A beautiful distraction

                                        

                                              
Misha blushed as she heard the conversation between Aditya and Mr. Ren. Aditya had a husky voice with a slight raspiness to it. He seemed attentive and confident. She found comfort in his deep yet angelic voice. Aanya found Misha smiling to herself and blushing. She kept observing both the girls for a while. Misha and Kriti had zoned out completely. Kriti had been daydreaming for a while. 
Misha noticed Mr. Ren's gaze on her. Slowly, reality sunk into Misha. She had her boundaries. For the first time in her life, she didn't want to care about anything else other than her heart. She was curious about Aditya. She knew that he would never notice her. He was like a rainbow that hovered over her dark clouds. Meanwhile, Kriti secretly hoped that Mr. Ren would remember her name. She longed to be in his company, but she knew it was impossible. It was a beautiful torment to her. 
They felt a bittersweet ache. They could feel the thrill of this new feeling that was surging within them, but they knew that they could not foster these feelings further.
--
Teacher: Adarsh, you're the one to end this introduction session. The rest are all done. 
Adarsh was a brilliant student who consistently topped the school. He was an overachiever. His thick and luscious hair fell over his forehead, and his glasses gave him a nerdy look. The wavy locks covered his forehead, poking his eyelids in the process. 
Adarsh: I believe that we get to live only once. I live for nothing other than an academic validation.
Manya(whispered): And here I am, currently failing in both of them.
Mr. Ren: You must burn to be a star. Well said Adarsh! Just don't forget to enjoy little things in life. 
Adarsh(continued): I like mathematics. 
Aadya(whispered): Don't you think he sounds like Aanya? They seem like long-lost twins.
The whole class turned to look at Aadya. Aadya realized her voice wasn't soft enough for a whisper. She felt embarrassed and looked at Aanya with a guilty expression. 
Adarsh(smiled): I've also maintained my position as the school topper for four years, consecutively. I'm planning to maintain this record for this year as well.
The class turned to look at Aanya again. Aanya turned red with embarrassment. She felt awkward. She had challenged the school topper unknowingly. She regretted not doing her research properly. 
"I want to score the highest marks and beat the school topper. Thats my aim for this year." Her own words flashed in her mind. She felt uneasy because all eyes were on her. The bell rang just in time, saving Aanya from the situation.
Mr. Ren: Okay students! The rest of the class will proceed as usual. Good luck for the day!
Aanya looked at Adarsh intensely. She noticed he was looking straight at her. He had a fierce look on his face. They locked eyes with each other. The eye contact conveyed passion, desire and determination between them. It implied their competitive spirit which wouldn't allow them to accept defeat. 
Aanya(internally): If that's a threat, then I'll make sure to shatter your ego.
Adarsh(internally): If that's a challenge, then I'll make sure you taste a cruel defeat.
...
Location: Thunderbolt Speedway
The race ground consisted of an oval track. The smell of petrol and diesel flooded the air. The track was surrounded by the chatter of spectators. People were debating on who would taste the victory tonight. No one wanted to miss out on the battle between Aditya and Krish. They were considered legendary figures in the battle arena. Both had showcased intense battles in the past year. 
The countdown began, followed by a screeching whistle. Both easily passed through the first turn. Krish tried to overtake Aditya's YAMAHA R1 but failed. Aditya maintained a narrow distance in order to avoid any clashes between the two bikes. However, Krish's SUZUKI GSX 250R overtook Aditya at the narrow-bending curves. Seeing the finishing line draw closer, Aditya went off-track in the final lap. Before Krish could realize it, Aditya had crossed the finish line. 
The crowd was thrilled. They erupted with cheers and whistles. Aditya's name echoed in the air. Both the racers got down from their bikes and shook hands with each other.
Aditya: That was close!
Krish: You've improved!
Aditya(bashful): It's been a while.
Krish: Been busy with college.
Aditya: I'll catch up with you later. My friends are here.
Krish: Go ahead!
...
Adarsh (laughed): You become a monster when you're on track. Are you the same guy who feels shy at times?
Aditya(laughed): Are you the same guy who takes out time for my match every time, rather than digging into his textbooks?
Ayush: It was such an intense match. I was literally holding up my breath. 
Maahi: Well-performed bro!
Aditya: Where are the others?
Maahi: Yuvaan and Ishaan have a gaming competition coming up. They're pushing ranks at the Gaming Lounge. 
Ayush: It's just 7pm. Let's go to hype them up. 
...