The big hall of the college was filled with students, teachers, and excited chatter. The hackathon results were about to be announced. The projector lit up with names of the top teams. Everyone leaned forward, waiting.
"First place goes to… Team 5!" the announcer said, and cheers erupted.
"Second place… Team 9!" More claps and whistles filled the air.
Finally, the announcer read the last big award.
"Second Runner-Up… Team 17!"
The hall clapped politely. Arjun and Keerthi cheered, and Meera gave a small smile. But Yeshwanth froze. His heart sank.
Second runner-up.
Not first. Not even second. Just close enough to taste victory, but far enough to feel bitter.
Arjun patted his back. "Bro, it's fine! Second runner-up is still awesome. We beat so many teams."
Keerthi grinned. "Yeah, and you did all this with an injury. That's basically a heroic story."
Meera leaned forward. "We really did our best. That's what counts."
But Yeshwanth's mind didn't agree. Our best wasn't enough. I should've done more. I should've pushed harder.
He forced a smile for his friends, but inside, disappointment gnawed at him.
The next morning, the college campus looked completely different. The stress of the hackathon was gone, replaced with bright decorations, posters, and colorful banners. The annual cultural celebration had begun.
Students filled the grounds, dressed in stylish outfits, buzzing with excitement. Food stalls were set up, the stage was alive with music rehearsals, and everyone waited eagerly for the DJ party at night.
Arjun and Keerthi were already in the mood. They had dragged Aditya, Karan, and Tara near the main stage. Loud drums and dance performances echoed around them.
"C'mon, Yeshwanth!" Tara waved at him. "Don't hide in the corner. It's party time!"
"I'll just watch," Yeshwanth muttered, adjusting his injured leg carefully.
Arjun walked over, grabbed his arm, and pulled him closer. "You can't mope around forever, dude. You lost one hackathon, not your whole life."
Keerthi joined, laughing. "Yeah, look at us! Did we win? Nope. Are we crying? Nope. We're here to dance and eat!"
Yeshwanth chuckled softly, but his heart wasn't in it. His mind drifted back to his home.
At home, his father was growing older. Every time Yeshwanth saw him working late, struggling with tired eyes, he worried. His mother had knee problems—she couldn't walk long distances, and simple tasks tired her out. And his elder brother, though supportive at times, often doubted his choices.
"Your work has mistakes," his brother would say. "You think too much, dream too much. Be practical."
Those words always echoed in Yeshwanth's mind.
Am I really doing enough? Can I truly support my family?
The music thumped loudly from the DJ stage, but Yeshwanth felt weighed down by thoughts heavier than the beat.
Arjun noticed him again, standing away from the group. He rolled his eyes and shouted over the music. "Oi! Earth to Yeshwanth! Stop thinking like an old man!"
Keerthi walked up and nudged him playfully. "Yeah, stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. You're still in college!"
Aditya grinned. "If you don't join us, we'll drag you onto the dance floor ourselves."
Karan laughed loudly. "And trust me, our dance will embarrass you more than losing the hackathon."
Tara walked up softly and slipped her hand into his. "Just one song, Yeshwanth. For us. Forget everything for a moment."
Yeshwanth sighed. He wanted to resist, but their smiles, their energy—it was too much. He finally gave in.
The DJ's music roared as they stepped into the crowd. Flashing lights danced across faces. The floor vibrated with bass. Students shouted, cheered, and sang along.
Arjun immediately did a silly dance move, spinning around like a windmill. "Look, I'm a helicopter!"
Keerthi clapped and laughed so hard she nearly fell. "Stop before you fly away!"
Karan jumped in with exaggerated steps, waving his arms dramatically. "I'm the king of dance!"
Aditya followed with robotic moves, making everyone around giggle.
Tara spun around gracefully and pointed at Yeshwanth. "Your turn!"
At first, Yeshwanth shook his head. But then, caught in the laughter, he lifted his arms and tried a simple move. The group cheered like he had won first place.
Even Yeshwanth laughed. The pain in his leg still lingered, but for a moment, he forgot about it. He forgot about the hackathon, forgot about Raghav's shove, forgot about his worries at home.
For the first time in days, he felt free.
Later, when the crowd grew wild, Yeshwanth stepped away for a while. He found a quiet spot on the college terrace, where the night sky stretched endlessly above. Stars sparkled, and the cool breeze brushed against his face.
He leaned on the railing, looking out at the campus. His mind replayed everything—the hackathon loss, Raghav's anger, his family's struggles, his friends' laughter.
I can't let failure define me. I need to be stronger. For them. For my parents. For myself.
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
"Found you."
He turned. It was Meera. She had followed him silently.
"You always run away when things get noisy," she said softly.
Yeshwanth smiled faintly. "I just needed a moment."
She stepped beside him, looking at the stars. "You care about your family a lot, don't you?"
He nodded. "Yeah. My father's getting old, my mother has knee problems, and my brother… he doubts me sometimes. I want to make things better for them. I want to succeed, not just for me, but for them too."
Meera listened quietly. Then she smiled gently. "You will. I know you will. You're not weak, Yeshwanth. You just need time… and maybe a little push from friends."
Her words surprised him. He wasn't used to such direct kindness.
Down below, the DJ music thumped faintly, but up here, the silence felt warm.
Yeshwanth looked at her, then back at the sky. For the first time, he felt a small spark of hope. He wasn't alone. He had people who cared. He had friends who pulled him onto the dance floor when he was drowning in thoughts. And he had Meera, who seemed to understand him a little more each day.
Soon, Arjun's voice echoed up the stairs. "Hey lovebirds! Stop staring at the stars and come back down!"
Keerthi shouted, "Yeah, we're planning a group selfie. Hurry up!"
Meera rolled her eyes. "They'll never stop teasing, will they?"
Yeshwanth laughed softly. "Probably not."
Together, they walked back down to rejoin their friends. The night was filled with music, laughter, and endless teasing. For once, Yeshwanth let himself enjoy it.
That night, lying in bed, Yeshwanth thought about everything again. The hackathon loss still stung, and his worries about his family hadn't disappeared. But he realized something important:
He didn't have to face everything alone.
He had friends who dragged him into the light when he wanted to hide in the dark. He had people who cared enough to listen, to tease, to cheer for him.
And maybe… just maybe… that was the beginning of something amazing.
With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting the sound of laughter from earlier echo in his memory.