The Right Kind of Wrong

46. IAS Exams Loom

The days were passing swiftly as the IAS exams loomed closer, casting a shadow of pressure and urgency over Savi's life. She could feel the weight of her dreams resting heavily on her shoulders, intensifying with each moment that ticked away. Each day melted into the next, filled with the relentless grind of studying, past papers, and the constant pursuit of perfection.

Savi's desk resembled a battlefield—a chaotic spread of towering piles of books, scattered notes, highlighters in various shades of neon, and crumpled papers that had once held her hopes of perfect answers. The air was thick with the scent of coffee and determination, the latter mingling with her rising anxiety.

Savi sat at her desk in her dimly lit room, the soft glow of her desk lamp illuminating the pages of her open textbook. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she flipped through the pages of Indian History, attempting to memorize dates and events that felt like an insurmountable mountain. The clock on her wall ticked steadily, each tick echoing her growing anxiety.

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair, feeling the familiar tingle of panic creeping in. The world outside was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos inside her mind. She felt overwhelmed but knew she couldn't afford to falter. This was her chance—the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. The stakes were high, and the pressure was suffocating.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue across her room, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen and smiled softly at the text from Rajat.

"Hey, just checking in. How's the studying going?"

She felt a warmth spread through her chest. Rajat always seemed to know when to check in on her, a silent reminder that she was not alone in her struggles. She typed back quickly, "It's going... I'm almost through the history section."

Her heart fluttered at the thought of him, but just as she was about to dive back into her study material, a pang of longing washed over her. She missed him more than she wanted to admit, even as she buried herself deeper into her studies. Their shared laughter and easy banter felt like distant memories now, overshadowed by the looming exams.

Just as she was about to dive back into her notes, the door creaked open, startling her. She looked up to find Rajat standing in her doorway, a mischievous grin on his face, his hair slightly damp from the rain outside.

"Surprise!" he declared, his arms wide open as if presenting a grand gift.

Savi jumped up, her heart racing at the unexpected sight of him. "Rajat! What are you doing here?"

"I thought you could use a break. You've been cooped up in here for too long," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

Savi looked around at her chaotic study space, embarrassed by the disarray. "I'm sorry, it's a mess. I've just been trying to focus on my studies."

Rajat waved his hand dismissively, walking over to her desk and casually flipping through her notes. "This looks like a great study space! Very... organized chaos."

She chuckled, feeling her tension ease as he settled beside her. "It's a disaster, but it's my disaster."

"Exactly!" he replied, turning to face her. "You need a distraction. How about we make some coffee and take a little break?"

"I'd love that," she said, grateful for the momentary escape.

They moved to the small kitchenette, and Savi busied herself with brewing coffee, enjoying the comfort of Rajat's presence. The gentle hum of the kettle and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Rajat leaned against the counter, watching her with a smile, the soft glow of the kitchen light casting a warm aura around them.