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Outside the Music Room — East Wing Corridor
Footsteps echoed faintly as the shadow disappeared around the corner.
Ruhaan Agnihotri exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched.
That girl.
That voice.
She acted like she could control the room with her sweetness. But he saw right through it. Ishika Malhotra was too quiet, too polished, too… calculating. No one was that perfect without hiding something underneath.
He hated it.
He hated how easily she distracted people—how she reminded him of someone he'd buried long ago.
Lost in his thoughts, Ruhaan didn't notice someone step into his path until they were chest-to-chest.
"Oye Akduhotri"
The voice was sharp. Familiar.
Ishika Malhotra
Her arms were crossed, brows furrowed, annoyance radiating off her in waves. She didn't even try to hide it.
Ruhaan tilted his head, a mocking smile forming. "Yes, miss nautanki"
"Oh great, head of discipline commitee likes to roaming around school corridor," Ishika snapped
he walking toward her like a storm in slow motion. "Didn't know I needed your permission to walk in my school."
"You weren't walking," she snapped. "You were lurking. Watching. Like a creep."
Ruhaan raised a brow. "Careful, miss nautanki. You're starting to sound obsessed."
Ishika's jaw tightened. "I don't play games."
He took one more step, now just inches away. "Then why does it bother you?"
Her heart raced, but her voice stayed steady. "Because I don't like being studied like I'm a puzzle you're trying to break."
Ruhaan smirked. "Who said I haven't already?"
Her eyes flashed, and she pushed past him—but he blocked her with one arm, leaning against the wall beside her.
"I've seen your type," he said lowly. "Quiet. Smart. Pretending you don't want attention, but falling apart when someone finally sees you."
Her voice cut through the air, colder than before. "And I've seen your type. Boys who think they're untouchable. Who play with people like they're pieces on a board."
She turned, glaring up at him. "But I'm not a piece, Ruhaan. I'm the one who flips the board when I'm done playing."
That made him pause.
Ishika breathing hard, fists clenched but her eyes—traitorous, curious,
She hated him.
She really, really did.
Ishika tilted her head slightly
Her voice came out calm—too calm.
"Oh, and Ruhaan..."
He arched a brow, still standing with one hand in his pocket, watching her like she was a riddle with sharp edges.
"You might want to start getting used to saying my name."
He tilted his head, intrigued. "And why's that?"
She turned fully now, chin lifted, eyes burning with confidence.
"Because I'll be Student of the Year. Like always."
Ruhaan gave a low laugh, the sound dark and amused. "So sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I don't need to be sure," she said, stepping backward, gaze still locked on his. "I've got results. Records. And unlike you, I don't waste my time lurking in corridors."
He took a step forward, like the challenge excited him. "Careful, miss nautanki. Confidence looks good on you—but I've crushed better."
She didn't flinch.
She smiled. Sweet. Deadly.
"Then you've clearly never played against me."
She paused, eyes unintentionally dropping.
Ruhaan Agnihotri wasn't the kind of boy you could ignore. Not with the way he moved, like he owned the air around him. His sleeves were rolled up. His blazer slung over his shoulder. And that damn school tie hanging loosely around his neck like he didn't care about the rules.
Like he didn't care about anything.
Her gaze lingered longer than she meant to.
He noticed.
"Checking me out, Little witch?" he asked, voice low, smug curling in the corners of his lips.
Ishika folded her arms. "Fix your tie."
He shrugged. "Why? Does it bother you?"
"It bothers everyone with eyes," she snapped, stepping closer. "And basic standards."
"Then fix it," he said simply. "You clearly care more than I do."
She rolled her eyes but stepped even closer—now standing chest-to-chest, eyes barely reaching his collar. "You're too tall."
"Not my fault you're short," he murmured, amused.
Ishika didn't bother arguing.
She grabbed his tie.
Yanked it down hard.
Ruhaan blinked, slightly stunned by the boldness.
No one ever touched him like that—like they weren't afraid of what might come next.
Standing on her toes, she began tying it.
Precise.
Firm.
Her fingers brushed the curve of his neck, and his breath hitched—just for a second.
Neither of them said a word.
Her perfume lingered between them, warm and floral.
She tightened the knot at the center, patted it once, and stepped back with practiced calm.
"There. Try not to look like a delinquent for five minutes."
Ruhaan looked down at the tie, then back at her.
Still close. Still smirking.
"Didn't know perfectionism came with pretty hands."
She blinked. "Didn't know sarcasm came with such a punchable face."
He chuckled, low and wicked. "You're fun when you're mad."
She turned to walk away, but not before glancing back and tossing, "And you're predictable when you're flustered."
His smirk froze.
Just for a beat.
Just as Ishika was about to walk off with her quiet victory, a voice interrupted—
"Ruhaan!"
They both turned.
A girl in a pristine blazer, clipboard in hand and a fake-sweet smile plastered on her face, stepped into the corridor. Eyes fluttering straight to Ruhaan like he was the sun and she was his dedicated satellite.
Ishika's jaw clenched.
Great. She was here too.
Ruhaan looked mildly bored. "What now?"
