Bridges and Barriers

Savi's Past Unravels

Savi woke up, her fingers still clutching the fabric of Rajat's shirt. A small, content smile curved her lips, a rare moment of peace in her otherwise troubled heart. She was used to sleeping this way, holding on to a piece of him, as if it grounded her somehow. But as the events of the previous night replayed in her mind, the smile faded, replaced by a heaviness that settled deep within her chest.

Careful not to wake him, she gently released his shirt and slipped out of bed. She needed space, a moment to herself. The memory of Ayush’s cruel words and her outburst at Rajat weighed heavily on her. She couldn’t understand why she kept hurting the people around her, especially him—Rajat, who had only shown her kindness and patience, despite the pain she was clearly in.

Rajat, however, wasn’t as deeply asleep as she thought. He had felt her move away, and through half-closed eyes, he watched her retreat. He stayed still, letting her think he was still lost in sleep, but his mind was already at work. He hated seeing her like this—so torn between her love for Ishaan and the new life she was building with him.

He couldn’t stand the thought of her hurting every time her past came up. He knew he had to do something, anything, to make things better for her. She didn’t deserve this constant torment, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her carrying this weight alone.

Lying there, Rajat's thoughts turned to all the ways he could help ease her burden. But nothing seemed right—nothing seemed enough. He needed to find a way to reach her, to show her that she could be happy without betraying her love for Ishaan.

As Savi quietly moved around the room, Rajat kept his eyes closed, deep in thought. He was determined to do whatever it took to bring a genuine smile back to her face, one that wasn’t shadowed by guilt or sorrow.

And so, he lay there, thinking of the days ahead and what they could mean for both of them, silently vowing to find a way to help her heal.

Savi and Rajat got ready for work, the morning air heavy with the tension from the previous night. Savi, still feeling the weight of her outburst, rummaged through her bag, distracted and anxious about how she would face Rajat after everything that had happened. Meanwhile, Rajat was sitting at the edge of the bed, skimming through some papers, though his thoughts were elsewhere—mostly on Savi and how to ease the burden she carried.

"Savi?" Rajat’s voice broke through her reverie.

She looked up, and their eyes met. "Yes?"

He put the papers aside, giving her his full attention. Savi took a deep breath and walked over to him, the words heavy on her tongue. "Rajat, I’m sorry for last night."

He started to reach out to hold her but hesitated, choosing instead to speak softly, his tone full of understanding. "It’s alright, Savi. You never have to apologize for your feelings. You’re my wife, and your feelings matter. I know you don’t love me, and that’s okay. Even if that ever changed, you’d still be the one to call the shots."

He smiled gently, trying to put her at ease, but Savi could only nod, a lump forming in her throat. She was so confused, so torn between the past and the present, between her love for Ishaan and the guilt she felt about it.

Seeing the uncertainty in her eyes, Rajat continued, "Savi, I know you love Ishaan. It’s perfectly fine, and nothing will ever change that. You can always love him. You and I—we’re friends. Yes, there’s been some physical attraction, but come on, no woman can resist this," he added, gesturing to himself with a playful grin.

To his relief, Savi finally chuckled, the tension easing ever so slightly. "Don’t worry, Savi," he said, more seriously now. "We’ll always be friends."