manam velle sariki!" (How long will you take to get ready? The party will be over by the time we reach!) Radhika complained without looking up.

"Just five minutes, baby," Ananya replied, giving a flying kiss to Radhika to cool her down. Radhika rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips.

Ten minutes later, Ananya finally walked towards Radhika, striking a pose. She was wearing a simple, sleeveless black dress that ended just above her knees-classy, but not revealing. "Ela unnanu babes?" (How am I looking, babes?)

Radhika's eyes widened. She jumped up and hugged Ananya tightly. "You're looking hot, Anu! Chalo, let's go!"

They hopped on their scooty and navigated through the Mumbai traffic, reaching the party. After wishing their friend, they found a corner and started munching on snacks. Ananya was laughing at something Radhika said when a familiar voice called her name.

"Ananya..."

She closed her eyes for a second, cursing under her breath. A boy with a practiced smile, Vishal, slid into the seat beside her.

"Don't start now, Vishal," Ananya said, not even bothering to look at him.

"Come on, Ananya. You look beautiful tonight," he said, trying to sound charming. "I was just thinking, we should go on a proper date. Just you and me."

Ananya finally turned to him, her expression bored but with a hint of steel. "Vishal, let me tell you something." She looked him straight in the eye. "Nuvvu emina Mahesh Babu anukuntunnava nee venakala padi netho date ki ravataniki? You are a playboy and you want to use me. Adhi naku thelidhu anukuntunnava? This is last and final warning, Vishal. Inkosari na venakala padithe chempa paguludhi." (Do you think you're Mahesh Babu, that I'd fall behind you and go on a date with you? You are a playboy and you want to use me. Do you think I don't know that? This is the last and final warning, Vishal. If you follow me again, I'll slap you hard.)

Vishal's smile completely faltered. People around them started laughing at him. He wasn't used to being rejected so bluntly, and certainly not so publicly. Humiliation quickly turned into anger in his eyes. He wanted to teach her a lesson. He wanted Ananya, one way or another.

He got up without a word and went to the bar. A few minutes later, he returned with a glass of juice. "Okay, fine. Friends? At least have a drink with me." He offered her the glass.

Ananya, wanting to get rid of him, took the glass and finished it in one go. "There. Happy?"

He smirked. "Very."

A few minutes after he left, the music started sounding blurry, and the room began to spin. "Radha... I'm feeling... dizzy," Ananya slurred, holding her head.

Radhika immediately knew something was wrong. "Anu! What happened?" She saw Ananya's condition and pulled her up. "Come on, we're leaving."

She dragged a stumbling Ananya towards the exit and into the dimly lit parking lot. Just as they reached their scooty, Vishal appeared out of the shadows, blocking their path. Radhika startled. Before she could react, he pushed her hard, and she fell to the ground. He grabbed Ananya's wrist, pulling her towards his car.

"Let go of me!" Ananya tried to pull away, but she was too weak.

Suddenly, Vishal's hand was yanked away. A grip of steel clamped down on his wrist, and a shot of pain made him cry out and release Ananya instantly.

Ananya stumbled backward, her back hitting a solid, warm chest. She felt a strong arm steady her. Dazed, she slowly turned and looked up at the stranger's face. In her drunken haze, she saw a tall, handsome man with angry eyes, and her brain just supplied one word: safe. Without thinking, she hugged him tightly.

Vikram was stunned by the sudden action, but his focus was locked on Vishal, his eyes glowing with rage.

"Hey! You get out of here! Do you know who I am?" Vishal shouted, trying to sound tough.

Vikram gently removed Ananya's arms. Radhika scrambled up and ran to her friend's side. Vikram took one look at Ananya's dazed face and then turned back to Vishal, his eyes now blazing red.

SLAP!

The sound echoed in the parking lot. Vikram slapped Vishal so hard that he stumbled and fell. Radhika gasped, but Ananya, in her own world, started laughing.

"Hahaha! Yes!" she clapped her hands like a child. "Just like that! Kick him! Kick him!"

As if on cue, Vikram kicked him hard in the stomach. Ananya let out a loud whistle. Radhika, horrified, slapped a hand over Ananya's mouth. "Anu, shut up!"

Vishal groaned from the ground. "You... you don't know who my father is!"

Vikram leaned down, his voice dangerously low and cold. "Do you know who I am? DCP Vikram Ramineni."

He pulled out his phone and made a quick call. A few minutes later, a police jeep arrived. A man in a police uniform, ACP Anand, got out.

"Take him away, Anand. Book him for assault and and... check his background," Vikram instructed.

As the police dragged a protesting Vishal away, Vikram turned to the girls. "What happened?"

