Too much traffic between us

In Too Deep

Vidisha stood in front of her locker, staring at her reflection in the small mirror hanging inside. The past few days had been a whirlwind. The fire at the community center had taken up most of her energy, and yet, in the quiet moments, Raunak’s words echoed in her mind, haunting her every thought. She couldn’t focus on anything without his face flashing through her memories, his touch lingering on her skin.

But now, the weight of her emotions was starting to pull her under, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on. She had crossed the line with Raunak, allowing herself to feel something she wasn’t supposed to. The forbidden nature of their connection weighed on her heavily, but it also made every encounter with him that much more intoxicating.

The day had barely begun, and already the station felt suffocating. Between the looming arson case and the mess of her emotions, Vidisha felt like she was sinking. She closed her locker and sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair.

"You’re in deep, Vidisha. You need to get out," she whispered to herself. But even as she said the words, she knew they were hollow.

Raunak had become her escape in ways she never expected. In the intensity of her life, with the adrenaline of her work and the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders, he had managed to slip through her defenses. She wasn’t sure when it had started—maybe it had been the night they spent talking after that first fire, or maybe it had been the countless moments since where he had been there, steady and unyielding. But now, she found herself thinking about him even when she knew she shouldn’t.

As she walked through the station, her footsteps heavy, she made her way outside for some fresh air. The cool breeze felt refreshing against her skin, but the reprieve was short-lived when she spotted Raunak leaning against his car in the parking lot. He was staring at his phone, looking as exhausted as she felt.

He glanced up and noticed her. For a second, she thought about turning back, retreating to the safety of the station, but something kept her feet planted on the ground.

Raunak pocketed his phone and started walking toward her. Every step he took made her pulse quicken, and by the time he was standing in front of her, she felt like she was holding her breath.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low but firm.

Vidisha stiffened. "Raunak, not here. We can’t keep—"

"I know," he interrupted, his expression serious. "But this isn’t going away. We’re in too deep, Vidisha. We can’t pretend like this doesn’t exist anymore."

She glanced around, making sure no one else was within earshot. "Raunak, we’re at work. We can’t do this right now."

"We can’t keep avoiding it either," he countered, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, the heat radiating from him only adding to the tension between them. "I don’t know what’s happening with us, but I know that ignoring it isn’t going to solve anything."

Vidisha’s heart was racing. He was right, and she hated that he was right. She had spent weeks burying her feelings, convincing herself that this was just a phase, that it would pass. But now, standing in front of him, she realized that it wasn’t going anywhere. The connection between them was undeniable, and it was consuming her.

"We’re too involved in this case, Raunak," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If we let this... thing between us interfere with our work, people could get hurt."

Raunak looked at her, his eyes searching hers. "You’re not wrong," he admitted, his tone softer now. "But that doesn’t mean we can ignore what’s happening. We just need to be careful. We can figure this out without letting it affect our jobs."

Vidisha swallowed hard, torn between her duty and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. "And what if we can’t?"

"We will," Raunak said with conviction. "We’re not the kind of people who let emotions cloud our judgment. We’re stronger than that."

His words gave her a sliver of comfort, but it wasn’t enough to erase the gnawing fear inside her. She wanted to believe him, to trust that they could handle this, but deep down, she knew that nothing about this situation was simple.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. "We need to take it one step at a time, Raunak. No more jumping into this headfirst. We have to focus on the case, and when it’s over... maybe then we can figure this out."

Raunak hesitated but eventually nodded. "Okay. One step at a time."

Vidisha opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. She could see the restraint in his expression, the desire to bridge the gap between them, but he held himself back. They were standing on a knife’s edge, and one wrong move could send them both tumbling into chaos.

"Promise me," she said, her voice softer now. "Promise me we’ll keep this professional until we get through the investigation."

Raunak looked pained, but he nodded. "I promise."

For now, it was enough. They would keep their distance, bury their feelings, and focus on the task at hand. But Vidisha knew that it was only a matter of time before the line between duty and love blurred again.

As they turned to head back inside, the air between them still crackled with unspoken tension. Vidisha couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into something neither of them was prepared for.

She glanced at Raunak one last time before entering the station, her chest tightening with the weight of what they had both left unsaid.

In too deep. The words echoed in her mind like a warning, but it was already too late.