Chapter 12: Days 4 & 5 – Peace… or Something Like It
The sun rose again over the endless golden dunes of the Sahara Desert.
By Day 4, the survival camp had already broken most of the students.
Today was there day 5.
Everyone looked different now.
Some looked stronger.
Some looked tired.
And some looked like they hadn't slept in years.
---
Inside the boys' tent—
MJ was lying face down.
"I can't do another survival activity."
Kavin stretched beside him.
"You say that every morning."
MJ didn't move.
"Because every morning it's true."
---
Across the tent—
Alex was already awake.
"Why does Care wake up at five in the morning?"
Percy replied lazily,
"Because she's terrifying."
---
Meanwhile outside—
The morning air was cool and calm.
And just like every morning…
Three people were already training.
---
Care, Lyra, and Ash.
Yoga mats placed on the sand.
Stretching.
Breathing slowly.
Perfect balance.
Controlled movements.
---
Lyra whispered,
"I think half the camp thinks we're monks."
Ash smiled.
"Better than zombies."
---
A few minutes later—
The camp instructor walked toward them.
Watching quietly.
Then he nodded.
"Perfect."
---
Soon everyone was gathered in the open sand area.
Still half asleep.
Still complaining.
---
The instructor clapped loudly.
"Today's activities!"
"Yoga and meditation training!"
---
Silence.
Then—
JJ blinked.
"…what?"
---
Alex whispered,
"Did he say yoga?"
---
The instructor pointed toward the Indian group.
"Today's session will be led by the Indian students."
---
All eyes slowly turned toward—
Care.
And unfortunately…
Cole.
---
JJ leaned toward Freya.
"This is going to be chaos."
Freya nodded.
"Absolutely."
---
Care stepped forward calmly.
Cole walked beside her.
Both looking very serious.
Both already annoyed at each other.
---
Care spoke first.
"Yoga helps improve strength, balance, and mental focus."
Cole added casually,
"It also prevents people from collapsing after camel riding."
---
Everyone looked at Care.
Care glared at him.
"Very funny."
Cole smirked.
---
Ash stepped forward clapping her hands.
"Okay everyone!"
"First pose!"
---
Lyra demonstrated a simple stretch.
"Stand straight."
"Feet apart."
"Slow breathing."
---
Everyone attempted the pose.
Some successfully.
Some… very badly.
---
MJ fell over immediately.
"THIS IS HARD."
---
Kavin looked at him.
"You're literally standing."
---
JJ tried balancing.
She wobbled violently.
Freya laughed.
"You look like a broken tree."
---
Cin was surprisingly good at it.
Rakhi stared at him.
"How are you doing that?"
Cin shrugged.
"Balance."
---
Meanwhile—
Care was demonstrating a difficult pose.
Perfect balance.
Calm breathing.
Absolute control.
---
Cole crossed his arms watching.
"You're locking your knee joint."
Care replied without looking at him,
"I'm not."
---
Cole walked over.
"You are."
Care glared at him.
"Don't interrupt."
Cole demonstrated the pose.
"You're supposed to align your hip angle."
---
Care immediately corrected him.
"No, your shoulder alignment is wrong."
---
They both started arguing.
In the middle of yoga.
---
Lyra whispered to Alex,
"They're fighting again."
Alex nodded.
"During meditation class."
---
JJ laughed loudly.
"THIS IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE YOGA SESSION EVER."
---
Care snapped,
"Focus on breathing!"
Cole added,
"And stop laughing."
---
Freya whispered,
"This feels like military training."
---
The class somehow continued.
Stretching.
Balance poses.
Breathing exercises.
---
Then came meditation.
---
Everyone sat cross-legged in the sand.
Eyes closed.
Hands resting on their knees.
---
Care spoke softly.
"Clear your mind."
"Focus on breathing."
"Inhale slowly."
"Exhale slowly."
---
The desert became quiet.
Wind moving across the dunes of the Sahara Desert.
For a moment…
Everything was peaceful.
---
Then—
MJ whispered,
"I'm bored."
---
Kavin opened one eye.
"Shut up."
---
Alex whispered,
"I'm hungry."
Percy whispered back,
"You're always hungry."
---
JJ started giggling.
Freya whispered,
"Stop it."
---
Care opened one eye.
"Silence."
---
Cole smirked.
"Your meditation class is failing."
Care whispered angrily,
"Your sarcasm isn't helping."
---
Ren was actually meditating properly.
Calm.
Focused.
Completely silent.
---
Gorya noticed.
"You're good at this."
Ren nodded.
"Helps with focus."
---
Meanwhile—
Mia accidentally fell asleep.
Allison nudged her.
"You're snoring."
---
The session finally ended.
Everyone collapsed on the sand.
---
MJ raised his hand dramatically.
"I survived yoga."
Kavin replied,
"Barely."
---
JJ stretched her arms.
"Okay that was actually relaxing."
Freya nodded.
"I feel lighter."
---
Ash smiled.
"See? Yoga works."
---
Alex pointed at Care and Cole.
"You two still hate each other?"
---
Care answered instantly,
"Yes."
Cole answered at the same time,
"Absolutely."
---
Everyone burst into laughter.
---
Gorya shook her head smiling.
"You two argue like rivals."
---
Lyra added teasingly,
"Or something else."
---
Both Care and Cole replied immediately—
"NO."
---
The group laughed even harder.
---
As the sun slowly set over the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert, the camp finally felt different.
Less tense.
More united.
More alive.
---
But the guards hidden far beyond the dunes were still watching.
Waiting.
Monitoring.
Because in just a few days…
This survival camp would move to its next destination.
The mountains of Ladakh.
And that was where the real plan would begin.