When You Left...But Never Let me Go. | ✔️

Chapter 6: More Than Just Words

Chapter 6: More Than Just Words

The debate hall was packed. Students whispered excitedly, waiting for the battle everyone wanted to see—Sanya Verma vs. Rudra Malhotra.

Sanya adjusted the mic, scanning the audience. She wasn’t nervous—she never lost debates.

Across from her, Rudra leaned back in his chair, fingers lazily tapping the table. His gaze met hers, sharp and unreadable.

The moderator cleared his throat. “Let’s begin.”

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The Debate Begins

The topic? "Is intelligence more important than hard work?"

Sanya was arguing for hard work. Rudra was defending intelligence.

Sanya spoke first. “Success isn’t about being naturally gifted. It’s about determination, effort, and persistence. No matter how intelligent someone is, without hard work, they will eventually fail.”

The audience nodded, some even clapping.

But Rudra? He smirked.

When it was his turn, his voice was smooth, confident. “Hard work is important, sure. But intelligence decides how efficiently you work. A hundred hours of effort can be useless if you don’t have the intellect to apply it correctly.”

Sanya didn’t even blink. “And what about the people who worked hard to learn those skills? Are you saying they don’t deserve success just because they weren’t born intelligent?”

Rudra’s lips twitched. “I’m saying that the smartest people know when to stop working hard and start working smart.”

A murmur ran through the audience. Even the judges were impressed.

Sanya’s pulse quickened. He was good. Too good.

But she wasn’t about to lose.

She stepped forward, her voice steady. “Then explain this—why do we admire people who rise from nothing? If intelligence mattered more, then only the naturally gifted would succeed. And yet, the world is full of stories of people who worked hard and won.”

The audience clapped again. Rudra exhaled, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

For the next fifteen minutes, they fought.

Their voices clashed, their words sharp and powerful. They weren’t just debating—they were challenging each other, pushing each other to their limits.

And everyone could feel it.

The tension between them wasn’t just rivalry anymore. It was something else. Something dangerous.

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The Winner

When the debate ended, the judges whispered among themselves. The room was silent.

Then, the result was announced.

“And the winner is… Sanya Verma!”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Sanya exhaled, her chest rising with victory. She turned to Rudra, expecting to see frustration.

But instead… he was smiling.

A slow, knowing smile.

He stepped closer, just enough so only she could hear. “Congrats, topper.”** His voice was deep, low.** “Guess I owe you.”

Sanya’s heart stuttered.

She had won.

So why did it suddenly feel like she was losing?

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Chapter 7 coming soon!