Apurva ko ek cheez pasand thi — control.
Uski life simple thi.
Padho. Top karo. Ghar jao. Repeat.
Aurora Heights Academy mein uska naam already famous tha. Scholarship student. Always first rank.
Us din woh class mein enter hui… aur seedha ruk gayi.
Uski seat pe koi aur baitha tha.
Window side last row. Her spot.
Ladka relaxed tha. Jaise koi tension hi nahi ho. Expensive shoes. Casual attitude.
Apurva seedha uske saamne jaake khadi ho gayi.
"Excuse me. That's my seat."
Ladka upar dekhta hai. Calm. Bilkul bothered nahi.
"Really? Booking karayi thi?"
Class mein halki si hansi.
Apurva ne expression bhi change nahi kiya.
"Move."
"Why?"
Simple. Straight. Challenge clear tha.
"Because you're new," Apurva ne kaha, "and you don't know I don't repeat myself."
Ab ladka thoda interested laga.
"Rithvik," usne casually bola. "Transfer."
"Apurva," usne equally calm tone mein kaha. "Topper."
Un dono ke beech kuch second tak silence raha.
Phir Rithvik khada hua. But jaane se pehle ruk gaya.
"Topper ho?" usne halki si smile ke saath kaha. "Let's see kitne time tak."
Apurva ne sirf itna kaha —
"Try me."
Aur bas.
War shuru ho gaya.