The hardest part of working with your rival is not the arguments.
It is the moments when the silence starts feeling comfortable.
Because that is when everything begins to change.
The next afternoon, Meera arrived at the library with a list of survey questions, neatly organized notes, and a clear plan in mind.
She liked plans.
Plans were safe.
Plans didn't confuse her.
People did.
Especially people like Aarav.
She settled into her usual seat near the window, the soft sunlight falling across her open notebook. Everything was ready.
Everything except him.
She checked the time.
Late.
Again.
Meera tapped her pen lightly against the table, her fingers moving in a slow, impatient rhythm.
"Of course," she muttered under her breath.
Just as she was about to start working alone, the chair across from her shifted.
"You're early."
Meera looked up.
"And you're late."
Aarav placed his bag down and sat across from her, calm as always.
"Only by a few minutes."
"That still counts."
Aarav didn't argue. Instead, he pulled out a notebook and glanced at her papers.
"You've already started."
"Obviously," Meera replied. "Unlike some people, I don't wait."
Aarav gave a small smile but didn't react.
"Show me what you've got."
Meera slid the papers toward him.
"These are the survey questions. I made two versions—one formal, one simplified."
Aarav read them carefully.
Meera watched him, her fingers still tapping lightly against the table.
"Well?" she asked.
"They're good."
She frowned.
"That's it?"
"What else do you want?"
"A proper opinion."
Aarav sighed softly and looked at the sheets again.
"The structure is clear. The second version will get better responses. And the questions are actually well thought out."
Meera's tapping slowed.
That sounded… genuine.
"You could've said that earlier," she said.
"You said you wanted a proper opinion."
Meera looked away.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
But it wasn't awkward.
And that made it worse.
Meera quickly pointed at another page.
"We should divide the work. I'll handle survey distribution. You handle data structuring."
"Fine."
"And we need at least fifty responses by tomorrow."
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"That's ambitious."
Meera met his gaze.
"Scared?"
Aarav smiled.
"Not even close."
They worked together for the next hour, building their plan step by step. Their ideas blended in a way neither of them had expected.
Aarav was calm and analytical.
Meera was sharp and creative.
And somehow, it worked.
Too well.
At one point, Aarav leaned back slightly.
"You're easier to work with than I thought."
Meera looked at him.
"That sounds like an insult."
"It's not."
"Then what is it?"
"I expected more arguments."
Meera crossed her arms.
"I expected more arrogance."
Aarav looked mildly offended.
"More?"
"Yes."
"That's harsh."
Meera almost smiled.
"Honest."
Aarav shook his head, but there was a quiet amusement in his expression.
For a second, Meera noticed it.
The way his expression softened.
The way he didn't look like her rival.
She quickly looked away.
*Why am I even noticing that?*
"This question needs to be shorter," Aarav said, pointing at her paper.
Meera straightened.
"Right."
She leaned forward, adjusting the line.
But her focus wasn't as steady as before.
Something felt… off.
Later, as they stepped out of the library, the evening sky stretched above them in shades of orange and pink. The campus was calmer now, filled with scattered groups of students enjoying the end of the day.
"You know," Meera said, "today wasn't a disaster."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"I'll take that as progress."
"Don't."
They walked side by side for a few steps.
Then—
"Aarav!"
They both turned.
A girl approached them with an easy, confident smile.
"I've been looking for you," she said. "You left your notebook in the seminar hall."
Aarav looked surprised.
"Oh. Thanks."
She handed it to him.
"No problem. You should be more careful."
Then she glanced at Meera.
"You're Meera, right? I've heard about you."
Meera nodded politely.
"And you are?"
"Naina," she said. "Aarav and I worked together last semester."
Aarav nodded.
"She basically saved our presentation."
Naina laughed.
"That's because you were arguing with the judges again."
"It worked."
"Barely."
They shared a quick, easy smile.
Meera looked away.
Something inside her shifted.
A small, sharp feeling she didn't recognize.
Or maybe…
She didn't want to recognize it.
*Why does that bother me?*
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," Naina said, waving lightly.
"See you."
As she walked away, silence fell between Meera and Aarav.
Aarav glanced at her.
"What?"
Meera frowned.
"What do you mean, what?"
"You went quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"That usually means you're annoyed."
"I'm not annoyed."
Aarav studied her for a second.
Then asked, calmly—
"Are you jealous?"
Meera stopped walking.
"What?"
Aarav tried not to smile.
"You heard me."
She stared at him.
"That is the most ridiculous thing you've ever said."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"You looked upset."
"I was not upset."
"Sure."
Meera narrowed her eyes.
"You think very highly of yourself."
"I was just asking."
"Well, don't."
She started walking again, faster this time.
Aarav followed without difficulty.
But his question stayed in her mind.
*Are you jealous?*
Of course she wasn't.
That didn't make any sense.
They were rivals.
Teammates.
Nothing more.
So why had that moment bothered her?
Why did it feel uncomfortable seeing him with someone else?
Why did it matter?
By the time they reached the main path, Meera stopped.
"We'll meet tomorrow," she said quickly.
"Same time?"
"Yes."
She didn't wait for a reply.
She turned and walked away.
That night, Meera sat at her desk, staring at her open notebook.
But she wasn't reading.
Her thoughts kept circling back.
That smile.
That conversation.
That question.
*Are you jealous?*
Meera dropped her pen and leaned back.
"This is getting ridiculous," she whispered.
Because deep down—
In a place she didn't want to admit—
A single thought had already started to form.
What if the problem isn't the project?
What if the problem… is Aarav?