Vaibhav Hariharan of Dombivli has ranked second in the Chartered Accountancy exam whose result was declared on Monday. Son of a retired banker, A Hariharan, and teacher mother, Vani, Vaibhav always wanted to become a CA and all his efforts were directed towards it.

Vaibhav, 22, said he was confident of clearing the exam but bagging the all-India second position was certainly a surprise. An alumnus of R A Podar college in Matunga, he had topped the Mumbai University’s BCom exam with 90 per cent. He excelled in studies throughout, amassing 96 per cent in Class XII and 99.6 per cent in Class X.