Ruh ki Thirkan

Chapter 30: Arav's POV - The Unraveling

Arav sat in his office, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the room. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—anger, jealousy, and an unsettling feeling that gnawed at him like a festering wound. He had replayed the confrontation with Ishika in his mind a thousand times, each time feeling worse about it.

He hadn’t meant to lose control like that. Grabbing her wrist, dragging her to his office—it was as if something inside him had snapped. And the worst part? He knew he was wrong. He could see it in the way she had looked at him, hurt and confused, as if she couldn’t recognize the man standing in front of her. *What the hell is happening to me?*

Arav clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he stared at his reflection in the glass window. *I’m losing it.* All these years, he had been so focused, so in control. His career, his reputation, everything had been built on discipline and perfection. And now, this one woman—this one dancer—was unraveling him.

He stood up abruptly, needing to move, needing to do something to stop the relentless thoughts spinning in his head. His steps echoed across the empty studio as he made his way to the rehearsal space, hoping that working out the routine might calm his mind. But when he pushed open the door, he froze.

Ishika was there. Alone.

Her back was to him as she moved across the floor, her body flowing through the routine with a grace that seemed almost effortless. Arav’s breath caught in his throat as he watched her, the soft music filling the room, her movements precise yet emotional. For a moment, he just stood there, unable to tear his eyes away from her.

He had never seen her like this—so vulnerable, so raw. She wasn’t just dancing; she was pouring her heart into every step, every movement. And it hit him like a punch to the gut. This was the girl he had pushed away, the one he had been so harsh with. The one he couldn’t stop thinking about, no matter how much he tried.

*Why do I care so damn much?*

He didn’t want to. He had always been able to separate his personal life from his work. But with Ishika, that line had blurred long ago. Every time he saw her with Raj, something dark and possessive bubbled up inside him, something he wasn’t ready to confront. And today… today he had crossed a line.

Ishika spun in a perfect pirouette, landing gracefully before collapsing onto the floor, out of breath. She sat there, her chest heaving, clearly exhausted. Arav felt a strange pull toward her, a need to go to her, to apologize, to explain… but the words stuck in his throat.

Before he could move, she sensed his presence. Her eyes flicked up, locking with his, and the air between them seemed to thicken with tension.

“I didn’t know you were still here,” she said quietly, her voice emotionless, as if she had built a wall around herself.

Arav nodded stiffly, his gaze still fixed on her. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Ishika didn’t respond right away, instead turning her head slightly as if she were weighing her words carefully. “I’m done anyway,” she said, rising to her feet. “You don’t have to worry about me being here anymore.”

There it was again—that coldness, that distance she had been putting between them for days. And it was driving him mad. He took a step forward, his voice betraying the frustration he felt. “Why are you avoiding me, Ishika?”

Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief. “Avoiding you? Are you serious?” she asked, her tone sharp. “You’re the one who’s been treating me like I don’t belong here, like I’m nothing but a nuisance.”

“That’s not true,” Arav shot back, though he knew deep down there was some truth to her words. He had been harsh, too harsh. But it wasn’t because he thought she was a nuisance. It was because he couldn’t handle the way she made him feel.

“Isn’t it?” she countered, crossing her arms defensively. “Every time I turn around, you’re criticizing me, lashing out at me. And for what? Because I’m friends with Raj?”

There it was—Raj’s name again. The name that made his blood boil.

Arav’s jaw tightened, and he struggled to keep his voice steady. “This has nothing to do with Raj.”

“Doesn’t it?” Ishika’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “Because it sure feels like it has *everything* to do with him. You can’t stand the fact that we’re friends, and I don’t understand why.”

Arav’s pulse quickened as the words tumbled out of her mouth, hitting him square in the chest. She was right. It *was* about Raj. Every time he saw them together, laughing, talking, something ugly twisted inside him. But how could he explain that to her without revealing the truth?

“Raj is… irrelevant,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “This isn’t about him.”

“Then what is it about, Arav?” Ishika’s voice was louder now, angrier. “What’s your problem with me? Why do you keep pushing me away?”

Her words pierced through him, cutting deeper than he cared to admit. His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt like he was on the verge of saying something he couldn’t take back. But the truth was, he didn’t even know what to say. He didn’t understand his own feelings, let alone how to explain them to her.

Arav took another step toward her, closing the distance between them. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, the room seemed to still. The air was thick with unspoken words, with tension and confusion. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, her presence overwhelming him.

“Ishika…” he started, his voice low, rough with emotion. “I…”

But he couldn’t finish. The words stuck in his throat, tangled in the mess of his emotions. He didn’t know how to tell her what he was feeling, how to admit that his anger had more to do with himself than with her.

Ishika shook her head, her expression hardening. “You know what? Don’t bother,” she said, her voice thick with frustration. “I’m tired of this. I’m tired of you.”

The words stung, sharper than he had expected. He watched as she turned to leave, her back stiff, her steps quick. And in that moment, something inside him broke. He couldn’t let her walk away. Not again.

“Ishika, wait,” he called out, his voice rough. She paused, her back still to him, but she didn’t turn around. Arav clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him. He wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.

“Why does this matter so much to you?” Ishika finally asked, her voice soft but laced with exhaustion. “Why do you care what I do?”

Arav opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Because he didn’t have an answer. At least, not one he was ready to admit.

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Lots of Love
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