Forbidden Embrace:My Secret with the Professor

Chapter 19: Love Across the Miles

The next few weeks tested Ananya and Arjun's relationship in ways they hadn't anticipated. With Arjun now in a different country, the time difference became a subtle yet constant reminder of the physical distance between them. Late-night calls turned into early-morning texts, and their once-frequent video chats became harder to coordinate.

Ananya tried to stay positive, reminding herself that this was just a phase. But as she sat alone in her apartment one evening, staring at her phone waiting for a message that hadn’t come yet, the loneliness crept in. She missed the small things—his touch, his laugh, the warmth of his presence.

She picked up her phone and typed a quick message: "Miss you."

Arjun’s reply came a few minutes later: "Miss you too. Just finished the conference, can’t wait to tell you about it! Call you in 10?"

Ananya smiled at his response, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She hated how much she missed him, and how everything felt so… different.

Ten minutes later, her phone rang. Seeing Arjun's name light up the screen made her heart skip a beat. She quickly swiped to answer.

“Hey,” she greeted, trying to sound upbeat.

“Hey you,” came his familiar voice, though it sounded tired. “Sorry I’ve been so busy. This conference has been non-stop.”

“It’s okay, I know it’s important,” Ananya replied, though the words felt hollow. She wanted to be supportive, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“How was your day?” Arjun asked, his voice softening.

Ananya sighed, leaning back on her couch. “Same old. Riya and Aisha dragged me to another party. I had fun, but… I don’t know. Everything just feels different without you here.”

There was a pause on the other end. “I know,” Arjun said finally, his voice laced with guilt. “I miss being there with you. I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much lately. I’ll try to be better.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ananya said quickly. “You’re doing amazing things over there. I’m proud of you, really. I just… I guess I didn’t realize how hard this would be.”

“I get it,” Arjun said, his tone serious. “Long-distance isn’t easy. But we’re in this together, okay? We’ll figure it out.”

“I know,” she whispered, her heart aching with the distance between them.

As their conversation continued, Ananya felt a little more at ease. They laughed about their inside jokes and reminisced about their time together at college. But when the call ended, the empty silence of her apartment returned, louder than ever.

The next day, Ananya decided to take a walk to clear her head. As she wandered through the park near her home, she thought about all the changes in her life—graduating, navigating her writing career, and now, trying to maintain a long-distance relationship.

She stopped by a bench and sat down, watching the children play in the distance. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, expecting another text from Arjun. But it was a message from Riya instead.

"Hey, lunch tomorrow?"

Ananya hesitated, then typed back: "Sure, let’s meet at the usual spot."

The following day, as she sat across from Riya in their favorite café, Ananya found herself opening up about her worries. “It’s been hard, Riya. I thought I could handle the distance, but I miss him so much. And I’m scared that things will change between us.”

Riya nodded sympathetically. “Long-distance relationships are tough, no doubt. But you two have something real. If anyone can make it work, it’s you guys. You just need to find new ways to stay connected.”

Ananya smiled weakly. “You’re right. I just don’t want to lose him.”

“You won’t,” Riya assured her. “But maybe you need to focus on yourself too. Keep writing, keep doing the things you love. Don’t let the relationship be the only thing on your mind.”

Later that evening, Ananya sat at her desk, staring at her laptop. She hadn’t written anything in days, her thoughts consumed by Arjun and the distance between them. But Riya’s words echoed in her mind.

Maybe it was time to throw herself back into her work. After all, she had her own dreams to chase.

With a deep breath, Ananya opened a new document and started typing. At first, the words came slowly, but soon they began to flow. She poured her heart into her writing, channeling her emotions into her stories.

Hours passed, and when she finally stopped, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She had found a piece of herself again, and it felt good.

As she climbed into bed that night, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Arjun: "Goodnight, love. Thinking of you."

Ananya smiled at the screen, her heart swelling with affection. "Goodnight. We’ll get through this."

And for the first time in a while, she believed it.