Rishabh's POV~

I entered my room and slumped down on the bed with a long sigh of relief. I had dropped Sanvi off in front of her apartment building and reved my bike towards my house. It was a pretty long distance from the school to her apartment. The street appeared to be littered around with garbage of all sorts and the neighborhood seemed rather gloomy and desolate. She seemed least bothered with the condition in which she was living. She didn't even look back once and disappeared inside that ramshackle building without so much so as a tata. I don't know why I felt sullen all of a sudden the moment I turned around to leave.

I had tactfully taken the long route, while driving her out there, for reasons quite unknown to me yet. Her face was almost compelling me to play around a little more. I absolutely loved messing with her. Sanvi did protest seeing me take another route and as she was busy showing me the directions, her palms almost swelled my shoulders up, swatting on them hard with each turn I took, rebuking me to take her home safely. I couldn't control chuckling at her antics. I would have been rolling all over the road in laughter had I not been driving, seeing her act so panicky. Well there were very few chances for me to see her being that nervous around me and I took it very seriously to enjoy each of those moments.

I could almost feel her anger emanating through her front stuck against my back when I had jerked her to hold me properly by pushing the brake to utter her surprise. Perhaps she truly was uncomfortable with our proximity in that position? I was sure to attest to that claim as I saw her lowering her lashes when she had caught me watching her through the rear view mirror.

I was surprised at my own inexplicable enjoyment when I saw her shying away. I was definitely enjoying the whole new effect that I was having on her since the night of the party. The way she fought with me in the evening, the way she was almost on the edge regarding every involvement with me,-these indications clearly showed that she was indeed being effected by my presence.

However, there were things in my own mind that I was struggling with those days. When I woke up in the morning, I found myself delightfully looking forward to the prospect of seeing her again in school. I definitely loved fussing her around but the new feeling was just purely intriguing. I felt freshly revitalized to keep bothering her for the rest of the school days. I couldn't stop smiling since I bid her adieu the night before, albeit after sneakily planting a kiss on her cheek. But I didn't mean to do it. It was an involuntary leap and her extremely flustered self almost pushed me to the brink of indulgence. After that, all I could think about before falling asleep was how I could irritate her more after that incident.

The way things turned out in the day with our heated banter in the corridor and Father's capital punishment, should have had kept me in a sore mood for the rest of the night but, while lazing around in my bed right then, I couldn't help chuckle heartily while recounting her hilarious antics during the day. My usually active mind couldn't interpret why I meant to keep up the involvements going on with her. Hadn't she been the most annoying girl in the school for me? Wasn't she the girl whom I never wanted to see during the school hours? Hadn't her stupid actions brought along pains for both of us to carry for the rest of the school year?

Then why the hell was I looking for excuses to be around her? Why the hell did my stomach flutter everytime I saw her lowering her long lashes in my presence, her cheeks adorning a pinkish hue whenever we came closer, her being all flustered whenever I jokingly flirted with her?

That night, after I had accidentally kissed her in the party, I was all set with my plan to freak her out and take revenge on her for snatching away my first kiss. I had thought that Dixit's inexperienced disposition would break her down into tears under the heat of our closeness in the balcony. But the tables turned the moment I heard her denying my advances.

I had gone berserk seeing her, in my own clothes, under me with that reddened face and cutely scrunched up nose. I couldn't believe my own body when I felt numbing jitters throughout, having her so close to myself that night in the balcony. We were so intimate that I could even feel the naked outline of her assets as her body shivered against my sturdy frame. Her sheer vulnerability cloaked under a thin layer of my own clothes made me back out immediately as I stepped back to a decent distance from her while she stood there, with her eyes closed in the anticipation of my lips on hers.

Honestly, I would have given anything just to kiss her senselessly then and there. But I knew I had to back away. I couldn't wrong her in that manner and truthfully, I wasn't proud of what I did at the party. I knew my hormones had taken the better part of me but her reaction to the act had me crazily intrigued.

