Rivannah

Rame and Clashes

" And you think hurtling insults would get you out of this? All I wanted were your personal details." Vikram snorted mockingly.

"Don't use debate team as an excuse to what you're doing!" Riva said staunchly, " And how can I give you all my details without knowing you're not a stalker?"

Aditi felt her vision blurring and she almost fainted but Kaveri and Jheel held her in time.

" Do I look like a stalker to you?" Vikram spat, eyes gleaming with anger and hurt pride.

" You look like a lot of things to me." Riva counted them off her fingers, " Pathetic bully, narcissist, eve teaser—"

"What did you just call me?" Vikram snarled, the colour draining from his face. Rage was burning in his veins. She called him names to his face!

" Nothing that you don't deserve!" Riva stood up, unyieldingly," Don't you have any female seniors to harass the new students? Or are you a desperate pervert—"

" Shut up!" Vikram roared, " I'm not ragging you! Stop trying to defend yourself! You blatantly asked Professor Malkani to help you enter the debate club! You're pathetic and desperate!"

Riva blinked a few times in confusion.What did he say? She never asked Professor Malkani about any debate cub! The hateful boy didn't look like he was lying.Perhaps he's after some other person.

" You've got the wrong person." Riva replied coldly, " I didn't ask Professor Malkani.I flipped out because I thought you were one of those holier-than-thou seniors who went around making freshmen's lives hell."

" So you implying that professor Malkani vouched for you on his own?" Vikram raised his brows.There was something about her unyielding attitude that he liked.

" You're too afraid to admit your mistake, aren't you?" Riva smirked, knowingly," It's fine, you don't need to apologise and bruise your manly ego."

" How about I accept you into the debate club instead?" Vikram grinned cheekily.

The previous anger had dissipated, but he still wondered why Professor Malkani refused to give her details.His earlier suspicions rose, he decided to have his contact in the administration office dig up her file.

" Do you think I want to be around a knucklehead like you?" Riva snorted.

Vikram gave her a lopsided grin and left the table without offering any explanation. He decided he'll keep her close until he figures out what is so unsettling about her. She had a fiery spirit and a powerful aura, arguing with him without fearing his identity...

Riva scowled and gulped down some water to cool off her raging nerves. Kaveri and Jheel glanced at each other and waited for her to calm down.

" You really shouldn't have provoked him." Kaveri released the breath she was holding.

" Didn't you hear that infuriating imbecile? He wanted me to argue with him!" Riva replied, tensely.

" Look, he's a royal. You can't offend him." Jheel added nervously . Watching Riva's shocked expression and parted mouth, she clarified , " That was Prince Vikram Singh Ranawat of Prathampura."

                                                                                                    *

Ambika placed the heavy bags at the door, and rang the bell. It was well over six, the evening sky was a deep saffron colour, and flocks of birds returning to their nests with loud cries. Aditi opened the door with solemnly, and for a moment, Ambika wondered what had dampened the spirits of her over zealous daughter.