Blueprints of Love

4. Work Calls

Savi woke up with a knot of anxiety nestled in her chest. She was supposed to meet Rajat at the construction site for the first formal project meeting today. Her mind had been racing ever since Rajat was brought on board—an intrusion she neither wanted nor asked for.

Standing in front of her wardrobe, she ran her fingers over her collection of formal outfits, frowning at everything she touched. How did it come to this? Savi thought as she stared at the pink saree folded neatly on the bottom shelf. Do I really care what Rajat thinks?

She let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out the saree. It was just a piece of clothing—nothing more. She was wearing it because it was light, simple, and appropriate for a site visit. Nothing sentimental. That's what she told herself, anyway.

By the time she was dressed and ready to leave, she had shoved every lingering thought of Rajat to the back of her mind. This was just work. Nothing personal. She was in control.

.........

At the Construction Site

The sound of construction machinery roared across the site as workers scurried about, lifting steel beams and carrying bags of cement. The structure of the eco-friendly housing project was still in its early stages, but Savi felt a sense of pride seeing the progress. This was her dream coming to life—a project rooted in sustainability and mindful living.

As she stepped out of the car, Savi felt her phone buzz in her bag. A quick glance told her it was a message from her mother.

Isha: Savi, when will you make time to talk about that marriage proposal?

Savi rolled her eyes and shoved the phone back into her bag. Not today, Aai. She had bigger things to deal with, like navigating a work relationship with the man who had once shattered her heart and her beliefs about love.

She spotted Rajat almost immediately. He stood at the center of the site, wearing a crisp white shirt rolled up at the sleeves and dark jeans, looking every bit the suave architect he'd always been. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets as he observed the surroundings with a keen, analytical gaze.

And then, as if sensing her presence, he turned—and smiled.

Savi hated how effortlessly he seemed to fit in, even here, on her turf. And she hated how that smile still made her heart trip over itself, despite everything.

"Good morning, everyone." Savi's voice was cool and professional as she approached the table where the blueprints were spread out. Rajat greeted her with a nod, his eyes flickering down to her saree for a moment longer than necessary.

"You wore a saree," he said, his tone casual, but there was a spark of amusement in his gaze.

Savi kept her expression neutral. "Is that a problem?"

Rajat smiled. "Not at all. Just... unexpected. Didn't you once say you hated wearing sarees?"

"That was a long time ago," she said shortly, arranging the blueprints on the table.

"Sure," Rajat said with a grin, clearly enjoying himself. "If I remember right, the last time you wore one was for—"

"A festival. Yes, we all know the story," Savi interrupted, shooting him a warning glance. "Are we going to talk about the project, or are you here to reminisce about college?"

Rajat held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Back to business."

The team gathered around the table as Savi outlined the key points of the project.

"As you can see," she began, pointing to the blueprint, "the layout maximizes natural light and ventilation. Each unit is designed with sustainability in mind—rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and the works. We're aiming to reduce energy consumption by at least 30%."