At the function, the atmosphere was abuzz with music and the murmur of guests. The lights twinkled around them, casting a festive glow over the evening, but Savi felt far from relaxed. Her Badi Ajji leaned in close, her tone firm but deceptively sweet, "You better behave tonight. Be proper. Stand tall, smile, and don't scare away the men this time."
Savi's eyes rolled instantly. "Right, because that's exactly what I want—to be approached by your handpicked 'ideal men'."
Before she could get any more words out, Badi Ajji's hand shot up, gently pulling on her ear as a warning. "Enough with the backtalk, Savi," she hissed in a low voice, her grip just tight enough to send a clear message.
Savi winced but didn't retort. She knew better than to push Ajji further in public, especially at an event like this. As soon as her ear was released, she wandered off, making her way through the crowd.
She found a quieter corner and scanned the room for anyone she knew. Her eyes brightened when they landed on a familiar face. Isha Ma'am! Savi's heart lifted at the sight of her former teacher, the one person who had always been more of a guide than just a lecturer. She quickly made her way over.
"Isha Ma'am!" Savi called out, her voice warm with affection. When Isha turned, a smile spread across her face.
"Savi! What a lovely surprise," Isha greeted, enveloping her in a hug.
"I didn't expect to see you here. This doesn't seem like your kind of event," Savi said, pulling back but keeping her eyes on her teacher with curiosity.
Isha sighed lightly. "You're right, it's not. I actually had some work nearby, and... well, they invited me as a courtesy. I thought I'd stop by for a little while." She glanced around the room, her expression neutral, though her discomfort was evident.
Savi chuckled. "Kuch zyaada hi extravagant haina?"
"Bilkul sahi" Isha replied with a wry smile. But her expression quickly shifted. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes landing on something—or someone—across the room. Her smile faded.
"I have to go, Savi," Isha said abruptly, placing a hand on Savi's arm for a brief moment. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Before Savi could ask what was wrong, Isha was already moving toward the exit. Savi was left standing there, slightly perplexed. She turned her head to follow Isha's line of sight, but whoever it was seemed to have moved into the crowd and so she lost them. Sighing to herself she turned to find her gaze landing on Rajat.
He was standing in a small group, laughing with a few of his friends, wearing a dark blue kurta that accentuated his tall frame. His glasses were missing tonight, giving his face a different, more open look. For a second, Savi almost didn't recognize him—he looked more relaxed, and dare she think it...handsome. His usual brooding was nowhere in sight as he threw his head back, laughing at something someone said.
Her stomach flipped unexpectedly, and she quickly looked away, trying to shake off the thought. She had seen Rajat a thousand times before, but something about him tonight, dressed in traditional attire, seemed different. She looked away remembering their previous argument, and decided to make her way to the refreshments table.
***
A little while later, as Savi poured herself a drink, Rajat spotted her across the room. She was standing under the soft glow of string lights, the yellow saree draped elegantly over her shoulder, floral gajra adorning her hair. For a moment, he simply observed her, taking in the warm color that complemented her lively spirit. She looked radiant, and he had to remind himself to look away, mentally shaking himself before heading over.
"Chavan," he greeted casually, coming to a stop beside her.
Savi looked up, her expression shifting through a momentary awkwardness as she processed his presence. After last night's argument, she half-expected him to avoid her. But here he was, leaning against the refreshment table with his usual nonchalance.
"Thakkar," she replied, her tone neutral but softened by a hint of a smirk. There was an unspoken truce in the air as they eased back into their banter.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Nervous today? I think I caught you behaving properly."
She rolled her eyes, laughing. "Don't get used to it. Besides, Kisi ladki ko directions batana nahi karni hai?"
Rajat's mouth twitched with a grin. " Soch liya, aaj thoda function dekh loon"
Savi smiled before sobering up and they both knew that they had to address last night, "Waise sorry about last night, I shouldn't have brought it up. It's just I've heard things about an incident that happened involving her ex, and didn't know if I should have brought it up and then...."
She paused unable to find the words, was she concerned or worried for him?
The faint surprise on his face quickly softened into understanding, and he nodded.
"You could've just asked or told me, I would have listened. Plus I guess I was also out of line last night, I'm sorry" He paused, then added with a small smile, "And if your bike fails again, bas mujhe hi bata dena. Maa won't let me live it down if she finds out you got stuck."
"How considerate," she laughed, her tone teasing. "But sure, I'll keep your mother in mind if my bike has issues."
Before he could respond, Bhavani spotted them and made her way over, giving Rajat a welcoming smile. "Ah, Rajat beta! How nice to see you here." She then looked at Savi, her expression immediately sharpening. "And Savi, stand properly, beta. Don't slouch; look respectable."
"Ji, Badi Ajji," Savi replied, standing up straighter, her lips pressing together in barely restrained amusement. As soon as Bhavani left, both of them exchanged a quick look and couldn't help stifling their laughter, but it quickly faded when Savi's eyes drifted to the entrance.
She spotted Ishaan Sir walking in, looking professional as ever in a fitted kurta. Rajat noticed her gaze and followed it, his expression unreadable as he watched her.
"Kya hua, are you hoping for a class right now?" he teased lightly, but there was something underlying.
Savi looked back at him, shrugging with a smile. "Oh please, it's not like he's the only teacher here. Nor the best professor"
He tilted his head, a hint of a grin pulling at his lips. "Good. I thought I'd have to deal with yet another lecture, iss baar college ke bahar."
