Ruh ki Thirkan

Chapter 40: The Walls Between Us

The days following their tense meeting were nothing short of a battleground. Every time Arav and Ishika crossed paths, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. In the studio, Arav’s interactions with her were cold, mechanical, devoid of any trace of their shared history. He made it a point to address her as "Miss Kapoor" at every turn, maintaining a strict professional demeanor. His voice, when directed at her, was sharp—an edge to every word that felt like a reminder of the chasm that now separated them.

For Ishika, each passing day grew more suffocating. The familiarity of the studio, where she had once felt at home, now felt like a hostile environment. Arav’s cold shoulder was one thing, but it was the constant comparison to their past that tore at her heart. She tried to focus on the work, burying herself in the business side of the project, but her mind was always spinning. She could feel his eyes on her sometimes, though he never acknowledged her beyond what was necessary.

One afternoon, as they worked on finalizing the choreography for the dance film, tensions reached a new height. The team was gathered in the main rehearsal hall, discussing last-minute changes Arav wanted to implement.

“This move needs more precision,” Arav said, demonstrating a step with swift, calculated movements. He turned to the group, eyes scanning each dancer before landing on Ishika. “And it needs to be executed perfectly, especially by those who struggle with attention to detail.”

The pointed remark wasn’t lost on anyone, least of all Ishika.

“I understand,” she replied calmly, biting back her frustration.

“I hope so,” Arav added, the dismissal in his tone clear.

The rehearsal continued with a cold formality, but Ishika couldn’t shake the feeling of being singled out. His words, his tone—it was all designed to remind her of her place, as though he still blamed her for everything. As the day wore on, the atmosphere only thickened, and by the end of the session, Ishika could feel the weight of his anger pressing down on her like a heavy cloud.

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Later that evening, after everyone had left the studio, Ishika stayed back, needing time to clear her mind. The empty hall felt vast and lonely, her footsteps echoing as she walked across the floor. She remembered the first time she had walked into this place—so full of hope, so full of excitement. Now, it felt like a place of ghosts, haunted by what could have been.

She stopped in front of the large mirrors, staring at her reflection. The woman who looked back at her seemed different—more tired, more weary. Somewhere along the way, she had lost herself. Dance used to be her escape, her freedom. But now, even that felt tainted.

As she stood there, lost in thought, she didn’t hear Arav enter the studio. He had returned to retrieve some notes but stopped short when he saw her standing alone, her silhouette bathed in the dim light of the room. For a moment, he hesitated, watching her silently. Something about the way she stood there, so still, stirred something deep inside him—something he wasn’t ready to confront.

He cleared his throat, making his presence known.

Ishika snapped out of her thoughts, turning to face him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them palpable.

“Still here?” Arav finally asked, his voice more even than before but still distant.

“I needed some time,” she replied softly. “To think.”

Arav nodded, though the coldness in his eyes didn’t fade. “It’s getting late. You should go.”

Ishika didn’t move. Instead, she took a step closer, her gaze steady. “Why do you hate me so much, Arav?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and sharp.

He didn’t answer immediately, his jaw tightening as he looked away. “I don’t hate you.”

“Then why do you act like you do?” she pressed, her voice quiet but insistent. “Every time we’re in the same room, it’s like you’re punishing me. I understand you’re angry, but this…this is more than that.”

Arav’s fists clenched at his sides, the familiar rage bubbling to the surface. “You left, Ishika,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Without a word. You walked out of my life like it meant nothing. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“There’s always a choice,” he snapped, his anger spilling over. “But you didn’t trust me enough to let me in. You didn’t even give me the chance to understand.”

His words cut deep, and Ishika felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She had expected this confrontation, but hearing his pain laid bare was harder than she thought.

“I had to leave,” she said softly, struggling to keep her voice steady. “My family… they needed me. I couldn’t stay, not when they were counting on me to take over the business. I didn’t want to walk away from you, from dance, but I had no other choice.”

Arav shook his head, his jaw set in a hard line. “There’s always another choice,” he repeated, his voice bitter. “But you didn’t even try.”

Silence fell between them, thick with unresolved tension. Ishika’s heart ached, but she knew there was nothing she could say that would change the past. She had made her decision, and now she had to live with the consequences.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Arav didn’t respond. He turned on his heel, his back to her as he walked toward the door.

“Goodnight, Miss Kapoor,” he said coldly, and without another word, he left her standing alone in the darkened studio.

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As the days went by, Arav tried to bury himself in work, determined to forget the confrontation. But no matter how hard he tried, Ishika’s words haunted him. He had told himself he was over it—that he didn’t care anymore—but seeing her again, hearing her voice, it all brought back the pain he had tried so hard to suppress.

He threw himself into rehearsals, pushing his dancers harder than ever. His strict demeanor returned full force, and the rumors of his cold-heartedness only grew. He had become the Arav Malhotra that the world knew—a ruthless choreographer who demanded nothing short of perfection. But behind the façade, the storm inside him raged on.

As for Ishika, she continued to keep her distance, focusing on her responsibilities at Kapoor Industries. But every time she passed the studio, every time she heard the music drifting through the doors, her heart ached. She had sacrificed her dreams for her family, but at what cost?

The tension between them remained, an invisible wall that neither of them could break through. Yet, despite the coldness, despite the anger, there was something else beneath the surface—something they both felt but refused to acknowledge.

And as they moved through their separate lives, fate had a way of bringing them together, no matter how much they tried to resist.

Their story was far from over.

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Lots of Love
-Your Author 🌼