"In love, even lions are conquered by deer."

I don't know who said it but it has always stayed with me.

This is the story of a mighty lion and a beautiful deer. Well...….

No… this is the story of a beautiful siren who uses his enchanted powers to lure travelers into his trap.

Now, if you ask me 'Who am I and what role do I play in this story?'

Well… for that you'll have to read the story until the very end.

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Evening darkness had spread in every direction. The heavy rain only deepened the gloom. Beneath a large tree, on a lonely bench, two figures were wrapped around each other in the faint mist. One pair of lips kept pressing soft kisses against the other's neck.

Amid the thunder and flashes of lightning, quiet, muffled moans could be heard.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open. The first sensation he felt was the lingering warmth of someone's breath on his neck. He immediately raised a hand and touched the spot.

'Scratch. Scratch.'

He dug his nails into his skin, overwhelmed by a sudden, intense itch.

'Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.'

He clawed at the spot more aggressively.

When a burning sensation finally spread across his skin, he pulled his hand away and held it before his eyes. A faint smear of blood stained his fingernails.

Taking a deep breath, he tossed the comforter aside and got out of bed to head toward the bathroom.

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After skipping the first two or three classes, when he finally left his room, the sun had been blazing so fiercely it felt like it was going to burn down his brain. But by the time he reached the university, the sky was completely overcast with heavy dark clouds. Despite sprinting at top speed, a sudden torrential downpour had soaked him to the bone by the time he made it to the corridor.

"Damn this awful weather," he muttered, shaking the raindrops from his hair, he shot the sky a resentful glare.

"What's the point of rain if the heat is exactly the same?" The rain was failing miserably to break the oppressive heat. Suffocating in the humidity, he considered heading inside the classroom. But just before he could turn around, he caught sight of someone standing in the corridor across the small courtyard.

Leaning casually against a pillar, the figure was taking drags from a cigarette, watching the rain. Or perhaps... he was watching him.

His heart stumbled and then suddenly lurched into a frantic rhythm. He squinted, trying to get a better look but the relentless, driving rain blurred everything in sight.

Before he could curse the rain again, cross the courtyard, stand right in front of the man and look at him properly, intensely with his own eyes, the stranger seemed to sense his intentions. He dropped his cigarette, crushed it beneath the tip of his shoe and walked away.

Truth be told, to Mannat it felt as though it wasn't the cigarette on the ground but his own heart that had just been crushed beneath that shoe.

Unrequited love strikes exactly like that.No warning.

It arrives, settles itself inside your heart and refuses to leave. You can neither keep it peacefully nor throw it out.

That was exactly Minnat's situation.

Somewhere along the line he had fallen for Ziyyan, the beautiful disaster.

He wasn't someone who worshipped appearances.

But it was an undeniable truth that he had never seen anyone so breathtaking in his life. Or perhaps more than Zayaan's looks the real culprit was the moment they had first met.

The incident itself was ridiculous but for Mannat it was equally beautiful and profoundly embarrassing.

It had all started when Mannat's friends .... the most useless bunch in the world, made late-night plans for a beachside barbecue. And naturally, barbecue turned into a game of Truth or Dare. Who knows whose devilish brain hatched the idea or if it was just Mannat's rotten luck but he chose "dare."

And his dare was???

The group decided that he would wade deep into the water and pretend to drown. And whoever came to rescue him (if anyone actually did) he had to lightly flirt with them.

The plan was to recreate a classic movie trope: the heroine is drowning, the hero arrives in the nick of time, and as the two drenched bodies lock eyes, they fall madly in love.

Except here, the script had a twist. Instead of a heroine, these wretched, spoiled, freeloading friends wanted to spark a romance between a hero and a hero.

Mannat had chosen his fate. The dare was set and backing out was no longer an option, lest he become the laughingstock of his friends. Besides, they lived in an era where a romance or relationship between two men wasn't considered taboo anyway.

Sticking to the plan, Mannat waded out into the ocean until he reached deep water. He tried to check if anyone outside of his group was actually around, but the pitch-black night made it impossible to see a thing. Forced to take a shot in the dark, he splashed around playfully before deliberately slipping under and crying out for help.

He screamed for a long time. His throat was growing raw and his ribs ached from the effort but it seemed the beach was empty. And if anyone was there, they certainly weren't bothering to jump in. Mannat was just about to admit defeat and quiet down when he suddenly felt himself being lifted above the water's surface. Two arms slipped firmly beneath his back and legs.

Startled, he looked up. Seeing the man's face illuminated by the moonlight, Mannat was struck completely speechless.

"Are you okay?" The voice startled him out of his daze.

At the time, Mannat weighed around 65 or 70 kilos, yet the man was carrying him through the water with effortless ease as if he weren't holding a heavy, flesh-and-blood human but a delicate wax doll.

