Warrior Princess; Her Quest to the throne

0"So, let me get this right. What you are trying to say is, that since the teachers and the students haven't kept themselves updated, the wrong answer should be rewarded. I wonder what the Law ministry would have to say about this. I believe that the interns who work in the Law ministry at the first level are chosen straight out of Gurukul. Wonder if this would hinder their chances at recruitment," Prithvi was brutal in his attack.     0

Even though his tone hadn't risen even by one octave, his words carried venom which was enough for the timid moderator. The poor guy had started to sweat. He had no rebuttal to offer. Instead, he was cursing himself for having chosen such a question for the quiz.     

"Then, should I award half marks to each team?" he asked Prithvi tentatively.     

"Clearly the future of the nation is in jeopardy at the very place where its foundation is supposed to be laid. When did appeasement take over fairness as the motto for Chandragarh? I am trying to imagine the Queen's reaction when she hears of this. " came Prithvi's scathing reply.     

At the podium     

"How dare that junior interrupt my answer? He thinks that he can challenge me??? Even though my chosen stream is Medicine, I have been studying law since I was ten years old. I can recite these policies in my sleep also," Vindhya was fuming while Gauri tried to pacify her.     

"What do you think, Yash? Whose answer is correct?" Gauri asked him tentatively.     

Yash couldn't be bothered about the right answer. Vindhya had fainted during the human pyramid game and he had panicked. Carrying her all the way to the dispensary, he hadn't found anytime to inform Mriga. But the minute Vindhya had regained consciousness, he had asked her to rest and came running back to the hall only to find Mriga laughing and standing in close proximity with that big burly guy, who held a torch for her. Was she blind? Why was she being so friendly with him? Could she not see his admiration? Or worse, did she see it and wanted more of it?     

Before he could walk upto her to pull her away, Vindhya's friend had come running and said that all groups had been registered already for the quiz. She had informed him that if they wanted to participate, then it would have to be done right away with Vindhya's request since she knew the moderator well. Vindhya had also reached the hall by then.     

Yash had been about to refuse but then he had seen Mriga's name go up on the board with those two guys. Apparently, she had been in too much hurry to participate that she couldn't wait for him to come back. As a result, he had said yes.     

Sitting across her and playing from a different team, his heart had burned every time she celebrated with those two guys. The tall guy had conducted whispered conversations with her throughout the contest and it had caused Yash to fume even more.     

"The point is awarded to the team who made the effort to learn the new amendment to the act and hence, is correct about the Enemy Property Act as it stands today," the moderator announced and the quiz resumed.     

With this confidence boost, the four of them went ahead and won the second round with a large margin. The other teams had played cautiously post that to avoid bringing any further negative marks to themselves. Unfortunately, the points were still not enough to surpass the first team's tally but Mriga didn't mind it. They had recovered from the last place to finish second and the percentage wise improvement was the biggest in their case. In fact the only thing that mattered to Mriga was that her team had managed to defeat Yash's.     

"This definitely calls for a celebration," Vandit exclaimed after they had gotten off the podium.     

Ishani shook her head vigorously in agreement. Abhirath looked at their faces speculatively. Weren't they looking at each other differently now from the time when they first met few hours ago? But then he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.     

"I seem to overread every situation these days. Just because I like someone, I keep thinking that everyone else does too," he berated himself silently.     

"Uh, I am soooo tired. I woke up really early to prepare for the archery contest. It's been a long day for me already," Mriga said apologetically.     

Ishani's face fell and she said, "I know. Let's do this another day."     

Vandit looked like that he wanted to protest but held himself back at the last moment. Abhirath who was watching this byplay of emotions keenly, intervened.     

"I think we did a great job during the quiz and it needs to be celebrated. Why don't we do this? Since Mriga and I have been up since dawn, why don't we have two get-togethers? Vandit, maybe you and uh… Ishani could do a small one today on everyone's behalf and we can all go out for a lunch next week, hmm?" he addressed the group.     

Mriga turned to look at him in confusion. What was he trying to do?     

But before she could say her thoughts out loud, Vandit jumped up and declared that it was a great idea.     

Mriga couldn't understand what was wrong with both the boys at the moment but she was more worried about her friend who was about to be stuck in a situation with a near stranger. But she was in for a shock!!     

"I… that is, I don't mind. You are right, a celebration should take place today. Mriga, uh, are you sure that you can't make it?" Ishani asked a bit shyly.     

Mriga's mouth fell open. Eyes downwards, blushing cheeks, coy smile, this girl… who was she? Had Ishani been possessed?