As the warm breeze of late August rustled through the kabaddi ground, the students gathered, buzzing with excitement. It was time for the internal school competition, and the air was thick with anticipation. The teachers had finalized the teams after much deliberation, and it was decided that this year, the Arts and Commerce streams would both field two teams each. The four teams were as follows:
Arts A (Yellow Team), coached by Harish Sir. Arts B (Green Team), coached by Awtansh Sir. Commerce A (Red Team), coached by Prashant Sir. Commerce B (Blue Team), coached by Sidharth Sir.
The captains were announced: Yellow Team: Satya Green Team: Vishnu Red Team: Vikrant Blue Team: Arjun
The announcement echoed through the corridors, igniting cheers and banter among the students. However, Vikrant, the fierce and determined player of the Red Team, wasn't pleased. Being the captain wasn't enough; he wanted dominance, especially over Arjun.
August slipped into September, and the first week brought with it the schedule for practice matches. Yellow versus Blue and Red versus Green. The matches would set the tone for the upcoming tournament.
The First Practice Match: Yellow vs. Blue
The kabaddi ground was lively, with colorful flags fluttering in the mild September breeze. Students gathered around, forming a noisy, enthusiastic crowd. On one side, the Yellow Team lined up, led by the stoic Satya. On the opposite end, Arjun stood tall, rallying his Blue Team. Sidharth Sir stood behind them, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Prashant Sir was also present, silently observing.
As the whistle blew, Satya, the Yellow Team captain, charged forward. The raid began with rhythmic chants of 'Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi…' as he darted toward the Blue Team's line. His movements were precise and calculated, showcasing his athleticism. He eyed Karan, a relatively inexperienced defender, and feinted left before suddenly lunging right. Karan, caught off guard, stumbled, but Satya was already moving past him. Just as he was about to tag Arjun, Lalit rushed in to block his path. Satya quickly adjusted, using a swift toe touch to tap Lalit before retreating. The Yellow Team erupted in cheers.
Arjun analyzed Satya's movements carefully, noting his agility and ability to switch directions. He knew that Satya was skilled at exploiting defensive gaps. Determined to counter, Arjun decided to observe more before making his move.
Next, it was Arjun's turn. As he crossed the midline, he maintained his rhythmic chant, eyes focused. His raid was methodical, assessing the Yellow Team's formation. Arjun moved closer to the center, drawing out one of the defenders. As Satya closed in, Arjun executed a quick hand touch, tapping Satya's shoulder while dodging an attempted ankle hold. The Blue Team erupted as Arjun made it back to his half safely.
The next few raids showcased the unique strengths of both captains. Satya was known for his evasive maneuvers, often catching defenders off guard with sudden changes in speed. Arjun, on the other hand, preferred strategic play, using calculated movements to manipulate the defense before making his move.
During one raid, Satya attempted to target Arjun directly, confident in his ability to tag him. He made a sudden leap toward Arjun, but Arjun sidestepped swiftly and wrapped his arms around Satya's torso, pulling him to the ground. The crowd cheered as Satya was declared out, marking the first major tackle of the match.
Arjun, too, faced challenges. On his second raid, he aimed to tag two defenders in one swift move — a risky maneuver, but one he'd executed before with precision.
Two touches. Quick in, quick out. I've done this before. Just breathe.
He stepped past the midline, rhythm steady.
"Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi…"
His eyes scanned the Yellow Team's setup — slightly spread out, an opening between Nikhil and Pranav.
There. That's the gap. If I angle left, then cut right—
He surged forward. But just as his fingers reached out for a touch, Nikhil shifted subtly, stepping in faster than expected.
No—he read that. Too late to pull back now.
Arjun reached anyway, fingertips brushing Pranav's side. But the momentary success was short-lived. Nikhil's arm shot out, grabbing Arjun's wrist in a steel grip.
Damn it!
He yanked back, twisted his torso, tried to throw his weight free, but Nikhil anchored down, legs locked.
Let go… come on. Just a slip and I can still—
The seconds dragged. The chant strained in his throat.
He felt it — the creeping doubt, the frustration, the weight of watching eyes.
They're watching. Sidharth Sir. The crowd. Vikrant.
The referee's whistle blew. Out.
Arjun stepped off the court, breathing hard, sweat rolling down his neck. For a brief second, his eyes locked with Vikrant across the field — arms crossed, a crooked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Mocking me already. Fine. Let him. I'll answer on the next raid.
Arjun's third raid was more cautious, but he was once again caught when Satya anticipated his movement. As Arjun tried to sweep past the corner, Satya lunged low, catching his ankle. Arjun struggled to break free, but the collective effort of the Yellow Team brought him down.
In his fourth raid, Arjun decided to use his signature move — the 'Serpent Slide.' He bent low and slipped through a narrow gap between two defenders, tagging one of them on the shoulder. As he rushed back, Satya intercepted him again, locking his waist in a tight grip. Despite his strength, Arjun couldn't shake off Satya's hold and was tackled once more.
The final raid of the match belonged to Arjun, and he knew it was crucial. With determination, he entered the Yellow Team's zone, weaving through the defense. He tapped Satya and two other defenders before making a break for the line. Just as Satya caught his ankle, Arjun executed a sharp turn, dragging Satya along before lunging toward the midline. The referee signaled the point, and Blue Team's victory was sealed.
The crowd erupted in applause, and Arjun, breathing heavily but triumphant, exchanged a respectful nod with Satya. Both captains knew that this match was just the beginning, and the real tournament would test their skills even further.
In the crowd, Prashant Sir watched intently, his expression unreadable. The match had been fierce, but Arjun's determination in the final moments had clinched the victory.
As the students began to disperse, still buzzing with excitement and dissecting the match's highlights, Arjun wiped the sweat from his brow and turned instinctively toward the far side of the ground.
There he was.
Vikrant.
Standing alone, arms folded, his jaw tight, and eyes fixed directly on him — unblinking, unflinching. The Red Team captain didn't say a word, didn't smirk or scowl. He didn't need to. His gaze spoke louder than any insult could.
"So, you're the one they're cheering for today?" Arjun could almost hear the thought behind Vikrant's eyes. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Arjun stared back, expression unreadable, chest rising and falling steadily.
"I saw you watching. I know what you're thinking. But I'm not here to impress the crowd."
A gust of wind swept across the ground, stirring the dust between them like a curtain before battle. The chatter of students faded into the background — in that moment, it was just the two of them. Silent. Still.
"You're not the only one who wants to dominate, Vikrant," Arjun's mind whispered.
"But unlike you, I don't need to prove anything with words."
Vikrant's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a flicker of something dangerous beneath the surface — not anger, not jealousy… something colder.
"Good. Bring your best."
"Because I won't hold back."
And with that, Vikrant turned sharply and walked away, his boots crunching against the gravel.
Arjun exhaled slowly, fists at his side.
"Neither will I."
The war hadn't started yet — but the battlefield had already been chosen.
The day ended with the Blue Team celebrating their hard-earned victory, but Arjun knew that the real battles were yet to come.