Bhanu wished to mark her second position safe.
Bhanu: I wish we don't face-off tomorrow!
Me: Don't you want to win?
Bhanu: I can't compete you Agastya. I will be happy if I come second.
(She professed on the second prize-winner.)
Me: If you are making a wish then let the God do the rest his way. Be clear on your wish and so shall you achieve.
Bhanu: Oh! Ok! I wannabe second. (She was clear on her motive.)
Me: Number 8 is Kusum! Where shall I get her?
Bhanu: (inquisitive) She is my room partner. Why do you want her?
Me: Let's go then.
When we reached onto the door, we heard her saying, "I have only achieved 7 points. There is no point to play tomorrow."
Me: There is. Don't you want to win atleast 2 games. Maybe you get chance to win over Pratap. (I interjected)
She cut her call.
Kusum: Pratap! Even I get chance to play with him, I won't win Agastya! (She was discouraged but I tried to get a way.)
Me: What if I help you?
Kusum: Really? How? It will be nice if I win at least 2 matches!" She was willing however, had lost her courage over regular defeats.
Me: Okay. Let me help you. Tell me how does a deer fall into prey of the lion?
Kusum: However, deer runs faster and manages to escape most of the times, the lion attacks it. But, deer feed on grasses they like. So when the deer turns back and doesn't see the lion anywhere, it returns back to feed and in the middle, gets attacked by the Lion who was patiently holding back for the deer.
She responded as like an expert. She mentioned her interest in animal life. She had gone on safari trek for three times.
Me: Ohh...nice... How does an eagle feed on it's prey?
Kusum: Eagles can see it's prey from hundreds of feet up in the air. They have powerful eyesight and can glade in the speed of over 250kmph. So, it hunts it prey at once. (Her studies and presentation were both plausible.)
Me: Ohh.. so tactful, no? (break) Remind yourself these two styles during the match.
Kusum nodded in belief. Bhanu received a call from Shubham. He was hungry. So, we moved into the cafe nearby.
Shubham: (smiling) I heard judges talking about you. You are genius Agastya!
We had sandwiches and cappuccino there.
As we returned back to our room, Sumedh had arrived early. He was talking to himself. He wished Bhanu lose the finals and he has an easy match.
*5th day*
I faced the Number 25, Bhanu. Bhanu was mesmerized. I urged her not to panic countering me and just play the game. Sumedh faced the Number 17 guy. Shubham faced Number 11. Pratap on seeing Kusum as his opponent, he turned around and smiled. The host gave him a thumbs up.
Pratap had forced the college committee to do something to get him any of the prizes. The host arranged his play with a single match winner. Everyone had got what they wished for except Bhanu. The bell rung and match begun.
I looked towards Kusum and reminded her what I had said the last day. She nodded me.
During the game, Kusum placed her queen in a safe yet open place. She used her other pieces to counter Pratap's moves. She understood his 'Hunting Lion' method and didn't make any mistake like the deer did. Pratap, at one step, mistook the queen as a pawn and made a wrong move. Kusum got the moment to hunt like an eagle and finish the game. She jumped high in joy. It was a 11 minute game. The judges allotted her 10/10 while the host sighed discontent.
Number 17 had already faced me on the 1st day so he was never influenced by Sumedh's 'Tire - Hustle' technique. Sumedh also lost his game in next five minutes. Number 17 made a total of 28 points.
Shubham wished an strategic player to oppose him thus, faced the girl. Her name was Sumati. Their game drew attention of the judges.
While I had aligned the pieces like a bow, Bhanu aligned her pieces like a scorpion. I felt like she had been hiding this talent for that day. I praised her moves. When she stepped her stings part ahead, I turned the alignment into like Milky Way Galaxy centred by both Knights, a bishop and the Queen. Her stings were strong. So, I pulled the rooks out of their hideouts and affirmed the movement of pieces in the alignment. She tried to baffle me in her feckless moves. I let my Queen move so that she comes into action. So did she. But I used the pawns and a bishop to counter in place of involving the Queen herself. I was successful in destroying those stings. As the game proceeded, there were three of my pawns in the middle in V form, a knight and the Queen was on my right side while a knight and both rooks were on the left. She had her Queen and a bishop on her right, both knights and a rook on left side and two pawns in the middle at their original places. I drew the knight on my left to check the king and the bishop at once. While she applied safe play, I used the right knight to check the King. As she stepped back, my Queen however unsupported, did check mate. It was 21 minutes game. The judges allotted me 10/10.
Shubham and Sumati had a tie.
Shubham scored 30 points.
None of the others could score better than Bhanu. Thus, when she got the news, she jumped high in eureka.
The host announced a break of 15 minutes before the judges announced the results.
When we all had gathered in the hall, the host invited the chief guest, Mr. Jayavardhan, founder of the college, to take the stage and address the attendants.
He congratulated all of us the certificate of participation, addressed us as scholars and before he let te judges to announce the winners, he had something to say about me.
Mr. Jayavardhan: Overlooking on all the matches you played these 5 days, I figured out a person, amongst you, who I can title 'Young Chanakya'. He is wise, he is smart and he is cunning too. In our history, the Kings who fought wars used such strategies that ended their wars in a short period. Their art of war got control over the other kingdom with all its strength alive so that, he (the victorious) could add up to the strength of his Kingdom. In the similar manner, there is a person who defended the powers of both sides, got control over the pieces and won the matches. Strategists determine the future and winners make them history. With due respect and honour to this young charming guy, I would like to call him on the stage and let me the opportunity of presenting him the Gold medal. Agastya, please come on the stage!
While everyone gave me a big round of applause, Sumedh, in a low voice, said, "Had I got chance to play with him, I would have defeated him!" Bhanu heard him and faced him angrily. On seeing her angry face, he started clapping for me.
I was prized with the Gold medal, 'Certificate of Appreciation' and a cheque of Rs. 25000. Bhanu and Shubham were, too, called on the stage for receiving the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively. We were filmed receiving the prizes. The video went on air and everyone got the news. We returned back by around 5:45 p.m. I had number of calls to attend. Vinita and Soumya welcomed me home with great pride and honour. Dad called me and stated his happiness. Mom and Grandparents were feeling proud of me. I handed the cheque to mom and the other prizes to Grandma.
Vinita showed the video to everyone. She was overwhelmed with Mr. Jayvardhan's statement about me.