His Favorite Rival

Aarushi Mehta did not believe in destiny. But if it existed, it clearly had a cruel sense of humor. She stepped through the wide glass doors of Imperial Business College, the early morning sunlight making the marble floors gleam like a runway to her final year. Her bag weighed heavier than usual, full of highlighters, notebooks, and unnecessary anxiety. She had told herself she wouldn’t care if he was in any of her classes again. She was wrong. As she walked into the lecture hall — three minutes early, naturally — she saw him. Leaning back in his chair like the world owed him nothing and everything all at once. Aarav Malhotra. The boy with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass and a personality just as cutting. Dark green shirt rolled up at the sleeves, AirPods in one ear, and that annoyingly perfect hair. Still looking like he walked out of an ad for expensive cologne. Still acting like he didn’t have to try. She sighed and moved to her usual spot — second row, left side, by the window. Close enough to impress the professor, far enough to avoid him. But apparently, the gods of chaos were in a real mood today. “Assigned seating,” said Professor Kapoor from the front of the room, without even glancing up from his attendance sheet. “Partner-based project. Sit with your designated match.” Match? Her stomach dropped. Aarushi scanned the printed seating chart posted on the side wall. Her finger followed the line. “Aarushi Mehta — Seat 3B Aarav Malhotra — Seat 3A” She closed her eyes. Counted to five. Opened them again. Nope. Still there. She turned slowly, dreading what she already knew — he was now sitting in her row. Their eyes met. And there it was. That infuriating smirk. “Morning, Mehta,” he said smoothly. “Missed me?” “Only the way one misses a migraine,” she replied, sliding into the seat beside him without looking his way. “Ah,” he said, casually draping his arm across the back of her chair. “So you did miss me.” She scoffed and pulled out her laptop, typing just hard enough to let him know he was not welcome. ⸻ Flashback: Two Years Ago She remembered the first time they met — during the freshman debate tryouts. He’d walked in five minutes late and still managed to outwit the entire panel. She’d hated him instantly. Mostly because he was good. Too good. The only one who ever kept up with her academically, verbally, intellectually. Which meant: competition. And she hated losing. Especially to him. ⸻ Back to Present “I assume this pairing was random,” Aarushi said, low enough for only him to hear. “No such thing as random,” he replied. “Maybe fate just likes watching us fight.” “Or maybe karma’s just punishing me.” The professor began explaining the Corporate Simulation Project — a three-month-long business strategy task where paired students would run a mock company, make financial decisions, pitch to a live panel, and fight for a real internship at Sterling Capital. Real stakes. Real pressure. Real nightmare. “You know we’re going to win this,” Aarav whispered. She turned to him, her face unreadable. “I don’t lose.” He leaned closer, his voice low and full of heat. “Neither do I.” Their eyes locked. For a split second, the room faded. The noise blurred. All that remained was tension — thick, electric, and so familiar it almost felt like home. ⸻ The professor clapped once. “Pairs, you’ll be working together for the next twelve weeks. Sit tight. You’ll either become business legends—or kill each other by Week 5.” Aarushi didn’t smile. But Aarav did. “Well, partner,” he said, holding out his hand mockingly, “let’s not kill each other… yet.” She looked at his hand. Then at his eyes. “Keep dreaming, Malhotra,” she said, brushing past him as the class ended. “In business and in battle — I play to win.” He chuckled behind her. “And here I thought you just liked playing with me.”