Kumari huffed and puffed as she slightly bent to support her arms with her knees. Sounds of applause rang from the stands as some of the students came forward to congratulate her. Drops of sweat fell from her beautiful face, which had a slight blush on her cheeks. Kumari's small mouth opened and closed as she took big gulps of air. Some strands of her jet-black hair stuck to her face because of the sweat. A triumphant smile could be seen as her eyes filled with delight.
"The first prize for the Women's 400m sprint goes to Ms Kumari Desu. It has to be mentioned that Ms Kumari has won the 100m and 200m sprint also. Hearty Congratulations," a resonant voice was heard from the podium near the race track.
Kumari tittered as she controlled her breathing and wiped her sweat when she heard these praises. It was such a relief from all the scoldings she had to endure whenever her grades were announced. Kumari couldn't lose this chance to show off. She changed her 'running' clothes to a standard sports day uniform, which was a white shirt and sports pants. The colour of socks and your shirt collar represented your house (red, blue, yellow & green).
After that, Kumari ran towards the gallery to find Kranthi along with Rahul (little pig) waiting for her.
Kranthi grinned at Kumari as he ate Kaju Barfi (a bite-sized, flat diamond-shaped sweet made of cashew nuts and milk) with relish. He said, "Kumkum, exemplary performance, no one can match you. Even Adi also only got a silver in running race."
Kumari smiled, "thank you, Kranthi. Where is that fellow? I don't see him here." she looked all over the stands and the race track but couldn't spot him.
Kranthi shrugged as he said, "who cares, maybe that fellow is sulking in a corner for not getting gold."
Kumari scoffed when she heard these words, "Adi, sulking? No way. His skin is thicker than our school wall. More like, he should have gone to flirt with some innocent girl."
Kumari wanted to find Aditya so that he could accompany her to go to the archery range. She wanted to see it but, usually, that place was filled with IC (International Curriculum)students. As Aditya had friends in that batch, it would be more convenient if he went with her.
Kumari looked at Kranthi, who seemed to have stopped breathing so that it wouldn't disturb him from eating. She said with some exasperation, "White buffalo, enough. These sweets were given by my mother so that I could eat them after the competition."
Kranthi grinned as he continued to eat, "it's alright, you wouldn't eat them anyway. Who doesn't know that you hate sweets? It's funny how your family owns a popular sweet shop, and you turned up this way."
"I don't hate sweets, I just find them tasteless," Kumari snorted as she grabbed a piece of sweet from the box and took a bite.
Kumari did not like it, but she needed to eat something. "Alright, I am going." she wanted to find Aditya as soon as possible. Kumari did not have a phone, as they were not allowed to bring them to school. Still, some students (like Aditya) brought smartphones, but Kumari's or Kranthi's family did not allow it. She had to search for him physically.
The weather was pleasant with white, fluffy clouds hanging around in the crystal blue sky. The air was filled with happiness, enthusiasm and merriment. The sports for children who were younger than 12 years was done in a separate section of the school. Parents of younger students were allowed to visit on this day.
Kumari smiled when she saw these children running around giggling, playing with slides, see-saws and other playthings. Parents were cautioning their children to pay attention to their safety, and a few teachers were supervising the competitions like spoon and egg, book balancing and other fun games. There was a medic in the corner, to take care of first-aid if any accident happened.
If there was something that their school possessed in excess, it was land. Two centuries ago, when those missionaries bought the property for their school, it must have cost no more than five bugs.
Just as Kumari was about to leave as she couldn't find Aditya, she heard a female voice calling her. Kumari turned to see Anupama and Kavya walking towards her. She smiled at them and waited.
Anupama smiled as she congratulated Kavya, "Congrats, I heard that you won all the sprints." The sports uniform was the same for both NC and IC students. So to an outsider, everyone dressed the same as they both belonged to the same school in the end.
"Thank you," Kavya nodded as she looked at Anupama. After the incident at the new cafeteria, Kumari had become good friends with all of Aditya's old classmates in the International school. After befriending Anupama, Kumari understood the reason that Aditya fell for her. Anupama possessed a unique temperament and charisma. Even Kumari was attracted to her. She felt that Aditya's taste in girls was similar to hers. In the past, both of them liked Sameera and even fought over her.
"What about you?" Kumari asked Anupama and Kavya. Anupama shook her head as she said, "I am proficient in fencing and Kavya is a professional swimmer. Both of these sports were not included, so we are free."
Kumari nodded, "What about Bhadra and Jatin?"
It was Kavya, who answered Kumari's query. She had a hint of pride in her voice as she said, "Bhadra bagged gold for Shot-put and as for Jatin," Kavya scoffed, "he is not into sports."
"Where are you going, Kumari?" Anupama asked as she looked with her dark honey-brown coloured pupils.
"I am looking for that idiot Adi so that he could accompany me to the archery range which is behind the school building," Kumari said but paused as she looked at Anupama with shining eyes.
Anupama understood Kumari as she smiled and nodded, "If you don't mind, we can come with you." Kavya also nodded as they had spare time, anyway.
"Okay, let's go, I know a shortcut through our old school building, it will be quicker," Kumari forgot about Aditya as she held Anupama's hand and pulled her along.
There was a large wooden podium being built, in front of the old school building. This ground was the location for the cultural festival which was going to be held the next day. Kumari would receive the medals on this stage.
A white cloth was being used to cover these wooden structures. After this the decoration of the podium would begin, using colourful sheets, lights, balloons and other things. This year, many prominent people would be attending this annual day because of the new students (IC). The existing auditorium was not sufficient. Before a bigger hall could be built, this temporary podium was the alternative.
Just as they were nearing the school building, Anupama stopped Kumari as she spotted a girl in the distance. Kumari also looked at the girl and remembered that she was the cute East Asian girl who seemed to have a crush on Aditya.
Yu Yan was sitting on a bench alone as her face seemed to have become a red apple. She looked in the distance in a daze. Yu Yan was smiling and blushing as if she recalled something sweet but shameful at the same time.
"Yu Yan, right? Is everything alright?" Anupama asked when she saw Yu Yan's behaviour. Yu Yan's body shook when she saw Anupama and others, but her blush deepened for some reason. She stuttered, "Sen...senior Anupama, I... I am fine."
Kumari saw some symptoms as she asked, "did you see your elder brother Aditya?"
Yu Yan trembled when she heard 'Aditya' and her fists held her clothes tightly as she nodded, "I saw elder brother Aditya going towards the archery range. I will be on my way, seniors." Yu Yan escaped.
Anupama did not hear Yu Yan's words as she confirmed her suspicion. 'Adi, if I come to know that you did something to this cute, naive girl, I will break your bones."
Anupama had her suspicions but did not jump to conclusions. Kumari and others made way for the school building. Once they cross the building, the archery range was a hundred meters away. The ancient Banyan tree which had more than 100 aerial roots, was behind the archery range.
"Ha, God is on our side, brothers. The fish had fallen into the net on its initiative," a burst of maniacal laughter was heard which send chills running through Kumari's body. When she turned her head to see, she was shocked to discover her obese mathematics teacher, Javed, coming towards them along with two other men.
Kumari recognised these men as janitors in her school. All of them worked in this school for many years, and Kumari knew them. She could not understand the change in their behaviours. Her heart almost stopped when she saw a handgun in each of these people's hand. At this moment, she knew that something terrible was going to happen. Anupama and Kavya had also seen these guns, and their reaction was similar to Kumari.