All I did after that was gawk at that angelic face of hers shining under the milky moonlight with her eyes closed, lips parted and her back still propped up against the wall. My tee and trousers hugged her petite frame perfectly and I found my eyes shamelessly dart down towards her prominent chest heaving up and down while she was breathing heavily. Her closed eyes indicated that she hadn't yet realised that I had already parted away from her frame. She was definitely caught off guard by my action and needed a second to catch her breath. Wasn't that because of our proximity a minute before?

It wouldn't take a genius to assume that she too was getting affected by our closeness just like I had been? I got the answer to my question today as our involvements furthered into something over which both of us had no control whatsoever.

But wasn't an accidental deed of a night a little too meagre a cause to change the equation between two sworn enemies? I knew I still loathed her holier-than-thou nature and she hated my haughty personality equally. (Yes, I was self-aware) We had no amicable ground.

Perhaps it was just the raging hormones incited by our sudden unwelcomed intimacy? I might be cured of my unknown ailment with a sufficient dose of that pretty soon. But why couldn't I just stop thinking about her as I lay there in my bed, hugging my pillow?

That night, my mind and heart kept battling on the same issue.

Her.

Never in my entire school life, had I ever thought about my academic enemy so much as I did that night.

***************************

Sanvi's POV~

I hated how Rishabh Rathore made me feel like mush under the flick of a touch. No matter how much I ransacked my mind, I couldn't possibly infer how or what made me feel so attracted towards Rishabh those days.

The kiss was an accidental mishap! It meant nothing!

Does that conclude that I might not be simply attracted to the physical aspects of intimacy with him?

I can never be physically attracted to that jerk!

But why do I feel like giving up all my inhibitions under his touch?

Why do I want to experience that mind-numbing sensation of kissing him again?

I need to see a psychiatrist.

I had had endless hours of constant battles in my mind with notions that wouldn't stop including Rishabh Rathore. And I was mad at myself for even thinking so much about that jerk.

'Stupid hormonal swings!' I used to curse him, whenever he evaded my thoughts from then on.

Finding no other alternative, I attempted to focus my attention on the next close thing my mind could fixate on. With the mid-terms in a week, I drained out all I had in me to refocus my target on Rishabh as my academic opponent, just as I had been doing since we both could understand the concept of competition.

With the entire St. Louis engrossed in studies for the next week, much to my relief, I hadn't had any major awkward encounters with Rishabh since the day he had dropped me off to my apartment. There was one instance when all the Class Captains, including Rishabh and I were summoned to the Assembly Hall for the Unity Day parade preparations and I had accidentally spilled ink all over my white school shirt and Rishabh's trousers while painting the banner together. The way all had recoiled in horror from the two of us just numbly standing there after that, still makes me cringe. To mine and others' utter shock,  Rishabh didn't burst out in flames as we had all anticipated. He simply snatched the ink bottle from my hand, sighed incredulously and walked right out.  Moments later,  he would discreetly pull me out of the Hall only to hand me a spare white shirt of his. I kept staring at his face, dumbfounded at his absurd demeanor and he forcibly handed me the shirt when I resisted.

"Stop being clumsy and taking away all my clothes. At this rate, I might just have to surrender my entire closet to you." He said with an expressive scorn before swaggering away. Thankfully no one was there to witness this strange exchange  between us.

The students still did nag me around, chiding me about my psychotic meltdown in the school ground that day but the gossips soon faded away without incense from either of the parties involved in it. Rishabh had backtracked to his previous aloof self and so had I. Right then I wished the entire school session should have been a prolonged exam fest if that was the delightful outcome.

************************

Days passed and they saw lesser of each other much to their relief. They had almost forgotten about Father's punishment. Since he didn't seem to act on his words, both Sanvi and Rishabh felt it better that they didn't had to be involved in anything with each other. However, their relief was unfortunately momentary.

Rishabh's POV

I was restlessly flipping the pages of my Mathematics textbook, ruffling my hair with one hand and a pen between my lips. I was sitting in the calm isolated canteen, in the most comfortable cushion chair, after the last day of the mid-terms and soaking in the pleasure of my sure-shot victory against Dixit in the exams. I had aced my tests just as usual but I didn't have the leisure to indulge in pleasantries just yet.

