The disastrous combination

The smooth disappearance

Hardik and Yuzi plotted for long hours till it was finally ready for implementation when they were in Vizag.

"Want to go for a river cruise, Kul?" Yuzi asked him one evening. "Everyone who comes here goes for one."

"Ok," said Kuldeep unsuspectingly. "Will we call the others too?"

"Virat bhaiya has some work," lied Yuzi cheerfully. "And you won't take the others if you can't have him, will you?"

Kuldeep tried to work this out in his head, and Yuzi said, "They've all gone many times earlier, you just come with me."

Kuldeep certainly didn't mind going anywhere with Yuzi, and they set off within half an hour, and unknown to Kuldeep, Hardik was tailing them.

Almost halfway there, Yuzi exclaimed suddenly, "Oh no, I had to meet Smriti today too. I totally forgot, Kul--one second."

He called Smriti.

"Hello?"

"The standard cruise."

"Fifteen minutes?"

"Ok, sure."

As Yuzi put down his phone, Kuldeep asked, "What happened?"

"Smriti is going to join us as well," said Yuzi apologetically. "You know about her, don't you?"

"Of course I do," said Kuldeep. "You've said lots of times that she's your favourite video game opponent." He definitely sounded a little sulky now.

"Yes, but you're my favourite video game partner," said Yuzi at once, and Hardik, who was listening from behind a tree, cringed.

Kuldeep, on the other hand, looked perfectly happy again.

They had to wait for only 5 minutes after booking their mini cruise ship when Smriti arrived at a run.

Yuzi banged her on the back, grinning widely, and said carefully, "Meet my brother Kuldeep. Kul--Smriti."

Because he knew the introduction was crucial.

"You've told me about Kul plenty of times," Smriti told him. She extended her hand to Kuldeep and said with a smile, "Hi!"

Hardik and Yuzi felt extremely encouraged when Kuldeep, who usually got tongue-tied in front of strangers, returned the greeting cordially.

Of course, that was because Smriti was so close to Yuzi, but Yuzi and Hardik didn't know that. They were gleefully considering it a great beginning.

"Come on, then," said Yuzi, darting into the ship quickly and going to speak to the guide so that Smriti and Kuldeep were forced to find seats together.

Yuzi appeared moments later, saying, "Just a moment, I'm coming."

And then he disappeared down the stairs for good.

The ship sounded a loud whistle and started to move.

"Where's Yuzi?" wondered Kuldeep aloud.

Smriti got up and peered over the railing to take a look at the lower deck. "YUZI!" she hollered.

No answer.

Kuldeep got up anxiously and joined her as they yelled their matchmaker's name for a while.

The ship was still in sight of the shore, and the moment Yuzi heard Kuldeep's voice calling him, he wanted to step out of their hidey hole and answer his call.

But Hardik, having had enough experience of KulCha's barminess about each other, was prepared, and he had Yuzi pinned against the tree and one hand was covering his mouth firmly.