Blueprints of Love

25. One Last Effort

As the coastal town of Konkan prepared for the final wedding celebrations, the air was thick with the scent of salt, flowers, and lingering tension between Savi and Rajat. While everyone around them basked in the excitement of Meera and Raghav's big day, Rajat's mind was far from the festivities. Each passing moment felt like sand slipping through his fingers. If he left without resolving things with Savi, he knew it would haunt him forever.

Savi had been avoiding him for days, retreating into her usual defence mechanism—work. Every time Rajat tried to get closer, she would either make an excuse or busy herself with wedding tasks. But he couldn't walk away this time, not without one final effort to break through the walls she'd built between them.

The evening before their departure from Konkan, Rajat spotted her on the beach, standing at the edge of the shore. The sun had almost disappeared beneath the horizon, leaving streaks of gold and lavender in the sky. She looked breathtaking and distant, as if she belonged to a world just beyond his reach.

Rajat walked towards her, the soft crunch of sand under his shoes the only sound besides the rhythmic crash of waves.

"Savi," he called softly, his voice carrying over the breeze.

She turned slightly, her brows knitting together in mild annoyance. "Rajat, what are you doing here? I thought you were with the others."

He shook his head, planting his feet firmly in the sand. "We need to talk."

Savi sighed, wrapping her arms around herself as if bracing for impact. "There's nothing to talk about."

"There is," Rajat insisted, his eyes locked on hers. "I can't leave this place without saying what's on my mind. I can't walk away without knowing I tried."

Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs. "Rajat, we've been through this. People change. You and I—we're different now. The Rajat I knew doesn't exist anymore."

His expression faltered for a moment, but he stood his ground. "And what about you, Savi? Are you really as different as you say? Or are you just hiding behind this version of yourself because it's easier than being vulnerable again?"

Her eyes flashed with frustration. "I'm not hiding."

"Yes, you are," Rajat said, taking a step closer. "You've built your whole life around keeping people out, pretending you don't care. But I know you, Savi. You care more than anyone I've ever met. You're just too scared to show it."

Savi clenched her fists, her voice trembling. "You don't know what it's like to love someone and have them slip away. I can't go through that again, Rajat. Loving you... it broke me once. I can't do it a second time."

Rajat's heart twisted at the raw pain in her words. His voice softened. "I'm not asking you to forget the past, Savi. I'm asking you to give us a chance now—in the present. I've made mistakes, but I'm here, standing in front of you, asking you to let me in."

Savi blinked rapidly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "It's not that simple."

"I know it's not," Rajat replied gently. "But the best things in life never are."

Rajat let out a breath, as if summoning the courage to say what had been on his mind for days. "Savi, listen to me. If you marry someone else without telling me how you really feel—if you shut me out completely—I'll leave. I won't stay in your life where I'm not wanted. But not without knowing that I tried. I need to know I gave it my all."

His voice cracked slightly as he added, "But if there's even a small part of you that still feels something—something real—then don't shut me out now."

Savi stood frozen, her mind swirling with emotions she couldn't untangle. She wanted to tell him how much she still cared, how much it hurt to see him standing there, baring his heart. But the fear, the doubt—it all felt too overwhelming.

Rajat gave her a sad smile, as if sensing her turmoil. "I'll leave if that's what you want, Savi. But I need to know—was it all in my head? Or is there still something between us worth fighting for?"

The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken words. Savi's throat felt tight, and her heart pounded in her chest. Every part of her wanted to call him back, but she was paralyzed by fear—fear of being hurt, fear of losing control over her carefully guarded heart.

Rajat let out a sigh, glancing at the waves crashing onto the shore. "Okay," he whispered, more to himself than to her.

With a final look, he turned and walked away, his silhouette disappearing into the fading light. Savi stood there, her heart aching as she watched him leave. The moment felt unbearably final, as if with every step he took, a part of her slipped away too.

She sank to the sand, wrapping her arms around her knees as tears rolled down her cheeks. The waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, as if mocking the storm inside her.

The weight of Rajat's words hung heavily in her mind. If you marry someone else without telling me how you feel, I'll leave.

She had spent years building walls around her heart, convinced that if she kept people at a distance, she would never be hurt again. But Rajat had slipped through those walls—once in college, and now again, years later. And that terrified her more than anything.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Isha: Excited to introduce you to the groom! I think you'll really like him.

Savi stared at the screen, her hands trembling. This was the life she had planned—the safe, predictable life without emotional risks. And yet, the thought of Rajat leaving for good felt unbearable.

What if this was her last chance? What if she let fear make her decision for her?

Savi sat on the beach for what felt like hours, the night growing colder around her. She thought about everything—her love for Rajat, the pain of losing him, the joy of rediscovering him, and the fear of what might happen if she let him back in.

She knew one thing for certain: She couldn't live with herself if she didn't at least try.

The next steps would be hers to take.

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