INVISIBLE STRINGS // SARAJ

stuck in the mud

Rajat trudged behind the group of students, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot barely audible beneath the murmured conversations and occasional laughs. Arjun walked beside him, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, glancing every so often at Rajat, who was holding his phone up like a torch, tilting it at different angles.

"Yaar, what are you doing? Trying to find aliens?" Arjun teased, raising a brow.

Rajat sighed and lowered his phone. "Signal dhoond raha hoon, obviously."

"For what? Aashka? She's been texting you all day, hasn't she?" Arjun smirked knowingly, bumping his shoulder against Rajat's.

Rajat didn't respond immediately, focusing instead on avoiding a low-hanging branch. Finally, he said, "She just...had something important to say, but she'll tell me after the trip."

Arjun gave a teasing smile, and squeezed his shoulders from behind. "Let me guess—'important to say' means she's planning to confess."

Rajat stopped, shoving his phone into his pocket with more force than necessary. "Kuch bhi mat bol. I don't know what she means, and I'm not going to assume."

"But you've thought about it," Arjun pointed out with a grin. "I can see it on your face. Admit it."

Rajat didn't deny it, but he didn't agree either. Instead, his brows furrowed as he thought about the possibility. Would he feel happy if Aashka confessed? A  part of him said yes— he really liked her and this thought made him feel elated, a part of him had always thought that he wouldn't be her type at all. But then he thought of how his life had turned rather complicated after her arrival, was that actually a sign or was he getting paranoid. 

"I don't know, Arjun," Rajat admitted finally. "I doubt it but...

"Chal jhoothi! You're head over heels for her" Arjun slapped his back, "I can't wait for the wedding"

"Kuch zyaada nahi horaha?"Rajat shook his head, he knew his friend was teasing but the thought of that seemed so foreign. His thoughts were still distant as they continued deeper into the forest.

***

The rain started as a soft drizzle, but it quickly turned heavier, pattering against the leaves overhead. The instructor called out, urging the students to gather firewood quickly before it became too dark.

Savi had been trailing behind her group, her stomach growling faintly as she leaned against a tree for support. She hadn't eaten anything the whole day, and now the hunger was catching up with her. Her vision blurred slightly, and she felt light-headed.

"Bas thodi der aur," she murmured to herself, shaking her head to clear it. But as she stepped forward, a sharp pang of dizziness overwhelmed her, and her knees buckled.

Before she hit the ground, strong arms caught her mid-fall. "Savi!" Rajat's voice was firm, his hands steadying her as she sagged against him.

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, taking in his concerned expression. "You again," she muttered weakly.

"Yeah, mujhe hi milna tha," he retorted, his tone clipped but his grip firm. "What's wrong with you? Did you even eat anything today?"

Savi groaned, her head still spinning. "I'm fine."

"Sure, because collapsing in the middle of a forest is fine," Rajat muttered, his eyes scanning her pale face.

As her vision cleared, Savi winced at a sharp pain in her knee. She tried to stand, but her leg buckled. "Damn it," she hissed, clutching her knee.