Blueprints of Love

10. The Pretend Distance

Rajat knew he wasn't the kind of person who could stay on the sidelines easily, but he was determined to follow Isha's advice. His usual tactic had been persistence—breaking down walls through sheer charm. But this time, he decided to take a different approach. He'd step back, give Savi space, and see if it would stir something in her. Let her feel my absence, he thought, a small smile playing on his lips.

At first, Rajat was skeptical about whether this plan would work. After all, Savi seemed immune to his usual tactics. But he had nothing to lose by trying. For once, he wouldn't be the one initiating conversations, cracking jokes, or needling her with playful banter. He'd keep it cool—calm, collected, and just out of reach.

Day 1

Savi had always prided herself on keeping her professional and personal lives separate. She didn't mind being a bit distant, especially when it came to people like Rajat, who had a knack for pushing her buttons. So when Rajat suddenly stopped teasing her, she barely gave it a second thought.

In fact, during their first few meetings without his usual interruptions, she found the silence refreshing. For the first time in weeks, she could present her ideas without having to swat away his ridiculous commentary. But as the hours dragged on, something gnawed at the edges of her focus—a strange sense of... absence.

After their meeting ended, Savi glanced at Rajat's seat. Normally, he would linger, throwing in one last quip about her being a "Kitty" or offering to walk her to the elevator just to annoy her. But today? Nothing. He left the room without so much as a smirk.

Savi frowned.

Good, she told herself. Peace at last.

Yet, as she sat at her desk, reviewing documents, she found her thoughts wandering back to him. What was with the sudden change? Why did it matter? And more importantly—why was it bothering her so much?

Day 2

By the second day, Savi began noticing small things she hadn't paid attention to before. During their site inspection that morning, Rajat kept a polite distance, nodding in agreement but refraining from his usual playful interruptions.

When Savi accidentally dropped her pen during the meeting, Rajat simply glanced at it before she picked it up herself. Normally, he'd have been the first to swoop in, offering the pen with a grin that said, See how helpful I am? But not this time.

Her irritation grew with every passing hour.

At lunch, she found herself scanning the room for him—just out of habit, of course. But when she finally spotted him, seated at a distant table with some other colleagues, a strange, unfamiliar feeling tugged at her.

Is he avoiding me? she wondered.

The thought was unsettling. Rajat was always there—annoying, persistent, and charming in a way that made her grit her teeth. His sudden absence created a void that she didn't know how to fill.

Day 3

By the third day, Savi had reached her limit. She'd never been one to indulge in emotional games, but Rajat's behavior was starting to get under her skin. She missed his presence more than she cared to admit. And it wasn't just the jokes or the teasing—it was the way he made everything seem lighter, less serious.

That evening, they found themselves alone at the project site again. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the unfinished walls. They sat side by side on a concrete slab, the hum of traffic in the background, neither saying a word.