Fire In Hearts

Chapter 16

Sara opened her mouth to speak, to protest, to say something, but no words came out. Kartik's expression was tight, his eyes flickering with conflict. He looked like he wanted to say something-anything-to stop the conversation from spiraling further, but the pressure of the room weighed heavily on them both.

He turned to their parents, his voice steady. "I don't think ki yeh sahi wakt hain"

Her father looked puzzled. "To hum konsa kal hi muhurat nikal rahe hain. Wakt lo. Ek doosre ko jaano.... Pehchano"

His father added, "Even tum dono abhi baat karlo akele main ki tumhe ek doosre ko janna hain bhi yah nahi. Humara koi pressure nahi hain. It's just a suggestion"

They had to nod but he was trying to say something more.

Sara's heart skipped a beat. Was this his way of telling their families the truth? Was he finally going to address the distance, the misunderstanding?

But he didn't say anything just nodded silently.

"Accha ab yeh sab baat rehne dete hain" Kartik's father said understanding the awkwardness between two kiddos.

"Haan tum dono socho acche se fir batao" Sara's mother added.

Their families had a wonderful time together while they kept stealing glances of each other. There wasn't nothing more they could do.

Finally it was time to leave. They greeted each other one last time. Kartik was waiting for his car to come as he wasn't going home rather for a night shoot. When her family went inside and his one left in their car. They were left alone. She was staring at him but not talking. He looked at her.

"Sara," Kartik began, his voice low. "I didn't know about this. I had no idea they were planning our marriage."

Sara exhaled shakily. "Neither did I. But Kartik... you said there's no point in us talking anymore.. I know u don't consider me worthy"

He looked shocked at her misunderstanding.

"Sara maine esa kab kaha?"

"Sab cheeze thodi na boli jaati hain kartik"

"You are worthy of everything good but I am not. I'm not worthy of you"

"Then why did you refuse to talk to me? Tum kiuki yaha vhaag ke aa gaye" she almost shouted.

"Main vhaag kiu aunga?" he almost whispered turning away not wanting to meet her gaze.

She held his arms roughly and turned him around and said that,

"You escaped. You left. Tumne ekbar bhi socha nahi ki main waha thi. Tumne ekbar bhi mujhe yaad nahi kiya...I told you that I love you still. Ek misunderstanding ke liye kitne dino tak saja doge"

He removed her hand from him and slipped his hands inside his pockets as they were shaking terribly and he didn't want her to see.

"Sara saja ki baat nahi hain. Baat hain sahi galat ki" he almost whispered.

"Aur sahi kya hain?"

"Sahi yeh hain ki you have to cancel the wedding"

"Why me? Tum kiu nahi Kartik? Bata do sabko ki how much you dislike me...how unwor"

"Main hu unworthy yaar. I know tum lonely feel kar rahi thi and you love me so much that you can't forget me. I know tum wapas ayi kiuki tum mujhse pyaar karti ho and you forgot everything but reality is yeh sab wapas hoga aur main nahi chahta ki tum humesha in sab main ati raho...those media headlines, mere bad reckless habits sab kuch. Tum vhul ke wapas aa gayi kiuki you love me but tum pyaar main sab vhul chuki ho ki tumhare liye sahi kya hain" he almost yelled.