Tara Bhatia had never been good at surprises. She preferred her life predictable—settled. Until the universe decided to throw her a curveball.
She had been expecting a quiet evening. After all, her boyfriend, Aryan, had promised to call. They'd been keeping their relationship alive through late-night video chats and constant texts since the lockdown began, a silent agreement between them to weather the storm together. But, as she sat in her childhood bedroom, looking at her phone, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
The call never came.
Instead, the notification on her phone brought worse news.
"Positive."
Tara stared at the message from her mother: Both you and your father tested positive for COVID-19. I've arranged for a separate quarantine spot for you in the house. Nayan will stay with us during the quarantine, but keep your distance.
Nayan.
Her mind raced, trying to process everything at once. Nayan Thakur was a family friend—someone she had known for years, but barely ever spoke to. He was the quiet, reserved type who preferred keeping to himself. Not exactly someone Tara had expected to be confined with for an extended period, especially in the midst of a pandemic. And definitely not while she was already juggling a long-distance relationship.
Tara sighed, leaning back in the chair, trying to ignore the gnawing disappointment in her chest. She opened the chat with Aryan, typing a quick message:
Tara: Hey, babe. My test came back positive. It's a mess here, but don't worry about me. Just wanted to keep you in the loop.
She hit send, but before she could breathe, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Aryan's reply:
Aryan: I'm sorry, Tara. I really am, but this whole thing is getting to be too much. I think... I think we need some time apart. It's not working.
Tara's fingers froze above her phone. Time apart? He couldn't be serious. She had been keeping their connection alive through a steady stream of calls and texts, trying to fill the distance that the lockdown had created between them. But now, here she was—alone. And it wasn't just the virus. It was him. The weight of the breakup hit her like a punch to the gut.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising tide of panic and frustration. Just when she needed stability, she was falling apart. And she wasn't alone.
The door creaked open. Nayan stepped inside, his presence like a shadow in the dim light. He gave her a short nod, his usual stoic expression never wavering.
"Is everything alright?" His voice was calm, but there was a softness to it, like he was trying not to intrude. Tara wasn't sure if she wanted company right now, but she didn't have a choice.
"No," she said flatly. "Nothing's alright."
Nayan's brow furrowed, but he didn't press her further. Instead, he carefully set a tray with a cup of tea on her desk and then turned to leave.
"Stay safe," he said softly before exiting the room, closing the door behind him.
Tara let out a breath, her mind a blur of confusion. She wanted to text Aryan, but she knew it would just be more of the same—more distance, more unanswered questions. She looked out the window, feeling the weight of everything crash down on her. Quarantine, heartbreak, and now this—being stuck in the same house with Nayan, a stranger in every sense of the word.
The lockdown was supposed to bring people together, but for Tara, it felt like it was doing the opposite.
YOU ARE READING
Quarantine Hearts
Romance"Quarantine Hearts ☾" Two strangers, one quarantine. What could go wrong? Forced to spend the lockdown together, a heartbroken woman and a withdrawn man slowly start to unravel each other's lives. With the world outside on pause, they begin to disco...
