''A big competition is going to happen next week in Delhi. Students from various schools of different cities are going to participate in this competition....''

''So, students get prepared for the upcoming competition ''WARRIOR''

Miss Lila finished reading the notice and Khushi looked at Arnav with her ever so bright smile and twinkling eyes. Arnav didn't understand why she was so happy.

A peon came inside and said ''Sorry madam for the disturbance but there is a little change in the notice''

___________________________________

''Change? What kind of change?.'' Miss Lila asked.

The peon handed her another notice.

She read the notice silently and when she finished reading the notice, she frowned.

''Ridicules. They can't do it. This is not how things are supposed to happen. This is wrong. Where is Principal Ma'am?'' Miss Lila asked.

''Ma'am took a holiday for three days. She said she is going to her native village.'' The peon replied.

''Then who changed the rules of this competition?''

''I don't know Madam. I was asked to deliver this modified notice and I did. You pls announce it Madam.''

Miss Lila was not okay with the modified notice, everyone could say that seeing her disappointed face. Everyone looked at her curiously to hear the modified notice.

''For the first stage of this competition our school was supposed to take a preliminary test of our students and the top 3 students of different classes were supposed to attend the main event but our school authorities changed this rule and decided to send Akash, Payal and Rohit for the next level from class Eleven'' Miss Lila read aloud.

Everyone became silent hearing the notice. They were saddened to hear that they would not get a chance to participate in this big competition but they remained silent without protesting.

But we can't stop our Sanki. Can we?

Khushi got up from her seat and called Miss Lila politely. Arnav looked at her not understanding anything. Why was he being so hyper for no reason?

''Maam. They can't make a decision just like that. We have many students who want to take part in this competition. So how can they make such a decision without considering about everyone?''

''I understand that dear.. You don't worry. I will talk with them. They can't do anything like that.'' Miss Lila gave her assurance.

Khushi nodded her head and sat down. Arnav stared at her in amazement as to why she was getting so much hyper for such a small thing.

''Does she want to take part in this competition?..... If yes, then he will definitely try to put her name on the main list. If he has to talk to the authorities for it, he will do it for her. Only for her.

...................................................

After school they sat on the field as always but something was different. Our over talkative Khushi Gupta wasn't talking at all. It was unusual. Very very Unusual....

Arnav faked a cough to get her attention. But no, she wasn't coming out of her wandering land. He tried calling her three/ four times. But noo. She was not responding at all.

''KHUSHI'' Arnav this time called her loudly and it worked.

''Kya hain! Can't you see I'm busy.'' ( what happened?) Khushi rebuked.

Arnav rolled his eyes hearing her high pitched tone but did complain.

''And I'm asking you only one question. Answer that then go back to your wonderland. The question is,
what are you so busy with?''

''I'm thinking about the Competition Arnav.''

''So, you are still thinking about that stupid competition! Ma'am told you no, that she will talk with the authority. Now don't worry. She will talk and make them understand. If any case she couldn't then what the big deal. You can go for this competition next year.''

''It's a big deal Arnav. A very big deal. I can't lose this opportunity. It came at the correct time. I was wondering what I should do and it came on it's own, giving me hope. It's DM's wish only. Anyhow I have to make them Understand. I can't lose this chance.'' Khushi replied.

Arnav was amazed to see her this side. He thought of her as a carefree girl. He never thought She was so serious about her studies that she couldn't wait for the next year. If she is so determined to take part in this competition then he will surely help her.

''Okay. Now relax. If ma'am couldn't do anything then we will try some other way.''

''What other way?'' Khushi asked with a frown.

''Like we can go and talk to the main organization committee''

''And they will listen to us?''

''It's up to them. We can ask them to take your test to see if you are capable enough for their competition or not.''

''Owaaa!! Arnav you are brilliant. We can surely do that... yesss. Yess.. yess.'' Khushi shouted in happiness.

''Now stop your shout and start your preparation.''

''PREPARATION? For what?'' Khushi asked, frowning.

''For the competition stupid.'' Arnav said, hitting her shoulder.

''Ooooooooo..'' Khushi realized that so far Arnav had thought that she was desperate for this competition because she wanted to take part.

''Now come. Let's go.'' Arnav got up and helped Khushi to get up also.

They walked and came out of the school. Khushi saw Zoya getting inside an auto.

