Between the Classes(Two different worlds)

Chapter 4 - Whispers of Rivalry

"I'm just saying," Nikki announced, "Electronics boys are overconfident."

"Says the boy who challenges wardens to race," Akshu said.

I poked idli with a spoon. "Maybe Rohit was just being friendly."

Nikki gagged. "Friendly? He said Physics girl who lives in the library. That's flirting."

I was about to argue when Rohit dropped his tray beside ours. "Permission to sit?"

Nikki groaned. Akshu smiled like she was watching a movie.

"Sit," I said.

He did. "Office was about inter-department event," he added casually, eyes on me. "Committee work. Nothing scary."

"Who said it was scary?" I asked too quickly.

"Your eyes." He grinned. "You talk with them."

"Annoying," Nikki muttered.

Rohit ignored him. "There's a quiz team forming for the fest. You should try. You're sharp."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Compliments usually slid off me. This one stuck for no reason.

"Think about it," he said, standing. "Evening, coffee?"

"Class," I lied.

"Tomorrow, then." His smile stayed as he walked off.

Nikki thunked his head on the table. "I hate him."

"You hate your own shadow," Akshu said.

But my mind was somewhere else. Office. Committee. Nothing scary. Why did I care what it had been about?

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Evening Study Hour

The classroom hummed. Pages flipped, WhatsApp pinged under desks, someone rehearsed a presentation to the wall.

Rohit slid a note onto my desk: Do you solve after class? I have doubts.

I stared at the paper. Doubts? Or excuses?

Before I could respond, footsteps came from the doorway. Siddharth paused there a moment, scanning. His gaze brushed over us, then lifted to the board, to the half-solved problem someone had abandoned.

He walked in, wrote the last three steps, and underlined the answer. "Don't leave a question half-done," he said. "It learns to haunt you."

A few laughs. He set the chalk down and left.

Rohit blew out a breath. "He loves dramatic lines."

"They're true," I said, before I could stop myself.

Rohit looked at me, surprised. Then he smiled like he'd just found a puzzle piece.

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Corridor

When study hour ended, the hallway filled with noise again-shoes, whispers, people trying to be somewhere else.

Rohit fell into step beside me. "So... about that coffee?"

"Not tonight."

"Tomorrow?"

"Maybe."

He tapped his wrist as if he wore a watch. "I'll take that as a yes."

We reached the stairs. He stopped, half-turning toward me. "By the way, if anyone gives you trouble... you can tell me."

"Trouble?" I frowned.

"Some people stare too hard." His eyes flicked somewhere past me, quick as a secret. "See you tomorrow, Physics girl."

He left before I could answer.

I stood very still for a second, then looked over my shoulder.

Down the corridor, Siddharth had just stepped out of the staff room. He didn't move. Didn't speak. He only stood there, unreadable, as if he'd been carved out of the shadows and left to watch.

Our eyes met for one beat. Two.

He looked away first.

I exhaled-didn't even know I'd been holding my breath.

Akshu appeared like a rescue. "Come. Dinner. My head is empty."

"Same," I said, but my chest was too full.

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Night

Hostel lights dimmed. Outside, the campus settled into its quiet. I lay on my side, staring at the wall.

Rohit's smile. Siddharth's silence. The way the chalk had paused for half a second when our fingers touched over a pen.

Akshu whispered across the room, "You awake?"

"Mm."

"Do you like Rohit?"

"I don't know him."

"Do you like... someone else?"

I closed my eyes. "Good night, Akshu."

She giggled. "Good night."

I pressed my palm over my heart and told it to behave. It didn't listen.

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Staff Wing, late

Siddharth closed his diary. The campus map on his desk was dotted with tomorrow's tasks. His phone buzzed: a message in the committee group, a schedule revision. He typed a brief "Noted."

He reached for his pen, then paused. His mind replayed the day-classroom, canteen, corridor. The way Rohit lingered. The way her eyes refused to lie even when her lips did.

He rubbed his temples, annoyed with himself. Why is this in my head? She's a student. Stay in your lane.

He switched off the lamp, stood, and caught his reflection in the window-jaw tight, shoulders tense.

He didn't like it.

He didn't know why.

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Hook

Next afternoon, notices went up near the staircase: Inter-Department Quiz Team Trials - Physics & Electronics (Joint Panel). Mentor: Mr. Siddharth Rai.

Akshu grabbed my hand. "Vidhu! You have to try."

Rohit appeared like he'd stepped out of the paper. "I'll be there. Don't make me win alone."

I looked up from the notice... and found Siddharth already watching from the end of the corridor, unreadable as ever.

My throat went dry.

For the first time, one thought scared me more than the trial itself:

Was Siddharth Rai... jealous?

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Author's Note

New energy, new tension 🥊
Team Rohit's charm or the silent pull of Siddharth's intensity-who would you choose right now? 👀

If this chapter kept you turning, please ⭐ vote and ➕ add to library. Your support helps more readers find Between the Classes. 💖

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