"Ok guys so the competition starts in 5 minutes. Till then you can have your team discussions." Vardhan Sir spoke stressing on the word team' while looking at his team.
Sanyukta was worried. Her team had managed to win till now. But she knew that their work had been completely messy and there was no synchronisation between hr team. And the rules of this task where the last thing that they could use in their advantage. Team work, coordination and understanding were the essentials here. These were all the things they lacked.
Sanyukta looked to her right and saw her rival captain Dharam smirking at her.
"No we need to win this." She thought as she turned to face her team.
Randhir, Parth, Vidushi stood there looking anywhere except at each other.
"Ok guys. We have to win this. You all know we are not allowed to talk in this task and our hands are going to be tied to each other. So we need to understand each other's actions and thoughts and give this our best."
"Understand. And you all. Impossible." Randhir shook his head.
"Why? You are rank 1 right. How can something be impossible for you." Vidushi taunted him.
"Enough guys. You are just doing the opposite of what is required. We have to coordinate not quarrel." Sanyukta stepped in.
"Ok guys 5 minutes are up." Vardhan sir nodded towards the peon who then went and tied the students hands.
The FITE team stood in front of their table the order being Sanyukta, Randhir, Sanyukta, Vidushi and Parth.
The peon tied up the rival team and then removed the cover to reveal the contents below.
There were numerous parts of a computer. They had to put it all up and set it up. This required both computer and mechanics skills.
"So all set guys. 40 minutes you have. And the time starts in 3..2..1..start."
Sanyukta felt her left hand being pulled as soon as Vardhan sir said to start.
Randhir had already started assembling the parts not realising that he was pulling her too.
"Relax Sanyu. Concentrate." She said to herself as she started working.
---------------------
10 MINUTES LATER
Vidushi and Parth were busy on the computer. Sanyukta and Randhir were working on the CPU.
Since Randhir could easily manage it alone she started working on the code. If she could figure it out now that would save some time later.
10 MINUTES LATER
"Uhh..why is this not happening. Where am i going wrong." Sanyukta through as she wrote another set of codes in her notebook.
Something was wrong but she couldn't figure out what.
She shook her head irritated and her hair came all over her face.
Unknowingly she lifted her left hand to brush them aside when she felt a touch on her cheek. Along with her hand Randhir's hand brushed on her cheek too as she tried to put her hair back.
She looked at him and he was staring right back at her.
"Parth what you are doing is wrong." Vidushi's voice resulted in the end of the small eyelock.
Both of them got back to their work.
She started working on the codes again. She worked hard but still couldn't identify her mistake.
"I guess i will have to ask the others later. Lets get back to assembling the parts now." She thought as she extended her hand to reach out for a part.
Randhir had his eye on the same part. Both of them kept at their hands on it together resulting in both of Sanyukta's hand under Randhir's.
"I dont want fights. Let him work." She thought as she started to withdraw her hand when suddenly Randhir grasped it.
He took her free hand in his and brought it to her notebook and with his figure pointed out at a particular code.
She looked at what he was pointing and then realised. He had found the mistake.
She looked up at him but he was already busy in his work.
-------------------------------
10 MINUTES LATER
Sanyukta was happy. For a change everything was going good. The codes were ready and the assembling was in the final stage.
"Sanyukta." She heard someone shout behind.
She turned behind and saw Sameer standing there. Her eyes grew wide in shock.
"Sanyukta. How dare you not pick up my phone. Come outside i need to talk to you right now." He said as he barged into the lab.
"Who are you? And what do you think of yourself? Sanyukta is my student here and you cant just take her out like this. So just get lost." Vardhan sir approached Sammer.
"Even i am not interested in staying here. I am going." Sameer bursted. "And you. Meet me outside in 2 minutes otherwise be ready to face the consequences." He pointed at Sanyukta and walked out.
Randhir stood there facing the table. He couldn't turn behind and let Sameer see him. He was angry by the way Sameer had just talked to Sanyukta.
He turned to face her. Fear and worry was evident on her face.
"What do i do? Just 10 minutes are left. I cant just leave like this." Sanyukta worried when she felt a tug on her tied hand.
She turned to see Randhir looking at her. He pointed towards her and then towards the door and then nodded.
"Was he asking her to leave all this and go?" sanyukta looked at him in confusion.
He pointed to the parts and then to himself and then putting his hand on her shoulder nodded again.
"I will take care of it Sanyukta. Just go." Was all he wanted to say.
She looked at him and then freeing her hand looked at Vardhan sir who nodded.
She looked back at Randhir and smiled and ran out.
-------------------------------------------
CANTEEN
10 MINUTES LATER
"Sameer. Please listen to me. I am sorry. I was busy with the fest and all." Sanyukta pleaded.
She had been trying to convince him for the last 10 minutes but it was of no use.
"Idiot. I just want you to go from here now. So that i can concentrate on the tasks. I can handle you later." She thought.
"See Sameer i found the ring that you had given me too." She said as she showed him the ring.
Sameer finally looked at her and taking her hand in his said "Dont repeat this ever. Otherwise i ..."
He was interrupted by his phone ringing.
TRING TRING
"Hello. Hello. Yes. Who are you? What? But how? Yes i am coming right now." He said as he got up.
"Listen Sanyukta we will talk later. There is some emergency in office. I need to leave." He said as he ran away from there.
"Thank god." Sanyukta heaved a sigh of relief and left for the lab.
She was running towards the lab when she banged into someone. She lost her balance and was about to hit the ground when she felt a firm grip around her waist. She looked up to see Randhir staring at her. His brown eyes looking into her black ones.
"Aggarwal. Why do you keep on banging into me. Do you trust me so much that you know i will never let you fall?" he smirked as he made her stand straight.
