Too much traffic between us

Pulled Apart

The aftermath of their kiss lingered in the air like the remnants of smoke after a fire, an insistent reminder of the tension that had ignited between them. Vidisha couldn’t shake the feeling of exhilaration mixed with dread. Every time she saw Raunak in the following days, her heart raced—each glance, each conversation felt charged with unresolved energy.

Yet, they both returned to their routine as if nothing had happened, burying their feelings under the weight of their responsibilities. The investigation into the arsonist consumed them. They spent long hours at the station, poring over reports, analyzing patterns, and coordinating with other departments. The city felt increasingly tense with each new fire that erupted, and every alarm raised the stakes.

Vidisha’s focus remained unwavering on her team. They were under immense pressure, and she felt responsible for keeping them safe. She led them through drills and briefings, reminding herself that her priority had to be the job. But it was getting harder to ignore Raunak, harder to act as if they were just colleagues.

One particularly grueling afternoon, Vidisha found herself in the break room, filling a cup with coffee. She stared out the window, watching the hustle of the city below. Her thoughts drifted to Raunak. She could picture him at the hospital, busy saving lives, no doubt worrying about her. It was a familiar tug of guilt, knowing they both were caught in this relentless whirlwind.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door swung open, and in walked Raunak, his usual confident demeanor dimmed by fatigue. He looked like he hadn’t slept well, and the dark circles under his eyes tugged at her heart.

“Hey,” he said softly, leaning against the counter beside her.

“Hey,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light.

The silence hung between them, heavy and awkward. Vidisha’s pulse quickened as she felt the unspoken tension build. She desperately wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the gap that had widened since their kiss, but the weight of their situation loomed over them like a storm cloud.

“I saw the latest report on the fire last night,” Raunak began, his voice strained. “The damage was worse than we thought. It’s escalating.”

“I know,” Vidisha replied, her heart sinking. “Every time we think we’re getting closer, he sets another fire. It’s like he’s playing a game with us.”

Raunak’s gaze shifted to her, his expression serious. “We need to find a way to stop him before someone gets hurt. This isn’t just about property anymore; it’s about lives.”

The determination in his voice struck a chord with her. They were partners in this fight, united by a cause greater than themselves. But even as they spoke about the investigation, Vidisha could feel the invisible wall between them, the ache of what they hadn’t resolved gnawing at her.

“Vidisha,” Raunak said, breaking the silence. “About what happened… I don’t want to ignore it.”

She turned to him, her heart racing. “I don’t want to ignore it either, but—”

“But it complicates everything,” he finished, his voice tight. “And we can’t afford complications right now.”

“I know,” she said, frustration bubbling within her. “But it’s not like I can just switch off my feelings. It’s not that easy.”

“I didn’t expect it to be easy,” Raunak replied, his tone softer now. “But we have to prioritize our jobs. There are lives at stake.”

Vidisha felt a pang of disappointment at his words. “I’m trying to do that. But it’s hard when I’m around you. You make me feel things I can’t just push aside.”

Raunak sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I care about you, Vidisha. More than I should. But if we can’t figure this out, it’s going to affect our work. And I can’t let that happen.”

His words hung in the air, a painful truth. She understood the stakes; she felt them too. But the thought of pushing him away filled her with an overwhelming sense of loss.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

“You’re not losing me,” he said, his eyes searching hers. “But we need to keep things professional, at least until this is over.”

Vidisha nodded slowly, her heart heavy. “I can try. But it’s going to be hard.”

Raunak gave her a small, understanding smile. “I know. But we’ll get through this. Together.”

She wanted to believe him, to trust that they could navigate these turbulent waters, but the fear of losing the connection they had made held her back. As they stood there in the break room, an invisible thread tugging between them, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being pulled apart by forces beyond their control.

---

Over the next few days, Vidisha and Raunak focused on the investigation with renewed vigor, but their efforts were met with frustrating setbacks. The arsonist remained elusive, each fire a brutal reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.

One afternoon, they gathered with their team to discuss the latest developments. Maps were spread across the table, the charred locations of the fires marked in red. The room buzzed with energy as they analyzed patterns, trying to predict where the arsonist would strike next.

“We need to tighten security around these areas,” Vidisha said, pointing to a cluster of recent fires. “If we can anticipate his movements, we might be able to catch him in the act.”

Raunak nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. “I can coordinate with the police department. We need to establish a stronger presence in the neighborhoods.”

The team worked late into the night, pouring over data and strategizing. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on them, Vidisha felt a sense of camaraderie among her team. They were all united in their purpose, a bond forged in the flames of crisis.

But as the hours passed, Vidisha couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut. She and Raunak had become experts at avoiding personal conversations, but the tension had grown unbearable. Each time their eyes met, there was a spark that made her pulse race, yet the fear of what lay ahead held her back.

Finally, after a particularly long day, she found herself standing at the window, staring out at the darkened city. Raunak joined her, leaning against the wall beside her.

“Hey,” he said quietly.

“Hey,” she replied, not looking away from the view.

“Thinking about the investigation?” he asked, his voice low.

“Yeah,” she said, even though her thoughts were consumed with him. “I just wish we could find a lead, something that would give us a direction.”

Raunak sighed. “It’s frustrating. I feel like we’re chasing our tails.”

She turned to face him, her heart pounding. “Raunak, about what we said before—”

“Vidisha,” he interrupted, his eyes serious. “Let’s not go down that road right now. We have too much to focus on.”

“I know, but it’s hard,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I don’t want to push you away, but I don’t know how to handle this.”

Raunak stepped closer, his gaze piercing. “Then let’s figure it out. We can’t let this drive us apart, especially now.”

The sincerity in his voice stirred something deep within her. She longed to embrace the feelings they had, to give in to the connection that felt so real. But fear held her back, a relentless reminder that their lives were at stake.

“Okay,” she said finally, her heart heavy. “We’ll focus on the job for now.”

“Together,” he replied, his voice reassuring.

As they stood side by side, the city lights twinkling in the distance, Vidisha couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking a tightrope—one wrong step could send them tumbling into chaos. But as long as they had each other, she believed they could find a way through.