4:02 PM.
Library almost empty thi. Evening sunlight shelves ke beech golden lines bana rahi thi.
Apurva exactly 4 baje aa gayi thi.
Rithvik 4:02 pe.
"Late," Apurva ne bina upar dekhe kaha.
"Fashionably," Rithvik ne chair pull karte hue reply diya.
"Yeh fashion show nahi hai."
"Relax. Do minute se world collapse nahi hota."
Apurva ne apni notebook kholi. Already headings likhe hue the.
• Debate Strategy
• Quiz Division
• Research Paper Topic
• Practice Schedule
Rithvik ne page dekha.
"You pre-planned?"
"I don't like wasting time."
"Or control lose karna?"
Apurva ne pen stop kiya. "Can we focus?"
Rithvik ne haath utha diya. "Sure, boss."
Woh thoda lean karke baitha. Is baar casual nahi… attentive.
"Quiz round mein main mathematics aur logical reasoning le lunga," usne directly kaha.
Apurva ne eyebrow raise kiya. "Confident ho?"
"Test kar lo."
"Debate main handle karungi."
"Expected."
"Problem?"
"None. Tum bolti achha ho."
Compliment simple tha. Tone neutral.
But Apurva ko thoda unexpected laga.
"Research paper topic?" Rithvik ne poocha.
"Artificial Intelligence in Academic Evaluation."
Rithvik ke lips pe halka sa smile aaya.
"Safe choice."
"Smart choice."
"Predictable choice."
Silence.
"Tum suggest karo," Apurva ne challenge diya.
Rithvik ne bina soche bola,
"Socio-economic bias in merit-based education."
Apurva blink.
That was not basic.
"Interesting," usne admit kiya.
"Risky," Rithvik ne add kiya.
"Academy ko pasand nahi aayega."
"Exactly."
Un dono ki aankhen mili.
First time — disagreement nahi.
Alignment.
But ego still present.
"We're not here to impress management," Apurva ne kaha.
"We're here to win."
Rithvik leaned forward slightly.
"Winning sirf marks se nahi hoti, Apurva."
That line lingered.
Apurva ne notebook close ki.
"Fine. Topic final karenge after research."
"Fair."
Few seconds silence.
Uncomfortable nahi.
Different.
Rithvik ne suddenly poocha,
"Tum hamesha itni guarded rehti ho?"
"Tum hamesha itne observant rehte ho?"
"Only jab worth observing ho."
Pause.
Apurva ne uski taraf dekha. Expression unreadable.
"Don't misinterpret professionalism."
Rithvik halka sa hansa. "Don't misinterpret curiosity."
Bell ka distant sound aaya.
Library close hone wali thi.
Dono ne simultaneously books pack ki.
Exit ke waqt narrow aisle mein woh ek second ke liye almost collide hue.
Space kam tha.
Distance noticeable.
Apurva side hui.
Rithvik ruk gaya.
"Apurva."
She stopped.
"Main seriously try karunga."
Uski voice playful nahi thi iss baar.
Genuine.
Apurva ne sirf itna kaha —
"Good. Kyunki main already kar rahi hoon."
Aur woh chali gayi.
Rithvik usko dekhte hue khada raha.
Competition ab personal feel hone laga tha.
Par reason ab sirf marks nahi the.