Chapter 2: “Thou Art My Enemy”

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📍Setting: University of London – Theatre Hall

The script read Romeo & Juliet — and of all the people to be cast as the star-crossed lovers, fate chose Veeresh Shastri and Poornima Rajan.

Two of the sharpest minds, two unbending wills. Academic rivals since orientation. They had destroyed each other in debate forums, embarrassed each other in every class presentation, and avoided being in the same frame — until now.

And now, they were to act as lovers.

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🎭 Scene Rehearsal: Juliet's Balcony

Director: “Let’s run the famous balcony scene. Raw emotion, people. Poornima, don’t hold back. Veeresh, less smug — more longing.”

She rolled her eyes.

Poornima (as Juliet): “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name…”

She paused, glancing at Veeresh.

> “Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.”

Veeresh (as Romeo): (stepping forward)

> “With love’s light wings did I o'erperch these walls;

For stony limits cannot hold love out,

And what love can do that dares love attempt;

Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.”

His voice softened on the last line. It felt too… real.

Poornima’s heart skipped.

This wasn’t him mocking her in a lecture or smirking after scoring one mark higher. This was Veeresh, raw and still, looking at her like she was his world — even if it was scripted.

But she wouldn’t let him win.

She delivered Juliet’s next lines with perfect grace, but her voice shook slightly.

He noticed.

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🎭 After Rehearsal

She stormed out of the hall, annoyed with herself. He caught up.

Veeresh: “You're trembling, Juliet. Was it the height or the heat?”

Poornima: “Neither. Just disgust. It’s hard pretending to love someone who exists only to outshine you.”

He smiled — not mocking, but intrigued.

Veeresh: “Strange. I’ve never wanted to outshine you. I’ve always wanted to… undo you.”

She turned sharply.

“Excuse me?”

He leaned close, voice low.

> “You’re not just my rival, Poornima. You’re the only one who makes this boring world… bleed in color.”

She blinked. A silence heavier than thunder fell between them.

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🕯️ Flashback to Audition Day

She had auditioned first. Flawless. Mesmerizing. The professors whispered her name in admiration.

Then Veeresh stepped in. He changed Romeo from a soft lover to a brooding, tormented soul — darker than usual. And he locked eyes with her during the monologue, like he was already performing for her.

She should’ve hated it. But she felt it — a burn in her chest.

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🌙 That Night

Poornima couldn’t sleep.

She re-read her lines.

> “My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!”

Her heart whispered something she wasn’t ready to admit:

Maybe Shakespeare had it right.

Maybe love was born from hate.

And maybe… just maybe… she wasn’t acting anymore.