The Right Kind of Wrong

12. Rajat's Softer Side

The sun was setting behind the college campus, casting a golden hue over the building's brick walls. Savi had just finished her evening class and was heading toward the library for a late-night study session. She enjoyed this quiet time when most students were winding down. It was her time to focus without distraction, away from the chaos that usually filled her day.

As she walked past one of the smaller courtyards, something caught her eye. Rajat was sitting on one of the benches, his posture relaxed but attentive as he listened to a junior student across from him. The junior looked anxious, her hands wringing nervously in her lap as she spoke. Savi slowed down, keeping her distance but still curious.

"You're saying the landlord refused to give back your deposit?" Rajat asked, his voice low but steady.

The girl nodded, her face tight with frustration. "Yeah. He's claiming there's damage to the apartment, but I've been careful. I didn't even put nails in the walls like he warned me about. Now he's saying I owe him for repairs I never made."

Rajat leaned back, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Did he give you a written list of the damages?"

The girl shook her head. "No, just a vague text message."

Rajat sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alright, first of all, he can't legally withhold your deposit without a proper itemized list of damages. If he tries to, we can file a formal complaint against him."

The girl looked relieved, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Really? I didn't know that. I was scared he'd get away with it."

"He won't," Rajat said firmly. "I'll help you draft a letter to him. Once he sees you know your rights, he'll back off. If he doesn't, we'll escalate it."

Savi stood there, hidden from view, completely thrown off by the scene in front of her. Rajat—the same Rajat who had spent weeks arguing with her, teasing her, and acting like he didn't care about anything—was sitting here, calmly and kindly helping a junior student with her legal problem. There was no arrogance in his tone, no hint of his usual smugness. Just genuine concern and a willingness to help.

She blinked, trying to reconcile this version of Rajat with the one she had come to know. Who is this guy? she thought, her brow furrowing.

"Thank you so much," the junior student said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I don't know what I would've done without your help."

Rajat waved it off, his tone casual. "Don't worry about it. Just make sure you keep everything documented from now on. Landlords can be tricky, but you've got rights."

The girl nodded, smiling. "I'll do that. Seriously, thank you again, Rajat."

Rajat stood up, stretching slightly. "No problem. If you run into any more trouble, just let me know."

The girl gathered her things and left, and Rajat remained on the bench for a moment, staring at the sky. Savi realized she'd been standing there, watching, for longer than she intended. She was about to turn away and leave before he noticed her, but it was too late.

"Spying on me now, Chavan?" Rajat's voice broke through the silence, and Savi froze. His tone wasn't hostile, though. It was more amused, like he knew he'd caught her off guard.

Savi straightened, stepping into view. "I wasn't spying. I was just... passing by."

"Sure, you were," Rajat said, his smirk forming as he turned to face her. "And you just happened to stop right when I was helping someone."

Savi crossed her arms defensively, not willing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd surprised her. "What was that all about? I didn't know you played the role of campus legal advisor in your free time."