As the golden rays of the morning sun streamed into room no. 9, Gagan stirred awake, a bright smile lighting up his face as he embraced the promise of the big day. Excitement bubbled within him as he swiftly splashed water on his face, brushed his teeth, and donned his clothes for what he believed would be a monumental day. Hearing the rustle and commotion, Neel, still half-asleep, groaned in a hoarse voice, “Didn’t we have the selection competition at ten? Why are you in such a hurry?”
Gagan, bubbling with enthusiasm, replied, “Neel, you need to get up quickly! The girls are coming over. It’s a joint competition, and they’ll be selecting a total of 20 candidates from each side for Astra Gurukul!”
Neel, annoyed by Gagan's energy and his incessant chatter, muttered, “Here he goes again,” and pulled the blanket over his head.
Not one to give up easily, Gagan's voice cut through the quiet as he turned his attention to Vishwa, who was still asleep. “Vishwa, wake up, or you’ll miss everything! All your training over the last six months will go to waste if you don’t hurry!” he exclaimed, shouting right into Vishwa’s ear.
Startled, Vishwa jolted upright, his heart racing. He rushed to the bathroom with a towel in hand and miraculously emerged just five minutes later, looking slightly frazzled but determined. “I’m ready! Let’s go. Wait, why is Neel still lying there?” he asked incredulously, glancing back at his slumbering friend.
Gagan waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t worry about him. We’ve got to go now.” He grabbed Vishwa by the hand, tugging him along. As they hurriedly made their way out, Vishwa caught sight of the wall clock. “It’s only six in the morning! What exactly will I be late for?” he exclaimed, his irritation evident. He had stayed up too late the previous night, and the early morning felt unjust.
Gagan shot him a playful smirk, “To see the girls, obviously!”
“What?”
They set off towards the lake, pretending to jog, but in reality, Gagan was just hoping to catch a glimpse of the girls out exercising, which was, of course, one of his motives for waking up so early. As they made their way, they spotted numerous girls engaged in various workouts, preparing themselves for the day ahead. “See? Isn’t this a lovely sight? It seems like all the girls have decided to train in the mornings, except for that pink-haired girl of yours,” Gagan commented with a teasing grin.
“What do you mean ‘your’? I don’t even know her name!” Vishwa retorted, annoyance creeping in as he internalised his friend’s relentless teasing. ‘Why do I always fall for his pranks?’ he thought, shaking his head.
Sticking to the long route, they finally made their way to the Girls Campus and then to the competition grounds, where they spotted Guru Gopal.
“Nice and early, that’s the spirit, boys! I like the energy you’re bringing today. Keep it up,” Guru Gopal praised, his voice warm and encouraging.
Gagan, ever the one to push boundaries, replied cheekily, “You’re not looking too bad for an old man, sir!” While Vishwa thought sagely, ‘If you knew the real reason we’re here, you wouldn’t be praising us so liberally.’
Guru Gopal chuckled at Gagan’s bravado and instructed, “Hmm, I like your confidence, Gagan. Come over here, both of you, and lend a hand setting things up for the competition.”
Vishwa stared in disbelief, “Huh? Why do I have to be included with him?” he questioned, baffled by the situation.
“Why not? I’d like to see how much you’ve grown during your time at Beginner Gurukul,” Guru Gopal said, a twinkle in his eye.
With that, Gagan and Vishwa quickly jumped into action, helping the workers under Guru Gopal’s watchful eye. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of energy and effort, but Gagan couldn’t help but voice his discontent. “I’m not having fun right now,” he complained, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
Vishwa, passing a plank to a worker, shot back, “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have gotten so cocky with the teacher.”
Just then, Gagan's attention shifted as he noticed a figure approaching. “Hey, look, a woman is coming here and….” His excitement escalated, and he shouted, “Oh, it’s the pink-haired girl.”
“Shhh... What are you doing?” Vishwa hissed in response, but even he couldn’t resist taking a quick glance. ‘Oh! It’s really her,’ he thought, as he caught sight of the distinctive pink hair.
“Sir!” Gagan exclaimed loudly, directing his voice at Guru Gopal. “Guru Gopal sir, be fair and send those girls to work here too.” His request hung in the air, audacious and somewhat bold, leaving Vishwa wondering, What in the world is he doing? Uneasy with Gagan’s antics, Vishwa took a step back and focused on helping a nearby worker instead. “Do you guys need help here?” Vishwa asked, eager to distract himself from the unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, Guru Malika, observing the scene, turned to Guru Gopal and asked, “Guru Gopal, is he a student working there?” Her question was filled with intrigue as she tried to make sense of Gagan's behaviour.
