Chapter 1: Same Name, Same School, Same Rank
678 Words
Chapter 1: Same Name, Same School, Same Rank
In the heart of a bustling town, there stood a school known not just for its campus but for producing exceptional students — and among them, two names echoed across every classroom and corridor: Riya Sharma and Riyan Varma.
Their journey began in sixth grade, when both joined the same school. It was on a warm July morning that the class teacher called out their names during roll call.
"Riya Sharma?"
"Present, ma’am."
"Riyan Varma?"
"Here, ma’am."
A few chuckles erupted from the class.
“They sound like twins!” someone whispered.
“They sound like a couple!” another teased.
But Riya rolled her eyes and looked down at her notebook, uninterested in the attention. Riyan, on the other hand, gave a half-smirk and leaned back in his chair. He was used to standing out — but this was new.
That was just the beginning. Over the years, their names became a permanent pair on every rank list. If Riya was first in English, Riyan topped Science. If he scored full marks in Math, she aced Social Studies. They were each other’s silent motivation and unspoken competition.
Riya was disciplined — always early, books perfectly arranged, handwriting flawless. She was the quiet storm, calm on the outside but fiercely determined on the inside. Her eyes sparkled with clarity and purpose.
Riyan, in contrast, was spontaneous. His tie was always a little loose, his smile slightly mischievous. He studied hard but made it look effortless. He answered questions in class with confidence and joked around just enough to stay on the teachers’ good side.
They never really became friends. There were no shared lunch breaks, no texts, no birthday wishes. But they noticed each other. Always. Like magnets that resisted contact but couldn’t deny the pull.
One time in 10th grade, during a group debate, they were on opposing teams. Sparks flew — not the romantic kind, but the kind that left the audience in awe. Teachers smiled knowingly.
“Such brilliant minds. What a pair they’d make…” one whispered.
But neither Riya nor Riyan paid attention to such remarks. They were focused on something else — their dreams, their goals, their ambitions. Love was not on their radar. Not yet.
Then came the final board exams. Both families had high hopes, and the pressure was immense. Every morning, Riya prayed before stepping out, whispering her dreams into the universe. Riyan, though less spiritual, had his own rituals — a lucky pen, a quiet five minutes before every exam.
Results day came.
Riya Sharma: 97.6%
Riyan Varma: 97.4%
She had edged just ahead — again.
Their school principal called them up on stage at the farewell ceremony. The hall erupted in applause.
“These two students have raised the bar for excellence,” he said. “We are proud of them, and the world will be too.”
As they stood side by side holding their certificates, their eyes met briefly. No words. Just a soft nod of respect. That was the last time they saw each other.
College admissions swept them away into different cities. Riya got into a top engineering college in Bangalore. Riyan joined a leading medical college in Chennai. Just like that, the chapter of school closed — and with it, the silent story of two rank holders with matching names.
They didn’t stay in touch. No messages. No social media likes. No calls. Just memories that occasionally surfaced.
For Riya, it was every time someone mentioned “Riyan” during a competitive discussion. She would smile and think, He was the only one who ever gave me real competition.
For Riyan, it was whenever someone teased a girl’s name similar to hers. He’d laugh and say, You know what’s funny? I went to school with a girl named Riya Sharma. Brilliant girl. Bit too serious, though.
Years passed. Life moved on. They forgot each other's faces, but never the name.
And neither of them knew that fate had barely started writing their story.
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- Writer
