Too much traffic between us

Cracks in the Armor

Vidisha was trying to focus. The arsonist’s pattern had shifted, and the entire team was on edge, pouring over new evidence, analyzing every detail that might give them a lead. But her concentration kept slipping, and no matter how much she tried to bury herself in the work, thoughts of Raunak clawed their way to the surface.

She rubbed her eyes, exhaustion tugging at her, both mentally and physically. Over the past few days, the weight of balancing her professional responsibilities with her increasingly complicated personal life had grown unbearable. She had promised Raunak they would take things slow, keep their distance until the case was solved, but every time they crossed paths, her resolve weakened.

The firehouse was buzzing with activity, radios crackling with updates, firefighters moving in and out, strategizing the next steps. Vidisha was reviewing a report when Sameer dropped into the chair beside her, a grim expression on his face.

“You look like you haven’t slept in days,” he said, his voice laced with concern.

Vidisha gave a tired smile. “Thanks, Sameer. Really needed that compliment.”

He chuckled, though his eyes softened. “Seriously though, this case is hitting everyone hard. The chief thinks the arsonist might escalate soon. We can’t afford to be distracted.”

The word "distracted" hit her like a punch in the gut. Vidisha forced herself to nod. “I know. I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

Sameer studied her for a moment, clearly sensing that something was off. But thankfully, he didn’t pry further. Instead, he handed her a file.

“This just came in from the police. Another suspicious fire downtown. It fits the pattern.”

Vidisha took the file, flipping it open. “Damn it. This guy is getting bolder. If we don’t catch him soon…”

“I know,” Sameer said, his voice heavy. “We need to be ready for anything.”

As he stood to leave, Vidisha glanced out of the corner of her eye and spotted Raunak in the hallway. He was talking to one of the detectives, but his gaze kept drifting toward her, as if he could sense her unease. The moment their eyes met, her pulse quickened, and she quickly looked back down at the file in front of her.

The cracks were beginning to show. She could feel it. Her control, her ability to separate her feelings from her duty—it was slipping.

The arsonist wasn’t the only threat looming over her anymore.

---

Later that afternoon, the fire department was dispatched to a scene that sent everyone into overdrive. An old warehouse on the outskirts of the city had gone up in flames, and this time, the fire was bigger, more dangerous than anything they had dealt with before.

Vidisha and her team arrived at the scene, the air thick with smoke, the smell of burning wood and chemicals filling her lungs. The fire roared, an unstoppable beast consuming everything in its path. The heat was suffocating, the flames licking the sky in shades of orange and red.

“Stay sharp!” Vidisha called out to her team as they prepared to enter the burning building. They didn’t have much time—the structure was already weakening under the heat, and every second counted.

As they moved into the heart of the fire, Vidisha’s training took over. The roar of the flames, the crackling of burning debris, it all faded into the background as she focused on the task at hand. But even in the chaos, her thoughts kept circling back to Raunak. Was he watching her right now? Was he worrying about her the way she worried about him?

Her instincts kicked in as they navigated the crumbling building, and she led her team with precision, searching for any signs of life, any pockets of space where someone might have been trapped. But the deeper they went, the more dangerous it became. Smoke filled the air, making it harder to see, harder to breathe.

“Vidisha, we need to pull back!” Sameer’s voice crackled over the radio. “The roof’s about to collapse!”

Vidisha hesitated for a split second, her eyes scanning the smoke-choked room in front of her. There was a part of her that didn’t want to leave, that felt like she needed to push harder, do more.

But she knew better.

“Copy that. Pulling back,” she replied, signaling her team to retreat.

They exited the building just as a section of the roof came crashing down in a storm of flames and debris. Vidisha could feel the heat on her skin, the intensity of the fire still burning in her veins.

Once outside, she ripped off her helmet, gasping for fresh air. Her lungs burned, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil inside her mind. She had been in dangerous situations before, but this felt different—because this time, she was fighting more than just fire.

As the fire continued to rage behind her, she heard someone call her name. Vidisha turned to see Raunak approaching, his expression tense. He had arrived on-site to assist with any medical emergencies, but the look in his eyes told her that his concern ran deeper than the job.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice thick with worry.

“I’m fine,” she replied, but the words felt like a lie.

Raunak stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Vidisha, you can’t keep doing this.”

Her heart clenched at his words, the tension between them simmering just beneath the surface. “I’m doing my job, Raunak. Just like you.”

He shook his head, his eyes searching hers. “No, you’re burning yourself out. You’re taking unnecessary risks.”

Vidisha swallowed hard, knowing he was right. She had been pushing herself harder than ever, trying to bury her emotions in the work, hoping it would somehow make everything easier. But it wasn’t working. The cracks were deepening, and she was running out of ways to hold everything together.

“We promised we’d focus on the case,” she said, her voice quieter now. “We can’t let anything else get in the way.”

Raunak’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue. But instead, he sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

“Okay. We’ll stick to the plan,” he said, though the look in his eyes told her that sticking to the plan was the last thing he wanted.

Vidisha nodded, though her heart felt heavier than ever. They both knew that the walls between them were crumbling, no matter how hard they tried to keep them up.

And as they stood there, surrounded by smoke and chaos, Vidisha couldn’t shake the feeling that they were headed toward a breaking point—one they might not be able to come back from.