Through Fire and Passion

Chapter 5: The Distance Between Us

Sarthak's mind raced as he stepped out into the cool night air. His heart was still pounding from the near kiss, the moment with Ankit playing over and over again in his head. He couldn't believe what had almost happened—how he had been so close to crossing a line he wasn't sure he was ready to cross.

As he hurried down the street, his thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, embarrassment, and longing. What had come over him? He wasn't the type to make bold moves like that, especially with someone like Ankit. Yet, in that brief moment, something inside him had shifted. He had felt drawn to Ankit in a way that was undeniable, even if it scared him.

By the time Sarthak reached his house, he was shaking. He quietly opened the door, careful not to wake his parents and Aisha, and slipped into his room. Leaning against the closed door, he exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm inside him. He needed distance—he needed space to think.

But how could he avoid Ankit now, especially when they were so deeply involved in clearing Aisha's name?

Meanwhile, at Danish's apartment...

Ankit stood frozen in the middle of the living room long after Sarthak had left. His mind was still reeling from the intensity of what had almost happened. For the first time in a long while, Ankit wasn't sure what to do. The confidence that usually guided him seemed to falter as he replayed the look in Sarthak's eyes—the vulnerability, the longing.

"Hey," Danish's voice broke through Ankit's thoughts, snapping him back to reality. "Is everything alright? You two seemed... tense."

Ankit hesitated, not sure how much to say. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said, his voice a little too casual. "Just a long day, I guess."

Danish gave him a searching look, clearly not convinced, but he didn't press the issue. "Alright. We'll talk more tomorrow about Aisha's case. Thanks again for all your help, Ankit."

"Of course," Ankit replied, though his mind was far from the case now. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As he left the apartment, Ankit couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between him and Sarthak. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew one thing—he didn't want to lose whatever it was.

The next few days were tense and awkward for Sarthak. He did everything he could to avoid Ankit, making excuses not to meet up or help with the investigation. His feelings were too confusing, too overwhelming, and he didn't know how to handle them. He kept replaying that almost-kiss in his head, wondering what it meant—wondering if Ankit felt the same way, or if it was just a fleeting moment that had meant nothing to him.

Meanwhile, Ankit noticed the sudden shift. He tried reaching out to Sarthak, sending him messages, calling him, but Sarthak either didn't respond or made excuses to avoid meeting. At first, Ankit tried to brush it off, but as the days passed, frustration and confusion began to settle in. He couldn't understand why Sarthak was pulling away, especially after how close they had gotten.

One afternoon, after another day of radio silence from Sarthak, Ankit found himself sitting in a café near the school, staring at his phone. He wanted to give Sarthak space, but at the same time, he hated the distance that had grown between them.

"Are you going to sit there and brood all day?" Danish's voice suddenly broke into his thoughts, startling Ankit.

Ankit looked up to see his brother sliding into the seat across from him, his expression curious. "What's going on with you?" Danish asked, leaning forward. "You've been distracted all week."

Ankit sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had been trying to keep his thoughts about Sarthak to himself, but clearly, Danish had noticed his preoccupation.

"It's... complicated," Ankit said after a moment, deciding to be honest. "It's about Sarthak."

Danish's eyebrows shot up. "Sarthak? What's going on between you two?"

Ankit hesitated, not sure how to explain. "I don't know," he admitted, leaning back in his chair. "We've been working together on Aisha's case, and we got close. But then... something happened, and now he's pulling away. He won't talk to me, won't even meet with me."

Danish frowned, concern evident in his expression. "What happened between you two?"

Ankit sighed, not sure how much to reveal. "We almost... I don't know. We almost kissed."

Danish blinked in surprise, but to Ankit's relief, he didn't seem shocked or judgmental. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, considering the situation.

"So, you like him," Danish said after a moment, his tone more thoughtful than accusatory.

Ankit shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know. Maybe? It's just... complicated."

Danish nodded, his expression softening. "Sarthak's been through a lot, Ankit. He's not the kind of guy to dive into things headfirst. He probably doesn't know what to make of his feelings, especially if he's never dealt with anything like this before."

Ankit sighed, realizing that Danish was probably right. Sarthak had always been shy and reserved, and the intensity of what had almost happened between them might have scared him.

"So what do I do?" Ankit asked, looking at his brother. "Do I just wait for him to come around?"

Danish was quiet for a moment, then he smiled slightly. "You've never been the type to wait for anything, Ankit. If you care about him, talk to him. Show him that you're serious."

Ankit nodded, feeling a sense of resolve settle in. He wasn't one to sit back and let things fall apart. If Sarthak was pulling away out of fear or confusion, Ankit would make sure he knew that he didn't have to be afraid.