Apurva ne notice kiya.
Rithvik zyada bolta nahi tha.
Zyada dikhta bhi nahi tha.
Par jab bhi woh class mein hota… uski presence feel hoti thi.
Woh backbench pe baithta, par attention poori class pe hoti.
Notes kam, observation zyada.
Apurva ko yeh baat pasand nahi aayi.
Usse loud rivals samajh aate the.
Yeh silent type dangerous hote hain.
Lunch break mein library usual se zyada quiet thi.
Apurva apni regular table pe baithi thi, book open. Focus mode on.
Footsteps.
Woh upar dekhe bina hi jaan gayi.
"Yeh seat bhi reserved hai?" Rithvik ki awaaz calm thi.
Apurva ne page turn kiya. "Library mein baithna allowed hai. Disturb karna nahi."
Rithvik uske saamne wali chair pe baith gaya.
"Disturb toh tum ho rahi ho."
"Main toh padh rahi hoon."
"Exactly."
Usne book ka naam padha. "Advanced Math. Interesting choice."
Apurva ne aankhon se upar dekha. "Tumhein maths pasand hai?"
"Pasand?" woh halka sa muskuraya. "Nahi. Samajh aati hai."
That line hit.
Apurva ne book band ki. "Samajhna aur top karna alag hota hai."
"True," Rithvik ne kaha. "Isliye tum first ho."
Pause.
Compliment tha ya challenge — clear nahi tha.
Apurva ne bag uthaya. "Library mein silence rule hota hai."
Rithvik khada hua, side hote hue bola,
"Tum silence mein bhi loud ho, Apurva."
Woh ruk kar uski taraf dekhi.
"Tum bhi," usne calmly kaha,
"bina bole kaafi bol dete ho."
Rithvik smiled.
Not mocking.
Not arrogant.
Just… interested.
Apurva wahan se chali gayi.
Par uska focus wapas book pe nahi aaya.