Blueprints of Love

16. A New Beginning

The sun was just beginning to rise as Savi and her team piled into the vans, excitement buzzing through the air as they headed to Konkan for Meera and Raghav's wedding preparations. The picturesque coastal town lay before them, a beautiful mix of golden beaches, lush green hills, and quaint local shops. As they pulled into the resort where the festivities were set to take place, Savi felt a sense of calm wash over her, though she knew the tension between her and Rajat had yet to dissipate.

"Can you believe we're finally here?" Meera said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she peered out the window.

"It's beautiful," Savi replied, trying to focus on the beauty around them. She had always loved the ocean, but today, it felt like a backdrop to her unresolved feelings for Rajat.

Once they arrived, they quickly unloaded the vans and set to work, setting up decorations and finalising the details for the wedding. Savi tried her best to immerse herself in the tasks at hand, but her thoughts kept drifting to Rajat, who was nearby arranging flowers with Raghav.

"Hey, Savi!" Rajat called out, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "Do you think these flowers should go on the left or right?"

"Left," she replied automatically, not looking up. The familiarity of his voice stirred something inside her, but she quickly pushed it aside.

"Got it!" he said, flashing her a smile that made her heart skip a beat. But she steeled herself against it, reminding herself of the walls she had carefully built.

The hours passed in a blur of activity. The team worked side-by-side, moving tables, arranging chairs, and hanging fairy lights. Yet, the atmosphere between Savi and Rajat felt heavy, each stolen glance filled with unspoken words. They hardly spoke to each other beyond the necessary work-related exchanges, the weight of their unaddressed feelings hanging in the air like a thick fog.

During a break, Savi stepped outside to catch her breath. She walked toward the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore soothing her frayed nerves. She watched as the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in shades of orange and pink. Just as she was lost in thought, she heard footsteps approaching.

"Savi?" It was Rajat, his presence both comforting and unnerving.

"Hey," she said, turning slightly to acknowledge him while keeping her gaze fixed on the ocean.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked, following her line of sight.

"Yeah, it really is," she replied. "I've always loved the beach."

Rajat paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "I used to come here often during college. It was my escape."

"An escape from what?" she asked, glancing at him curiously.

"Life, expectations... sometimes even people," he admitted, his tone laced with vulnerability. "But I guess that's part of growing up, right?"

Savi nodded, her heart aching for the boy he once was and the man he had become. "Yeah, it is. We all have our ways of coping."

There was a moment of silence, filled with the sounds of the ocean and their shared memories. Savi felt the distance between them grow smaller, yet she was too afraid to take that final step.

"Do you ever think about... us?" Rajat finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

She inhaled sharply, turning to face him. "What do you mean?"

"Back in college, before everything got complicated," he clarified, his eyes searching hers for answers. "I know things ended on a weird note, but I can't help but wonder if there was more to it."