Sagarika

For the first time since this entire situation had begun, a thought slipped through with unsettling clarity—

I was no longer entirely sure that I was the only one playing this game.

Interesting.

That made things far more interesting.

Tomorrow, I would finally get what I had stayed back for—the trail, the open air, the freedom I had been craving ever since this entire trip began.

A few hours away from expectations, from constant watchful eyes, from the careful balance everyone seemed determined to maintain.

He was not interested in coming so I would also get a few hours away from him.

It was a simple plan. Almost too simple.

What I did not know yet—what I could not have known in that moment of calm certainty—was that this decision, made so casually, so confidently, carried far more weight than I had allowed myself to consider.

Because it wasn’t going to lead to freedom.

Not even close.

It was going to lead straight into something neither of us was prepared for.

And by this time tomorrow—

Everything would change.

********

Next morning.

Sagarika

It was almost ten when I walked into the hotel foyer to join the group for the forest walk.

Siddh was here?? So he finally decided to come?

I noticed him at once, but I ignored him and went straight to Mr. and Mrs. Chawla.

They were talking to four cheerful youngsters whom they had mentioned the day before.

“Are you looking forward to it?” Mrs. Chawla asked warmly.

“Yes, I am,” I replied.

She looked at me with curiosity. “By the way, what happened last night? Did you fight with your handsome boss… or did you two—”

“No!” I cut in quickly. “I told you, he is just my senior.”

She laughed softly, then looked me over. “Well, you look lovely today.”

I smiled. I was wearing olive jeans and a white T-shirt with soft stripes in olive and rust. A canvas bag hung from my shoulder, filled with a sweatshirt, sunscreen, some chocolates, medicines, and a few small essentials.

She introduced me to the group of four. They were friendly and easy to talk to, and I liked them immediately.

A moment later, Mrs. Chawla turned toward Siddh, and I became sharply aware of him. His eyes rested on me for a second, amused, almost mocking.

“You came…” he said.

“Well, I had to,” I replied lightly. “After all, your family trusted me with you.”

He gave a slow smile. “How thoughtful.”

He looked… dangerously good. Black jeans, a simple cotton shirt, sleeves rolled slightly, just enough to reveal a hint of his chest. Tall, strong, and effortlessly confident.

I looked away quickly.

“I hope you didn’t come just to ‘save’ me,” I said quietly. “You should enjoy the walk too.”

“Enjoy?” he said with a teasing smile. “With you around?”

I rolled my eyes.

“This won’t be an easy walk,” he continued. “The terrain is steep, and the forest is dense.”

“Are you trying to scare us?” Mr. Chawla joked.

“Not at all,” Siddh replied calmly. “Just being honest.”

At that moment, two open Land Rovers pulled up outside.

“Looks like our transport is here,” Mr. Chawla said.

Everyone moved toward the vehicles. The younger group climbed in first, followed by a honeymoon couple. I was about to sit with them when the guide stopped me.

“You sit in the next one,” he said.

Reluctantly, I moved to the second vehicle and sat beside Mr. and Mrs. Chawla. My heart gave an uncomfortable thud when Siddh came and sat next to me.

There wasn’t much space. Mrs. Chawla and her husband filled most of the seats, and Siddh was very close to me. Too close. I could feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of my jeans.

I tried to shift away, but there was nowhere to go.

The guide shouted something, and the vehicles started moving.

The road was smooth at first, but soon it turned rough and broken. The Land Rover hit a deep pothole, and I was thrown straight into Siddh.

It felt like crashing into a wall.

Before I could react, his arm came around me, steady and strong. For a few seconds, I was pressed against him—his chest hard, his body warm, his grip firm.

Then he let go.

But those few seconds felt… endless.

Heat rushed to my face. I could feel my cheeks burning as I became painfully aware of how close we had been. If I had felt his hard chest and arms, he must have felt my softness too.

Damn.

“Sagarika, are you alright?” Mrs. Chawla asked anxiously.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Thank you, Dr. Jindal. I just wasn’t prepared.”

He looked at me, something unreadable in his eyes. “It happens,” he said softly. “And please… call me Siddh. We’re not in the hospital.”

I nodded, forcing a small smile.

Mrs. Chawla suddenly pointed ahead. “Oh, look at that view!”

We all turned.

To the right, the land dropped into a wide river, shining in a deep, almost unreal blue. Beyond it, the horizon faded into soft lilac mist.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“It is,” Siddh agreed. “But this place has its problems. Tourism is low, and many locals struggle because of it.”

“That’s true,” she said sadly.

“The government is trying to improve things,” he added. “More jobs, better facilities… and controlling illegal activities.”

“Oh no, no politics!” I protested lightly. “Let’s just enjoy the trip.”

He smiled faintly and nodded.

As we moved deeper into the hills, I began to notice something strange.

Siddh looked relaxed, almost lazy in his seat. But there was tension about him. A quiet alertness that didn’t match his calm posture.

Something was bothering him.

I couldn’t tell what.

“That must be the restaurant,” Mrs. Chawla said as a lone wooden building appeared ahead, standing at the edge of the hills.

The vehicles climbed up toward it.

The building was old, its green paint faded to a dull shade. Inside, the air was heavy and warm despite the fans. It gave a very deserted vibes. I felt bad for the condition of the people in the valley. Kashmir was so pretty and yet so sad.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel hungry at all.

While the others settled at the long tables, I stepped back outside. The fresh air felt better.

“Not hungry?”

I turned. Siddh had followed me.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to explain the strange unease I felt.

“Me neither,” he said.

That surprised me. I looked at him, and for a moment, our eyes met. He was not hungry?

Something was definitely wrong if he was not hungry. But he wasn’t saying anything.

And for some reason, that made me even more uneasy.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, his voice low but edged with something sharper. “Aren’t insensitive brutes like me allowed to have normal feelings?”

“I never said that,” I began, a little too quickly, stung by the accusation. The defensiveness slips through despite myself.

“You didn’t have to,” he cut in smoothly, but there was an edge beneath his calm. “Those eyes of yours say everything. You are quite a contradiction, you know that? On one hand, a modern, independent woman—travelling alone, living life on her own terms. And on the other…” His gaze lingered on me, sharp and assessing. “Those same eyes look as if they belong to someone untouched by the world. Someone who still believes it is simple.”

His words unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I said stiffly, brushing past him, “I think I will eat something after all.” I went back in.