Falling Into Oblivion

Chapter 14: The Tug-of-War

Chapter 16 to 17 still need to be translated to English, which I will try to do as soon as possible.

The boys and girls lined up on either side of the thick rope, gripping it tightly and digging their heels into the ground. The air was filled with tension and anticipation.
"Ready, set, go!" the referee shouted, and the teams started pulling with all their might.

At first, it was an even match, the rope barely moving in either direction. Both teams were determined, muscles straining, faces red with effort. The boys, however, started to enjoy watching the girls struggle. Danish, smirking, called out,
"Hey, are you guys that weak? Tired already?"

Pravan laughed,
"Yeah, looks like winning's going to be a breeze."

The girls, gritting their teeth, ignored the teasing and focused on Maya's strategy. Slowly, they started to pull together with more force. Sensing the girls' growing effort, Ranveer shouted,
"Come on, boys! Pull harder!"

But despite their best efforts, the boys finally won, pulling the rope decisively to their side. Danish, breathing heavily but triumphant, winked at Banhi. The teams dispersed, though the competitive spirit still lingered in the air. Maya, despite the loss, clapped her hands and gathered the girls.
"You did well, girls. Don't let this get to you. Remember, it's all about teamwork and spirit."

Raj, satisfied with the outcome, couldn't resist a final jab.
"See, Maya? Told you."

Maya rolled her eyes but smiled,
"Yeah, Raj, they won. But winning takes more than brute strength—you need some brains too."

Raj laughed,
"Alright, alright. Maybe next time, we'll see who's smarter."

With that, the group dispersed, ready for the next adventure, their camaraderie and determination renewed.

After the intense tug-of-war competition, everyone headed to the main hall for dinner. The room was filled with long tables, and the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air. As they got in line, a group of rude boys and girls tried to push in front of them. One of the boys sneered,
"Hey, step aside. We need to get our food quickly."

Before Banhi and Dhriti could react, Danish stepped in. The boy, unfazed, retorted,
"What's your problem?"

Danish grabbed the boy by the collar and snapped,
"There's a problem—learn to line up properly."

The rude group, now intimidated, retreated. Banhi and Dhriti breathed a sigh of relief and continued to get their food. Danish and his friends also grabbed their plates and decided to sit next to Banhi and Dhriti. As they approached the table, Dhriti groaned,
"Oh no, they've come back again."

Banhi whispered,
"Just ignore them; let's eat."

With a playful grin, Danish sat down and greeted,
"Hello, ladies. How did you like today's competition?"

Rolling her eyes, Dhriti replied,
"What's your problem? We just want to eat in peace."

Chuckling, Ranveer added,
"Relax, Dhriti. We're just here to sit down."

Trying to stay calm, Banhi said,
"Come on, Dhriti, let it go. Let's eat."

But Dhriti, still annoyed, snapped,
"You guys are always causing trouble."

With a mischievous smile, Danish teased,
"Us? Trouble? You all cheated in the tug-of-war today."

Irritated, Banhi retorted,
"Cheating? You all relied solely on brute strength. We used strategy."

Leaning in teasingly, Danish shot back,
"Strategy? Or just an excuse for losing?"

Glaring at him, Dhriti snapped,
"Mind your own business, Danish."