Blueprints of Love

8. Realization Hits Rajat

The office was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of Savi's fingers on her laptop. Outside the large glass windows, the sun was setting, casting a soft, warm glow across the room. It had been another long day, and yet she didn't mind staying late. The project was in full swing, and the work gave her a welcome distraction from the confusing storm of emotions brewing within her. She sighed, rubbing her temples before looking up, only to see Rajat standing in the doorway with two cups of coffee.

"Thought you could use a break," Rajat said, his smile as easy as ever.

Savi straightened up, her professional mask slipping back into place. "Thanks, but I'm fine."

He walked over anyway, setting the cup next to her. "Come on, Kitty, even you need a break sometimes."

Savi shot him a pointed look but reached for the cup, taking a tentative sip. The warmth seeped into her palms, and despite herself, she felt a small measure of comfort. Rajat, with his relaxed demeanour and constant teasing, had a way of breaking through her barriers, even if she wasn't ready to admit it.

They settled into a companionable silence, papers and sketches strewn across the desk between them. The brainstorming session had started off productively, but now it felt different—charged, like the air before a thunderstorm.

Rajat flipped through some sketches, his brows furrowed in thought. "What do you think about this design for the rooftop garden? It's eco-friendly, it's spacious, and it fits your green initiatives."

Savi leaned over the desk to take a closer look, nodding as she examined the details. "It could work," she murmured. "But we need to consider the load-bearing capacity of the structure. We might need to make adjustments."

Just then, as if pulled by some invisible force, both reached for the same pen at the exact moment. Savi's fingers brushed lightly against Rajat's, and for a split second, the world seemed to freeze. Her breath caught in her throat as their hands connected—skin against skin, the warmth of his touch sending an unexpected shiver up her spine.

Rajat glanced up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. His usual playful expression was gone, replaced with something softer, more intense. In that moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken words, emotions neither of them had the courage to name.

Savi's heart pounded in her chest, the sound almost deafening in the quiet room. She knew she should pull away, break the spell, but for some reason, she couldn't move. There was something about Rajat's gaze, the way it seemed to reach right into her, peeling back the layers of defence she'd so carefully built.

But just as quickly as the moment began, Savi snapped out of it. She yanked her hand away, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and confusion. "I, uh... I should go," she stammered, rising from her chair so abruptly that the papers on the desk rustled.

Rajat didn't stop her, but his lips curled into a knowing smile. "Sure, Kitty," he said softly, watching her gather her things in a flurry. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Without another word, Savi fled the room, her heart still racing as she made her way down the hallway. She didn't stop until she was outside, the cool evening air hitting her like a wave of clarity.

The night crept in quietly, and Rajat's apartment glowed in the soft, amber light of a single lamp. The photo of Savi, still open on his phone, mesmerised him. Her serious expression in the picture tugged at something deep inside him—a strange combination of affection, intrigue, and longing. He swiped his thumb across the screen, zooming in to notice the small details: the crease between her brows, the curl of her hair escaping from the messy bun, and that streak of dust on her cheek that somehow made her even more beautiful.