The Rivals (Rewriting)

Shot-13

Sanvi's POV

I recoiled with a jolt when my eyes measured upto the face of the person I had just collided my hand with. An air of a familiar fragrance numbed my senses and I cringed hard, possibly more expressively than I would have liked. Before me stood a befuddled Rishabh Rathore, whom I had been trying so hard to ignore since past few months.

I felt so stupid right then, after walking in there without caution when I already kind of knew that Rathore would be one of the teammates for the Championship. It was easy to conjecture since he would have probably been Father's first choice had the arrangement remained the same. I had been bearing a gnawing feeling of envy against Rathore since the thought crossed my mind at the beginning of the school session but I knew I didn't have to put myself down for that since I too had a rather equal shot at being selected by Father. I truly believed that Father would have been fair in his choice. If it had come to the worst and he should decide to choose Rishabh over me, I would have surely stepped back with dignity.

I surely would have. I wouldn't have thrown a tantrum. I wouldn't have lost sleep for the remaining session. I wouldn't have been pricking needles at my makeshift Rishabh voodoo doll. I would have been...okay with the idea of Rishabh rubbing my nose on the prize trophy after he returned home, victorious on his own. All we needed was one last win for St. Louis before our graduation. If Rishabh would have been the one to bring it in, I could have tolerated his super-boosted haughtiness for a few more months.

Regardless of that, if I had to be completely honest, then I had indeed lost a considerable amount of sleep worrying over this proposition. I knew I was jealous of Rishabh's capabilities but I couldn't stop myself from feeling so. The world had made up a lot of disadvantages for a girl to walk up the stairs to success even if she excelled at everything her male counterpart did. I was at least allowed a little jealousy, alright?

However, presently I heaved a sigh of relief realising that my worries seemed to have been for naught since all of us in the room would be representing our school together. Yay.

Yay, right?

I looked back up at Rishabh and cried internally.

To my utter distress, the previous proposition of not being at good terms with the other teammates was the least of my worry then.
How would I manage to keep away from that extremely annoying brat in such a situation after promising myself that I wouldn't ever cross paths with him again? The happiness of being selected as a representative after the gruelling months of worry had been rather momentary. I wanted to scream and cry and then scream some more, preferably on Rathore's face.

I could realise what a mistake it was on our part to take Father's punishment so lightly. He actually got us together in a team by hook or crook. How on the earth could we work as a team for the Championship, entirely ignoring each others' presence all the while? I could have totally ignored his existence around me had I not been already familiar with his real devilish character.

What if he tried to mess around with me again? What if I couldn't control my rage around him? What if we fought and failed to win the tasks? What if we become the reason for St. Louis losing the Championship that year?

We were basically ticking bombs, ready with retorts and punches within a meter radius from each other! But the thing that seemed to worry me the most was what if I couldn't veil my recently aroused weird emotions towards him if he came closer again? What if he realised that I was being affected under his physical influence?

I quickly grabbed another pamphlet from the table after letting go of Rishabh's hand. I didn't have the courage to look up for some strange reason.

Rishabh seemed rather unbothered standing beside me, with his usual straight composure. I frowned upon realising that he probably didn't give a damn about me being in the Championship with him. But shouldn't he be kicking the chairs and screaming in frustration?