The remnants of the homemade paratha sat between them on the desk. The digital clock on Arya’s monitor flashed 2:42 AM. The impossible coding glitch had been solved, the adrenaline was slowly draining out of the room, and for the last ten minutes, the silence had been deceptively peaceful.

Laksh stood up, picking up the empty thermal container. He looked down at Arya, his tall frame casting a long, steady shadow over her desk. The sharp, commanding "Ice King" was softened by exhaustion and the quiet intimacy of the hour.