"Yeah, I'm fine." It felt like a direct hit to Mannat's masculinity. Being carried bridal-style was incredibly awkward.

"What were you doing in the water at this hour? And is that your group?" the man asked, his gaze fixed sharply on Mannat's face. He was clearly looking toward the shore, where Mannat's friends were all standing and watching the spectacle.

"Yeah...." the normally sharp-tongued Mannat replied, suddenly at a loss for words.

Shit… he should have said No.

"Then why didn't they come save you?"

The first part of the dare was a success. Now it was time to flirt. Mannat squirmed, pretending to struggle against the man's hold.

"Because I didn't want to be saved. I went into the water on my own. Why did you come? Why did you save me?"

Yeah ,he got nervous and instead of flirting ,he started sprouting nonsense.

"I wasn't going to but your agonizing screams for help has woken up almost half the city. They should be arriving shortly." The man tightened his grip, completely neutralizing Mannat's attempts to get down.

"...." Mannat had completely forgotten that he was the one who had been screaming bloody murder.

"Well, I'm human, aren't I? I panicked, and something must have slipped out. That doesn't mean you have to come running! Haven't you ever seen someone dying before?" Firing back a retort, Mannat tried to wriggle out of his arms again.

Forget the flirting, Mannat was getting angry 'why the hell this man saved him when he was ready to die'.

The man stopped walking. He stared at Mannat for a few seconds. It was only a fleeting moment but to Mannat, it felt like sparks were about to shoot from those eyes and burn him to ashes. Before Mannat could utter a word out of sheer intimidation the man simply opened his arms.

"Splash."

Mannat was dropped straight into the water.

"Ouch! What the hell? Who puts someone down like that?" Groaning, Minnat splashed helplessly.

"Then die drowning," the man shot back. He turned and walked away, leaving a utterly dumbfounded Mannat in his wake.

Mannat wanted to chase after him but by then his friends had rushed over and were bombarding him with questions to figure out what had just happened.

As soon as the stranger disappeared from sight a strange sadness washed over Mannat. He didn't understand it but he remained standing there for a long time, staring in the direction the man had gone.

Eventually, the chaos died down and everyone headed home. Mannat reached his room and collapsed onto his bed. His soaking wet clothes were ruining the mattress but he didn't care.

He couldn't stop thinking about that brief few-minute encounter. And one thought kept circling his mind: Would he ever be able to see him again?

At the time he was convinced he would never cross paths with that man again. But he was wrong. They did meet again and under incredibly strange circumstances.

Posters were plastered all over the university and a palpable buzz filled the air. Walking alongside Vicky, he asked what the commotion was about.

"The final-year students are being called to the auditorium. It's the annual event hosted by the university's trustee founders today." Vicky informed him.

"Oh, that explains it." he muttered, a look of sudden realization washing over him.

"Explains what?" Vicky asked, glancing at him.

"I caught a glimpse of Ziyyan in the corridor earlier. I thought it was just my imagination. But if the event is today, it makes sense why he'd be here." A faint smile touched his lips as he drifted into thought.

"Do you just see him walking around all the time? So much that now you can't even differentiate reality from imagination anymore?" Vicky asked in astonishment.

Mannat didn't reply.

"Are you going to attend?" When he stayed silent, Vicky asked again. 

"Maybe." Ziyyan's sudden return had stirred a whirlpool of strange emotions within him. He was still in a state of disbelief.

"You definitely should. You might learn something. it's our last year anyway . They often offer paid internships, and if they like your work, it can turn into a full time contract job." 

Vicky tried to persuade him. He didn't really need to. Just the prospect of Ziyyan's presence held enough magnetic pull to keep him sitting through the boring event for hours.

When he reached the auditorium with Vicky, it felt like the entire university had gathered there.

The management team was ushering the juniors out, the event was meant mainly for final-year students.

 Flashing their student IDs, the two of them began hunting for the best seats. Vicky wasn't fussy, but Mannat wanted a spot with a clear view of the stage.

 He was there to see only one person...… the man he was finally laying eyes on after years. Eventually, he found the perfect spot.

The hall quickly filled with students, and the ceremony soon commenced.

Mannat's gaze was fixed on one face. Ziyyan might have glanced in his direction once or twice.

 Ziyyan was his senior and a former student of here. He had graduated a couple of years ago and was now helping his father with the family business.

Today, he was likely attending in his father's stead.

He silently kept staring at Ziyyan. Suddenly, it felt as a profound silence enveloped the entire world. Slowly, the colors began to fade. Like an old camera film, every hue faded into black and white and in this monochrome reality, the only vibrant things left were Ziyyan's eyes or Mannat's crimson, pounding heart. 

