Arav stared at the door long after Ishika had left the studio. His jaw was clenched, his heart pounding in his chest as her familiar presence stirred old memories he had long buried. He had felt something break inside him the night she left, something he wasn’t willing to acknowledge. But seeing her again—after all these years—had shaken him to his core.
For a moment, he had faltered. When her eyes met his, a flood of emotions had surged forward, threatening to drown him. But Arav had always been a master at controlling his emotions. He had forced himself to look away, to pretend she didn’t exist. That was the only way he knew how to survive her betrayal.
“Arav, is everything alright?” his assistant asked, snapping him back to reality.
“Yes,” he replied, his voice sharp. “Get the schedule for the next few days. We need to tighten things up.”
As the assistant hurried to comply, Arav let out a slow breath, willing the storm inside him to calm down. For the past 2.5 years, he had worked tirelessly to rebuild his life without her. Every day, he reminded himself that he didn’t need anyone, least of all Ishika Kapoor. He had been fine before her, and he would continue to be fine now. *But why does she have to return? Why now, when everything is falling into place?*
His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Glancing at the screen, he saw an incoming call from the director of a new project—an ambitious dance film they had been planning for months. Arav answered, forcing his mind to focus on the work at hand. He had no time for distractions, especially not from the woman who had shattered him.
---
Meanwhile, Ishika hurried out of the studio, her breath uneven as she tried to hold back tears. She had hoped for a different reunion—one filled with warmth or at least some recognition. But what she got was coldness that pierced her deeper than anything she could have imagined. His words, “Do I know you?” echoed painfully in her mind.
Once outside, Ishika leaned against the wall, allowing herself a moment to process what had just happened. Her chest ached with the weight of their broken relationship. She had expected anger from Arav, even indifference, but the absolute rejection she saw in his eyes had shaken her to the core.
*He really doesn’t care anymore.*
Her phone buzzed in her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from her mother, reminding her of the upcoming meeting with an important investor for their new venture. Ishika sighed, pushing her emotions aside as she responded. Her family had pulled her back from Paris, insisting she take up more responsibilities at home, and she had no choice but to oblige. Dance was behind her now. It had to be.
---
The following days passed in a blur for both of them. Arav immersed himself in work, conducting rehearsals with a ruthless efficiency that left no room for error. He barked instructions at his dancers, pushing them harder than ever, making sure every detail was perfect. His reputation had only grown in her absence, and he wore his success like armor. Yet every time he closed his eyes, memories of Ishika resurfaced—her laughter, the way she moved across the studio, the passion in her eyes when she danced.
But those memories only made him angrier. How could she have left without a word? After all they had been through, how could she turn her back on everything they had built together?
He wasn’t going to let her affect him again. Not now, not ever.
That evening, as Arav reviewed choreography alone in his office, his phone buzzed again. This time it was a message from the project’s producer, requesting a meeting at Ishika’s company headquarters the next day to finalize the collaboration. Arav froze for a second. He hadn’t anticipated crossing paths with her professionally.
*Of course, she would be involved. Kapoor Industries is handling the funding,* he realized bitterly.
The idea of working with her was infuriating, but there was no way out. The project was too important to walk away from, and he wasn’t about to let his personal issues get in the way. *It will be purely professional,* he reminded himself. *Strictly business.*
---
The next day, Ishika sat in her office, preparing for the meeting. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Arav again, but this time she was determined to be professional. No matter what happened between them personally, she couldn’t afford to let it affect her work.
When Arav walked into the conference room, the temperature seemed to drop. His presence was commanding, his expression stoic. He greeted everyone in the room with curt nods, completely ignoring Ishika’s presence.
The meeting began, and Arav remained focused on the project, outlining his vision with the same intensity and precision he brought to everything. But every time Ishika tried to contribute, his responses were short and dismissive, as if her input was irrelevant. His cold shoulder was painfully obvious to everyone in the room, but no one dared to address it.
After the meeting ended, Ishika gathered her notes and turned to leave, but Arav’s voice stopped her.
“Miss Kapoor,” he said, his tone formal and distant, “I expect you to remain professional throughout this project.”
Ishika froze at the door, his words stinging more than they should. She turned to face him, meeting his gaze. “I am professional, Mr. Malhotra.”
The tension between them was palpable, but Arav didn’t back down. His eyes were cold, and there was no trace of the warmth they once shared. He looked at her as if she were a stranger, someone to be tolerated rather than cared for.
“That’s what I’m counting on,” he said icily before walking past her and out of the room.
As he left, Ishika felt a familiar pain rise in her chest. It was clear—whatever they once had was gone, and she had no idea if it could ever be restored.
---
That night, Arav lay awake in his apartment, staring at the ceiling. He had maintained his composure all day, but now, in the silence, his emotions finally caught up to him. The sight of Ishika sitting across from him, so calm, so composed, had only fueled his anger.
*How could she act like everything was fine? Like she didn’t destroy me when she left?*
No matter how hard he tried to bury his feelings, they resurfaced with a vengeance whenever he saw her. The past 2.5 years had done nothing to dull the pain of her departure. If anything, it had only made it worse. And now, they were forced to work together, forced to face each other after everything that had happened.
But Arav wasn’t going to let her back in. He had built walls around his heart, and he wasn’t about to tear them down for the woman who had walked away from him without a second thought.
He was going to protect himself this time. Even if it meant pretending she didn’t exist.
___
Lots of Love
-Your Author 🌼
YOU ARE READING
Ruh ki Thirkan
RomanceThe rhythmic beats of the music filled Ishika's small room, the walls vibrating as her feet glided across the floor. The soft hum of the ceiling fan barely drowned out the rapid breaths she took, her body moving effortlessly to the beat. Every leap...
