INVISIBLE STRINGS // SARAJ

stuck in the mud

Rajat dusted off an old wooden bedframe and motioned for Savi to sit. "Over here. You'll be warmer."

She hesitated for a moment before moving over, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed. Rajat leaned back against the side, keeping his arms folded as they both stared into the flames.They were silent for a while, both of them itching to talk but not knowing how to proceed. Rajat felt that if anything, out of the two of them he should be the first to initiate a truce. 

"So," he said after a moment, his tone casual. "Do you think Priyanka and Arjun will ever stop flirting and figure out they actually like each other?"

Savi snorted. "Please. Those two have been playing that game for so long, I don't even think they know what's real anymore."

Rajat grinned. "Honestly, it's hard to tell. Priyanka flirts with everyone."

"Arjun's no better," Savi pointed out. "He's like a golden retriever—charming and clueless. You should've seen him the other day trying to 'compliment' her hair. He ended up comparing it to—what was it?—a waterfall"

Rajat chuckled. "Smooth."

They shared a laugh, and for a brief moment, the tension between them seemed to lift.

The fire crackled softly as the rain continued to pour outside. After a beat, Rajat glanced at her, his expression softening. "So, do you still like the rain? Even after today?"

Savi giggled, her fingers fiddling with the edge of the blanket they shared together "Of course. rain is... chaotic and calming all at once. Just a bit of mud won't take away it's magic, plus I'm basically squeky clean, it's you who's all dirty"

He rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "You're unbelievable. You're lucky I carried you"

She rolled her eyes but they both smiled at each other, the shadow of the flames dancing across their faces. Savi knew that she was partly at fault for their fight, in her mind she was looking out for him, but she seemed to forget her place. She and Rajat weren't actually anything to each other, sure they were neighbours and occasional friends but she blames everyone around them always hinting towards something more that might have created her to lash out at him over his choices. She was being irrational, he could date whoever he pleased.

"Rajat," she said softly, breaking the quiet.

"Hmm?"

"About our ....argument," she began, her voice tentative.

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "What about it?"

"I think we were both being silly," she admitted, her gaze fixed on the flames.

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Stupid, even."

She smiled faintly, finally looking at him. "I guess that's our thing. We fight, we say dumb stuff, and then..."

"And then?" he prompted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And then we find ourselves stuck in some random hut, sharing a blanket, pretending none of it matters," she said with a chuckle.

His lips curved into a smile, and he shook his head lightly. "It's a weird dynamic we've got."

"You think?" she teased, nudging his arm with hers.

They both laughed, the sound light and unguarded.

As the minutes ticked by, they unconsciously shifted closer to each other, drawn together by the warmth of the fire and the shared blanket. Their shoulders brushed, and neither moved away.

"So, what now?" Savi asked, her voice soft and drowsy.

"Now?" Rajat repeated, glancing down at her.

"Now that we've acknowledged we're both idiots," she murmured, her head lolling slightly toward him.

"I guess... we try not to kill each other before the camp ends," he said, his tone teasing but laced with sincerity.

Savi hummed in response, her eyelids drooping. Before she could say anything more, her head gently fell against his shoulder.

Rajat glanced down at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Her breathing had evened out, and a faint smile played on her lips.

He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall as he adjusted the blanket to cover them both. "Goodnight, Savi," he whispered, closing his eyes as the fire crackled softly beside them.

***

we're moving towards the leap soon! here's them making up before the big seperation coming up and then our current Savi and Rajat! 

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