Thump, thump, thump. 

In the midst of that silence, he could hear the faint sound of his beating heart. 

"Mannat? Did you fall asleep?" Someone nudged him. Turning his head, he saw Vicky sitting in the seat next to him, trying to get his attention. 

Startled, Mannat glanced around and took a deep breath. 

Yeah, he was sitting in the loud auditorium, staring at Ziyyan on the stage from afar.

 World-weary as always, Ziyyan was listening to the speakers with an air of complete indifference. 

Lost in his gaze, May be Mannat had drifted back into the past. Brought back to the present by Vicky, when he realized the event had already ended. The stage was empty, and everyone was leaving the auditorium. 

"Where is Ziyyan?" he asked impatiently.

 "He left halfway through. Where was your mind?" Vicky said surprised by Mannat's response. 

 "Shit." He began clambering over the seats.

 "Where are you going, Mannat?" Vicky's voice called out from behind, which was entirely ignored. 

Pushing through the crowd, he made his way outside, as a result he was slightly out of breath.

 He had to find Ziyyan, who could be anywhere on this sprawling campus. He knew plenty of spots Ziyyan used to frequently go, but where should he start? 

'What if he isn't even at the university anymore? What if he's already left?'

 The thought suddenly struck him. 

'No, he wouldn't leave without seeing me.' Mannat tried to dismiss it.

' He didn't come here to meet you. When was the last time he even talked to you? '

The inner voices grew louder, mocking him. 

'Shh... I need to find him. He's angry with me, and he has every right to be. But I know he still loves me.'

 Mannat tried to quiet the intrusive thoughts. 

'Three years ago, when he left, he didn't even say goodbye.'

 "Ahhh! Shut up!" Overwhelmed by a sudden, piercing pain, Mannat collapsed to the ground, clutching his head tightly in his hands.

 It was another thunderclap headache. These sudden, excruciating headaches lasted only a few seconds, but they shook Mannat to his core. Initially, he had feared it might be a tumor or something equally grave, but even after numerous medical tests, no underlying cause could be found. As if he didn't have enough problems in his life already, this agonizing pain had become a new affliction. 

Hearing his gasp, bystanders turned to look. A couple of students who recognized Mannat rushed over to help but just as abruptly as the pain had struck, it vanished. Taking deep, stabilizing breaths, he tried to push himself up from the ground.

 "What happened? Are you okay?" someone asked, helping him to his feet.

 "Thanks, I'm fine," He forced a smile.

 The rain was still pouring heavily and a thunderstorm warning had been issued. Most people were inside the classrooms.

 The few sitting in the corridors watched in astonishment as a drenched, miserable soul sprinted through the downpour, as if he had lost something priceless, something irreplaceable and failing to find it would mean his utter ruin. 

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He checked every single spot where he thought Ziyyan might be. His old department, the places he used to hang out with friends, his usual smoking spot, and the secret corner where the two of them used to steal a few private moments away from the world. But Ziyyan was nowhere to be found. 

'Maybe he really did leave. Without a word, without even a glance...'

Heartbroken, Mannat kept wandering in the rain. 

"What would it have hurt to meet me just once? Why are you so heartless, Ziyyan?" he asked the question But there was no one to answer. Or perhaps, he already knew the truth.

 How could he explain to anyone that the very happiness he had craved his entire life had been discarded by his own hands the moment he finally grasped it? Ever since that day, the entire universe seemed to have turned its back on him, closing every door in his face. He had knocked until his knuckles bled, but to no avail.

 With a heavy heart, he turned back, his feet carrying him toward his hostel. Right now, he desperately needed the comfort of his bed; he wanted nothing more than to curl up under his blanket and if possible, sleep himself into oblivion.

His hostel was close by and soon he stepped onto the premises. Walking past the mess(dining) hall with his head bowed, he suddenly froze.

 Startled, he snapped his head up to look toward the building. For a few seconds, he forgot how to breathe. The moving world around him seemed to grind to a halt. The only sign of life was Ziyyan, leaning casually against the mess hall wall, lighting a cigarette. 

Everyone else had retreated inside to escape the downpour, only Ziyyan stood outside and apart from him, only Mannat stood drenched in the rain, staring blankly.

 Ziyyan showed no surprise at seeing him. He simply continued to take slow drags from his cigarette, just as before. 

Step by step, Mannat began to walk toward him. His frozen heart suddenly bounded into a rhythm so violent it felt as if it would never beat again.

 Ziyyan watched him approach with an expressionless face, his eyes entirely devoid of emotion.

 "How are you?" Mannat managed to choke out the words as he drew near.

 "Fine." Ziyyan replied.

 Mannat waited, hoping he would ask how he was doing in return, but Ziyyan contented himself with that brief, one word reply. 

