Ep 3 : Hidden corners

Days turned into weeks, but the memory of the camp—and Arjun’s presence—lingered in Isha’s thoughts like a sweet, secret melody.

Back in Sonepat, between lectures and late-night study sessions, Isha found herself stealing moments to text him—brief exchanges filled with laughter, encouragement, and an unspoken longing.

Arjun’s messages were careful, measured, yet warm. Living in Delhi, caught between the demands of his military training and the unyielding pace of life, he clung to these small threads connecting him to Isha.

Neither had told their families about the other. The thought of revealing this delicate bond felt daunting—Isha’s parents worried about her future, and Arjun’s family, steeped in army tradition, expected discipline and distance.

One rainy evening, Isha sat by her window in Sonepat, the soft patter of raindrops mingling with the pounding of her heart. Her phone buzzed.

“Meet me at the temple in Patiala this weekend?”

The invitation was simple, but the weight behind it was immense.

Her breath caught.

A secret meeting. A risk. A promise.

She replied, “I’ll be there."

---

Isha stepped off the train at Patiala station just as the sun began to dip low, casting a golden glow over the familiar streets. Every step toward the Kaali Maa Mandir brought back memories of their first meeting—the rain, the silent promises, the spark she couldn’t forget.

The temple courtyard was nearly empty, save for a few evening worshippers. Her eyes scanned the entrance, and there he was—Arjun, waiting just beneath the ancient archway, his face softened by the fading light.

Their eyes met, and all the distance and silence collapsed into a single moment of raw connection.

“Isha,” he breathed her name like a prayer.

“Arjun,” she replied, voice barely above a whisper.

They moved closer, the air thick with unspoken feelings. Neither needed words. The warmth of his hand finding hers said everything—hope, longing, the promise of a secret love hidden from the world.

For a few stolen hours, they sat beneath the temple’s old walls, talking quietly, sharing dreams they hadn’t yet dared voice aloud, laughing softly in the sacred hush.

But as night deepened, reality pressed in—their lives, their families, the impossible weight of keeping this love hidden.

Arjun’s fingers gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “This is just the beginning,” he said, his voice firm yet tender. “We’ll find a way.”

Isha nodded, a tear escaping down her cheek, mingling with the temple’s lingering incense.

: Between Shadows and Light

The days after the secret meeting felt like a dream Isha was reluctant to wake from. Back in her hostel room in Sonepat, each lecture and hurried note felt lighter—buoyed by the memory of Arjun’s touch, his quiet strength.

She missed her parents in Patiala but kept her heart guarded, never telling them about Arjun. The thought of revealing her secret relationship felt too risky.

Arjun’s family in Delhi remained unaware of the young woman from Patiala who had quietly captured his heart.

One evening, under the cover of darkness, Arjun called Isha.

“Are you free tomorrow?” His voice was low, urgent.

“For a few hours,” she replied, heart pounding.

“Come to Delhi. I’ll pick you up.”

The next day, Isha boarded the train from Sonepat to Delhi, excitement and nerves swirling within her.

In the quiet corners of Delhi—the cafes hidden away from prying eyes, the parks bathed in soft afternoon light—they carved out moments just for themselves.

Amidst the city's chaos, their secret meetings became their sanctuary, a fragile space where love blossomed in whispers and stolen glances.

Isha rested her head on Arjun’s shoulder during one such meeting, feeling both fragile and fierce.

“We have to be careful,” she whispered.

He kissed her forehead gently. “Whatever comes, we’ll face it together.”

In that sacred space, two souls intertwined—fragile, fierce, and fiercely hopeful.

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