The inter-school championship was knocking at the door and being a final year student and also one among the toppers (for boiling heart), I was sure enough that the school authorities would select me for representing the school in the championship. Every year, the authorities would call in the best out of the best students to represent St. Louis in the prestigious yearly inter-school mixer which remained a dream for several students for decades. I had been one of those students as I had seen the seniors basking in the glory of victory with that shining cup in their hands,—being bestowed upon with the greatest accolade one could get as the student of St. Louis. I had already mastered the inner sanctum of my school and now I needed new competition.

Truth be told, I didn't care about the others. I could easily handle this on my own. Only one student is to be chosen from each school and Rishabh Singh Rathore didn't need any partner to coddle. I had been ardently hoping for years that I would be the only one to represent the school for the very first time and I couldn't be more sure that they'd definitely choose me.

Poor Dixit and whosoever are beneath my rank.

While I was rummaging through the nitty topics, I heard the canteen door fling open and Father walked in with no care in the world whatsoever. I stood up in attention immediately. The man had all the leisure in his life, didn't he?

"Good evening Father." I wished him in the most articulate voice ever.

"Ahh. Mr. Rathore. What are you still doing here at this hour?" Father didn't look surprised, even though his question was insinuating just that. I simply shifted away from my comfy chair and politely invited him to settle down in it. I had to gain his favour, alright?

"Well well... You are already preparing for the Championship, I see." Father looked down at my book and passed me an impressed smile. I returned the smile almost as if on cue. With a Twelfth Grade Mathematics book? Yeah, sure, Sir.

"Sort of, Sir. I was just beginning to brush up the topics for the mental aptitude test. Get a headstart while I have time."

"Brilliant! Well, it's good that I caught you here... I sensed that you might still be in the campus, my diligent student." Father led out a hearty laugh. My ears perked up instantly at his exclamation. I might have looked like a puppy, flapping its ears while waiting for its treat but I didn't care. It was finally happening!

"However, I would have felt much better if you hadn't begun it on your own." Oh no way. I had a foul feeling in the pit of my stomach. He did NOT just say that.

"You will need a partner to practice with, my boy, and also to accompany you to the Championship in St. Peter's." I opened my mouth and closed it almost mechanically before Father could marr the little hope I still had in me for the Championship being an individual's contest this year as usual.  I was flabbergasted. What went wrong?

"Don't you know? The organising committee decided to make the championship a group activity from this year. We talked about how there should be cooperative attitude among the students while performing the tasks as well as boosting more mingling among the students of different schools around the city. The more, the merrier!" Father had a quizzical look on his face and I felt my innards almost bursting out in anger at the revelation.

No I didn't know that! How was I supposed to know it beforehand? I don't have a time-machine, you old man!

"Didn't you see the pamphlet on the bulletin board yet, Mr. Rathore? It was posted this morning, child. Now don't tell me that you aren't aware that I have already made the group?" Father fired me with yet another quizzical look and I could barely respond as I was rooted to the spot.

Already made the group without me? So was I even in it? THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY BREAK! MY CHAMPIONSHIP!

I felt utterly stupid for being so relaxed while gloating about being the sole chosen one moments ago.

Damn the bulletin board!
Damn you, Rishabh Rathore!

Now what did Father expect me to say? Eversince I had seen the first senior come in with the trophy in his hands, I had already imagined myself in his place several years ago. I was supposed to represent the school by myself. I was supposed to win it single handedly.

Father knew about my ambition. He had seen me strive to enter the Championship eversince the very first day. He had seen my dream. He knew about it all. Then why would he change his mind and agree for a group activity? Had Father lost his faith in my competence? Was it because of how I failed to bring the trophy for the basketball championship this year? But that wasn't my fault! The gameplay was rigged by Aakash and his unexplained grudge towards me!

"Mr. Rathore.." I looked up to see Father addressing me with a concerned look on his face. He was worried that I hadn't spoken a word since he broke the bad news to me.

