Too Close to Escape
1139 Words
The car ride was silent.
Too silent.
Reya sat in the passenger seat, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed outside the window.
The city lights of Mumbai blurred past her eyes… but her mind wasn’t on them.
It was on him.
Aarav.
His words kept replaying in her head.
“Someone is watching you.”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
His focus was entirely on the road.
Sharp. Alert.
Like he was expecting something to happen any second.
“Are you going to explain anything?” Reya finally broke the silence.
No response.
She sighed.
“Or is this part of your mysterious bodyguard personality?”
Aarav didn’t look at her.
“Not everything needs to be explained.”
Reya smirked slightly.
“Oh, but I think it does. Especially when it involves me.”
Still nothing.
Her irritation grew.
“You dragged me out of my own house, didn’t tell me where we’re going, and now you expect me to just sit quietly?”
Aarav finally spoke—
“Yes.”
Reya blinked.
Then let out a short laugh.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you talk too much.”
That did it.
Reya turned fully toward him.
“Excuse me?”
Aarav’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
“Silence helps you notice things.”
She frowned.
“What things?”
Aarav’s voice dropped—
“Like the black SUV that’s been following us for the last ten minutes.”
Reya froze.
Her eyes instinctively moved to the side mirror.
And there it was.
A black SUV.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just… there.
Her heartbeat picked up.
But she forced her voice to stay calm.
“You’re joking.”
“I don’t joke.”
The car suddenly didn’t feel safe anymore.
The air felt tighter.
Heavier.
“What do we do?” she asked, this time without attitude.
Aarav’s eyes stayed on the road.
“We don’t panic.”
“I’m not panicking.”
“Good. Then don’t start now.”
Reya clenched her jaw.
“I hate how calm you are.”
“I hate how unpredictable you are.”
Before she could respond—
Aarav suddenly took a sharp turn.
The car sped into a narrower road.
Reya grabbed the seat instinctively.
“Hey—!”
“Seatbelt,” he said quickly.
“I have it on!”
“Then trust me.”
The SUV followed.
Closer this time.
Faster.
Reya’s pulse raced.
“This is not normal!”
Aarav’s voice remained steady.
“Neither is your situation.”
Another turn.
Another sudden acceleration.
The city lights became a blur.
“Who are they?” she asked.
“Still figuring that out.”
“That’s not reassuring!”
“It’s honest.”
The SUV got closer.
Too close.
Reya’s fingers tightened on the seat.
“Aarav—”
“I’ve got it.”
There was something about the way he said it.
Not arrogant.
Not careless.
Just… certain.
And for the first time—
Reya believed him.
Suddenly—
Aarav slowed the car.
Reya frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing the plan.”
Before she could ask—
He turned into an underground parking lot.
Dark.
Empty.
Echoing.
The car came to a sudden stop.
Reya’s heart was pounding.
“Why did we stop?!”
Aarav quickly unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Because running isn’t always the solution.”
The SUV entered the parking lot.
Right behind them.
Reya’s breath caught.
“This is insane.”
Aarav turned toward her.
For the first time—
His full attention was on her.
“Listen carefully,” he said, his voice low but firm.
“Stay in the car. Lock the doors. Don’t move.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re going out there?!”
“Yes.”
“No! That’s—”
Aarav leaned closer.
Too close.
His face just inches from hers.
“Reya.”
Her name.
From his lips.
For the first time.
It hit differently.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said quietly.
Her heartbeat skipped.
“And I don’t break my promises.”
For a second—
Everything else faded.
The danger.
The fear.
The situation.
It was just him.
And those words.
Then he pulled back.
Got out of the car.
And shut the door.
Reya sat there.
Frozen.
Outside—
The SUV stopped.
Three men stepped out.
Reya’s breath became shallow.
“Oh my God…”
Aarav stood there.
Alone.
Facing them.
No fear.
No hesitation.
One of the men smirked.
“Well… that was easier than expected.”
Aarav’s expression didn’t change.
“You’re in the wrong place.”
The man laughed.
“No. I think you are.”
Reya watched everything from inside the car.
Her heart racing.
Her hands slightly shaking.
But her eyes—
Locked on Aarav.
He moved.
Fast.
Before the men could react—
He grabbed one, twisting his arm sharply.
A punch.
A kick.
Precise. Controlled. Brutal.
Reya gasped softly.
He wasn’t just trained.
He was… dangerous.
Within seconds—
Two men were down.
The third one tried to attack from behind—
But Aarav caught him.
Like he already knew.
Everything about him screamed one thing—
He had done this before.
The fight ended as quickly as it started.
Silence filled the parking lot again.
Reya’s heart was still racing.
But now—
For a different reason.
Aarav turned.
Walking back toward the car.
Like nothing had happened.
He opened the door.
Sat inside.
Calm.
Steady.
Reya stared at him.
Speechless.
“You okay?” he asked.
She blinked.
“What… was that?”
Aarav started the car.
“Problem handled.”
“That’s not an answer!”
He glanced at her.
Briefly.
“It’s the only one you need right now.”
Reya shook her head slowly.
“You’re not just a bodyguard.”
Silence.
Aarav’s jaw tightened slightly.
“You fight like someone who’s used to this,” she continued.
“And you knew we were being followed before I even noticed.”
He didn’t deny it.
Reya leaned slightly closer.
Her voice softer now.
More serious.
“Who are you… really?”
For a moment—
Aarav didn’t answer.
Then quietly—
“I’m the person standing between you… and whatever is coming.”
Her breath hitched.
“And trust me,” he added, his eyes darkening slightly,
“you’ll need me.”
Reya leaned back.
Still processing.
But one thing was clear now—
This wasn’t just about protection anymore.
This was something deeper.
More dangerous.
More personal.
And Aarav?
He wasn’t just her bodyguard.
He was becoming something else.
Something she couldn’t ignore anymore.
To be continued… 😏🔥
“Why were they attacked…
and what is Aarav still hiding from Reya?”
- Writer
