Surya came near the line.
He had that dangerous smile — the kind that says something is about to happen and you won't be able to stop it.
"I'm coming, crazy ones," he said slowly. "Try to handle me if you can."
And he stepped onto the court.
"Kabaddi... Kabaddi... Kabaddi... Kabaddi..."
---
2 minutes were left.
Surya moved towards the right side — pressure on Roni —
Roni tightened his position —
Surya tried to touch — didn't happen —
Cut to the left side — pressure —
---
Viraj was watching from the side —
Surya's main power is his grip. But can he raid?
Just then —
Viraj felt something.
A shift. A pattern. Everything clicked in one second —
@17's mastermind — and their next move—
He shouted loudly —
"SURYA — touch the player in front of you and COME BACK!"
---
Surya heard it.
@17's three defenders were coming from behind — trying to catch him —
Surya saw the three.
"Three?" A small laugh. "Three will catch me?"
He placed his hand on one defender's back — and touching the other two —
JUMP.
Over their backs.
---
While landing — a hand tried to grab Surya's leg —
Surya got the timing —
Line — touch.
Whistle.
---
The entire ground was shocked.
3 players out. Bonus point too.
Score —
@16 — 11
@17 — 7
---
Surya came back — and the aura coming from his body —
Honey badger.
Small. Fearless. Afraid of no one. Stops for no one.
@16's entire team jumped on Surya —
"BRO!"
"HOW DID YOU DO THAT!"
"SURYA SURYA SURYA!"
---
Just then —
Whistle.
Last 1 minute.
And Akash stepped onto the court.
---
His aura — terrifying.
Viraj felt it —
No. Akash is dangerous. If he plays properly — we can lose. We can't underestimate him. We have to do something.
Surya had taken out 3 players — so all @16 players were now inside.
---
Akash moved towards the right side — pressure on Shubham, Vedant, Vishal —
If I take out all three — and get bonus — score will be equal.
Akash tried to touch with a kick — didn't happen —
Just then —
Vedant.
He was still angry — at Akash. Because of him, he had been out earlier. He was constantly watching Akash's legs —
I will catch him myself.
He jumped — to grab the leg —
Akash — easily pressed Vedant down — and along with that touched Shubham and Raj —
Bonus was already there —
Now he was about to go for line touch —
---
Just then Viraj came —
Akash saw him — "So MC — you can't catch me. Try it—"
Viraj tried to grab the leg —
Akash was confident — he would escape —
But then —
A grip on the waist.
Akash's reaction — what… is this?
Surya.
From behind. Completely silent. Hidden behind MC — and now his iron grip was locked on Akash's waist.
Akash tried to escape with his legs —
Vedant — one leg.
Viraj — the other leg.
Surya — waist.
Akash felt it —
I… am trapped.
And then he understood —
This was all Viraj's plan. He knew Vedant was angry — so in that situation Vedant would rush towards Akash himself. And Viraj also came running — but that was also part of the plan. Because Surya… was hidden behind Viraj. From behind. And I didn't even see him.
I… fell into a trap.
Whistle.
Akash — out.
---
Akash stood there.
Shocked. Disappointed.
---
@16's team —
ERUPTED.
"YES BRO!"
"VIRAJ!"
"SURYA!"
---
Shubham came to Viraj — "So MC — how did you know Akash would do this?"
Viraj shrugged — "Just guessed."
Surya laughed — "And when you told me the plan — I thought it was nonsense. Now it feels really cool."
"Alright, alright," Viraj said.
---
Just then Viraj went towards @17's team.
One guy was standing there — Arya.
Viraj went straight to him —
"So Arya — I know. You were the one who told Akash to target Vedant. Because Vedant was angry — so he could be used."
A pause.
"@17's mastermind — I'm right, aren't I?"
Arya — shocked.
A second of silence.
Then —
"Yeah. You figured it out."
He turned — while leaving said —
"If we meet again in the future, remember this."
And @17's team went back to their rooms.
---
@16 — was celebrating.
Raj — "That was fun today!"
Roshan — "Everyone played well — keep moving forward like this!"
Vishal — "But… I didn't get any points. Surya took all the points—"
Shubham — "It was great. Let's go eat."
---
But Vedant —
He was walking straight towards his room. Didn't talk to anyone. Didn't say anything.
Surya saw him — then asked Viraj —
"Where is Vedant going?"
Viraj looked at Vedant for a second —
"You won't understand, Surya."
"What?"
"What happens after ego breaks."
Surya looked confused —
"What are you saying?"
Viraj —
"Nothing. Let's go eat."
---
— End of Chapter 9 —