Fire In Hearts

Chapter 4

The next day, as Sara and Ibrahim arrived at Kartik’s house for lunch, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Kartik had made an effort to make everything perfect.

Sara’s heart fluttered when she saw him, and Kartik felt the same when their eyes met. There was that undeniable pull, a connection growing stronger with every passing moment.

He couldn’t take his eyes off of. She was effortlessly beautiful, the kind of beauty that didn’t need anything extra.....just her presence was enough to light up the room.

Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and every now and then, she’d tuck a strand behind her ear when she smiled. And that smile—Kartik could swear he felt his heart skip every time he saw it.

"Kartik how's your shoot going?" Ibrahim asked and they engrossed in that.

Sara was admiring him too.

He was looking... stunning in casuals. She had noticed him at the football game, of course, but seeing him like this—relaxed, in his home, smiling so warmly—made her stomach do little flips.

His dark, slightly messy hair, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke—it was almost too much.

They did frequent eye contacts though blushed it off.

After they finished eating, Ibrahim excused himself to take a call, leaving Kartik and Sara alone in the living room. Kartik offered Sara a tour of his house, trying to keep things light despite the nervous energy buzzing between them.

As they wandered around, they ended up in the garden, where they casually chatted about their lives. Kartik couldn't help but steal glances at her.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

It was his mom calling.

"Sorry, I need to take this...important hain" he said, stepping aside.

"Haan haan sure" she smiled and nodded with a soft smile, watching him walk a few steps away, but she couldn’t help overhearing bits of his conversation.

"Yeah mummy....I know she misses me..I miss my sweety too...wese main agle hafte Delhi aa raha hu...I'll spend a day with her for God sake...mine and her date" he laughed softly

Sara’s heart sank. The words hit her like a brick. It sounded like Kartik was in a relationship and maybe more than that as he was talking to his mom about that girl. She had been falling hard for him, only to overhear this.

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly turned around, not wanting to listen anymore. Of course he had someone, she thought. Why would someone like him be single?

She went away from him not to notice by him hearing his conversation.

Feeling foolish, she took a deep breath and stepped back inside the house, her emotions swirling.

Kartik ended the call and returned, his heart racing from the thought of seeing Sara again. But as he approached, he noticed her body language had changed.

“Everything okay?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

“Yeah, totally,” Sara replied quickly, her voice too bright, too fake.

"Sach main?"

"I'm fine Kartik"

But Kartik could tell something was off. She wasn’t making eye contact anymore, and her responses were shorter.

"Kya kar rahe ho aap dono?" Ibrahim came.

"Kuch nahi baas Sara ko garden dikhane le gaya tha"

"Ibrahim we should go na?" Sara said.