Blueprints of Love

24. Past Mistakes Revisited

The warm glow of the Konkan sun filtered through the tall palm trees, casting playful shadows on the sandy paths. Despite the serene setting, Savi's heart felt anything but calm. The lingering warmth from Rajat's presence still clung to her, but fear gnawed at the edges of her newfound hope. What if things went wrong again? What if she ended up shattered—just like before?

Rajat's recent tenderness, the way he remembered even the smallest details about her life, had cracked open something deep inside. But the vulnerability terrified her. Love, she had learned, was a risk she wasn't sure she could take again.

And so, when her phone buzzed with Isha's call, Savi grabbed it like a lifeline.

"Aai?" Savi answered, her voice softer than usual.

"Savi!" Isha's cheerful voice burst through the receiver. "You won't believe this! I just heard from that matchmaker—there's a new proposal from such a wonderful family. You must meet the boy. I have a good feeling about this!"

Savi pressed her fingers against her temple, her heart drumming loudly in her chest. She glanced toward the open door, where Rajat stood on the other side of the bungalow, speaking to one of the wedding decorators. His laughter carried into the room, light and carefree, but it only made the weight in Savi's chest heavier.

She needed to regain control over her life, to stop herself from falling deeper into something she wasn't sure she could handle.

"When do they want to meet?" Savi asked, her voice more composed than she felt.

"Oh, you'll meet him right after the wedding! The family is really eager—they've heard such good things about you. And trust me, bada, this time it feels perfect!"

For a moment, Savi imagined herself saying no. Telling her mother that she wasn't ready, that she was tangled up in old emotions she hadn't figured out yet. But the words didn't come. Instead, something reckless took over.

"Aai...," she whispered. "I'll meet him."

Savi hadn't noticed Rajat standing at the doorway, his hand frozen mid-motion as he reached for the lanterns. The ease in his expression drained away, replaced by confusion and something that looked a lot like disappointment. He stood still, absorbing the weight of her words.

She's ready to meet someone else. The realisation hit him harder than he'd expected.

Savi ended the call, still clutching the phone like it might anchor her spiralling thoughts. When she looked up, Rajat was standing there, his eyes clouded with emotions he wasn't bothering to hide.

"You're meeting someone?" His voice was steady, but the edge of hurt was unmistakable.

Savi stiffened, as if bracing herself for impact. "It's just... something my mother arranged. It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Rajat echoed, disbelief colouring his tone. He stepped closer, his gaze searching hers. "You're planning to meet someone, Savi. How is that not a big deal?"

Savi crossed her arms over her chest, her defences going up instinctively. "It's just a meeting, Rajat. My mother thinks it's the right thing to do."

"And what do you think?" Rajat pressed, his frustration seeping through. "Is that what you want?"

Savi looked away, her pulse quickening. "I need to figure out my life. I can't..." She exhaled sharply, struggling to find the right words. "I can't just wait around for things to fall apart again."

Rajat took a step back, as if the space between them might somehow make the conversation easier. "This is about me, isn't it?"

Savi's silence confirmed what he already suspected.

"You're scared," Rajat said softly, the frustration in his voice ebbing away, replaced by quiet understanding. "You're scared I'll hurt you again."

Savi's throat tightened. "I can't go through that again, Rajat. I barely survived it the first time."

Rajat ran a hand through his hair, his heart aching at the weight of her words. "I get it. I do. But, Savi... this time is different. I'm different."

Savi's laugh was bitter. "How can you be so sure? What if we try, and it falls apart all over again? What if I end up right where I was back in college—broken and alone?"

Rajat's gaze softened. "Then we pick up the pieces together, Savi. That's what love is—it's messy and complicated and terrifying. But it's worth it."

She shook her head, blinking back the sting of tears. "I don't know if I can take that risk."

Rajat stepped closer, his voice low but urgent. "Savi, if you're scared, that's okay. I'm scared too. But don't you see? We've already wasted so much time running from this. Don't let fear decide for you."

Savi looked at him, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. The vulnerability in his words left her breathless. It wasn't just her fear on the line—it was his too. He was laying himself bare, offering her the kind of honesty she had always wanted but never thought she'd get from him.

"I can't promise I won't hurt you," Rajat admitted, his eyes locked on hers. "But I can promise I'll fight for you. For us."

The sincerity in his voice made something shift inside Savi. It wasn't a grand revelation, but a small flicker of hope.

For a long moment, they stood there in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions. Savi's mind whirled with conflicting thoughts. Could she really take the leap? Could she trust him, knowing how much was at stake?

But just as the flicker of hope began to grow, fear crept back in.

"I need time," she whispered, almost as if speaking the words aloud made them real. "I can't jump into this. Not yet."

Rajat nodded, though disappointment flickered in his eyes. "Take all the time you need," he said quietly. "But please, Savi... don't shut me out."

Savi swallowed hard, unsure if she could make that promise. But she gave him a small, tentative nod. It was the best she could do for now.

Later that evening, as Rajat watched Savi from a distance—laughing with the wedding guests, her smile not quite reaching her eyes—he knew one thing for certain:

He wasn't giving up on her. Not now, not ever.

Savi was worth every moment of uncertainty, every fear, every step backward. And even if it meant waiting for her to see that for herself, he would do it.

Because for the first time in his life, Rajat knew exactly what he wanted. And he wasn't going to lose her without a fight.

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