"Did... did you get caught in the rain too?" Mannat tried to keep the conversation going , gesturing toward Ziyyan wet hair and damp clothes.

 "I didn't have an umbrella," Ziyyan said flatly. 

Once again, he didn't bother to ask why Mannat was completely soaked either. 

"I looked everywhere for you. From your old smoking spot to..." Mannat began listing the places.

 "Why would I be there?" Ziyyan cut him off. 

"Well... you... those used to be your favorite spots, right?" Mannat stammered.

"It's been three years since I left this university."Ziyyan's voice carried bitterness. 

"Do you really think my preferences would remain the same even after three years?"

 Once again the words were laced with venom, but at least he had spoken more than a couple of sentences. Even if every word hurt. 

Mannat watched him in silence. Ziyyan was now lighting another cigarette. The pile of discarded cigarette butts near his feet betrayed the fact that he had been standing there for quite some time. 

"Do you remember this place?" Suddenly, Ziyyan asked. 

"What?" Mannat didn't understand what he meant. 

"Over there..." Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he pointed ahead. Mannat's gaze followed the direction of the cigarette. 

"that's where you confessed. You told me I love you." Ziyyan said.

How could he ever forget that day? Startled, Mannat looked back at Ziyyan, who was still staring at him. For some reason, it felt like Ziyyan was deep in thought. Perhaps he, too, was remembering the time they stood face-to-face, glaring at each other in ANGER... 

Shaking his head, Mannat forced himself to stop from slipping back into the past. 

The intensity of the rain had weakened considerably now, though the occasional roll of thunder still echoed alongside flashes of lightning. 

He remained standing beside Ziyyan. The silence between them spoke volumes, far louder than any words could.

 For Mannat, even this was enough. To stand under the same roof with Ziyyan, he had starved for this. 

Despite standing only a few feet apart, it felt as though miles separated them. Suppressing the desperate urge to reach out and touch him, he silently prayed for time to stop.

 "Why do you smoke so much?" Mannat asked.

 Ziyyan had already finished an entire pack and was now searching his pockets for another.

 "You should start too." Ziyyan replied, offering it as a piece of advice.

 Finding no more cigarettes, he began absentmindedly flicking his lighter on and off. He seemed interested in absolutely everything except looking at Mannat. 

"I don't like it." Mannat snapped, snatching the lighter from his hand. 

"Look at me when you talk to me." Tossing the lighter out into the rain, he locked eyes with Ziyyan, who was now glaring back at him with a darkened scowl. 

"This reckless attitude of yours is going to cost you dearly one day," Ziyyan hissed through gritted teeth. 

"It already did." Mannats voice softened. 

"I lost you." He gave a faint smile, 

" But look, I still haven't changed," Mannat said, almost baiting him into an argument. 

He wanted Ziyyan to mock him, to get angry, to say something. He just wanted to hear his voice, his words... he missed him terribly.

 "You..." Ziyyan was about to snap when the mess hall doors swung open, and a group of fourth-year students stepped outside. 

The moment they saw him, their eyes widened.

 "Oh, Ziyyan bhai! What are you doing standing out here?" they asked, walking toward him. 

The rain had completely stopped by now and students were beginning to come outside. 

Anyone who caught sight of Ziyyan paused to greet him. Most of them didn't even know him personally, but as a special guest of today's event, everyone wanted to introduce themselves. 

Mannat stood quietly, watching him talk, with a friendly smile. More and more people gathered.

With each passing moment, the crowd pushed Mannat farther back. Farther away from Ziyyan.

Before long, a small crowd had formed around him. Through all those people, Mannat could barely even see him.Then someone offered to walk him out.

Ziyyan accepted.

Once again, Mannat could only watch him leave. He had lost the right to stop him a long time ago. but his heart refused to listen, hammering wildly against his ribs. 

After taking a few steps, Ziyyan suddenly turned. His gaze found Mannat. Standing there with all the loneliness , desperation and wild longing written all over his face. 

Their eyes locked. In stark contrast to Ziyyan's blank face and devoid eyes, Mannat's gaze was a tempest of raw emotion. 

Ziyyan stared into those hazel eyes for a fleeting second, then turned away to continue walking with the students. 

Within moments, silence reclaimed the space, and the rain, which had briefly paused, began to fall once more. Mannat began to walk with heavy, slow steps as the rain started to drench him once more . 

He stopped near the lighter, which lay slightly cracked after being stepped on by the passing crowd. He bent down and picked it up. Carefully wiping it against his shirt, he held it against his chest and exhaled. He didn't like the rain, but it had one saving grace…. no one could ever see your tears. Right????

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Note: Bhai \= Brother, Hyung , senpai or Gege.