Ruh ki Thirkan

Chapter 27: The Ice Between Them

Ishika walked into the studio the next day, her chest tight with anxiety. She knew things had escalated between her and Arav, but she had no idea what to expect from him today. His parting words from yesterday echoed in her mind: *“You want professional? You’ll get it. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”*

The tension between them had reached a breaking point, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate the situation. She tried to shake off the weight of the previous day, but it clung to her like a shadow. Taking a deep breath, she told herself to stay focused—focus on the routine, on the dance, and not on Arav.

As she stepped into the studio, the air felt different. It was colder, heavier. The other dancers were already warming up, but the usual chatter was absent. Everyone was aware of the tension between her and Arav. It was impossible to miss, and it made the atmosphere almost unbearable.

Ishika scanned the room, and there he was—Arav. Standing by the mirror, his arms crossed, his eyes locked on her the moment she walked in. His face was unreadable, cold, and it sent a chill down her spine. He didn’t say a word, didn’t acknowledge her, just stared with that same hard, piercing gaze that felt like it could see through every layer she tried to hide behind.

*Ignore him,* she told herself. *Just get through the session.*

She quickly joined the other dancers, forcing her attention to the routine ahead. But it was impossible to ignore the oppressive presence of Arav’s eyes on her every move. His gaze was like a weight pressing down on her, scrutinizing her, waiting for her to make a mistake.

“Alright, let’s get started,” Arav’s voice cut through the silence. His tone was sharp, more clipped than usual. He clapped his hands, signaling the beginning of the routine. “No distractions today. I expect absolute precision.”

His eyes flickered briefly to Ishika before moving on, but that one glance carried all the weight of the unspoken words between them. She swallowed hard, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that had settled in her chest.

---

The music started, and they began their routine. Ishika focused on her movements, trying to drown out everything else. The rhythm of the music, the flow of the choreography—those were the only things that mattered right now.

But Arav was relentless. His corrections came swiftly, sharply, and with far less patience than usual.

“No, Ishika. You’re out of time,” he snapped as they moved into a particularly difficult sequence. “Do it again.”

Her muscles ached from the intensity of the routine, but she pushed through, determined not to show any weakness. The last thing she wanted was to give him any more reason to lash out. She repeated the move, this time keeping perfect time with the music.

But it wasn’t enough.

“Again,” Arav barked, his voice cutting through the room like a whip.

Ishika’s breath hitched. She could feel the eyes of the other dancers on her, the weight of their silent curiosity. But she didn’t falter. She gritted her teeth and repeated the sequence once more.

Still, it didn’t satisfy him.

“Again,” he ordered, his voice colder than ever.

This time, she couldn’t hold back. “I did it right!” she protested, her frustration finally spilling over.

The room fell silent, the tension snapping like a rubber band stretched too far.

Arav’s eyes locked onto hers, a dangerous glint flashing in his gaze. He took a step forward, his posture rigid, his fists clenched. “Did I ask for your opinion?” he said, his voice low and deadly calm.

Ishika’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to back down. “I’m doing what you asked. I’m doing it right.”

A muscle in Arav’s jaw twitched, his eyes narrowing as if daring her to keep going. He took another step toward her, closing the distance between them, his presence overpowering. “Do it again,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper but dripping with ice.

Her chest heaved with suppressed anger, but she knew better than to argue with him in front of everyone. Without another word, she turned back to the group and repeated the sequence, her movements sharp and precise, her body responding out of pure determination to prove herself.

This time, Arav didn’t say anything. He simply watched, his face an unreadable mask of cold detachment. When the routine finally ended, he turned to the rest of the group and gave a curt nod. “Take five,” he ordered, and the dancers quickly dispersed, eager to escape the tension in the room.

But Ishika stayed where she was, her fists clenched at her sides, her body still trembling with the effort of holding it all together. She didn’t understand why Arav was pushing her so hard. Was it because she had ignored him yesterday? Or was it something deeper—something that neither of them was willing to admit?

---

As the dancers cleared the room, Arav remained standing near the mirrors, his eyes never leaving Ishika. She could feel his gaze boring into her, but she refused to meet it. Instead, she grabbed her water bottle and made her way to the corner, trying to calm her racing heart.

But before she could even take a sip of water, she heard his voice—low, and unmistakably angry.

“Stay back, Ishika.”

Her whole body tensed. She didn’t turn around immediately, knowing full well what was coming next. Slowly, she placed her water bottle down and faced him, her chest rising and falling with her uneven breaths.

The studio was empty now, just the two of them standing in the middle of the vast space. The silence was deafening.

Arav took a few steps toward her, his expression dark and unreadable. His jaw was set, his eyes cold and sharp, and his posture radiated barely contained frustration.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His voice was low, dangerously controlled.

“I’m doing my job,” she replied, keeping her tone steady despite the knot tightening in her stomach.

He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t play games with me, Ishika. You’ve been deliberately ignoring me since yesterday, and now, you think you can just do the routine half-heartedly and get away with it?”

Her chest tightened with anger. “I’m not ignoring you, Arav. I’m trying to keep things professional, just like you said.”

Arav’s eyes darkened, and he closed the distance between them, his presence overwhelming. “Professional?” he scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Is that what you think this is?”

His words cut deeper than she expected, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She could feel the weight of everything that had happened between them, the unspoken tension, the moments of closeness that neither of them had addressed.

“You said you wanted me to focus on the dance,” she said quietly, her voice shaking slightly. “That’s what I’m doing.”

Arav’s gaze softened for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by that same cold, hard expression. “You’re lying to yourself, Ishika,” he muttered, his voice low but intense. “And you’re lying to me.”

Before she could react, he turned on his heel and walked out of the studio, leaving her standing there, stunned and confused. She wanted to scream, to chase after him and demand answers, but she stayed frozen in place, her emotions swirling like a storm inside her.

*What does he want from me?*

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Lots of Love
-Your Author 🌼