INVISIBLE STRINGS // SARAJ

a shift

Vinayak found her minutes later, his brow furrowed. He could see that something must have happened cause she looked shaken and angry all in once.  "Kya hua? tum teek ho"

As she saw Vinayak, she faked a smile. She didn't need him to be worried for her or create a scene, she taught those guys a good enough lesson on her own but she knew her brother who was protective off her would want to do more, and in all honestly she also wanted to publicly embarrass them but the tiredness from the previous trip and emotional turmoil was eating her away already. 

"Kuch nahi" She squeezed his arm, "Bas thak gayi hoon, aur kal college bhi jaana hai"

"skip kar, it's only Friday" Vinayak says, worried. 

"No need, I can't skip anyways" She pushed the thought away, and they continued walking back to the main venue. 

"Oh by the way, Badi Ajji told me tell you before that Ishaan sir stopped by while you were away looking for you, and also asked to be informed when you stopped by. He said it wasn't anything urgent and that he was just looking for you" Vinayak informed casually, but Savi stilled. 

Ishaan sir asked for her? She had completely forgotten about seeing him at her Isha Ma'am's house due to all the drama from the past two days. Did he figure out that she saw that interaction and wanted to meet with her? 

She shook her head, she didn't have time to think about all this. All she wanted was to go home and sleep and recharge tomorrow. 

***

Savi walked briskly through the college courtyard, her bag slung over one shoulder and her mind preoccupied with assignments and deadlines. She had an inkling Ishaan Sir would want to talk to her today—Vinayak had mentioned he'd visited their house, looking for her. She wasn't sure what he wanted, but knowing Ishaan, it was bound to be something thoughtful or insightful.

Just as she turned the corner near the administrative block, she saw him approaching, his sharp features softened by a warm smile.

"Savi!" Ishaan called out, his voice carrying over the hum of students bustling around.

She halted, adjusting her bag and bracing herself. "Good afternoon, Sir," she greeted, her tone polite but wary.

"I was hoping to catch you," he said, his pace quickening as he approached. "Do you have a minute?"

Savi nodded, though her instincts told her this conversation might be longer than a minute. As he came closer, her mind raced, wondering what this could be about.

But before he could say more, her foot caught on a slightly raised tile in the pathway. She stumbled forward with a gasp, her balance slipping. Ishaan moved reflexively, his hand catching her arm just before she fell completely.

"Careful!" he said, steadying her.

"Thank you ," she muttered, brushing herself off as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

He chuckled softly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just my luck," she said, trying to laugh it off. She stepped back, putting some distance between them, her heart pounding more from the awkwardness than the stumble.

He regarded her for a moment before his expression turned serious. "I actually wanted to talk to you about your paper—the one you submitted for the leadership course."

Savi blinked, caught off guard. "Oh... what about it?"

"I read it," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "And I was impressed. You have a way of articulating complex ideas in a way that feels natural but insightful. It's rare."