The fire had burned down to soft red embers. The cottage was dark except for the faint glow that still touched the edges of the rug and the bare skin of the four bodies lying there. Outside, the Shimla night was cold and quiet. Inside, the air stayed warm with the smell of sex, cum, and the sharp memory of pee.

No one had moved to put clothes on. Neha lay on her side between Arjun and Vikram. One of her legs was thrown over Arjun’s hip. Her soft boobs pressed against his chest. Meera was curled against Vikram’s back, her hand resting low on his stomach. Every few minutes someone shifted, and the sticky sound of skin separating from skin broke the silence.