The Right Kind of Wrong

6. Forced Collaboration

Savi stared at the paper in disbelief after meeting the professor. A joint project? With Rajat? She rubbed her temples in frustration, recalling their last heated debate in class. The thought of having to work with him was exasperating. Professor Singh had given a joint project to work with a senior and Savi was paired with Rajat.

"Are you kidding me?" she muttered under her breath.

"Did you see that?" Shivani asked, glancing at her from across the cafeteria table. "You look like you just found out you're failing a class."

"Worse! I'm stuck working on a project with Rajat Thakkar," Savi said, her voice low as she cast a wary glance around the bustling cafeteria. "What kind of cruel joke is this?"

Shivani chuckled. "Guess the professors think you two need to learn to play nice. It could be a good opportunity."

"A good opportunity? More like a nightmare waiting to happen," Savi replied, crossing her arms. "He's impossible to work with."

"Or maybe it's a chance to prove him wrong?" Shivani suggested, raising an eyebrow. "You're determined enough to handle it."

"Maybe if he wasn't such a smug know-it-all," she snapped, her irritation bubbling to the surface.

"Then show him what you're made of," Shivani encouraged, her smile unwavering. "But seriously, how do you plan to handle it?"

"By avoiding him as much as possible," Savi said resolutely. "I'll do my part, and he can do his. We'll just have to email each other. Simple."

As she packed her things, Savi couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her stomach. She knew it wouldn't be that easy. He's bound to throw a wrench in my plans.

The next day, Savi found herself sitting at a small table outside the library, her laptop open and a mountain of notes scattered around her. She was determined to get a head start on the project. But as the minutes ticked by, she felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. What if he doesn't show up?

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Rajat strolled up, hands shoved in his pockets, an unmistakable smirk on his face. "Look who's taking this seriously," he said, eyeing her disorganized setup. "Planning to take over the world with your notes?"

Savi shot him a glare. "And look who decided to grace me with his presence. I was beginning to think you'd bail."

"Not a chance," he replied, his tone cocky. "I'm curious to see how someone so idealistic manages to tackle reality."

"Right, because you have all the answers," Savi shot back, rolling her eyes. "What's your brilliant plan?"

"Let's just get through this project without killing each other, okay?" Rajat replied, settling into the chair across from her. "We both know that's the only way we'll get a decent grade."

"Agreed," Savi said, trying to keep her tone neutral. "But that doesn't mean I have to like you."

"Trust me, I'm not losing any sleep over that," he countered, his gaze steady as he flipped through her notes. "So, what's your angle?"

"Why don't you tell me yours first?" Savi challenged, leaning forward. "You seem to think you're an expert on everything."

Rajat shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "Fine. I think we should focus on how public policy affects social change. It's broad, but we can narrow it down to a specific case study."

Savi frowned. "That's too vague. We need something more focused. How about analyzing a recent policy change? We could look at the impact of that."

He raised an eyebrow. "Like the new labor laws? It's a bit too narrow if you ask me."