Our Forbidden Love

28.

The resort buzzed with goodbye selfies and suitcase wheels dragging across stone tiles. Students gathered around, chattering about the trip’s best moments.

Kiara was halfway through the corridor when she stopped abruptly. Her brows furrowed. “Crap,” she mumbled, turning on her heel.

She had forgotten her charger in the room.

Meanwhile, Trish, already packed and wandering the hallway with a water bottle in hand, spotted her.

He hesitated for a second before stepping forward. “Hey, Kiara?”

She glanced back, keys in hand. “Hmm?”

“I, uh… saw your charger left on the side table when I was walking past your room earlier,” he said casually. “Figured you’d need it.”

Her face softened. “You’re a lifesaver.”

They walked together toward her room.

She pushed the door open and walked in, spotting the charger just where he’d said. She bent to grab it and turned around...

The door shut behind them.

Click.

Both froze.

Trish reached for the knob and twisted it.

It didn’t budge.

“No way,” he muttered.

Kiara blinked. “Wait… don’t tell me.....”

He tried again. “Yup. We’re locked.”

She laughed nervously. “Someone must’ve closed it from outside not realizing we were in here. Maybe the housekeeping staff.”

“Classic,” he muttered, giving the door a light knock.

They were quiet for a moment, the air between them stretching slightly tense.

“I can call someone,” Kiara said, reaching into her pocket, only to realize there was no phone.

She let out a groan. “I left it with Aarohi.”

Trish rubbed his forehead. “Mine’s already packed and on the bus.”

Another beat of silence.

“I guess we wait,” he said.

Kiara nodded, pacing slightly. “We’re already the last ones. They’ll start wondering where we are soon”

Trish gave a small laugh. “Hopefully before someone panics.”

Just then, she felt a little breathless. The walls weren’t exactly closing in, but her anxiety slowly rose. Small, locked spaces weren’t her thing.

Trish noticed her sudden quietness. “Hey,” he said gently. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied too quickly.

“Kiara.”

She shook her head. “I just… hate being locked in like this. Reminds me of…” she trailed off.

He took a small step forward. “Come here. Just breathe, alright?”

She hesitated, but then let herself be pulled into a comforting hug not out of affection, but a need for stability.

That was the exact moment when the door creaked open.

And in the doorway stood Agastya.

Along with a teacher and two students.

The air turned solid.

Agastya’s eyes locked on Kiara first, then shifted to Trish’s arms around her.

For a split second his face remained unreadable.

Then color rose on his cheeks, jaw tightening. His fingers curled into a fist at his side. His eyes burned, not with rage but with something heavier. Hurt. Confusion.

The teacher stepped forward. “What’s going on here?”

Kiara pulled away instantly, straightening up. “It’s not what it looks like....we were locked in...”

Trish raised his hands. “It’s true. We were waiting to be let out.”

But Agastya didn’t say anything.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Just stood there, staring at her like she was someone he didn’t recognize.

Kiara opened her mouth again, but the words stuck.

Then finally his voice came. Tight. Controlled.

“You should’ve told someone. Anything could’ve happened.”

His tone wasn’t cruel.

It was worse.

It was cold.

Professional.

Like she was just another student. Like last night didn’t happen.

Kiara looked at him, her throat tightening. “Agastya…”

But he turned to the teacher instead. “They’re ready. We should leave now. We will discuss this when we reach there.”

And walked away.

Just like that.

Without another glance.

🦢

Kiara sat by the window, chin propped against her palm, as the landscape blurred past. Her chest ached with a heaviness she couldn’t name.

She wasn’t sure what hurt more:

That he had misunderstood…

Or that he chose not to ask.

Agastya didn’t sit near her. Didn’t look her way once.

But behind his sunglasses and fake calm his heart was burning.

Because he knew she wasn’t his.

But damn it, it still felt like she betrayed him.

---

To Be continued....