Fire In Hearts

Chapter 12

"Sir, the deal’s confirmed. Congratulations, you just secured the biggest acquisition of the year," his assistant announced, stepping into his office cautiously.

Kartik didn’t even look up from the papers he was signing. "Good. Schedule the meeting with the investors for tomorrow morning," he said, his voice low, almost mechanical.

Kartik had built walls around himself, high and impenetrable. The media still loved him, but now it was all for show. He smiled for the cameras, laughed at interviews, but everything was fake—a performance. His paparazzi appearances were meticulously crafted, each smile, each wave, calculated and void of any real warmth. His fans, the public, they bought it. They saw the same Kartik they adored, but those close to him knew better.

Even his real fans could guess.

His assistant said again, "And, uh, about the premiere tomorrow night…you’ll be attending by Ruchika's Fashion?”

At that, Kartik finally looked up, his expression still the same, "Yes I promised her to be a showstopper in her function"

"Kartik Rumours ki chinta karna kab sikhoge? You are a public figure" a girl from his PR team barged inside fussing over.

"Main kese life lead karunga that's upto me so don’t tell me what to do or what not", Kartik said angrily and stood up.

He had thrown himself into work—into building an empire and career that no one could touch, that no one could tear down. But every now and then, in the quiet moments, when the cameras were gone and the world wasn’t watching, he felt the emptiness creeping in.

Sara had adapted to her new life in Delhi. She had become a successful writer whose books started earning much popularity, her archeological research work was going good and she was helping her father with his business, just as her parents had hoped. She threw herself into her work, much like Kartik had done, but it didn’t mean her heart had forgotten him.

In evening, Sara was scrolling through social media absentmindedly when she saw something that made her heart stop.

Kartik, looking as dashing as ever, was walking the ramp at a fashion event for none other than Ruchika—the same Ruchika who had thrown herself into Kartik’s arms at his birthday party last year. The same Ruchika who was his best friend. The same Ruchika to whom he had once called her "just a good friend"

"Ab bhi tu usse pyaar karti hain na?" Sara Vaisoha was sitting beside Sara.

"Ek saal purani baat lekar tu ab bhi baithi hain?" Sara chuckled but didn’t deny.

"Paar tu to waise hi dekh raha hain usse jaise ek saal pehle dekhti thi"

Sara didn’t reply and looked back at her phone.

Kartik was in a sleek black suit, looking every bit the superstar he had become, walking confidently down the ramp. Ruchika stood at the end of the runway, smiling proudly as her designs were displayed, and then… Kartik joined her, and they posed together.

"Kartik khush hain uske saath to kya farak padta hain?" she chuckled sadly.

"Kisne kaha ki woh Ruchika ke saath relationship main hain?" Vaisoha questioned.

"Tu sab janti hain Vaishu"

She tossed her phone aside and tried to focus on something else, but the image of them standing together was burned into her mind.

"Main baat karu Kartik se?"

"No...yeh baat pehle bhi ho chuki hain"

"Fine"

She opened her laptop, forcing herself to review research papers for an upcoming project. But the words blurred on the screen, her mind unable to focus.

"Accha tu ab kaam kar...main packing complete kar lu apni kal subeh flight hain meri" Vaisoha said kissing top of her head.

For the past year, Kartik and Sara had only exchanged messages on special occasions—festival wishes, birthday greetings, and the occasional update about life. Each message felt like a small thread that kept them connected, but never close enough to feel the warmth they once shared.

They messaged vice versa sometimes he messaged first sometimes she. Birthdays, New Year, Diwali, Eid nothing could be completed for them until other one's message came. Though the messages were just way too cold contrast to the fire in their heart.

Kartik had spent most of his time in Delhi, especially during the festive season, celebrating with his family. However, despite being in the same city as Sara, they never managed to meet, except for two brief encounters at business meetings involving their fathers.

The first meeting had been awkward. It was six months after their last heartfelt conversation, and they barely exchanged more than a few words. Kartik had shown up in a sharp suit, looking every bit the powerful businessman he had become,

while Sara, in her elegant attire, played the perfect daughter, representing her father's business interests. They exchanged formal smiles,

both painfully aware of how much had changed.

The second meeting was no different. They sat across from each other in a large conference room, discussing numbers and logistics, but the tension between them was palpable. Kartik had stolen a few glances at her when no one was watching.

Each night from last year , as both of them lay in their respective beds—Sara in Delhi and Kartik in Mumbai—they each stared at the moonlit sky outside their windows, wondering the same thing: Was this how things were always going to be? Just festival wishes and polite conversations? Or was there still something left, waiting for the right moment to bring them back together?

They didn’t have any answer.

The next day Sara went to see off Vaisoha to the airport and went to office.

"Hello Mam" Priya greeted her as she entered. Priya had joined the company some days ago.

"Priya I told you that you can call me Sara"

Priya gave her a fake smile. During a discussion, she deliberately raised the topic of Kartik's ramp with Ruchika.

"Kaam ki baat kare?" Sara said sternly. But her heart was breaking into pieces every second.

Priya was always jealous of Sara and knowing her weakness towards Kartik by watching how broken she looked by the mention of his name made her evily happy.

She tried her best making Sara believe that Kartik had moved on and would never turn back. Sara believed her not entirely but her words worked as slow poison each day.

Anyways destiny had some plans too. Kartik had to shift Delhi for some reason as he took a break after a wrap up of a long movie shoot and his father needed his accompany just like Sara's father did a year ago. Kartik had to agree. So he would be going Delhi in next week for a new beginning.

Sara Vaisoha returned to Mumbai the next day and she did an unexpected thing that Sara might not prefer but wouldn’t be hurt either. At least after the not denying sentence of loving Kartik, she had to do that for her best friend.

Vaisoha took an appointment to meet someone. She entered a cabin of a fashion designer and smiled forwarding a hand,

"Hi Ruchika, I'm Sara Vaisoha"

Cliffhanger:) don’t worry today 2 parts will come. The next one probably at night✌️