Fire In Hearts

Chapter 13

After Priya's words, Sara saw the pictures of Kartik and Ruchika. The way she was looking at him was telling something. Sara was sure that Ruchika had feelings for him and articles said so too. There was a viral video too where Ruchika whispered something to Kartik when she came to the stage as a designer and both brust into laughter. Sara felt an unknown pain in her chest but also a relief watching Kartik happy not with her but at least with someone.

Sara thought it but the realised media did dirty to her too but that didn’t mean anything but that was right too. After Ruchika, everything messed up in real and Kartik never visited her even when he came to Delhi.

"Hi Sara Vaisoha...if I am not wrong then you are..?" Ruchika stood up shaking hands.

"I'm Sara's friend...."

"Oh my God...I know you. Kartik ne bataya tha. Come sit please" Ruchika smiled briefly standing up. The warmth was visible in her gestures.

Vaisoha said,

"Mujhe kuch personal baat karni thi apse to yaha..."

"Haan haan sure...let's sit on the couch and please don’t call me app" Ruchika smiled

She then called for two coffees and then instructed not to allow anyone inside.

The girls sat down on the couch.

Vaisoha took a deep breathe and said,"I want to talk to you about Kartik"

"Of course. What do you want to know?" Ruchika’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unspoken crossing her features.

"I know you’re close to him. I want to understand how things have been since Sara left. They were... well, you know" Vaisoha said carefully, trying to navigate the sensitive topic.

"Main na normal baate bhi thodi der se samajti hu...to thoda detailing please" Ruchika giggled.

"Sara ko lagta hain ki tum aur Kartik relationship main ho isiliye woh Kartik se reconnect hone ki koshis tak nahi karti paar she still feels for him" Vaisoha said in one breathe.

"Iska matlab main sahi thi" Ruchika replied. Her smiley face fell down which made Vaisoha sad too.

"Tumhe andaja tha?"

"Jyada nahi paar pehle din bhi laga tha paar baad main Sara pe gussa bhi aya tha jab woh Kartik ko chod ke chali gayi...par fir"

"Fir?" Vaisoha questioned.

Ruchika took a sip of her coffee, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and regret. "It’s been complicated. After Sara left, I found myself developing feelings for him. At first, I thought maybe I could fill the space she left behind"

Vaisoha raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what happened?"

"I realized that he wasn't just missing someone to fill a void; he needed Sara. Usse Sara hi chahiye jesi woh hain aur koi bhi nahi", Ruchika explained.

"Tum Kartik se pyaar karti ho? Still now?"

"Nahi...there were some feelings earlier but not anymore"

"Tum kya sach main chahti thi ki Sara chali jaye"

"Hell no...kabhi nahi...pichle ek saalo main maine hazar baar Kartik ko bola hain to meet her and sort out" Ruchika replied seriously.

"Kya Kartik somehow feels for you?"

"Hum pichle ek saalo main baas char bar mile hain aur woh bhi mere request pe. Main message na karu to woh samne se kabhi call yah message bhi nahi karta" Ruchika laughed.