“Oh, yes. There are two, in fact. I’m testing them before the big day. By doing this, they will warm up and perform well in the examination,” Guru Gopal explained, his tone authoritative but tinged with a hint of pride.
Kiran, with eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, chimed in, “Ma’am, we also want to go and help them.” Her eagerness was infectious, and it was clear she wanted to be part of the action.
Mina, who had been about to voice her own opinion, paused at the sight of her young miss’s determination, deciding to hold back for the moment.
“Go on then. I also want to catch up with Guru Gopal for today,” Guru Malika finally approved, giving her consent with a nod that set both girls into motion. With a respectful bow, they headed off, leaving behind the praise of Guru Gopal, who remarked, “They are respectful kids.”
Vishwa’s heart raced as he watched the developments unfold. ‘How did Gagan pull that off? It’s good I left him earlier,’ he thought, feeling a mix of admiration and anxiety. He observed from a distance as both girls approached Gagan and initiated their work. 'Should I go over there? No, it will look like I want their attention,' he reconsidered.
“Kid, you are done here, help someone else,” a worker’s voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.
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“Ah! Yeah. Let me see where I should go,” Vishwa murmured, trying to shake off the uncertainty that was clouding his mind. ‘Should I go or not?’ he pondered, the conflict swirling inside him. “Why am I being like this? I don’t even know them,” he blurted out, frustration creeping in as he felt a hand placed firmly on his shoulder from behind.
“Yeah, you don’t know them.”
“Aaw!” Vishwa jumped, startled by Neel’s sudden appearance. “Neel, do you want to kill me?”
“What?” Neel brushed off Vishwa’s response casually. “Let’s go, the cafeteria is open.”
“Yes, you’re right. What will I even get by going there?” Vishwa conceded, his earlier worries dissipating as he decided to follow Neel towards the cafeteria.
On the expansive grounds situated between the Boy's Campus and Girl's Campus, a sense of anticipation filled the air as the selection process for Astra Gurukul was about to commence. A diverse crowd of students from the ordinary group gathered, their eyes fixed on the stage where Guru Gopal, the esteemed head of the boy's campus, stood alongside Guruma Malika, the respected head of the girl's campus. As the noise of the crowd subsided, Guru Gopal took a moment to gather himself, clearing his throat with a deliberate “Ahem!” to ensure that his voice would resonate clearly amidst the eager assembly.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, surveying the sea of faces before him. “Among the two hundred students present today, only twenty from each campus will be selected to continue their journey ahead.” He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. “As you all know, this is Beginner Gurukul, a place designed to enhance your physical abilities and weapon handling skills. Thus, your examinations will be centred on these key areas.” With a nod to his right, he gestured for Guruma Malika to take over.
“Greetings everyone,” Guruma Malika announced, her voice smooth and confident. “First and foremost, congratulations to each of you for making it through the past six months of intense training. Your examination will consist of three distinct parts: the first will assess your physical strength, the second will focus on your weapon handling skills, and the third will involve a team racing challenge that is set for tomorrow.” The students listened intently, their nerves palpable as they awaited further instructions.
“Now, without further ado, let’s kick off the first round!” Guru Gopal exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. “I’m sure you’ve all noticed the large sacks of sand positioned in the corner of the ground, and yes, you guessed it correctly. Each of you will need to drag one of those sacks a full hundred meters.” His tone grew serious. “Bear in mind that twenty-five members from each campus will be eliminated in this round, so I advise you not to take it lightly.”
As the hundred boys prepared themselves, they lined up behind the starting mark, each tying the hefty sand sack securely around their waists, a mixture of determination and anxiety etched on their faces.
Vishwa, feeling confused, turned to Gagan, and asked, “Do we really just have to drag this sack for only a hundred meters?”
“Do you think it’s that easy?” Gagan replied, glancing around. “Look at everyone; their hearts are pounding like crazy.”
From Vishwa's left, Neel chimed in with a slight smirk, “Not everyone has had the privilege of being personally trained by Guru Gopal.”
‘Privilege? If dragging a sack for two hundred meters daily is a privilege, I’d hate to see what a punishment looks like,’ Vishwa thought, shooting a glare at Guru Gopal. ‘I've focused primarily on weapons training these past six months. Will I even stand a chance?’
With a sharp whistle, the race began. The boys surged forward toward their goal, the sound of fabric and sand scraping against the ground filling the air. A few noble’s sons, however, lingered at the starting line, shrugging off the challenge. “What’s the point?” one of them scoffed. “I’m going to lose anyway. Why waste my energy?”
