The Right Kind of Wrong

15. College Party Mishap

The sound of loud music and laughter filled the air as the campus party kicked into full swing. The student council had thrown together a semi-annual event that everyone eagerly anticipated—a night of celebration before the midterms stole all their free time. The open-air venue in the college courtyard was packed with students, some dancing, others hanging around the food tables, and groups scattered everywhere, sharing drinks and stories.

Savi stood near the punch bowl, clutching her cup nervously, feeling completely out of place. Parties weren't her scene. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in a crowd full of people who seemed so at ease, laughing without a care in the world. Her mind drifted back to her family, to the pressures waiting for her back home in Ramtek, and most of all, to the IAS exam that still loomed ahead like an unscalable mountain.

She glanced at her phone. Should I just leave?

"Savi!" a familiar voice cut through her thoughts, and she turned to see her friend Shivani bouncing toward her with a bright smile.

"Hey," Savi greeted her, managing a small smile in return.

"Why are you standing here like a wallflower?" Shivani asked, linking arms with her and tugging her away from the punch table. "Come on, you need to loosen up! This is your first real college party. Enjoy it!"

Savi laughed nervously as Shivani led her toward the crowd. "I'm just... not sure this is my thing."

"Of course, it is! You've been working so hard; you deserve a night to relax." Shivani twirled her around playfully before dragging her closer to the group of students near the dance floor.

Savi scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on a familiar face across the courtyard—Rajat. He stood with his usual group of friends, casually leaning against a pillar with a drink in his hand, talking to Aman and Abhay. He hadn't seen her yet, and for some reason, Savi couldn't tear her eyes away.

Rajat's presence always seemed to unsettle her. They had started to get along—or at least, their arguments had become less venomous and more like teasing banter. But every time they interacted, there was this strange tension between them, something neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

Before she could look away, Rajat glanced up and met her gaze. His eyes held hers for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. Then he turned back to his friends, and Savi felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment.

"Look who's here," Shivani whispered in Savi's ear, following her line of sight. "Your favorite frenemy."

Savi rolled her eyes, trying to brush it off. "He's just—"

"A jerk, I know," Shivani interrupted, grinning mischievously. "But come on, admit it—there's something between you two."

"There's nothing between us," Savi insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

Shivani raised an eyebrow. "Sure, if that helps you sleep at night."

Before Savi could protest, a loud voice rang out from behind them. "Well, well, if it isn't the overachiever herself."

Savi turned to see Arsh, one of Rajat's classmates, approaching with a smug grin. She recognized him from a few lectures, but they had never spoken much. Arsh had a reputation for being the class clown, always making sarcastic comments and pushing boundaries for laughs.

"Arsh," Savi greeted, her tone polite but wary.

"You finally decided to grace us with your presence at a party," Arsh said, mock surprise in his voice. "What happened? Did you get tired of your books for once?"