Ananya, now free from Radhika's hand, suddenly hugged Vikram again. "You're my hero! My Superman! Meeru chala manchi varu!" (You are very good!) She tightened her hands around him, clinging to him.

Vikram stood like a statue, completely stiff. His heart was beating loud and fast in his chest. He had never been this close to anyone, especially not in such a vulnerable, chaotic way.

Anand, who was watching from a distance, saw this and a small smile formed on his lips. He discreetly took out his phone and snapped a few pictures.

Ananya then pulled back, lifted her head, and standing on her tiptoes, she planted a soft kiss on Vikram's cheek.

He stiffened completely, his eyes wide.

Radhika's and Anand's eyes went even wider.

"You're so handsome when you're angry. I just want to kiss you!" Ananya declared with a goofy grin, and without another thought, she kissed his other cheek. Anand clicked another photo at that exact, perfect moment.

Radhika rushed forward and pulled a giggling Ananya away. "I am so, so, so sorry, sir! She's not usually like this, I swear! Someone spiked her drink! I'm really sorry for her behaviour!"

"It's alright. She's not in her senses," Vikram said, his voice a bit strained, trying to regain his composure. He looked at the two girls, clearly unsafe on their own. "You can't go on a scooty like this. I'll drop you."

He led them to his car. Anand, trying hard to hide his laughter, hopped into the passenger seat. Radhika and Ananya hopped in the back. Vikram asked for their hostel address and started the car.

The entire ride, Anand kept glancing at a still-blushing Radhika in the rearview mirror, while Vikram's eyes kept flickering to Ananya, who was now bickering with an imaginary Vishal.

"And then he said... 'Do you know who I am?'... And my Superman went BAM! POW!" she said, making punching motions in the air. "And then I kissed him! Mwah!" she blew a loud kiss towards the front seat.

Vikram gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to ignore the heat that rose in his own cheeks.

When they reached the tall gates of the girls' hostel, Vikram parked the car.

He got out and opened the rear door for them. Radhika practically jumped out, eager to get this embarrassing situation over with. She grabbed a sleepy Ananya and started pulling her along.

"Get inside and be safe," Vikram said, his voice a stern, formal command. "And be more careful next time."

"Sir, I'm so sorry again. Thank you so much for your help," Radhika said, bowing her head slightly.

Ananya, however, was not done. She pulled her arm free from Radhika's grip and turned back to Vikram. She gave him a dreamy smile.

"Bye-bye, handsome!" she waved. "Come and save me again, okay?"

Radhika gave Anand a last, embarrassed look, then grabbed Ananya and practically dragged her through the hostel gate without looking back.

Vikram watched until they were safely inside, his expression unreadable. He got back in the car, the faint scent of her perfume and the ghost of her soft touch still lingering on his cheek.

He put the car in drive. Anand was silent for a full minute, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"So..." Anand finally broke the silence, unable to hold it in any longer. "'Superman'?"

Vikram shot him a death glare. "Drive to my home."

"That was quite a rescue, boss," Anand continued, completely ignoring the warning look. "And you got a reward for it too! A kiss. Two, actually!" Anand blew a flying kiss towards Vikram, who rolled his eyes, but a small smile involuntarily curved on his lips. "I've never seen anyone affect the great DCP Vikram Ramineni like that. You just... froze!"

"She was intoxicated, Anand. It meant nothing," Vikram said, his voice clipped as he navigated the dark streets.

"Maybe to you, but did you see her?" Anand chuckled. "She was completely smitten. And I have photographic evidence!" he said, patting the pocket where his phone was. "I'm thinking of making the kissing photo my new wallpaper."

"Delete them," Vikram ordered, his voice dangerously low.

"No chance," Anand replied cheerfully. "This is blackmail material for life."

Vikram didn't respond, his jaw tight. He dropped Anand at his quarters and drove the rest of the way to his home alone. The silence in the car was heavy. The night's events played back in his mind-the flash of fear in Ananya's eyes, the anger that had surged through him, and the bizarre, disarming way she had clung to him.

He walked into his room and stood in front of the mirror. He slowly raised his hand and touched his cheek, right where she had kissed him. For a moment, the tough, disciplined DCP was gone, replaced by a man who was undeniably intrigued.

He shook his head, as if to physically clear the thought. He had a mission. A promise to his father that was more important than any beautiful, chaotic distraction. He had a family to confront and a twenty-eight-year-old wound to heal.

There was no time for a girl in a black dress.

He turned away from the mirror, his face once again a mask of cold resolve. But as he went to sleep that night, his last thought wasn't of his family or his duty. It was the echo of a drunken, musical voice saying, "You're so handsome when you're angry."

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