UNWILLINGLY HIS

The Trap tightens

The train screeched to a halt at the Jaipur station, the metallic grind echoing in Samaira’s ears. The buzz of the crowded station barely registered as she stepped off, her mind still reeling from the constant whirl of thoughts and emotions. The journey had been long, and though she’d managed to keep herself together, every moment felt like an eternity. She had kept her head down, her eyes on the floor, trying to block out the memory of the chaos that had surrounded her in the past few days.

But now, standing on the platform of Jaipur station, there was a strange, suffocating feeling that wrapped around her chest.

She stepped out into the light of day, the midday sun beating down on her, and just then, her eyes met a familiar face.

Aarav.

She felt an involuntary breath of relief leave her chest when she saw him standing there, his familiar presence standing out amidst the crowd. The sense of comfort he always brought was overwhelming, and for a fleeting moment, Samaira felt like maybe she could finally breathe. Maybe, just maybe, she could escape it all.

Aarav moved toward her, his usual calm demeanor covering up the storm that Samaira knew always simmered beneath. His expression was a mix of worry and relief. “Samaira!” His voice was soft, but his eyes said everything. He was glad to see her, but there was something almost urgent in his tone.

She froze for a second, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to rush into his arms, to feel safe again. But another part of her couldn’t shake the odd feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Still, she shook it off. Aarav had always been there for her. He was her rock.

“I... I didn’t expect you to be here,” she said softly, trying to steady her voice.

Aarav’s smile didn’t waver. “I couldn’t stay in that city, Samaira. Too much happened there, too many memories.” He paused, his gaze intense, as if trying to read her. “So I decided to come here to start fresh. And then I found out you were coming to Jaipur, too.”

Samaira took a step back, her mind racing. How had he known? She hadn’t told anyone about her plans to escape. Her eyes flickered, uneasily searching his face for the answer.

“How did you know I was coming?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aarav didn’t hesitate. “I called your dad yesterday to check on you, to make sure you were okay. That’s when he told me about your escape.” His smile softened, but there was something in his voice—something she couldn’t quite place—that made her uneasy.

Aarav then placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her to the car parked nearby. Samaira tried to push away the nagging thought that something was off, but the weight of it pressed on her chest. Maybe it was the stress of the past few days or the looming fear of Advait’s reach. She couldn’t quite tell, but there was something about this reunion that didn’t sit well with her.

As they walked toward the car, she looked over her shoulder, feeling as though someone was watching them.

“Aarav,” she began, her voice trembling, “where are we going?” She had to know. If she was going to trust him, she needed to understand why they weren’t heading directly to her uncle’s place like they had planned.

Aarav’s eyes flickered, but he kept his expression neutral. “It’s not safe to go to your uncle’s house. Advait will find us there. But I know a place where you’ll be safe. Trust me.”

Safe? Samaira’s pulse quickened. She’d heard those words before. Promises of safety. But those promises had always been shattered. She still remembered how Advait had claimed to keep her safe, only to turn his back when she needed him most.