~Sanvi's POV~
I hated how Rishabh Rathore made me feel like mush under the flick of a touch. No matter how much I ransacked my mind, I couldn't possibly infer how or what made me feel so attracted towards Rishabh those days.
The kiss was an accidental mishap! It meant nothing!
Did that conclude that I might not be simply attracted to the physical aspects of intimacy with him?
I could never be physically attracted to that jerk!
But why did I feel like giving up all my inhibitions under his touch?
Why did I want to experience that mind-numbing sensation of kissing him again?
I needed to see a psychiatrist.
I had had endless hours of constant battles in my mind with notions that wouldn't stop including Rishabh Rathore. And I was mad at myself for even thinking so much about that jerk.
'Stupid hormonal swings!' I used to curse him, whenever he evaded my thoughts.
Finding no other alternative, I attempted to focus my attention on the next close thing my mind could fixate on,—exam.
With the mid-terms in a week, I drained out all I had in me to refocus my target on Rishabh as my academic opponent, just as I had been doing since we both could understand the concept of competition.
After all, I couldn't let myself waver from my aim.
With the entire St. Louis engrossed in studies for the next few weeks, much to my relief, I hadn't had any major awkward encounters with Rishabh since the day he had dropped me off to my apartment.
There was one instance when all the Class Captains, including Rishabh and I were summoned to the Assembly Hall for the Unity Day parade preparations and I had accidentally spilled ink all over my white school shirt and Rishabh's trousers while painting the banner together.
The memory of how all thr students present there had recoiled in horror from the two of us just numbly standing there after that, still made me cringe.
To mine and others' utter shock, Rishabh didn't burst out in flames as we had all anticipated. He simply snatched the ink bottle from my hand, sighed incredulously and walked right out.
Moments later, he would discreetly pull me out of the Hall to hand me a spare white shirt of his. I kept staring at his face, dumbfounded at his absurd demeanor and he forcibly handed me the shirt when I resisted.
"Stop being clumsy and taking away all my clothes. At this rate, I might just have to surrender my entire closet to you." He said with an expressive scorn before swaggering away.
Thankfully no one was there to witness this strange exchange between us.
"Well, I didn't ask for your help!" I bellowed but he didn't turn around. As a sign of protest, I kept wearing that ink-spilled uniform shirt for the rest of the school day.
Rishabh Rathore was not pleased with my rebellion but we were always surrounded by people which is why he couldn't express his irritation. His white shirt though still remained in my possession.
The students still did nag me around, chiding me about my psychotic meltdown in the school ground that day but the gossips soon faded away without incense from either of the parties involved in it.
Rishabh had backtracked to his previous aloof self and so had I. Right then I wished the entire school session should have been a prolonged exam fest if that was the delightful outcome.
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Days passed and they saw lesser of each other much to their relief. They had almost forgotten about Father's punishment. Since he didn't seem to act on his words, both Sanvi and Rishabh felt it better that they didn't had to be involved in anything with each other.
However, their relief was unfortunately momentary.
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To Be Continued.