The Right Kind of Wrong

31. Rajat Supports Savi

The gentle rustling of leaves filled the quiet campus as students trickled out of their classes. The evening sun bathed the buildings in a soft golden light, but Savi barely noticed as she walked out of the library, a frown tugging at her lips. Her mind was buzzing with facts and figures from her IAS preparation, the weight of her dream pressing on her like an invisible force. She had managed to avoid Rajat for a while after their recent heart-to-heart, but they had cleared the air. And yet, things still felt unresolved—not just between them but within herself.

As Savi rounded the corner toward the common area, she spotted Rajat sitting on a bench under a tree, engrossed in a book. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, as it had so many times recently. There was something about the way he sat there, so calm, so at ease, that made her feel grounded too. He hadn't pushed her since their confrontation—he had given her space, and yet she felt his presence quietly reassuring her, offering support without words.

Before she could think twice, she walked over to him.

"Rajat," she called softly.

He looked up from his book, his expression shifting from surprise to a warm smile as soon as he saw her. "Hey, Savi," he greeted, closing the book. "How's the studying going?"

Savi sighed, sitting down next to him on the bench. "It's... a lot. I feel like my brain is going to explode," she admitted, running a hand through her hair. "There's just so much to cover, and I keep thinking I'm not doing enough."

Rajat nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "I know how hard you're working. You've got this, Savi. But... you can't burn yourself out either. You need a break sometimes."

She gave a small, tired laugh. "I know, I know. It's just... this is everything I've worked for. If I don't give it my all, what's the point?"

He leaned back, resting his arm along the bench, his body angled slightly toward her. "You're already giving it your all. But giving yourself time to breathe is just as important. You don't want to collapse before you even get to the finish line, right?"

Savi glanced at him, feeling the sincerity in his words. It wasn't just advice—it was concern. Rajat had always been confident, maybe even a little cocky, but this was different. He wasn't just saying what she wanted to hear; he was saying what she needed to hear.

"I'm just scared," she admitted quietly, surprising even herself with the honesty. "What if I'm not good enough? What if I fail?"

Rajat's brow furrowed as he leaned in closer, his voice low and steady. "Savi, I've seen how hard you work, how dedicated you are. Failure isn't in your vocabulary. And even if things don't go exactly as planned, it doesn't change who you are or how much you've achieved. You're stronger than you think."

His words washed over her, and for the first time in days, Savi felt a tiny weight lift off her chest. She looked at him, her eyes meeting his. "You really believe that?"

"I do," he said softly, holding her gaze. "And I'll be here, whatever happens. I'm not going anywhere."

There was a moment of silence between them, a calmness that settled in the air. Savi looked down, feeling the warmth of his presence next to her. She had been so consumed with her studies, with the pressure of her dreams, that she hadn't realized just how much Rajat's quiet support had started to mean to her.

But still, the fear lingered. Fear of falling for him, fear of being distracted. Fear of letting herself want something beyond her ambition.

"I don't want you to think I'm shutting you out," she said softly, breaking the silence. "It's just... I'm trying to keep everything together. My IAS dream, my family, and then there's... us."