"I know what you must be thinking. Sometimes you need to make the best of what is thrown at you. I assented to this deal because I wanted to see my last batch of students win the trophy together as a group and make me proud before my retirement. You could have definitely made us proud on your own but your strength lies in your competitive attitude and that comes out best when you're with the students of our school." He pulled his brows up in an understanding gesture and I tried to grasp the meaning behind his words.

I knew there were many students like me who dreamt of representing the school in the Championship but it was hard for me to believe that any of those students had it them what I had in order to maneuver around the intricacies. And no one, I repeat, no one was as passionate about the championship as I was. I had the winning confidence in myself but I wasn't at all pleased about participating with the other buffoons. If we had to huddle up an impromptu group together like this, there was perhaps zero to no chance of us winning the trophy this time. All was lost.

"Moreover this entire ordeal spared me the immense trouble of choosing between you and Miss Dixit as the individual representatives of the school.." I nodded at his words unmindfully but the next second almost jumped out of my skin at mere mention of her name.

Fuck

"If this has to be a group project then Father would most certainly include Sanvi Dixit in it as well." I was bathed in cold-sweat at the mere thought of the possibility by the time I realised that I had accidentally exclaimed that out loud. Father narrowed his eyes at me. I tried to cover my surprise with an awkward smile.

Probably not, huh? Sanvi Dixit might have been a choice for the individual championship against my name but she was never great at social activities. Father wouldn't consider her as a member then, would he?

What if he truly does include her in it? How will we work together? How will I bear working around her?

I could barely think of anything other than the prospect of somehow being tricked by Father into working with Sanvi Dixit. That cruel man.

"Ahem.." I heard Father cough and instantly shot out of my thoughts. We overheard a knock on the closed cafeteria door. Huh? "I hope you don't mind me interrupting your study session here, Mr Rathore but I had invited a few of your classmates previously to join me here.. We have lots to do." I gulped at the eagerness in Father's voice.

"It's time. Come in." I saw Father usher them in as my gaze travelled to the door, counting the number of heads entering the through the cafeteria door one by one.

'Veronica...check.' Wasn't she Sanvi's best friend or something? What was she even good at? Drunk dialling her bestie and manipulating her to come down to a stranger's house at the middle of the night feigning danger? I scoffed in my mind. Sanvi had weird friends.

'Pavan...check.' Oh, so he was the guy Sanvi called that day while at my house. I felt a little uncomfortable at the idea of Sanvi being friends with that guy...well any person, actually. She was never the friendly type.

'Dhruv...check' The most deserving out of all the other buffoons. I waved back at my best friend who looked rather cheery upon seeing me. What was cooking in his mind?

'Aakash...like what even?' I immediately scrunched my nose in disgust when I saw Aakash strutting in with the usual slappable sneer on his face. Ugh, if only I could place a smack then and there but what could I even do? The guy, by whatever nefarious means, had managed to do incredibly great in athletics within the short span of time that he had entered our school. You would think someone couldn't cheat in physical activities but boy, that guy was resourceful. I didn't understand why would he even hate me? I didn't even know the guy!

I calculated and recalculated in my mind as the students poured into the room. While I ardently hoped Sanvi Dixit wasn't considered for the team, there was a part in me that felt quite bizzare thinking how she might feel if she was the only one left out while almost all the good students were roped in for the team. The group was consistent but majority of us barely had an amicable bone in our body to be called 'friends' or even the bare minimum of acquaintances. I wasn't acquainted with anyone other than Dhruv and had Sanvi been in the team, she might have been another one but she wasn't. Why didn't Father include her? He included the jerk Aakash but not the second topper of the school, Sanvi Dixit? What was Father thinking dropping Sanvi out like that?

"Sanaya...check." I counted impatiently under my breath and narrowed my gaze at the door when I found no one entering after her.

What? That's it?

I had stayed silent all the while Father spoke his part but I felt like I was on the verge of spilling out when I realised that he had dropped Dixit out of the team like that.

I walked upto him, pushing against the throng of those buffoons and stood face to face with him in a challenging stance.