"Trust and you? Ya right." She replied back.
"Of course you do. Otherwise on my saying why did you leave the task and go? Because you knew that i will complete at right?" he smirked.
"Task. Oh god on your nonsense i forgot what i had come for. How was the task? Did we win?" she asked her eyes wide.
She pepped inside the lab but it was empty.
"Dont worry farzii. Ofcouse we won. With you showing so much faith and confidence in me how could i let you down." He said faking a smile as he left from there.
"Thank god." She sighed as she left too.
-------------------------------------------------
NEXT DAY
FITE GROUND
5 PM
"So everyone her for the next task. Let m explain it to you." Vardhan sir said.
The FITE and LITS students were all present there.
There in front of them was something kept covered wwith a cloth. In front of that there was this very tall stand with net to climb up and then at the top was a wooden board. Everything was in a pair.
"So guys. Here is the task. The captain of each team will climb and go and stand on the board above. The other 3 team members will have the job to set up the trampoline." He said as he pointed towards the covered bulk there.
"The captain after reaching above will find a spring there. He /she needs to throw that down to his team. Its a part of the trampoline. After 15 minutes since the starting time the board above will start moving and after 5 minutes it will be completely out of the slit support and fall down. And so will your team member who will land on the trampoline made by you.
"What the hell?" Vidushi said. "What kind of tasks are these? First walking on fire, now this." She said.
"Vidushi. Its ok. I will do this." Sanyukta spoke with determination.
Randhir looked at her. "This was dangerous. If something went wrong you could.." he said when Sanyukta interrupted " I know nothing will. I trust you. Completely."
Her words silenced him.
"let me tell you one thing guys. This task is going to be different. Here the trust you have on each other plays a huge part." Vardhan sir spoke.
"So captains please proceed." He continued pointing towards the net ladder.
Sanyukta looked at her team and said " All the best guys. I know you will do it. I have full faith in you." She spoke looking at Randhir.
As she walked past him he stopped her by holding her hand. She freed her hand and nodded at him and proceeded.
Sanyukta and Dharam stood in front of the ladders while the other members in front of the trampoline kits.
Randhir's eyes were continuously on Sanyukta. He could see her nervousness and how she was trying to maintain her calmness.
"I wont let anything happen to you." He promised to himself.
"Your task starts now." Vardhan sir spoke.
Sanyukta turned around one last time and looked at Randhir. She turned back again an started climbing.
Randhir, Parth, Vidushi started working on trampoline.
"Come on guys. We need to set it up fast." Randhir said as he looked up. Sanyukta had reached the top and was looking down. She had the spring in her hand.
He came and stood directly under her and she threw it down. He caught it and went back.
"Come on guys." Sanyukta watched her team work.
She was scared and nervous. She was at some height and just looking down made her dizzy.
"Scared captain ji?" Dharam called out.
"Scared. Not at all. I trust my team mates. Do you?" she snapped back.
"we will see." Dharma replied when suddenly the planks started moving in the front.
"Oh shit. Guys come on" sanyukta yelled.
Randhir looked up and saw the board moving.
He saw Sanyukta her hair flying due to the wind.
"Concentrate Randhir. You have a promise to fulfil.
The trampoline was set up. Randhir was rechecking it again and again.
He couldn't afford a single error. Not when her safety was concerned.
He kept on looking up and back at the trampoline.
"oh shit. I cant do this." Dharam panicked and got of the board.
"What are you doing you fool?" Miss Maya yelled from below.
"Mam sorry ji but i cant do this." Dharam spoke as he started climbing down.
Sanyukat watched him. Now she was all alone there. Everyone below had their eyes on her.
The board was almost at the age now.
"Come on Sanyukta. You can do this. Trust yourself. And trust your team." She was continuously speaking to herself.
She could hear people calling out her name in encouragement below.
Just one minute was left. She could slip down anytime.
She looked down and her eyes fell on Randhir.
He was looking at her all the time without a single blink. It was almost like his breath had stopped and it would start only when she was safe with him.
Suddenly yesterdays's words rang in her head, "Do you trust me so much that you know i will never let you fall?"
"Yes i do." She said as looking at his face the final time she shut her eyes and fell the board slip.
She dint know what happened. She felt herself falling in the air and then her feet hit something and she bounced a little and suddenly she was in someone's arms.
She heard gasps which turned into cheers.
She still could not manage to open her eyes. All she knew was she was in the safest place now.
She was in his arms.
"Randhir." She whispered her eyes still shut.
"Sanyukta." She heard his voice and then felt his arms around her.
"You are ok." He said as he hugged her. She could feel the relief in his voice as if he was saying it more to himself than to her.
She opened her eyes. She was leaning on him her half body on
the trampoline and half in his arms.
She got down and he made her stand. He could feel that she was
still shaking and kept his arms around her. She looked at him
and for a moment wondered whether he was crying.
His eyes were a little moist.
"Well done." Everyone congratulated her. Everyone there was
clapping for her. Even the LITS boys.
"FITE has won." Miss Maya announced.
---------------------------------------------
5 HOURS LATER
"Sanyukta you are really brave." Kaustuki said.
They were there in their hostel rooms ready to call it a day.
Sanyukta smiled back.
"Really Sanyukta. Did you not for a moment have some doubts?"
she said as they both lay down.
"I did Kaustu. I was scared. Bt then i knew you guys will do it. I
had the confidence in you all." Sanyukta spoke as she switched
off the lights.
She lay on her bed awake. "I knew Kaustu that someone will
never let me fall." she whispered silently and slept with a smile
on her face.
When there is trust it doesn't need words to be told. You know it from somewhere inside that its there.
Ishaani
Cricket
