When Rivals fall

Chapter 1: The beginning of war

The morning sun painted the campus of Sunshine Soldiers University in shades of gold. Students hurried through the gates with backpacks slung over their shoulders, some rushing to class while others stood in groups chatting and laughing.
For most students, Monday mornings were dreadful and give laziness.

But not for two people.

Aarav and Naina who are toppers of the University and also enemies to each other.
They always think to beat each other with grades. They even see each other like they had a battle between them. Fighting always continue between them..
        When professor raghav enters the classroom for surprise test to the students ..all are worried but Aarav and Naina looked confidently and gives a deadly look to each other..

Then professor raghav said
  -   " All are attempted well in your semester examinations which was done before 2 weeks".
The results are tomorrow...so get ready for that....they both stared at each other and thought who is gonna first...
After announcing the results date ,professor gives the quiz papers to all students..
When the professor announced the answers, they scored full marks.

Again.

The professor smiled.
"You two never disappoint."

Naina glanced at Aarav.
"This isn't over."
He closed his notebook.
"It never is."

Then professor ends the class and left..
The college ends and the students are going towards the buses.. Suddenly a light breeze rustled the trees lining the pathway. Naina was going through the pathway while adjusting her hair.. where Aarav was behind her ,walking and watching her.. Then Aarav reaches his bus ...Naina was thinking about the results and  got on the bus ...

     The next morning, by 9:00 a.m., the college notice board was surrounded by students.
Laughter, excitement, and nervous whispers filled the corridor.

Among the crowd stood a girl with neatly tied black hair, sharp eyes, and a confident expression....it's Naina
She wasn't nervous.
She was determined.

She adjusted the strap of her backpack and folded her arms  at one end of the corridor.
At the other end of the corridor stood a boy in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, carrying only a notebook in one hand.
He looked calm.
Too calm.. .it's Aarav
He wasn't surrounded by friends. He was just waiting quitely...

The students looked at both of them before looking at the notice board.
One whispered,
"The battle is about to begin."
Another laughed.

"Who do you think will get first rank this time?"
"My bet is on Aarav."
"No chance. Naina studied day and night."
After the professor pinned the results ... All are looking at these two before looking at the results paper....

Someone whispered -" the battle begins " ..
All are searching their names and whispering their marks..Within seconds, students rushed forward.
The hallway became noisy.
Someone shouted,
"I passed!"
Another groaned.
"I failed Mathematics!"

Naina pushed gently through the crowd and searched for one name.

1. Aarav Mehta – 9.94 CGPA

Her smile disappeared.
She looked at the next line.

2. Naina Reddy – 9.92 CGPA

Just...
Two hundredths of a point.
She clenched her fists.
"Again?"
Behind her, a familiar voice spoke.
"You almost had it."
She turned around.
Aarav stood there with the same irritating smile he always wore after results.

"Congratulations," he said politely.
She raised an eyebrow.
"You sound happier than I do."
"I'm happy because hard work paid off."
"Oh really?" she replied. "Or because luck was on your side?"

He chuckled.

"If believing that makes you feel better."
Before she could answer, their classmates gathered around.
"Congratulations, topper!"
"Aarav, treat!"
"Naina, you'll beat him next semester!"
Someone whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear,
"These two will probably compete even at who reaches the classroom first."
Everyone laughed.
Except Aarav and Naina.

They simply stared at each other.

It wasn't hatred.
It was something stronger.
A challenge.

They just left the place and go to their classrooms ..
The college ends....
Aarav was going to his place without knowing others...

At the same time Naina saw him and followed him...she was shocked after she saw what he was doing...

                              To be continued........