INVISIBLE STRINGS // SARAJ

stuck in the mud

"Let me see," Rajat said, kneeling down.

"I don't need your help," she snapped, brushing him off.

"Great. I'm not dying to help you either," he replied dryly, standing back up. But when she tried to take another step and stumbled, he stepped in again, exasperated. "Stop being stubborn, Savi. You're hurt."

"I'm not—" she started, but the pain flared, cutting her off.

With a resigned sigh, Rajat bent down and scooped her into his arms effortlessly.

"Rajat!" she protested, squirming. "Put me down!"

"Shut up, Savi," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You can't even walk properly, and it's raining. So unless you want to pass out again and turn into a soggy mess, stop fighting me."

Savi huffed, crossing her arms but finally staying still. "You're impossible."

"Likewise," Rajat shot back, his jaw tight as he carried her through the forest.

*** 

The rain poured down harder, and the forest grew darker with each passing minute. Rajat's arms ached slightly, but he didn't complain. Savi's head rested lightly against his shoulder, and despite their earlier arguments, he felt a pang of worry for her.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Savi asked after a while, her voice quieter now.

"Not lost," Rajat said, though he didn't sound entirely convincing. "Just...temporarily misplaced."

Savi rolled her eyes. "Great. I'm stuck with you in the middle of nowhere."

"Trust me, this isn't my idea of fun either," he shot back, his tone sharp.

As they trudged on, the faint outline of a small, abandoned house came into view. It looked worn-down but sturdy enough to provide shelter for the night. Rajat nudged the door open with his foot and stepped inside.

The interior was sparse but dry. He gently set Savi down on a wooden bed, that was pressed against the wall and crouched in front of her.  

"Stay here," he ordered, moving to inspect the rest of the space.

"Like I'm going anywhere," She rolled her eyes, but obeyed and pulled up her jeans to reveal a gnash on her knee. 

"That looks bad" He stated, his eyebrows knitting together in worry, he stood and rummaged through a few shelves before pulling out a first aid kit, a mix of surprise and accomplished. 

"Found this," he said, kneeling beside her. He opened the box, revealing a few basic supplies that looked like they hadn't been touched in years.

"Great," Savi muttered, peeking into the box. "Are you sure you're qualified for this"

Rajat smirked despite himself. "You're welcome to patch yourself up if you don't trust my skills."

She raised an eyebrow. "IAS bana chahti hoon, doctor nahi. tum his bano doctor"

He rolled his eyes but gently grabbed her leg to prop it on his knee. She winced as he dabbed at the scrape with an alcohol wipe.

"Careful, Thakkar," she hissed through gritted teeth.

"Stop squirming," he retorted, his focus on her knee. "I'm not a miracle worker."

Once he finished bandaging her knee, he stood and surveyed the room. "I'll get a fire going. It's freezing in here."

She watched him gather some dry sticks from a pile in the corner, his movements precise and methodical. Soon, he had a small fire burning in the center of the room. The warm glow lit up the wooden walls, casting flickering shadows that made the tiny space feel just a bit cozier.