Forbidden Embrace:My Secret with the Professor

Chapter 20: Reunited, But Apart

The days after Arjun’s departure felt like an endless blur for Ananya. The once-bustling streets of the campus, filled with students moving on to new chapters in their lives, only reminded her of the void that Arjun left behind. His presence had become such a central part of her world that without him, everything felt off-balance.

She had tried to keep busy. Aisha and Riya had been constant companions, helping her keep her mind off the loneliness she felt inside. But late at night, when the world was quiet, Ananya’s thoughts always wandered back to him. The distance between them felt more than just miles—it was as if they had been separated by an invisible barrier of uncertainty.

Sitting at the café one evening, her phone buzzed on the table. Her heart leapt when she saw Arjun’s name flash across the screen.

Arjun: “How are you holding up? Missing me yet?”

A soft smile tugged at her lips as she read his message. She could almost hear his teasing voice through the text, bringing back the warmth she had been craving.

Ananya: “More than you know. It feels strange without you here.”

The phone buzzed again almost immediately.

Arjun: “It’s strange here too. I thought I’d get used to it faster, but it’s harder than I imagined.”

Ananya’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of what to say next. Her thoughts were tangled between expressing how much she missed him and not wanting to burden him with her emotions. Before she could decide, another message came through.

Arjun: “We’ll figure this out. I promise. Just give it some time.”

His words gave her a sense of comfort, but the gnawing feeling in her chest didn’t disappear. Time seemed like both a friend and an enemy in this situation. While it promised to bring them back together eventually, it also stretched the days apart into what felt like an eternity.

Riya nudged her across the table, breaking her from her thoughts. “Hey, you okay? You seem lost.”

Ananya quickly locked her phone and gave her friend a small smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.”

Riya raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Thinking or missing someone?”

Aisha, who had been quietly sipping her coffee, chimed in, “It’s okay to admit you miss him, you know. We’ve all been there.”

Ananya sighed, running her hand through her hair. “I do miss him. But it’s not just that. It’s the not knowing. What if things change? What if we can’t make it work?”

Her friends exchanged glances before Riya spoke up. “Long-distance is tough, no doubt about it. But you two have something special. You’ll make it work if you both want it to.”

Ananya nodded, appreciating their words but still feeling the weight of uncertainty. She knew they were right—she and Arjun had come this far. But the future seemed so unclear, and that scared her more than anything.

That night, as she lay in bed, Ananya’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Arjun.

Arjun: “I’m coming back to visit next month. Can’t stay away too long, can I? 😉”

Her heart skipped a beat as she read the words. A glimmer of hope flickered in her chest, pushing aside the doubts for the moment. Even if the distance was hard, the thought of seeing him again made it all worth it.

Ananya: “I can’t wait to see you.”

As she drifted off to sleep, the thought of Arjun’s visit gave her something to hold onto. Maybe things wouldn’t be easy, but as long as they had moments like these to look forward to, Ananya knew they’d find a way to make it through.