rivals of each other ...

( A busy school hallway with students chatting and lockers clanging. Isha overhears Kabir talking to his friends and storms in.)

Kabir (leaning casually against the lockers, smirking):

"Honestly, I don’t know how I’m supposed to sit next to someone like her. She’s a walking disaster—messy, loud, and always acting like a clown."

Aaravi (chuckling):

"She’s kind of funny, though. At least you won’t be bored."

Kabir (rolling his eyes):

"Funny? More like annoying. I’d take boredom over chaos any day."

(From behind them, Isha steps forward, her face flushed with anger.)

Isha (crossing her arms, voice sharp):

"Wow, Kabir. Didn’t realize you were such an expert on my personality."

(Kabir’s smirk falters as he notices her.)

Kabir (quickly):

"Isha... I didn’t mean—"

Isha (cutting him off):

"Don’t bother. I heard everything. If you have such a problem with me, why not say it to my face instead of acting all high and mighty with your friends?"

Jack (awkwardly):

"Uh, we should probably go..." (He nudges Aaravi, and they shuffle away.)

Kabir (defensive):

"I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was just... frustrated, okay? You’re always so loud and carefree—it’s distracting."

Isha (snapping back):

"And that’s my fault? Maybe if you didn’t act like you’re too good for everyone, we wouldn’t have this problem!"

(Kabir looks taken aback, his confident facade slipping slightly.)

Kabir (hesitating):

"I didn’t mean it like that. I just... I’m not used to people like you."

Isha (angrily):

"People like me? You mean people who don’t walk around with a stick up their—" (She stops herself, taking a deep breath.)

"You know what? Forget it. I’m done trying to be nice to someone who doesn’t even know how to respect others."

(She turns to leave, her eyes glistening, but she keeps her head high. Kabir watches her go, guilt flashing across his face.)

Kabir (softly, to himself):

"Maybe I went too far..."

(The scene ends with Kabir standing alone in the hallway, his usual confidence replaced by uncertainty.)

---

...****************...

( The school noticeboard, where the exam results have just been posted. A group of students crowds around, buzzing with excitement and chatter.)

Student 1 (pointing):

"Kabir topped the class again! First place, no surprise there."

Student 2 (reading further):

"Hey, look at Isha! She moved up to 19th! She was 22nd last time, right?"

(Isha squeezes through the crowd to look at the rankings. Her face lights up as she spots her name.)

Isha (grinning):

"Nineteenth! Yes! I’m finally improving!"

(Her friends Riya and Arjun appear beside her, both smiling.)

Riya (excitedly):

"See? I told you all that late-night studying would pay off!"

Arjun (teasing):

"Don’t let it get to your head. You’re still far behind me."

Isha (playfully shoving him):

"Rank 19 is a big deal for me! At least I’m moving up."

(Isha’s eyes drift to the top of the list where Kabir’s name is boldly written. She notices him standing at the back of the group, quietly observing. His calm, detached demeanor makes her roll her eyes.)

Isha (muttering):

"And of course, Mr. Perfect is at the top. Again."

(Kabir glances at her and raises an eyebrow but says nothing. He walks away, leaving Isha feeling a mix of irritation and motivation.)

---

(Later that afternoon, Isha and her friends head to a cozy café near the school to celebrate.)

Riya (raising her milkshake):

"A toast to Isha, climbing the ranks one step at a time!"

Arjun (grinning):

"Yeah, only 18 more to go before you catch up to Kabir!"

Isha (laughing):

"Don’t remind me! But seriously, I’m happy. It feels good to see progress, even if it’s small."

Riya (nodding):

"That’s the spirit. It’s about improving at your own pace. Forget Kabir and his robot brain."

Arjun (teasing):

"Yeah, and who needs to top the class when you’ve got personality?"

Isha (smirking):

"Exactly! Kabir can keep his perfect scores. I’ll stick with being awesome."

(They all laugh, but Isha’s mind briefly flashes back to Kabir’s quiet confidence. Instead of feeling competitive, she feels a strange urge to understand him better.)

(The scene ends with the friends clinking their glasses, Isha smiling brightly, and a subtle hint of curiosity about Kabir lingering in her mind.)

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