INVISIBLE STRINGS // SARAJ

new bonds

"Do you mind showing me the arts center?" Aashka asked, looking a bit sheepish.

Rajat paused, then gave her a small smile. "Of course not."

As they began walking, Aashka glanced around the campus. "I don't actually go here. I'm just here to drop something off for a friend.My parents always say it's my terrible sense of direction."

Rajat smiled politely. "Parents tend to exaggerate."

"They do. My mom thinks I should be carrying a map everywhere. And God forbid if she finds out how lost I got—she'd never let me live it down." She rolled her eyes playfully.

Rajat chuckled. "My mom too, but she gets more lost than I do. Though the good part is it breaks the steorotype of gujarati's caring about time"

Aashka paused, then looked at him curiously. "Wait, you're Gujju too?"

As he nodded, Aashka's eyes lit up. "Seriously? I didn't know that! Do you live close by"

"Just a few streets down from here. Near the market" Rajat replied. "What about you?"

"Oh, not too far from there! Though I think it's a solid twenty minutes drive but i'm sure we;ve  probably crossed paths at some point," she said, a thoughtful look on her face. "Small world, huh?"

"Yeah, it is," Rajat agreed, nodding towards the door as they stopped. 

"Thanks for showing me the way," Aashka said gratefully. "I'd probably still be wandering around aimlessly if it weren't for you."

Rajat just nodded with a smile. As Aashka walked into the building, Rajat turned and headed back to his class, a faint smile lingering on his face. His mind wandered, replaying their conversation, and he couldn't help the faraway look that settled in his eyes.

***

Later that evening, Savi was tucked away in the library, surrounded by books and notes. She had been engrossed in her studying for hours and hadn't even noticed how much time had passed. When she finally glanced at her phone, her eyes widened.

"Shit! Badi Ajji toh mujhe mar hi dalengi" she muttered to herself, hurriedly gathering her things.

Rushing out of the library, Savi made her way to her bike, only to find that it refused to start. No matter how many times she tried, the engine just wouldn't turn over. She groaned in frustration, kicking the bike lightly.

"Seriously? Now?" she grumbled, trying once more, but with no success.

Just as she was about to give up, she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Need a ride?"

She turned around to find Ishaan Sir standing there, his helmet in hand and a concerned look on his face.

"I'm fine, Sir," Savi said quickly, waving him off. "I'll manage."

But Ishaan didn't seem convinced. "It's too late for you to be stranded here alone, Savi. Come on, I'll drop you."

"I really don't want to trouble you," she replied, her voice hesitant.

Ishaan smiled patiently, his tone firm but gentle. "It's no trouble. I insist."

Seeing that she didn't have much of a choice, and with Ishaan being persistent, Savi reluctantly agreed. "Okay, fine. Thank you."

She climbed onto the back of his bike, feeling a bit awkward as she held onto the edge of the seat for balance. Ishaan revved the engine, and soon, they were weaving through the quiet streets.