"Father, I might be out of the line for saying this but don't you think you must be forgetting..." I felt Dhruv tug at my shirt, pulling me back. "Rishabh.. Rishabh... she's coming." He whispered-yelled making me stiffen immediately.

"I am so sorry, sir." I heard a known voice as all the eyes darted towards the door and I physically felt the colour drain off of my face.

"Calm yourself down dude.." I heard Dhruv snigger at my outburst.

There she was, standing at the door with one hand in air. I hadn't seen her in a while. She was in a different section than me and we were both busy with the mid-term exams. Besides, I thought it better to stay out of her way till the Championship. Normally, I wouldn't have bothered to look twice but we had both parted on such a bizzare note few months back that it almost felt like I was seeing her for the first time after ages.

I looked back at Father with an apologetic face who happened to completely brush off my indolence just a second ago.

"Come in, Miss Dixit..." Father exclaimed as she entered in her usual clumsy manner. Dress dishevelled, hair scattered like she had just returned after fighting a wild beaver and with mannerisms that totally did not make me want to keep looking at her. She was just so damn weird and amusing.

She didn't seem to notice me amongst the group. We moved to stand surrounding Father in a circle as Dixit made her way into the room with her head held down, possibly ashamed for her tardiness. To my utter surprise, she stood right beside me but she never pulled her head up to look at me. Wow. She was in for the shock of a lifetime.

I couldn't help but keep staring at her on my side as she looked straight at Father beginning with his speech.

"So my treasured children, we've arrived at the point where I can finally present to you the chance of making your school proud for one last time. Each of you is roped into this team in order to carry on with the legacy of your seniors. I know all of you might have questions regarding the sudden shift in the arrangements this time but before we get into that, tell me one thing: Are you all excited?"

"Yes, Father!" Everyone exclaimed in unison. I scoffed under my breath. St. Louis was done for the moment Father agreed for a group participation.

"Now this time, the authorities of the charity wanted to team each school representatives into groups for the several competitions  in order to give every deserving student, a chance. Moreover, as the years have gone by, this small endeavor of the inter-school committee has taken the shape of a big event. Patrons have been called in for the charity meet that will be held during the night of winner's celebration. We've been donating the money to the needy for several years but this year the prize money would go to the deserving student who is economically deprived and is in dire need for a scholarship or financial aid." I felt shuffling beside me and turned to see a nervous Dixit biting her finger nails anxiously while listening to Father's words intently. Her eyes were sparkling. I wondered whether it was the money aspect of the competition that had gotten her all riled up? I couldn't help but chuckle silently at her antics.

"And as you already know, the Championship will be held between ten best high schools of the city. You will be tested on a plethora of fields that might be of your interests. All you need to do is find your strength in a specialized task and go for it. Practice hard till the last minute. I hope you will perform well and rope in the trophy this time as well. Although a group task might not be easy since you'll basically be dependent on your partner but I hope you'll work it out for the best." Father paused for that sink in us.

"I have chosen you guys as you are some of the best students of our school. I hope you wont disappoint us. Mind you, St. Louis had been the the victor of the Championship for the past five years. I don't want you breaking our traditional spree." It didn't take long for Father's momentary cheery tone to be replaced by his usual strict and grave baritone. The atmosphere around had suddenly gotten chilly as I gazed upon the tensed faces of my supposed team-mates, each looking like they've been woken up from a dream and told that there were in the Apocalypse. How were we even supposed to mingle among the other school teams when we weren't sure if we could mingle among our own selves! I kept staring at Father with disdain. 

"For any other information, consult the pamphlet. The levels of the competitions are explained in it as well as the criteria for distribution of sub teams among yourselves." Father pulled out a bundle of the pamphlets to hand us out.

Quite unfortunately, when it was my turn, I grabbed the only pamphlet left in his hand and felt a soft hand grab my own, attempting to pull the pamphlet for themselves.

I knew the touch.

I froze at my spot and felt her freeze with me.

Oh boy. She's about to get that shock now.

*********************

TBC