Chapter 9:- Fun
Suhasini
"Hey, how's life?" Daksh asks.
"Good, why," I questioned. We were training right now and tonight Ishaani had to train the other women so Daksh was busy training.
Adarshini was helping Sruthi make clothes for the newcomers.
Ekaansh and The Swift were busy training the men. While Veer and his friend, Hari were busy, "catching up on their beauty sleep."
"Nothing just bored," He whined. I smiled at him. But then I had an idea.
"Daksh, what's your idea of fun," I asked, leaning closer toward him.
He smirked and said, "Something that will piss Chandra and Ansh off."
"Chandra, who's tha- You know where Sruthi and Adarshini are?" I inquired. I was confused. Who was Chandra? Aa why do I care let's just ignore him if he is not important.
"In a tent." He said befuddled.
"Your idea of fun includes pissing Ekaansh and Chandra off but I think we can improvise by pissing Veer and Hari off," I said.
His eyes widened at that but then gave me his boyish grin, "Let's go call Sruthi and Adarshini, then."
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"I got a bad idea about this," Adarshini said for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Come on, Aadu, let's have some fun," Daksh replied, his enthusiasm palpable.
Under the cover of darkness, the moon cast a silvery glow over the forest. The night was tranquil, broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl or the distant rustle of nocturnal creatures. On a large, flat rock, Veer and Hari sprawled out, oblivious to the world as they slept soundly.
In the quiet, we tiptoed across the soft grass, stifling our giggles. We carried a bucket filled with cold water, the contents sloshing slightly with each cautious step. As we approached the slumbering pair, Daksh, with a wicked grin, whispered, "Alright, everyone, on three. One... two... three!"
The bucket was tipped, and a cascade of icy water poured over Veer and Hari. The impact was instant. Veer shot up with a yelp, his eyes wide and his hair plastered to his forehead. Hari followed suit, sputtering and blinking as he tried to make sense of the sudden cold shock.
Veer, shivering uncontrollably and wiping water from his face, exclaimed, "What the heck?!"
Hari, also drenched and bewildered, managed to stammer, "Are you kidding me right now?"
Laughter erupted from us, their faces lit with amusement and glee. Sruthi, clutching her stomach from laughing so hard, teased, "You two looked like you were having too nice a nap!"
Veer, now fully awake and dripping, couldn't help but crack a reluctant smile. "Oh, very funny. You all are just the best," he said, trying to sound grumpy but failing as he shivered.
Hari, still rubbing his eyes and laughing despite himself, added, "Seriously, next time we're picking the prank. You guys are ruthless."
As the laughter from the water prank began to subside, Veer and Hari, now wide awake and still dripping, exchanged determined glances. They had decided that the best way to respond was with some playful retaliation.
Veer, shaking off the last droplets of water, said with a grin, "Alright, you want to start something? Let's see how you handle a little chase!"
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted after Sruthi, who had been amid the laughter and had now started to flee with a mischievous glint in her eye. Sruthi darted around the forest, her laughter echoing through the night air as she zigzagged through the trees.
Hari, not to be outdone, turned his attention to Adarshini, who had also begun to run, clearly enjoying the game. Adarshini's quick feet and agile movements made her a challenging target as she weaved through the rocks and bushes, her laughter mixing with Hari's playful shouts.
To the side, I stood with Daksh, thoroughly amused by the chaotic scene unfolding before us. I leaned against a tree, my eyes sparkling with delight. "This is better than any drama," I said between fits of laughter.
Daksh, arms crossed and grinning widely, added, "I haven't seen a chase like this since... well, never. We've outdone ourselves tonight!"
The forest was now a flurry of motion. Veer, determined and focused, closed in on Sruthi, who was still managing to stay just out of reach. Meanwhile, Hari, despite his best efforts, struggled to catch up with Adarshini, who had a clear lead but was having as much fun as he was. Onlookers laughed along with us, their enjoyment adding to the lively atmosphere.
As the chases continued, the night air filled with the sound of their playful banter and the rustling of leaves as they darted through the campsite. The stars twinkled overhead, witnessing the lighthearted chaos below.
Finally, as the chases began to wind down, Sruthi and Adarshini were cornered, their breaths coming in quick gasps. Veer and Hari, panting but victorious, managed to tag them with a triumphant shout.
Veer, catching his breath, declared, "Gotcha! Now, what's the next move?"
Adarshini, still laughing, replied, "Alright, alright, you win. But only because you two are faster than I thought!"
With the night's playful chase coming to an end, everyone gathered around, still chuckling and catching their breath. Daksh and I joined them.
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They started talking about their stories, the people they hated, and the parties they had crashed. I listened, not really interested, but pretending to be. That's what you do when you're trying to fit in, right? You pretend.
"Suhasini, you've been pretty quiet," Daksh said, his tone light, but I could sense something else underneath. Wonder? Curiosity? Maybe both.
"I don't have much to say," I replied, staring into the fire. The flames danced, crackling in the silence that followed my words.
"Well, we don't know much about you," Sruthi said, leaning forward. "Got any stories to share?"
