It was second day of the event. Sara woke up earlier than kartik and quietly went to take shower making sure that he doesn't wakes up as things would get awkward if both of them woke up seeing one another in each other's arm. Both Sara and kartik were performing the next day so their whole day was all about dance rehearsals. Sara directly went downstairs for rehearsals. Kartik woke up after sometimes got freshen up and was having breakfast. He wasn't surprised that Sara was not in the room as he already knew about it. He too went for the rehearsals after an hour. Sara was already on the stage when kartik reached there. Kartik just sat there and watched her. "You've not changed at all phele bhi aise hi dekhte rhete the usse aur aaj bhi" kartik's choreographer said to him. "Chalo chalo rehearsals start karte hai" kartik stood up and went on the stage like he didn't hear anything. It was a huge stage so 3-4 dance group could easily practice at the same time. Both of them were rehearsing for their own performances. It was break time, sara was sitting and going through reels. Kartik went and sat beside sara. Sara was showing something to kartik on her phone. Kartik held the phone which was in her hands. Kartik's hand softly touching Sara's while they were lost in each other's eyes. "Hamesha ka hai inka, duniya ka bhi khyal karlo kabhi" ananya nudged Sara. Both came back from their own little world.
While they were sitting and having their own conversation Archit came there. "Hi how are you, tum yaha kaise" sara stood up and hugged archit.
Kartik knew who archit was but he had never met him. "Kartik, Archit. Archit, Kartik" sara introduced them to each other.

FLASHBACK [LAK days]
Interviewer: "Sara aapka bhi hoga na koi highschool wala crush ya koi jisse aap pe crush tha."
Sara: "Haan tha in fact both of us liked each other but aise kuch baat aage nahi baadi"
Kartik: "kyu aage nahi badhi" he asked with eager to know who this guy was.
S: "He changed the school aur baad main pata chala woh India se bahar chalaya gaya hai" sara tried explaining kartik as jealousy was clearly visible on his face.
I: "Are you still in touch with him?"
S: "Haan matlab, hi hello hota hai"
This statement was enough for kartik to burn completely.
K "Aab itna bataya hai toh naam bhi bata hi dijiye" he just wanted to know who that person was.
S: "Haan baad main bataungi. Chalo chalo next question" she ended the topic as she was well known about how kartik will react if the topic gets continued.
That Interview was over and they were heading for another one.
K: "Bhaut pasand karti thi kya" kartik asked with unbothered face.
S: "Archit naam tha. Aise gol gol puchne ki jarurat nahi hai" sara nudged his hands.
K: "Nahi matlab abhi bhi touch main hai toh mujhe laga-" he didn't complete his sentence.
S: "Jo bhi laga galat laga. Jyada sochne ki jarurat nahi hai jalkukde , he followed me on insta and started conversation so I also responded bass itna hi hai. And you know I love you so don't think about him now" Sara calmed him down.
Kartik was relieved after hearing what she said. He of course trusts sara but he behaves like typical jealous boyfriend whenever he hears about Sara's past relationship or her past crush.
FLASHBACK ENDS.

