Ruh ki Thirkan

Chapter 24: Arav's Inner Battle

Arav stood in the middle of the empty studio, his chest still heaving from the intensity of what had just transpired. The air felt thick, as though the emotions he had been trying so hard to bury were pressing in on him from all sides. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, trying to regain control of his breath, his body, his thoughts—but everything was spiraling out of his grasp.

What had just happened?

He cursed under his breath, pacing back and forth in the vast space. Every step echoed in the silence, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the whirlwind inside him. His mind replayed the look on Ishika’s face when he had pulled her into that dance, the way her body had fit so perfectly against his. And then that moment—their faces just inches apart, her breath mingling with his—he had almost crossed a line he wasn’t ready to admit even existed.

*What’s wrong with you?* he scolded himself, clenching his fists. He had never been this reckless. His career was built on control, discipline, and a strict code of professionalism. But with Ishika, all of that crumbled into chaos.

He couldn’t deny it anymore. That dance wasn’t just about teaching her a lesson in emotion or technique. It was something else entirely. The way she had moved with him, the way she looked at him… it stirred something deep inside him, something he had been refusing to acknowledge for weeks.

*You’re supposed to be her mentor, not this…* His thoughts trailed off as he leaned against the mirrored wall, eyes closed, trying to shut out the guilt gnawing at him. He had been so hard on her, pushing her to the point of exhaustion, lashing out at every small mistake. But he knew now it wasn’t about her technique—it was about his growing inability to control how he felt around her.

Arav clenched his jaw, his fists tightening by his sides. It wasn’t just her dancing. It was *her*. Everything about Ishika was getting under his skin—her fiery determination, her vulnerability, the way she never backed down from a challenge. And that smile. That damn smile that used to light up the studio. The one he hadn’t seen in weeks.

And then there was Raj.

His blood boiled at the thought of Raj. The way he lingered around Ishika, always offering her comfort, support, whatever she needed. That conversation Arav had overheard between them still rang in his ears, a reminder of how much he hated the easy familiarity they shared. The way Raj could make her smile with just a few words, while Arav’s presence seemed to bring only tension and harshness.

*What right do you have to feel like this?* he thought bitterly. He didn’t want to admit it, but the jealousy was real. Every time Raj and Ishika laughed together, every time he saw them share a moment, it felt like a punch to the gut. He wasn’t supposed to care. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything for her beyond the role of a mentor, a teacher. But here he was, seething with jealousy, unsure of how to handle any of it.

Arav’s eyes shot open, his reflection staring back at him in the mirror. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression twisted with frustration. He looked like a man on the edge of losing control, and that terrified him. He had never been this emotional, this vulnerable.

*This has to stop.*

He pushed away from the wall and grabbed his jacket, slinging it over his shoulder as he stormed out of the studio. He needed air, space—anything to clear his head from the chaos swirling inside. But even as he stepped outside into the cool night, the frustration didn’t ease. If anything, the distance between him and the studio only made the thoughts race faster.

*I need to shut this down,* he thought, determined to regain control. *I need to focus on what matters. My career. My discipline. This… whatever this is with Ishika… it’s a distraction.*

But even as he tried to convince himself, a part of him knew it wasn’t that simple. Ishika was more than just a distraction. She had somehow become the center of his thoughts, the source of his turmoil, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

As Arav walked down the dimly lit street, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it at first, his mind too tangled to deal with anything else. But after a few moments, he pulled it out to see a message from the studio’s manager about an upcoming showcase.

He paused, reading through the details, and then stopped in his tracks. His heart thudded in his chest as an idea began to form.

*The showcase.*

It was a major event, one that drew attention from every corner of the dance world. And Ishika… she had potential, more potential than even she realized. If he could get her to perform, push her to her limits, maybe that would be the distraction he needed. Maybe that would put things back in their rightful place.

Arav’s mind raced as the plan solidified. He would train her for the showcase, put all of his energy into perfecting her performance. It would be the perfect excuse to keep working with her without letting his feelings get in the way. It would also give him a reason to stay close, even if it was for professional reasons.

*Focus on the work. That’s what matters.* He would make sure she shined on that stage, and maybe, just maybe, he could bury these unwanted feelings once and for all.

With renewed determination, Arav turned back toward the studio. This wasn’t about emotions or jealousy or the mess he had found himself in. This was about creating something exceptional. And if that meant working with Ishika every day, he would make it work—no matter how hard it became to ignore the fire growing between them.

*Keep it professional, Arav. Keep it about the dance.*

But even as he told himself that, a part of him knew that once he stepped back into that studio, the lines between personal and professional would blur even further. He was playing with fire—and it was only a matter of time before he got burned.

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Lots of Love
-Your Author 🌼