''Ar..nav.'' Khushi called hesitantly.

''Hmm''

''I forgot to tell you the main thing.'' Khushi said nervously.

''And what's that?'' Arnav asked

''That..'' she took a few back steps.

''That what Khushi?''

''That I will not participate in the competition, someone else will." Khushi said and took a few more back steps.

''who?'' Arnav asked, frowning.

''It's you. You will take part in this competition, not me.'' She said the main reason finally and ran away from there and sat inside the auto where Zoya was already sitting.

She looked outside and saw Arnav standing on the same spot like a statue.

''And don't forget to study.. Bye bye.. Go home and study don't roam around like always.'' Khushi shouted from the auto and with that the auto left the school premises.

''What was that?'' Zoya asked.

''You won't understand.'' Khushi said, showing her tongue.

''Yeah, right. It's impossible to understand you two.'' Zoya commented.

''Whatever" Khushi rolled her eyes.

After that both started gossiping about some random things.

Next Day

Khushi was nervous. She didn't know if Miss Lila could convince the school authority or not. She looked at Arnav, who was acting nonchalant.

''Act as much as you want Arnav. First let me solve this problem then I'll see how to get you back on your track.'' She muttered and looked away.

At break time she went to meet Miss Lila.

''Maam.'' Khushi called her politely.

''Khushi dear, come inside.''

''Maam, I'm here to know about the competition. Did you talk with them? Did they listen to your request?''

''I'm really sorry, my child. I tried to convince them. But they are not ready to listen to me. They don't want to waste their precious time in selecting the candidates among everyone. They are confident that only the first ranked students can do it. Which I highly doubt. So, they decided to send the first three merit students from each class.''

''But ma'am. It's unfair to us. They can't do this.''

''I know dear. I tried to contact principal Ma'am but she is out of town and I couldn't reach her through phone also. I'm still trying. Only she can help us. These people won't budge from their decision.''

''Okay Maan. Let me know about the progress.''

In response Miss Lila nodded her head and Khushi left from there.

She came out and found Arnav waiting for her. Khushi ignored him and started walking ahead. Arnav followed her.

''I think you shouldn't get involved with the school authority. It won't be good for you. You will get into their bad book for no reason.'' Arnav tried to give her some advice.

''Like really? For no reason. You think I'm doing all these for no reason! Then you are wrong. I'm doing all this for a reason and the reason is you. You will participate in this competition and will also win. Then I will see who will dare to put me in their bad book.''

''You think very highly of me Khushi. What if I couldn't make it? Then? They will question you. I don't want that to happen.''

''I know. You won't disappoint me Arnav. If you couldn't make it now then no problem. You will do next time but I'm not going to step back.''

''Fine. Do whatever you want to do.'' Arnav left from there in frustration..

''Laad Governor kahin ka.'' Khushi mumbled.

Someone placed a hand on her shoulder and Khushi looked back to see the owner of the hand.

''What?'' Khushi barked at the person because of her bad mood.

Three days later

Arnav was sitting alone on the wall of the school computer. He was missing Khushi.

YES. He was missing Khushi because Khushi wasn't spending much time with him as she was still busy finding a way to send him to the competition.

He didn't want her to do all these. All he wanted was her support. He didn't want to get involved with any compilation to make a special space for himself. He was happy with his Sankadevi but who would make her understand. He sighed.

Khushi came there looking for him.

''So, you got the time to meet me. Hope you are over that stupid compilation.'' Arnav mocked.

In response Khushi gave him a toothy smile.

''What?'' Arnav asked, raising his one eyebrow.

In response Khushi handed him an envelope.

''What's this?'' Arnav asked.

''Your pass for the competition.''

''What?'' Arnav didn't believe his ears and tore the envelope to see the paper

''How?'' Only one word came out of his mouth.

In response Khushi grinned.

Flashback

''So you want Arnav to participate in the competition!.'' Aman asked.

''Yes.'' Khushi replied.

''Are you sure he can do it? I mean you are doing all these things for him and he isn't even acknowledging your efforts.'' Zoya said.

[It was Zoya who placed her hand on Khushi's shoulder after Arnav went from there. And with Zoya Aman was also there.]

''He can. But for that He needs a push. And that push is standing in front of us.'' Aman said, eyeing Khushi. Khushi understood what he tried to convey but Zoya didn't.

