Monday morning.
Assembly unusually long thi. Principal stage pe khade the, aur students half-sleep mode mein.
Apurva normally announcements ignore karti thi.
Par aaj ek line ne uska attention kheench liya.
"This year, Aurora Heights Academy will host the Inter-Academic Scholastic Decathlon."
Whispers started instantly.
Decathlon.
Matlab — debate, quiz, presentations, problem solving, research paper — sab kuch.
Aur sabse important… internal selection.
Apurva ka dimaag already calculation mode mein chala gaya.
Yeh opportunity thi.
National level recognition.
Scholarship portfolio strong karne ka chance.
Principal ne continue kiya,
"Each class will send a two-member team."
Two.
Apurva ka instinct tha — she'll go solo mentally.
Usse kisi partner ki zarurat nahi thi.
Assembly khatam hui.
Class 11-A mein class teacher, Mrs. Mehra, directly point pe aayi.
"I have already decided the team."
Silence.
Apurva straight baithi.
"I'm selecting Apurva Sharma."
Expected.
Pause.
"And Rithvik Malhotra."
Dead silence.
Literally.
Class ke half students turned simultaneously.
Apurva blink bhi nahi ki.
But inside — irritation spike.
"Ma'am," usne calmly kaha, "I can handle it alone."
Mrs. Mehra ne glasses adjust kiye. "It's a team event."
"I prefer someone consistent."
Indirect shot.
Rithvik ne desk pe pen spin karte hue casually bola,
"I prefer someone less rigid."
Direct shot.
Class mein halki laughter.
Mrs. Mehra ne strict look diya. "Enough. You both are academically strongest. That's final."
Decision done.
No discussion.
After class.
Corridor quiet tha. Most students canteen side gaye the.
Apurva locker band kar rahi thi jab Rithvik paas aaya.
"Relax," usne normal tone mein kaha. "Main tumhara level drag down nahi karunga."
Apurva ne locker lock kiya. "Confidence achha hota hai. Overconfidence embarrassing."
Rithvik leaned against the locker next to hers.
"Tumhe lagta hai main serious nahi hoon."
"Tum serious nahi lagte."
"Difference hota hai."
Pause.
Woh uske thoda closer aaya — not invading space, but noticeable.
"Tum mujhe judge kar rahi ho based on first impression."
"Tum khud ko hide kar rahe ho," Apurva ne seedha jawab diya.
That made him stop.
For a second.
Genuine reaction.
Phir woh normal ho gaya.
"Kal 4 baje library," usne kaha. "We start planning."
"Main busy hoon."
"Topper ho. Time manage kar logi."
Apurva ne uski taraf dekha.
Challenge clear tha.
"Fine. 4 baje."
Woh chala gaya.
Apurva corridor mein akeli reh gayi.
Yeh first time tha jab usko feel hua —
yeh rivalry sirf marks tak limited nahi rahegi.
Yeh partnership dangerous ho sakti hai.
Kyuki jab do log equally ambitious hote hain…
toh ya toh woh ek dusre ko destroy karte hain.
Ya build.
And right now, neither of them was ready to build.