FALLING FOR THE ENEMY
THE SEAT WAR
[Monday - 8:40 AM | St. Xavier's High School]
RIYA
(texting her bestie, Meera)
First day of 11th grade and some arrogant jerk just stole my seat
RIYA
Some guy named Aarav. Thinks he owns the class. He literally said-"First come, first served."
MEERA
Sounds like your kind of enemy.
(Classroom - Riya sits beside Aarav unwillingly, rolling her eyes.)
RIYA
Don't get too comfortable. I'm taking this seat tomorrow
AARAV
(smirking)
Dream on, princess. This is my territory now.
(Bell rings. They exchange death glares. The teacher pairs them up for a group project.)
RIYA
You've got to be kidding me.
AARAV
Oh, this is going to be fun.
[Later that Week - Library]
RIYA
You seriously can't even write an introduction without bragging about yourself?
AARAV
Sorry, confidence isn't a crime
(She grabs his notes, corrects a line. He watches, slightly amused.)
AARAV
You always this bossy?
RIYA
You always this annoying?
(He laughs. For the first time, she smiles back- just a little.)
[Friday - Class notice board]
TEACHER
Aarav & Riya, best project of the week.
(Riya turns to him, stunned.)
RIYA
Wait... we actually did it.
AARAV
Guess enemies make good teams.
(A pause. Their eyes meet soft something flickers between them.)
RIYA
Don't get used to it. I still hate you.
AARAV
Then why are you blushing?
THE BET
[Monday - 1:10 PM | School Canteen]
KABIR
Bro, admit it. You and Riya have some serious chemistry.
AARAV
Chemistry? More like World War III.
KABIR
Exactly why it's fun
KABIR
Bet you can't make her fall for you before annual fest.
AARAV
(grinning) Challenge accepted.
AARAV
Then I'll confess I'm an idiot in front of the whole school.
(They shake hands. The bet begins.)
AARAV
(drops a note on Riya's desk) "Truce? I'll stop being annoying... if you smile once."
RIYA
(writes back) "I'll smile when you stop breathing."
AARAV
(laughs quietly) You're good at this
(Days pass. Aarav starts "accidentally" helping her - carrying her books, saving her from a prank, even tutoring her before exams.)
[Thursday - School Garden, After Class]
RIYA
Why are you suddenly being nice? Planning something?
AARAV
Maybe I realized you're not that bad.
RIYA
(teasing) Maybe you realized you like me.
AARAV
(Smirks) And what if I do?
RIYA
Then I'd say you've lost your mind.
(She turns away, hiding her blush. Aarav watches her leave, smiling but the smile fades as guilt creeps in.)
AARAV
(Thinking) It was just a bet... right?
[One Week Later - School Fest Night]
(Riya performs a dance confident, glowing. Aarav can't take his eyes off her.)
KABIR
(nudges him)Don't forget the bet, bro. Time's running out.
AARAV
(Softly)Forget the bet. She's... different.
(After the show, Aarav finds her backstage.
AARAV
You were amazing out there.
RIYA
(smiling)Wow. Compliments from you? That's new.
(Silence. He steps closer, lowering his voice.)
(Before he finishes, she holds up her phone. The screen shows a chat - his friends joking about "The Bet." Her smile fades.)
RIYA
(coldly)Don't. I already know
RIYA
Save it. Congratulations, Aarav. You won.
(She walks away as he stands frozen realizing he's lost something real before it even began.)
THE BET BACKFIRES
[Friday - After Class | Basketball Court]
(Aarav's friends gather, laughing around him as he wipes sweat from his face.)
KABIR
So? How's "Project Riya" going, lover boy?
AARAV
(Smirking)She still hates me. But she's getting there
KABIR
The bet's still on , she falls first or you lose, bro.
AARAV
Relax. I've got this.
(Unnoticed, Riya stands behind the door frozen. She'd only come to return his forgotten notebook. The words "Project Riya" echo in her mind like thunder.)
[Later - School Corridor]
(Aarav catches up to Riya, smiling as usual.)
AARAV
Hey, sunshine. Did you miss me?
RIYA
(coldly)Not even for a second
AARAV
(laughs)Still pretending you don't like me, huh?
RIYA
(turns, eyes sharp)I'm not pretending.
AARAV
Whoa, what's with the attitude-
RIYA
(cuts in)"Project Riya"? That what you call me now? A bet?
(Aarav freezes. The color drains from his face.)
AARAV
Riya, listen. It wasn't-
RIYA
Don't lie to me. You made me look like a fool.
AARAV
It started as a joke, I swear! But then... it changed. I changed.
RIYA
(voice trembling)So I was supposed to fall for you while you laughed behind my back?
AARAV
No! I didn't- I couldn't-
RIYA
(eyes glassy)Save it, Aarav. You win. I fell for the wrong person.
(She walks away, holding back tears. Aarav stands there, guilt crashing over him like waves.)
[Later That Night - Riya's Room]
MEERA
(text):Riya, are you okay?
RIYA
He played me, Meera. Just like they all did
MEERA
You really liked him, didn't you?
RIYA
That's the worst part. I didn't even realize when I stopped hating him.
(She closes her phone, stares out the window. Outside, it rains - almost as if the world knows she's breaking inside.)
[Next Morning - School Gate
(Aarav waits for her, drenched, eyes tired from a sleepless night.)
AARAV
Riya, please... let me explain
RIYA
(cold)Explain what? That I was just a game?
AARAV
No. That somewhere between all that fighting... I actually fell for you
RIYA
(shakes her head)It's too late, Aarav. I don't believe you anymore.
(She walks past him. The rain hides her tears - and his.)
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