The Rivals (Rewriting)

Shot-57

Sanyukta's POV~

My stomach growled as I passed the closed cafeteria. What kind of an extravagant school like St. Peter's kept the cafeterias closed after lunchtime? What if someone missed the time and arrived late? After every shitty thing in my life, food was the only thing that comforted me and I couldn't even get that.

After getting rebuked by Father for missing our practice and the first round of championship- which I should add, lasted for an entire hour, I was returning from the Staff Quarters. My head was still throbbing from the hangover and my body ached for bed. Randhir's pills seemed to have made me even more sleepy. I wasted an entire day of practice and our competition was the day after the next one. The kind of deal happening right then with me had really dropped my self-confidence.

Randhir arrived at Father's room almost half an hour later and was still getting his share of the lecture. I barely made it out of there without him grabbing me to stay. Honestly, at that point, I really could use some time away from him. But the stupid competition that brought us closer in the first place had made it almost impossible for me to stay away from him. Also, my own self seemed to resist that at times and I was really pissed at that. It was tough to imagine that a headstrong girl like me had gone mush under affection. Maybe I wasn't even headstrong in the first place. I had just compelled myself to believe into being one just because of the circumstances that surrounded me. I was weak under turbulent emotions and had no control whatsoever of my own mind. I had no right to be proud of any of my achievements, which I don't think was much except for being a girl with good grades. Grades could elevate you to a point of being successful in your career but the way you manage your career is purely based on your personality and I didn't have a strong one.

"Hey, Sanyukta!" I heard my name being called out and the moment I turned, I was greeted by Rehan's cheerful smile.

"Hi!" I exhaled out, kicking a dry leaf with my sneaker. Fall was in its last spirit as we stood by the beautiful courtyard of St. Peter's with yellowed decayed leaves showering upon us.

"I didn't see you in the first round so I went by your dormitory to check up on you but you weren't there. It's good that I caught you here." He spoke out, still smiling warmly. It was still quite hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that my former bully was being so amiable. I tried to smile a little but failed ridiculously.

"Yeah well, I was getting lectured for missing the first round so you did catch me in a good time.." Surprisingly, my tone had my former bitchy tone. Yep, still an anti-social bitch.

"Umm. Is everything alright? You don't look so good." Rehan's cheerful tone was replaced with one of concern. Oof lucky me.

"Well let's see...I missed the first round, didn't get to practice because I was awfully late, got rebuked by Father for being so irresponsible and have to go hungry for the rest of the day till dinner because I missed breakfast and lunch. Yeah, I am having a blast!" I huffed out, crunching another leaf under my foot.

Rehan sighed at my words and shook his head.

"Well, I can help you cross off one thing from your depressing list. We don't let our guests starve here in St. Peter's." He exclaimed smilingly and I rolled my eyes at him in a goofy manner.

"The closed cafeteria surely backs your words.." I stood on my tip toes with my fists balled inside my hoodie's pockets and gestured towards the closed door. It was getting chillier with the approaching evening.

He bit his tongue at my words while rubbing the back of his neck, conveying his apology.

I had never pictured myself having a decent and playful conversation with Rehan. But as I was certainly having one then, it didn't seem awkward or weird at all. Had that guy never been such an jerk to me previously, we could have grown to be good acquaintances. Ah, who was I kidding? As if I was good at making friends. I just had a pathetic excuse of a best friend called Vidushi before the championship turned my life. I couldn't come to believe my thought either.