The girl beamed. "You've been selected as a finalist for Student of the Year. Just came to tell you personally!"
Ishika's expression shifted, the sarcasm hitting before her words. "Wow. Red carpet treatment now?"
The girl gave her a dismissive glance. "You weren't on the list."
Ishika blinked. "Excuse me?"
"No form from your side," the girl said casually, flipping through her clipboard. "I checked twice."
Something cold ran down Ishika's spine.
No form?
She remembered filling it out. Perfectly. On time.
She even double-checked it before submitting.
And then—it clicked.
Her eyes narrowed, her voice dropping. "Someone deleted it."
The girl blinked, confused. "Sorry?"
But Ishika wasn't listening anymore. Her gaze had already shifted—to one person.
Ruhaan Agnihotri.
Still standing there, arms crossed, that unreadable expression on his face. Not guilty. Not innocent.
Just amused.
"sorry shivika better luck next time and my next class is going to start so excused me guys" That girl glanced between them who was staring each other bitterly like a pro rivals
she shook her head seeing their antique and walkout from their rivalry air but she thought
"He always wons
She never lose
what if their path collide with something unexpected But there is always only one winner, not two!!!
So who will win between these rivals?!"
Ishika took a step forward. "You really want the title so bad you'd play dirty?"
He didn't confirm. Didn't deny.
Just leaned in and whispered, "I don't lose."
He leaned towards her, Their faces were mere inches Away as he wishpered "𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗿"
She murrmered, Her lips close to his ear "let's just pretend that 'everything is fair in love and war' is actually a valid excuse for being a terrible person, shall we?"
He Didn't fired back Just his cold yet deep eyes studying her like a predator is obesserving his prey
students who was walking in corridor exchange nervous glance as sensing the tension between these two but no one dares to says anything between them and the reason is him
Ishika blood boiled.
But she smirked.
"Enjoy your spotlight, Akduhotri. I'll see you in the final round… with or without a form."
Then she turned on her heel and walked away, already plotting.
Because if there's one thing Ishika Malhotra didn't tolerate—it was being underestimated.
---
Ishika stormed down the stairs, fists clenched, fury radiating off her like heat. And of course—because the universe loved drama—he was waiting by the railing. Leaning, as always, like he had nowhere better to be.
Ruhaan Agnihotri.
The cause of her rage and her skipped heartbeat.
"little witch," he called out, his voice deceptively calm.
She didn't stop walking.
He fell into step beside her like it was routine.
"Join the Math class. Itna bhi mat daro mujhse."
That did it.
She stopped.
Swiveled around, eyes blazing.
"Darna?" she scoffed. "You really think I'm scared of you?"
He shrugged. "You keep running every time I enter the room."
"Because being near you lowers my IQ."
He chuckled, completely unaffected. "Aww. Ruhaan sang tujhe mirzi lage toh mai kya karu?"
Her jaw dropped slightly. "Did you just—?"
"Quote a song at you?" He smirked. "What can I say? You inspire poetry… and war."
Her hands balled into fists. "You sabotaged my form. Now you're coming after Vice president too?"
He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low, silky threat. "See you soon Tomorrow… at the Council meeting."
Then, with that slow, lazy arrogance that made her want to scream—
"But don't worry. I'll make sure you don't get the position either."
Her mouth parted slightly, rage and disbelief clashing in her throat.
"And why's that?" she snapped.
He leaned in, close enough that she could see the flecks of amber in his eyes.
"Because you're too good. And I like winning."
his cold gaze met hers, her eyes flickered with frustration and irritation"You have to pay for this" Ishika lifted her chin. "you're confusing obsession with strategy."
He chuckled darkly, stepping in so close she could feel the heat of his breath.
"Then Let's See Who Burns First."
A tense silence.
Then—his phone vibrated.
One glance.
And his expression shattered.
For the first time… Ishika saw it.
Fear.
But only for a second.
He slid the phone into his pocket, mask snapping back into place.
Except now his smile was colder.
"Good luck, Ishika," he said, almost like a goodbye.
And walked away.
She stared after him, unsettled.
Then—her own phone lit up.
One message. No ID.
Just two words:
"He knows."
Leaving her burning behind him.
But she wasn't done.
Not. Even. Close.
she stomped on her foot like a toodler "What does this self concerned bastard dog think of himself? He will do anything and I will let him do it, in your nightmares akduhotri!!" Ishika cursing him until he disappeared from there
Avyana take heavy steps towards her as she sensed her friend patience is now at its limits
"Stop it Ishi you called him rude but you're the one who behave so rude with him" Her voice almost like a low growl and she glared at Ishika
"ghoss you're my friend not him" Ishika mumbled under her breath and avyana couldn't help but chuckled
"But i must say he's a perfect student with amazing grades, looks, and a clean record. It's unbelievable he became our teachers' favorite so quickly after transferrred" Avyana tone was calm like she was trying to pacify her but Ishika is not in a mood to pacified
"Not all did you forget about mrs pratika Malhotra!"
__________________________
Meanwhile, across the campus
One broken sketch. One raised hand. One girl who finally steps in.
This time, Prakriti's not watching—
she's fighting.
Next Chapter: The Things Left Unsaid