Through Fire and Fate

A New Day, A New Class

It was a crisp morning when Tara woke up to the soft rays of the sun streaming through her bedroom window. She stretched lazily, then glanced at the clock. It was nearly time to head out for university. The final semester was here, and she was determined to finish strong. But more than the excitement of completing her degree, today held something special like every day—her boyfriend, Sidharth, would be teaching her class.

Tara had known Sidharth for almost one year now, ever since he became a guest lecturer in her business class. What started as a Professor-Student relationship had quickly turned into something more. Their bond had deepened into love, and despite their careful efforts to keep it a secret, both of them cherished these stolen moments together.

Tara quickly got ready, brushing her long, dark hair and pulling on a soft, beige sweater and dark jeans. She wanted to look good, but not too good—after all, she had to blend in with the other students. She didn't want to draw unnecessary attention, especially when Sidharth was in the same room.

She grabbed her bag and headed to campus, her heart already racing in anticipation of seeing him again, even though she'd just seen him the night before.

Tara arrived at the lecture hall, her mind buzzing with excitement. The class was about to begin, and as she entered, she took a seat in the middle row, glancing toward the front. Her friend Owen, a tall, outgoing guy with an ever-present grin, appeared out of nowhere.  "Tara!" Owen called out, his voice loud enough to catch the attention of a few nearby students. Before she could react, he closed the distance and wrapped her in a big, friendly hug.

"Owen!" Tara exclaimed; her voice laced with irritation. She rolled her eyes and lightly shoved him away. "Stop being so dramatic—Leave me. I have said many times already." Why? I love getting hugs from my Taraaa."

"Nonsense," Tara replied while Owen laugh, letting go but still standing far too close for Tara comfort. "I missed you at lunch yesterday. You've been avoiding me, huh?"

"I wasn't avoiding you," Tara said with an annoyed huff, adjusting her bag on the desk. "I had things to do. Now, move. You're blocking my space."

Owen smirked but stepped aside just as Tara's friend Rose joined them. "What's going on here? Are you two fighting again?" Rose teased, sliding into the seat beside Tara. "Not fighting," FL muttered, shooting Owen a glare. "He's just being annoying."

At that very moment, the classroom door opened, and Siddarth walked in, his presence immediately commanding attention. His tall figure commanding attention as always and dressed in his usual sharp suit, he carried himself with an air of quiet authority.

The chatter in the room died down as students turned their heads, acknowledging their professor's arrival. But Siddarth dark eyes weren't scanning the entire class. No, they were focused on a particular group at the center: FL, Owen, and Rose. His gaze landed on Owen, who was still grinning like an idiot as he leaned casually against Tara's desk, far too close for Siddarth's liking.

For a split second, Siddarth composed mask slipped, his jaw tightening as an unmistakable flicker of jealousy crossed his face. His eyes moved to Tara, who looked visibly annoyed with Owen, though she didn't seem to notice Siddarth arrival. She was busy trying to push Owen further away, her hands gesturing in exasperation.

Rose, ever the observant one, noticed Siddarth entrance first. She nudged Tara lightly and whispered, "Looks like someone's watching." Tara froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. She glanced up and met Siddarth's gaze. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but she knew him too well. The slight tension in his posture and the cool glint in his eyes told her everything she needed to know he had seen the interaction with Owen, and he wasn't happy.

Siddarth walked to the front of the room, his footsteps echoing in the suddenly silent lecture hall as he set down his things, his gaze briefly meeting Tara's before flicking away. He couldn't help but soft, secretive smile played on his lips even though he's jealous, one that no one else could catch. Tara smiled back, her heart skipping a beat. Despite the fact that they were supposed to maintain professionalism in public, it was impossible to ignore the bond between them.

"Let's get started. I hope you've all done the readings for previous class." he began, his tone professional but carrying a faint edge that only Tara seemed to notice. "Let's dive right into the complexities of market behavior and consumer trends."

As he began the lecture, Tara couldn't shake the feeling of his gaze lingering on her. Though Siddarth attention seemed to be on the slides and the topic at hand, she caught his eyes darting toward her every so often. It wasn't the usual, secretive glance filled with warmth. No, this time it carried a warning—a subtle message that said we'll talk later. He's jealous. I said many times to Owen to stop being touchy, but I think I need to seriously tell him before my baby goes in his angry mode.

As he spoke, Tara couldn't help but watch him, captivated not just by his intellect but by the way he seemed to be so effortlessly in control of the room. His every word was calculated, his manner calm and composed, but Tara knew the truth. Beneath that composed exterior, he was always thinking of her—of the quiet moments they shared after class, the conversations they'd had late at night, the touch of his hand when no one was around.

As the lecture continued, Siddarth's eyes occasionally flicked toward Tara, a small, fleeting glance in her direction. He would catch her gaze for a split second, a silent communication between the two of them. Tara, aware of his watchful eyes, tried to maintain her focus on the lesson, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She found herself smiling at the way he would purposefully pause during the lecture, as though giving her a chance to process the material—or perhaps, just a chance to exchange that brief, secret moment with her.