“THIS BATCH IS extremely competitive,” Professor Asif said, smiling like he knew a secret no one did. “And I love to see it.”

He was Pallavi’s favourite. She loved the way he taught—it was like music. He held everyone’s attention like the reigns of a horse, manoeuvring it to his will. She would kill to have him teach all of her classes. Pallavi had told him that and she only got a shy, dismissing wave in return. He thought she was buttering him up but she meant it.