Another noble nodded in agreement. “Exactly, let’s head home and get back to managing the family business. That sounds way more appealing.”
After what felt like an eternity, the race concluded, and the results were announced: twenty-five students were eliminated. Vishwa crossed the line in fourth place, while Gagan secured the ninth spot. “How on earth did you manage to come in second, Neel?” Vishwa asked, incredulous.
“What do you mean? Am I not allowed to come in second?” Neel rebuked.
Gagan, brimming with excitement, cut in, “Come on, now it’s the girls’ turn to race!”
The girls stepped up next, each tying their sacks. With another whistle, they took off, the sound of their feet hitting the ground echoing through the field.
“Why are their sacks half our size?” someone from the boy's side questioned, a note of confusion in his tone.
Gagan quickly retorted, “Shut it. They're delicate girls.”
The race ended quickly, with Kiran blazing across the finish line in first place, while Mina trailed behind in twenty-seventh. Gagan waved his arms enthusiastically at Kiran. “I knew she would come first!”
“How?” Vishwa murmured, genuinely curious.
“What do you mean, how? After you left this morning, Kiran and I chatted for a bit and ended up becoming friends. I’ve been looking for you ever since,” Gagan explained.
Vishwa clarified, “Not that, Gagan. Do you think we can lose to her? Isn’t she a noble’s daughter?”
Gagan, clearly proud, replied, “True, she is. But look at me—I came ninth, and I’m a noble too.”
Neel interjected, his tone blunt, “There’s a significant difference between being ninth and first.”
Gagan, ever the playful one, teased, “Oh, are you showing off your second place now, or do you fancy Kiran too?”
Neel shrugged nonchalantly. “Who knows?”
At that moment, the atmosphere shifted as Guru Gopal stepped forward to make an important announcement. “Alright, listen up. We currently have a total of one hundred and fifty students left in the competition. Unfortunately, after this next round, we will have to eliminate another fifty. Those who don’t demonstrate proper footwork and precision in weapon handling won’t make the cut.”
Guruma Malika chimed in, adding more clarity to the process. “One by one, students will come up on stage to showcase their skills using this wooden mannequin. The three judges from Astra Gurukul will be marking your performances.”
As the sun made its journey across the sky, it was Mina’s turn to impress the judges in the afternoon. She stepped up with a calm determination and displayed an impressive precision in archery. If she had been using real arrows, there was little doubt that the mannequin would have borne the brunt of her skill. Even with wooden arrows, she got selected without fully revealing her abilities, showcasing a raw talent that left spectators in awe.
Next was Neel, who approached the stage with an air of confidence. Armed with stone daggers as his primary weapon, he executed his routine with remarkable agility, darting around the mannequin with a sharp focus as he struck it effectively. His selection into the next round seemed inevitable.
After a few hours had passed, it was Gagan’s turn. He took to the stage wielding a wooden sword, executing a series of moves that seemed to be an unknown sword art, dazzling the judges and securing his place in the next round as well.
Finally, as evening descended, it was Vishwa's moment to shine. Holding a wooden spear, he showcased the techniques he had learned from Guru Gopal. With fluid footwork that resembled a dance more than a fight, he captured the attention of everyone present. He concluded his performance with a powerful thrust of the spear into the mannequin’s gut, earning a round of applause and his selection with ease.
As he stepped off the stage, he found himself face-to-face with Kiran, who was next in line to show her skills. “You’ve got some serious footwork,” Kiran complimented him as she made her way to the stage, causing Vishwa to blush at the unexpected praise. In his mind, he thought, ‘This is the first time a girl my age has said something nice to me.’ However, his moment of pride was short-lived when he heard Mina’s voice cutting through the moment. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, silver-haired commoner.”
Kiran took her place with a small wooden sword and shield as her primary weapons. Her moves were sharp and meticulous, each strike executed with a precision that sent shivers through the audience. While her footwork didn’t flow as gracefully as Vishwa’s, her aggressiveness made each move feel impactful. Gagan, watching closely, couldn’t help but be entertained by her frequent pauses, noting how her chest bounced with the effort she put into each demonstration. Once Kiran finished her display, she too was selected, much to the crowd’s delight.
The stage continued to see performances for another half hour, with students eager to make their mark.
“Alright, we now have our final hundred students who will advance to the third round. I trust you’ve all been paying attention, because tomorrow you will be working as a team. Be ready for what’s to come,” Guru Gopal concluded, his tone serious as ever.