I hesitated. What could I say? "Not really," I said, shrugging. "I'm not much of a storyteller."
"Come on, you must have something," Daksh urged, his eyes curious. "Everyone's got a story."
"Okay, how about this," Sruthi suggested, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Let's play a game. We'll each share something about ourselves that no one else here knows. That way, we can really get to know each other."
They all agreed, and my stomach tightened. This was exactly what I didn't want. Sharing secrets, and opening up—this was how people got hurt. But it was too late to back out now. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting to see what I would do.
"I'll start," Adarshini said, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Okay, something you don't know about me is... I'm terrified of spiders. Like, seriously, I'll scream and run if I see one."
We all laughed, and I forced a smile. It was a harmless secret, something that made her more relatable, more human. But what was I supposed to say? I didn't have any secrets like that.
"I guess I'll go next," Daksh said, leaning back on his hands. "I used to write poetry. Terrible poetry, but still."
We all teased him, asking for examples, and he playfully refused. They were all so comfortable with each other, so at ease. I felt like an outsider, watching from a distance.
Sruthi went next, sharing how she once tried to run away from home when she was a kid, only to get as far as the end of her street before turning back. Veer confessed that he had a crush on one of his teachers, which earned him a round of good-natured teasing.
Then it was my turn. They all looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to join in the fun. I could feel the weight of their attention, the unspoken pressure to be part of the group.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. "Alright," I began slowly, choosing my words carefully. "Something you don't know about me... I used to be good at drawing. But I haven't done it in a year."
It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. I used to draw all the time, back when I was a different person. Before everything changed. Before I learned that friends weren't forever.
"That's awesome!" Adarshini said, her eyes lighting up. "You should start again. Maybe you could show us some of your old drawings?"
"Maybe," I said, giving a small, noncommittal shrug. I wasn't planning on it, but it was easier to let them think I might.
Just as I was beginning to feel the tiniest bit of relief, like maybe I had navigated that moment without giving too much away, I heard voices coming from the direction of the path. I glanced over my shoulder, my heart sinking when I saw who it was. Ekaansh and Kasev. Of all people, why did it have to be them?
Ekaansh, with his ever-present cold face, was the last person I wanted to see tonight. The tension between us was a constant undercurrent, and I could already feel it rising just at the sight of him.
Kasev, on the other hand, was a different story. He didn't just dislike me—he hated me. His gaze was as cold as ever, and as he sat down next to Daksh, he barely acknowledged my existence. I'd never been able to figure out why he despised me so much, but the hostility between us was palpable.
"Sorry we're late," Ekaansh said, dropping down across from me with that infuriating grin still on his face. "What's going on?"
"We're playing a game," Sruthi said, her voice bright and welcoming. "Sharing secrets. You two are just in time!"
"Secrets, huh?" Ekaansh's eyes flicked to me, and I could see the challenge there. He lived for moments like this—any opportunity to put me on the spot, to see if I'd crack. "Sounds interesting."
"You have to share something too, though," Veer said, leaning back and crossing his arms. "No skipping out."
Ekaansh shrugged, looking as relaxed as ever. "Sure, why not? I'm game."
Kasev didn't say anything, but the way he was watching me from the corner of his eye told me he was waiting for something. What, I couldn't be sure, but I wasn't about to give either of them any ammunition.
"Ladies first," Ekaansh said with a mockingly polite gesture in my direction. "Since you're already on a roll, Suhasini."
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him get under my skin. "I already shared. Your turn."
Ekaansh's smile widened, and he took a moment as if deciding just how much to reveal. "Alright, here's something none of you know—I broke 30 rules in Gurukul. Almost got expelled for it, too."
The reaction was immediate. Sruthi gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief, while the others burst out laughing, clearly impressed. Even I couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at my lips. Trust Ekaansh to do something reckless like that.
"Seriously? How'd you get out of that one?" Veer asked, shaking his head in amusement.
Ekaansh shrugged nonchalantly. "Charm, I guess. Or maybe they just didn't want the hassle. Either way, I'm still here, aren't I?"
Adarshini laughed. "Of course you are."
"I'm pretty sure, it's because you're the crown prince," I said, coolly crossing my arms. His gaze felt like a physical weight, each glance a taunt. Ekaansh's eyes never wavered, daring me to react, his casual interest thinly veiling a challenge.
"Alright, how about this? We each share the funniest thing that's happened to us recently. I'll go first—I accidentally walked into a glass door last week!" Sruthi said, her laughter was genuine, but it felt like a desperate attempt to shift the mood.
The rest of us watched as she mimed the awkward collision, her arms flailing comically as she reenacted the moment. Despite the heaviness that hung between me and Ekaansh, I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Sruthi had a way of drawing people in with her infectious energy.
As we packed up and prepared to leave, the bonds between us felt more tangible. I smiled as I was walking all the way back home.
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Akka - Older Sister
Annaya/Anna - Older Brother
Celli - Little Sister
Tammudu - Little Brother
Atta - Aunt
Amma - Mom
Nana - Father
(These are all Telugu)
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