''I didn't understand.'' Zoya said with a pout.

''You don't need to understand that. Now, let's work on the main problem.''

''Yes.'' Khushi and zoya said in unison.

They tried many ways but couldn't succeed so they finally thought to follow Arnav's previous advice and went to meet the main organizer of the event. It wasn't an easy task. Thay had to plead a lot to meet the main organizer MR. Oberoi.

''So, you guys are against your school authority for their decision and came here to complain?'' Mr. Oberoi asked.

They gulped down. They were not here to complain. If their school authority came to know they said something like this then they would be dead.

''Actually... no sir. We are here to request you to please give us a chance. As our school authority is not ready to listen to our pleads We thought of talking to you. After all, you are organizing this competition for us. You want the best student to win. Right? So, why would you let a bright student suffer? You will help us. Right sir?'' Khushi said.

''Right. But what's the guaranty that that student will make it up to my expectations?'' Mr. Oberoi asked

''If you want you can take a short test. You can do it in your presence. If he cannot pass your test then I will never ask for anything from anyone in my life. Please sir.. please....'' Khushi pleaded.

Mr. Oberoi smiled seeing her antics.

''Mr. Sharma.'' He called his assistant.

''Yes sir.''

''Give these 3 students 3 passes and register their names in the list.''

''Okay sir.''

''3? But Why 3?'' Zoya asked.

''Mmm. If I'm not wrong. Only three of you came here. And I can't give more than three passes.''

''You don't have to give three passes sir. One is enough.'' Khushi said.

''What? Then what about these two?'' Mr. Oberoi asked pointing towards
Aman and Zoya.

''Offoo hoo Sir. We forget to tell you the main thing. We are here for our friend, not for us. He is very good at studies. And I'm sure he won't disappoint you. ''

''You guys are here for your friend. Where is she/he?''

''He didn't come.''

''Why?''

They didn't reply.

''Seeing your silence I can very well understand he is not interested in this competition. So, I'm sorry. I don't want to waste my one pass for him. If any of you three wants to participate then let me know I will make the arrangements but I won't waste my pass for any uninterested student.''

''Sir, please. He is a very good student. He badly needs a chance to come out of a bad phrase. Pls sir give him a chance. Pls sir.'' Aman requested.

''No. I can't. ''

''Pls sir.''

Mr. Oberoi was going to refuse them when his secretary came there and handed him his phone and said it's urgent.

He talked for a few minutes and then cut The call. Aman, Zoya and Khushi stood there holding their breath.

''Okay. Ask him to take part in the competition.''

''Huh!''

''Should I repeat myself?''

''Oh!! No, no. Sir, Thank you. Thank you so much. It.. it means a lot.''

Mr. Oberoi smiled seeing their excitement.

''Thank you principal also. Miss Rajput called me and asked me to give a chance to her student. How can I disrespect her?''

The pack smiled in response. Thanking him one more time when they were ready to leave, Mr. Oberoi stopped them.

''You guys sure you don't want to participate in the competition.''

They nodded no.

''You do know right apart from the selected candidates we won't allow other students to come inside the premises.''

They again nodded their heads.

''Then How you all will see you friend winning?'' He asked him with a smirk.

They shared a look with one another not understanding what to do.

''Let me offer you guys another proposal.''

They looked at him frowning.

''How about you join our volunteer team? You guys have spirit which will help us and in that way you can meet your friend also.''

They happily agreed to his proposal and after talking with the volunteer team they went back.

Flash back ends

''You went there to meet him.'' Arnav asked in an unbelievable tone.

Khushi nodded her head cutely.

''Why? What if he had complained about you all to our school? You and that two duffer would have been suspended.'' Arnav barked.

''But nothing happened na. And we got the pass also. Now stop fussing over us and start your preparation. You have only....'' she was cut off in the middle.

''TWO DAYS to prepare for the competition. Don't disappoint us. We worked very hard for you.'' Zoya said.

Arnav looked ahead and found Aman and Zoya standing there and smirking. He rolled his eyes.

Don't know what he will do with this three mad people or better what will they do to him.😉😉

.....................................

How was it? I hope you guys like it.🤞

Thank you for the votes and comments on the previous chapter.🤗🤗

Stay Safe💖

15.09.2021
Krity❤