Reckless Rival : An Indian college romance

Chapter 6

Two days at Simha, and it was already a rollercoaster ride for Nami. Between the course work and the project, she didn't know how the forty-eight hours slipped by so fast. The third day was the first time she was set to start with her sports internship—the closest she got to checking off the box to meet the athletic department requirements.

She was not against picking up a sport and giving it her best, but it was about the time she wanted to spend on her project. The one delivery that could potentially secure another semester at Simha as an exchange student.

Why? Why couldn't she go to Simha like her father?

Letting out a sigh under her breath, she stepped into the Martial Arts Center. Many of the Simha students who represented their country in the Olympics were trained at the Simha campus facilities. She walked down the long corridor looking at the pictures of the athletes, some familiar faces, others not.

She finally arrived at the boxing arena and stopped short, more shocked than surprised. In front of her stood the guy she had been pretending to ignore. He was faced away from her talking to a man in a coach uniform, and he had on a pair of boxing shorts. A plain white towel was draped over his shoulder.

Was he a boxer?

Good job choosing to be a boxing assistant, Nami! Great way to stay away from him.

Nami walked over to the coach, and as she approached them, both men looked toward her. Although she was looking at the coach, she could see the taunt in Rana's eyes in her peripheral view. He knew she had chosen boxing and didn't say anything on their date.

"Hello, Coach. I'm Namrata." She hoped her voice didn't sound as shaky as it felt.

The older man smiled. "Welcome, Namrata."

"Thank you, Coach Vansh." Her eyes wandered to meet Rana's as the coach turned to look at him.

The coach patted Rana's shoulder. "This is Ranveer Simha, famously known as Rana, the boxing champ, our defending champion of the men's lightweight boxing. You will be his second in a few weeks or sooner if your training is complete."

Ranveer Simha. Rana Veer?

The words resonated in her head, and numbness settled over her as her grandma's words replayed in her ears.

His name is Veer...Veer Simha. Remember to stay away from him.

She felt the blood drain from her face even as she managed to smile at the coach and shook Rana's hand like they met for the first time.

Holy crap! She not only talked to the guy she was supposed to avoid, she also kissed him! Twice she had already kissed her rival!

"He-hello, nice to meet you." She was trembling all over, and he responded with a quizzical look.

"Rana, this is Namrata Varma, one of the very few female seconds we have had in years." The coach's words seem to have caused the confused expression on Rana's face.

Did he know who she was? Just from her last name?

"Rana, time to go." The coach turned to her and said, "Ms. Varma, we have an important match tonight. Watch and note down any questions you have. Good match to make some notes on how we operate around here."

Nami was just glad she had some headspace to process this newfound detail. She could only wonder how she did not think Rana was not his full name. She realized no one on the campus knew him as Veer. Explains why Ramya didn't know who Veer Simha was when she asked a few weeks back.