"Bataya nahi tumne yaha kya karr rahe ho" sara again asked archit. "I'm assisting your choreographer" archit replied. Kartik was standing there with his eyes fixed on both of them without speaking a word. "Ye kaha se agaya"kartik murmured to himself. "Kuch kaha?" archit asked him. "Nahi toh kuch nahi, main jata hu, rehearsals start hogaya hai" he went up on the stage. "Mujhe bhi bilkul pasand nahi hai ye ladka. Bass bahane dhundhta rheta hai sara ke aas paas rhene ka."ananya whispered to kartik while he was staring at archit as if he was about to beat him up.
"You know him?" Kartik asked in confusion. " Haan Dubai main bhi aaya tha ye, kisi aur ke performance ko assist kar rha tha lekin din bhaar sara ke aas paas rheta tha." Ananya replied back.
Kartik came off the stage and went where archit and Sara were talking. Archit of course knew about Sara and kartik so he intentionally took Sara saying it was time to start rehearsals. Not that archit was acting unprofessional but he was also not leaving a single chance to go near Sara while doing rehearsals. Kartik was seeing all this with fire clearly visible in his eyes. The guy with whom sara was going to perform was late so they were trying to find replacement. Archit being the despo he is didn't miss any chance and came forward. "I know all the steps also so I'm down for it" archit replaced that boy for sometimes. It was already difficult for kartik to even see them talking to each other and now he was doing all these romantic steps with her.
Kartik too was doing rehearsals for his performance but his eyes were dancing around them only. Archit twirled sara and pulled her towards him. Her back was facing him. Archit slowly moved his one hand towards her waist and another creasing her neck. He turned Sara around and made her face him and continued dancing. "Aasaan Nahi Hai Kehna, Tere Bina Main Reh Paunga Sach Mein Main Mar Jaunga" kartik was rehearsing for this song while Sara and archit were dancing on "tere siva".This was it. Kartik lost his mind seeing them so close to each other. He went to the sound room and turned off the music and came out acting as if he had done nothing. He just turned off Sara's speaker, all other speakers including his were working perfectly. "Areyy music kaise off hogaya" he went near them. "Archit jake dekho toh, sound room waha pe hai" kartik pointed his fingers.
"Now what, we don't have much time left." Sara complained. "My side of speaker is working perfectly. You can use them aur waise bhi I'm almost done with my rehearsals" kartik offered Sara to used his side of speaker. The choreographer was okay with it so they decided to continue rehearsals in another side. "Archit ajaye then we can continue" Sara said to choreographer. "Usse time lagega, sound room dur hai na. I can help you guys if you are ok with it" kartik said while trying not to sound desperate. "Dance ke steps pata hai?" choreographer asked kartik. " kab se sara ko hi dekh raha hu toh pata-"he didn't complete his sentence. "I mean I can try at least" kartik tried to change the topic but Sara's cheeks were already red hearing what he said.
Thanks to kartik's amazing dancing skills that he was easily coordinating with Sara.
Archit came back but kartik didn't let him dance with Sara. "Kartik, you can continue with your rehearsals, I'll help her" archit tried going near Sara but he quickly jumped in between "nahi nahi it's fine. I'm done with my rehearsals. You can help him only, I'm here with Sara" he said pointing at the choreographer.
"shayad kabhi na keh saku main tumko..." Kartik scooped Sara in his arms and made her sit in a chair that was attached to a ring which was going to be pulled up in the air. It was part of the performance. Both of them sat on that small chair, Sara was sitting on kartik's lap. They were dancing as if rest of the world didn't exist. Rehearsals got over by 7 pm. All of them went to have dinner in hall that was inside the hotel only. During lunch also Kartik noticed archit was trying his best to sit beside Sara and right now also he was dancing around Sara as if she was some flower and he was a bee.
Varun, Natasha, Aditya, Ananya, karan, Sara, Kartik, Archit were sitting together but archit was sitting between kartik and Sara , beside Sara. "Archit someone is calling you" kartik tapped his shoulder and asked him to turn around. "Who is calling, koi toh nahi hai" archit turned around. "Yaha se nahi dikhega get up and go little further. Bass abhi bulake gaya hai koi" Kartik said pointing towards the entrance. Archit stood up and went little further and away from his seat. "Nahi dikha kya, shayad kisi aur ko bula rha tha, tum bethjao " saying this kartik moved to archit's seat and replaced archit's plate with his. Other people who were sitting there with them started giggling seeing what kartik did. " haan koi toh tha humne bhi dekha" ananya said when archit was about to say something. Sara understood why he was behaving like that but sat quietly pretending to not know anything. All of them went to their own room after having their dinner. Sara too went in her room.
Archit was about to go but kartik stopped him and kept his hands over archit's shoulder. " I know who you are. Pasand napasand jo bhi tha woh school main tha toh don't try to act smart now. Keep your hands off from Sara" kartik warned archit in a very sweet tone but straight face. "Don't try to go near her or be touchy in name of dance ever again." Kartik warned him seriously. Kartik went to his room and saw that Sara was asleep already. He went near her, adjusted her blanket and kissed her forehead and went to sleep in his bed.

Kartik's POV
I know I still love her. My heart still reacts the same way like it used to when we were together but I don't think we'll ever get back together. I will not be able to tolerate a heart break again. It took me more than a year to bring smile back on my face after break up and I have still not moved on from her, I still love her with all my heart. If we ever get back again and if, god forbid, something happens, I'll die with in. I'm fine with whatever we have between us right but i cannot tolerate being away from her, not being able to talk her. Also I can not see her with other person. Yes I get jealous when someone especially these crushes comes near Sara. I cannot control myself, you know what I don't want to also. It is what it is. She is mine.End of the discussion.

Hope you liked the chapter.
It's अर्चित 😭