She laughed, feeling herself relax in his company as they drifted back to the familiar comfort of their banter. "Oh god Thakkar, You have no idea the torture I go through in that class. He's always so harsh on me and then out of class switches up, like last night he was insisting on dropping me home"
"That's concerning" Rajat said, raising his drink to his lips, "Make sure he's not hitting on you"
She slapped his arm, "Shut up! Yaar tum bhi start mat karo, aisa bilkul bhi nahi hai"
"Well If you say so" He sing songed, before his eyes drifted towards Arsh Gujaral. And he lightly pointed Savi in his direction, "There's Arsh Gujaral, it's known that he's going to inherit Gujaral Industries soon"
Savi has no interest in the world of businessmen, but she knows that rajat's aspiring to be one so for his sake, pretends to be interested. "I wonder why he invited so many normal people, I mean my family is-"
"Still is quite powerful due to your last name" Rajat fills in, tilting his head. "And as of for my family, it's quite silly but the Thakkars had some investments in Gujarat, though I'm sure it's worth nothing. So the real reason has to be he's probably invited a bunch of us due to studying in bhosale institute, and our interest to work in his industries"
Savi perked up at this, "You want to work at Gujaral Industries?"
"Definitely, I'd be lucky to get a good position there. It would be a good base and promises a great future" He said, a faint smile on his face. Savi glanced at Arsh again before glancing back at Rajat, the difference was quite stark. Rajat was humble and honest, he always gave his best for everything and Savi knew better than everybody how he could be a pushover most times. Arsh radiated nothing but priviledge, and seemed like someone who lacked morals.
"I hope you get a good position then" She said, with a smile pushing her previous thoughts away. They weren't anything to each other, so she didn't have the right to say anything on the matter, plus these were all feelings that she had based on assumptions.
Rajat snapped out of the reverie and turned to her, "Thanks Chavan. Ab batao teri kya sapna hai"
"Easy. IAS inspector" The answer slipped off her tongue, quickly. There was no question or doubt about it. "And I'd become a top ranked officer, maybe live somewhere nice, it'd be in a city or some quiet setting"
"Marry another IAS officer I suppose" He nudges her side, and she turns to him with a smile drawn onto her face.
"Most Likely. But he'd have to be considerate, funny and able to keep up with me" She lists out, looking ahead. "And he'd have to be someone I can rely on and who'd support me no matter what in life. And love me endlessly, since he has to become my whole family"
They're silence for a beat, as Rajat absorbs her words. He understands that last part and feels his heart ache for her, he knows that she doesn't have the best support back home and constantly misses her parents, and at that moment he thinks to himself that Savi does deserve a man with all of these qualities, who would keep her the happiest that she's ever been.
"Aur tumara kya list hai" She nudges him back, and he shakes himself out of his thoughts before humming in response.
"Well I don't mind what profession she's in, but she'd have to be someone with a big heart, someone who can make my family her own. I'd want her to be kind, strong and.... maybe a bit more adventurous than me so we can balance out life" He says, with a smile. "And I'd want her to want kids and maybe be a great mother some day, since I want the whole family life"
Savi watches him as he speaks, his smile brightening up his face. Rajat truly did possess so much love in his heart, she knew he was a soft and considerate person, who never kept bad intentions for anyone nor cheated anyone. He couldn't even prank her properly before feeling bad and helping her out instead. She really hoped that he found the girl of his dreams, someone who would stand by him and make him have fun in life but love him just as much.
They walked around till they reached back to the main area, where a few guests were dancing on the dance floor, light music filling the air.
"Dance karoge, Savi?" Rajat's voice was smooth, the hint of a smirk playing at his lips as he extended his hand.
Savi's eyebrows rose, a playful light sparking in her eyes. "Are you serious? You 'Mr. I hate dance', are asking me to dance?"
Rajat rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the amused smile. "Well, seeing as no one else here is brave enough to handle you, I suppose I have to."
Savi's laughed but her eyes twinkled as she placed her hand in his, and he pulled her gently onto the dance floor. His touch was firm but careful, as if he was afraid to hold on too tightly.
They started moving, and the world around them seemed to fade away. The initial awkwardness melted as their bodies found a shared rhythm. Rajat placed a steady hand at her waist, while Savi's fingers hovered at his shoulder, the fabric of his dark blue kurta soft under her touch.
The music enveloped them, and their eyes met. Savi's teasing smile softened as she noticed the intensity in his gaze. For a moment, it wasn't about the banter or the playful digs. It was just them, caught in a moment that neither wanted to break.
"Didn't think you had this in you," she whispered, her voice tinged with surprise and something else she couldn't quite name.
Rajat leaned in slightly, his voice low. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Savi."
Her breath caught as the space between them seemed to close, their movements slowing further. His hand moved just a touch, fingertips brushing the small of her back, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. Savi looked away for a second, trying to catch her breath, but Rajat's thumb grazed her waist lightly, drawing her eyes back to his.
The song reached a crescendo, and instinctively, they stepped closer. The warmth between them was palpable now, the air charged with unspoken words and racing thoughts. Savi's heart thudded against her chest, and she felt the soft tickle of his breath as he leaned in, eyes locked on hers.
"Maybe you're not so boring after all," she teased, but her voice was barely a whisper.
Rajat's lips quirked up. "Careful, or you'll ruin the moment," he murmured back, the playful edge to his tone softened by the way his eyes searched hers.
Their dance slowed until they were barely moving, just swaying in place, and for a second, it felt as though the world held its breath with them.
***
god i love them so much <3
a bit of a longer update since it's been a while! let me know your thoughts and what you possibly want upcoming, there'll be more fun to come!
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