Entry of new rival

Location: Saraswati Global Academy – Morning Assembly
There are a few things Rhea Kapoor expected on a Tuesday morning: chai, sleepy announcements, and pretending she wasn't in a fake marriage.
What she didn’t expect was being ambushed by a boy in sunglasses, riding a hoverboard, throwing rose petals.
“Bas ab hogaya!”(That's it! I've had enough!)
The boy skidded to a stop in the middle of the courtyard. Students gasped. Some girls squealed. Zoya dropped her paratha in slow motion.
“I can’t believe it…” someone whispered. “Is that Rudra Raizada?”
“The Rudra? From Raizada Automotives?”
Rhea blinked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rudra pointed dramatically toward the council stage where Rhea and Aarav stood. “That’s right! Rhea Kapoor is my fiancée! Our fathers promised each other this match before we were even born!”
Rhea’s jaw dropped.
Aarav raised an eyebrow. “This day just keeps getting better.”

---
Location: Student Council Room – 9:45 AM
“I’m going to kill him,” Rhea said calmly, pacing the council room like a general preparing for battle.
“You say that every other day,” Aarav replied, typing on his laptop. “But this time, it’s personal.”
Zoya tossed a school newspaper on the table. The headline read:
> 🗞️ Rich Boy Rudra Claims Engagement to Vice President! Love Triangle with Student Council President?!


“This school has a gossip tabloid?” Aarav muttered.
“Focus!” Rhea snapped. “He’s ruining everything. First the fake marriage, now this fake engagement?!”
Aarav looked up. “What do you want to do? Deny it publicly?”
“I want to erase him from existence.”
“Subtle.”
“I’m serious, Aarav. This isn’t just annoying—it’s humiliating. My dad’s gonna see this. Yours—oh wait…”
Her voice trailed off.
Aarav closed his laptop slowly.
“Sorry,” Rhea said softly. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine,” Aarav said. “You're not wrong. My dad won’t see it. My uncle might. But he doesn't care what happens to me unless it involves the company shares.”
A pause.
Rhea sat down, her fire dimmed.
“I’m still going to throw Rudra’s hoverboard into the fountain.”
“I fully support that.”
Zoya added, "Or we could cover it with cow dung. Desi-style revenge."
Rhea chuckled. "I'm writing that down."

---
Location: Cafeteria – Afternoon
The cafeteria buzzed with excitement. Rudra had clearly paid someone to hang a huge banner above the lunch tables:
> "Rhea ❤️ Rudra – Destiny Written in Contracts!"


“What is wrong with this man?” Rhea muttered.
“His dad’s money broke his brain,” Zoya replied.
Aarav calmly sat beside her and pushed a rose off her lunch tray.
“You’re really calm about all this,” she snapped.
He took a sip of chai. “What do you want me to do, punch him?”
Rhea paused. “Actually… that would be very satisfying.”
“He’s not worth it.”
At that exact moment, Rudra entered the cafeteria—wearing a custom kurta with his own face printed on it.
“Rhea!” he called, spinning dramatically. “Come sit with me! I’ve booked the best table!”
He pointed at a golden throne chair—yes, a literal throne—he had dragged into the cafeteria.
Rhea stood up, fists clenched.
Aarav didn’t even look. “Sit down,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“If you stand up, you’re giving him attention. If you sit here like he doesn’t exist, you win.”
Rhea paused. Sat. Sipped her chai.
“You’re really good at playing games,” she muttered.
“I don’t play,” he said quietly. “I survive.”
Zoya leaned over and whispered, “Rhea, he’s walking around like he’s in some Bollywood movie. Tu toh full filmy nikli, Rudra bhai.”(You're acting like you're a film hero, Rudra bro.)
Rhea smirked. “He’s a walking noise complaint.”
“And a cartoon.”
“No yaar, cartoon ka bhi insult ho raha hai.”(No man, even cartoons would be insulted by the comparison.)
Then Rudra took out a mic. "Rhea! This one's for you!" and started singing off-key:
"Tum hi ho, ab tum hi ho..."
Zoya buried her face in her hands. “He’s massacring Arijit Singh.”
Aarav stood. Walked over. Pulled the mic cord out. Rudra froze mid-note.
Aarav’s voice was calm. Deadly calm.
“Your dad may own half the country’s showrooms. But you don’t own her.”
A gasp. Some clapping. Rudra blinked.
Rhea’s heart fluttered a little.

---
Location: Girls’ Hostel – Rooftop, Night
Rhea needed air.
She sat on the rooftop in her hoodie, hugging her knees. The stars above didn’t care about fake marriages or spoiled boys with hoverboards.
Then came footsteps.
Aarav sat down beside her, hoodie half-zipped, phone in hand.
“He’s not going away, is he?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“I hate him.”
“I don’t blame you.”
A breeze passed between them.
Rhea looked sideways. “Were you really not jealous?”
Aarav blinked. “Of Rudra?”
“He’s rich, loud, probably owns a boat.”
“He’s a walking noise complaint.”
She smiled a little. “But seriously. If this were real… if we were actually a couple… what would you do?”
Aarav didn’t answer right away.
Then: “I’d hold your hand in front of him. Just to shut him up.”
Her heart skipped.
“And maybe…”
She waited.
“Maybe I’d make it clear that I don’t share.”
Silence.
Rhea looked away, her ears burning. “Too bad it’s not real.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Too bad.”
Behind them, Zoya peeked from the stairs, whispering to herself, “Bas ab pyaar ho chuka hai.”(It's official. They've fallen in love.)