The Right Kind of Wrong

26. Savi Withdraws

Savi sat in the corner of the library, the familiar scent of old books surrounding her. Her laptop screen was open to a dense article on public administration, but the words seemed to blur together, refusing to make sense. She rubbed her temples in frustration, knowing her mind was elsewhere—somewhere it shouldn't be.

For days now, her thoughts had been consumed with Rajat. Ever since that conversation with Shivani and Anika, she hadn't been able to focus properly. Worse, Rajat had become a constant presence in her mind, pulling her attention away from the one thing she couldn't afford to neglect: her IAS preparations.

The pressure was mounting. The exam date was looming closer, and with every passing day, her nerves frayed a little more. She needed to study harder, focus more, but instead, her emotions kept getting in the way. Every time she saw Rajat, every accidental brush of their hands, every playful tease—her resolve weakened. She felt herself getting lost in the emotions she had fought so hard to suppress.

I can't let this happen. I can't afford to get distracted, she told herself again, for what felt like the hundredth time. Her fingers clenched tightly around her pen as she stared at the screen, willing herself to focus.

The next day at college, Savi made a decision. She couldn't continue like this, balancing her studies and her confusing feelings for Rajat. She had to pull away, had to create distance before it was too late. Her mind needed to be clear, her heart locked away if she was going to achieve her goal.

As she walked across the campus courtyard, her eyes flicked over to where Rajat was standing with his friends, his laughter ringing out in the crisp morning air. For a brief moment, her heart ached. She missed the ease of their banter, the way he could make her smile without even trying. But this wasn't the time for that. She had to be strong.

Taking a deep breath, she averted her gaze and walked in the opposite direction, heading straight to her classroom without saying a word.

Days passed, and Savi stuck to her plan. She started avoiding Rajat. During their project meetings, she kept the discussions strictly professional, offering no more than polite conversation. She skipped meals in the cafeteria when she knew he would be there, and in class, she made sure to sit as far away from him as possible.

It was hard—harder than she thought it would be. Every time she saw him, her heart tugged in a way that made her question whether she was doing the right thing. But then the thought of her IAS exam would surface, and she'd remind herself that this was the only way.

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Rajat, on the other hand, was completely confused. He had noticed the shift in Savi's behavior almost immediately. She had always been distant, but now it was different. Now, she seemed to be actively avoiding him. Their conversations, once filled with playful jabs and teasing remarks, had become stiff and formal. She barely looked at him anymore, and when she did, there was a coldness in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

At first, he thought it was just her stress about the exam. He knew how important it was to her, how much pressure she was under. But as the days went on and the distance between them grew, he started to worry. Did I do something wrong? he wondered.

One afternoon, after another tense project meeting where Savi had barely spoken to him, Rajat decided he couldn't take it anymore. He had to know what was going on.

That evening, Rajat waited outside the library where Savi usually studied late into the night. As he leaned against the stone wall, he ran through what he was going to say in his head. He didn't want to push her or make her feel uncomfortable, but he needed answers.