"Here are the results everyone was waiting for....... The college which will be honoured with the title 'champion of the champions' is.............MMIS college." the anchor announced shouting the last part. 

The students of the MMIS college shouted so loud with joy that any one who was outside would have thought that an explosion had taken place.

Still, Pranbir and Arhana were standing still and nervous and kept their fingers crossed because the winning team had not yet been announced.

When the din died, the anchor continued. "So, the team which has won the most no. of categories is......... the team of Rhea, Aarav, Dimpy and Vicky......."

The over confident group flashed an arrogant smile on their faces and took a step forward, while Pranbir and Arhana were sad.

"It doesn't matter if we didn't get the first place, we gave our best and that's great." Prachi tried to boost the moral of her friends.

"....... and the team of Prachi, Ranbir, Aryan and Shahana." the anchor completed his sentence.

Immediately, all the four of them looked up and Rhea, Aarav and their friends froze in their spot. All the eight of them stared at the anchor in surprise.

"Yes, it's a draw since both the teams had won equal no. of events. But, don't worry, the trophy will go to only one team. There will be a tie-breaker." he cleared the confusion. "Wondering what the tie-breaker will be? Since it was a team task, we are going to check how compatible you are with your team members. Let's take a compatibility test."

The students hooted, supporting the decision.

"The rules are pretty simple. The members of a group will stand as such that a boy and a girl have their faces in the opposite direction. Each of you will be given a paper and pen. I will ask you questions and you have to write the answers on the paper. At last, the you have to read out your answers and we'll see if it matches with your partner. You will get a point only if your answer matches with your partners even if both your answers are wrong. The team with the most point wins." he explained the rules of the game.

They were paired as Prachi-Ranbir, Shahana-Aryan, Rhea-Aarav, Dimpy-Vicky.

"The questions are: 

1) If an electric train is going in the east direction and the wind is blowing from south, in which direction will it's smoke blow?

2) What has an eye but can't see?

3) What is the answer of thirty divided by half + ten?"

All of them wrote their answers. The anchor asked them to read aloud the answers. The answers given by them were:

Question 1:

Prachi/Ranbir- Electric train doesn't release smoke/Electric train doesn't release smoke

Shahana/Aryan- 😊/😊

Rhea/Aarav- West/East

Dimpy/Vicky- North/ No idea

Question 2:

Prachi/Ranbir- Needle/Needle

Shahana/Aryan- 😊/😊

Rhea/Aarav- I don't know/ I don't know

Dimpy/Vicky- A ghost/ A blind person

Question 3:

Prachi/Ranbir- 70/70

Shahana/Aryan- 😊/😊

Rhea/Aarav- 25/70

Dimpy/Vicky- 70/70

"So, we can easily see that team Pranbir and Arhana is the winner as they have scored 6 points whereas team Rherav and Dicky has scored only 2 points. Please come and collect your trophy for the outstanding performance." 

The four of them proceeded to collect their trophy amidst all the hooting and cheering from their friends. The triumphant glow and the smile on their faces radiated happiness.

On the other hand, Rhea was hell angry on losing, that too from Prachi.

"Huh! The tie-breaker was a stupid game. It can't decide who's the winner. This is cheating!" Rhea shouted.

"Exactly! Moreover, that Shahana cheated. She didn't answer, but drew an emoji." Dimpy added.

"I'm done with all these nonsense. I'm leaving." Rhea huffed and left.

Dimpy followed her. Nobody noticed that Aarav and Vicky had slipped to a secluded corner and were talking with someone over the phone.

"What's the news?" Aarav asked the person over the phone.

"The mother is going out of city today and will return after a day." 

"What about the old lady?"

"She is going with her too."

"Are you sure that the information is correct?"

"100% boss. I heard it with my own ears."

"Oaky." Aarav cut the call.

"What's the news bro?" Vicky enquired.

"It's tomorrow night." he smirked.

-----

"I still can't believe that we have won." Prachi said, still in a dizzy state.

"It's real! We won!" Shahana said jumping with excitement.

Ranbir and Aryan were standing and smiling at their child-like antics.

"By the way Aryan, why did you and Shahana answered all the questions with an smiling emoji?" Ranbir looked at his best friend in confusion.

"Actually, it was our plan. Since, the rule was to  match our answer and not give the correct answer, we decided to play safe and as a bonus, we didn't had to use our brains to solve those riddles." Aryan explained to his friend.

"Why didn't you inform me? I and Prachi would have done the same."

"There was no need bro. You and Prachi are definitely made for each other, so your answers were bound to match." 

Ranbir grinned contently at the answer.

-----

Prachi and Shahana reached their house excited to surprise Pragya. To their utter dismay, they found the door locked.

"Where could have both maa and Sarita aunty gone at this time?" Prachi thought aloud.

As if a answer to her question, her phone began ringing.

It was Pragya calling her.

"Congratulations!!!!" Pragya shouted as soon as Prachi accepted the call.

"How do you know that we won?" Prachi asked confused as nobody had informed Pragya.

"I know my children. All of you had practised so hard that you were bound to win." Pragya said with the tone of a proud mother. "Now listen to me carefully both of you. Sarita ji had some work in her native village, so I had to come here to help her. We will be back by the day after tomorrow. Till then, take care of yourselves. Collect the keys from our neighbour. And yes, I have kept your favourite kheer and ladoos in the kitchen. Don't forget to have them." 

"Ok maa. You take care of yourself too."

A few hours had passed and now Prachi was sitting alone and thinking of something.

It has been quite sometime and we also won today. I'm so happy and feel it's the right time.

Yes! It's time to do it.

Finalizing her decision, Prachi picked up her phone and messaged Ranbir.

Can you meet me at the park after an hour?

Why?

Don't ask questions. I have to tell you something important. I'll give you the details when we meet.

Okay. I'll be there.

Prachi kept her phone aside and began getting ready to go the park.