The afternoon sun shone gently through the tall windows of the college lab. Rows of computers hummed softly, while charts and diagrams were pinned all around the walls. The hackathon had begun hours ago, and the room buzzed with the quiet intensity of students fully focused on their tasks.
Yeshwanth sat at his computer, his eyes fixed on the screen. His fingers danced across the keyboard, quickly analyzing traffic data and writing lines of code. He adjusted algorithms, compared datasets, and planned a system to reduce congestion in the city. Every pattern, every number, every small detail mattered to him. This was his element, his world—one of logic and order.
Arjun leaned back in his chair, munching on a sandwich, and watched Yeshwanth with a mix of awe and disbelief. "Bro… how can you type this fast and still think so clearly?" he asked, his voice filled with admiration.
Yeshwanth didn't answer. He was completely absorbed, his mind moving faster than his fingers could type.
Keerthi, sitting nearby, watched him silently. "He's serious about this," she whispered to herself. "This isn't just coding. He really wants to win."
Meera glanced at Yeshwanth, a soft smile on her face. "Your plan is really good, Yeshwanth. If we implement it, it could actually work in real life. I mean, it makes sense."
For a moment, Yeshwanth allowed himself a small smile. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was truly contributing to something meaningful, something that mattered. He wasn't just a quiet boy hiding in the back of the classroom—he was part of a team, a team that could achieve something extraordinary.
Suddenly, the lab door slammed open with a loud bang. Everyone froze.
"Yeshwanth!"
A tall, confident boy stepped in. His eyes were sharp and filled with anger, his shoulders squared as he looked directly at Meera. Then, almost reluctantly, his gaze shifted toward Yeshwanth.
This was Raghav, a top student from the Electronics department. Everyone knew him—smart, skilled, and arrogant—but also fiercely proud. And judging by the way he stormed into the lab, he was jealous.
"How dare you pair with her?!" Raghav's voice echoed through the room.
Yeshwanth blinked. "I… I don't understand…" he stammered, unsure what to say.
"I've liked Meera for months!" Raghav shouted, stepping closer. "How could you just talk to her… laugh with her… and now team up?!"
Before Yeshwanth could react, Raghav shoved him hard. Yeshwanth stumbled backward, crashing into a table. Pain shot through his arm and leg. He gritted his teeth, but a sharp sting ran through his leg. He realized immediately—it was fractured. Panic and fear mixed in his chest. The hackathon was still going on, and he had no time to stop.
Arjun jumped to his feet. "Hey! Stop it!" he yelled, rushing forward to protect his friend.
Raghav shoved him aside easily. Keerthi tried to support Yeshwanth, but Raghav's sheer strength and anger left them helpless.
Yeshwanth felt the pain intensify in his leg, his chest tightening as humiliation and frustration washed over him. He had never faced anything like this before. Not only was he hurt, but his pride felt crushed.
Meera knelt beside him quickly, her hands gentle on his shoulders. "Yeshwanth, you're hurt! We can't let this ruin everything!"
"I… I have to… finish this…" Yeshwanth said through gritted teeth. "I can't stop now. I… I won't give up."
Raghav sneered, his expression full of anger and jealousy. "Hope you realize your limits. Don't think you can compete with me." He turned sharply and left the lab, slamming the door behind him.
Yeshwanth's chest burned—not only from the physical pain in his leg but also from the sting of humiliation. He had worked so hard, and now this arrogant boy had tried to destroy everything in one push.
Arjun clenched his fists. "Nobody touches my friend like that!" he said, his voice tight with anger.
Keerthi shook her head. "Focus on the hackathon. We'll handle the execution. You just guide us. That's your strength, Yeshwanth."
Meera placed a comforting hand on Yeshwanth's shoulder. "We can do this. Don't worry. I'll handle most of the coding, Arjun and Keerthi will manage the data input and testing. You just guide us. You're the brain of this team. Even if you can't move much, your mind is stronger than anyone here."
Yeshwanth nodded slowly. Even with the pain in his leg, he realized she was right. He couldn't move around as before, but he could still lead, plan, and guide his team. Giving up was never an option.
The lab grew quiet again, the team settling into a rhythm. Yeshwanth leaned back slightly, his leg throbbing, and focused on the screen. Numbers, codes, patterns—he pushed the pain aside, pouring all his energy into strategy.
Arjun brought over a bottle of water and placed it next to him. "Here, man. Stay hydrated. And maybe… try not to pass out," he teased, giving Yeshwanth a playful punch on the shoulder.
Keerthi laughed. "Leave him alone. He's still the master planner."
Meera smiled at Yeshwanth. "Your logic is amazing. Just tell us what to do, and we'll follow."
Yeshwanth felt a wave of gratitude. His team believed in him, even when he felt weak and vulnerable. For the first time, he understood that being strong didn't always mean being able to fight or run—it could meannever give up , even when everything seemed against you.
Hours passed. The sun slowly set, casting long shadows across the lab. The clock ticked steadily, reminding them of the time left. Despite the pain, Yeshwanth continued to guide his team. He suggested which algorithms to use, how to clean the data, and ways to visualize the traffic patterns.
Arjun and Keerthi followed his instructions perfectly, inputting the numbers, running tests, and debugging the system. Meera, focused and precise, wrote the coding scripts, making adjustments based on Yeshwanth's advice.
Together, they worked like a single unit, a small team fighting against the clock, against the data, and against the unexpected challenges thrown at them.
Later, during a short break, Yeshwanth leaned back, rubbing his throbbing leg. "I never thought a hackathon could feel like this," he admitted quietly.
Arjun laughed. "Feels like war, doesn't it? But hey, you're our general, so you just sit there and we follow orders."
Keerthi smirked. "And don't forget, you get to watch Meera code all day. That's a reward in itself."
Yeshwanth groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Stop teasing me, both of you. I can't even think straight now."
Meera chuckled softly. "You're doing fine. Don't worry about the teasing. We all need some laughter, even in a serious hackathon."
Yeshwanth smiled faintly. Even with the pain, even with Raghav's attack earlier, he felt a spark of hope. The team was strong. They could still achieve something incredible if they worked together.
The night grew darker, but the lab remained bright with computer screens and the energy of students working hard. Yeshwanth guided his team carefully, making sure every calculation, every algorithm, and every plan was perfect. He knew Raghav was probably watching from afar, judging, planning his next move,but he didn't care.
What mattered was the team. What mattered was proving himself, not to anyone else, but to himself.
The hackathon was no longer just about data or coding.
Even with a fractured leg, even with humiliation and pain, Yeshwanth clenched his jaw. He was hurt, but he was not defeated.
The clock ticked on, the screens glowed, and the small team worked quietly, determined to finish what they started.