Chapter 20

"Are you coming to watch the game?" Meera asked Naina as she saw the boys leave from the coffee shop.

"What game?" Naina rpelied, unaware.

"Babe, how are you always so clueless?" Ananya laughed and lightly smacked her arm. "There's a cricket match, the most awaited rivalry one, in like 2 hours. Mumbai vs Delhi. That's why Shaan is here."

"Ohh!" Naina said in realization, "I don't know. I have much going on and you know I don't like to be at such events and—"

"Naina," Ananya cut her lightly, "They aren't going to ask you to play. Just come with us. We are sitting in the audience."

"Alright." Naina gave in and smiled, "I need to change though."

"Oh yeah you really do." Meera said, "You need to wear our jersey."

"Our what?"

"The University's jersey. I am sure you don't have one so I got one extra. Rohan gave me one."

"How did you manage that?" Ananya asked.

"Well, I wanted to fit the vibe. I knew Ananya has one but Naina and I don't, so he gave me an extra jersey of his and his friend's. I don't know I didn't ask much. Here." She gave Naina a jersey.

The girls walked back to their flat, then departed to their own rooms, getting ready for the game. Naina stood there confused. How was she supposed to style this? She removed her shirt and wore the jersey. It was oversized for her.

Well, obviously, it's a guy's top, she thought. But she was liking it. She liked oversized clothes.

She took a pair of high waist jeans and tucked the jersey inside a little from the back and styled it so it gave a nice look of classy and goofy. Then, she braided her hair again and applied her basic makeup as she always did. Her kajal gave her confidence.

Stepping outside, she noticed her friends in similar clothes. They looked at Naina as if she were some ghost - they weren't used to this.

"Do I look bad?" Naina asked, suddenly getting conscious about her look.

"No. You look perfect.... Except," Meera came towards her and untied her braid, "You would look way better without it. See."

She guided her to the mirror and Naina took a look at herself. Meera was right. She did look good. But she wasn't going to admit it.

"Okay. Let's go!" Ananya said.

The girls locked their doors and walked ahead to the cricket pitch within their campus. It was filled with cheers and people's laughter and chatter as almost half the campus had come to see it. Many people from Delhi had come as well.

Naina felt amazed by how one sport can bring so many people together. She knew cricket, she understood it, but she preferred to keep her knowledge silent, just like most of her things. She followed Ananya and Meera as they found a good space to sit, in front of the batter's side. It gave a clear view of the pitch and it was shaded. They settled themselves.

"I think I'm going to meet the guys before the game starts. Anyone coming?" Meera asked.

"I would, but I have an online quiz to finish asap, I'm just going to do it here, but Naina, you go with Meera. I'll save our seats that way."

Naina nodded, and got up with her friend. They walked down the pitch to the area where the players' common room was and entered. Meera's eyes fell on Rohan as she called him, "Ro!"

Rohan looked at the two girls and walked to them. Beside them were Shaan and Ayaan, who also noticed a female voice and turned back. Ayaan was shocked to see Naina in a jersey. She looked cute, he thought.

They walked over to them. Rohan smiled, "What brings you two here? And, oh, loving the look!"

"Thank you! Only possible because of you. We're just here to wish you all the best before the game. Ananya had a quiz so she couldn't come. She's sitting there."

"Thank you." Rohan smiled, "Naina? I must say I'm very surprised to see you here, but very happy as well!"

Naina smiled, "All the best for your game."

As Meera and Rohan got caught in the conversation, Ayaan took a look at Naina. Her hair was down, flowing and resting comfortably on her, coming just under her chest. She looked extremely cute in a jersey. And she was looking comfortable, for the first time. But then, his eyes fell on Shaan, who had now approached Naina.

"Do you understand the game?" He asked her, who smiled and nodded in response. He continued, "and so you continue to surprise me every time."

Naina chuckled, "We've only known each other for 4 hours."

"That's a start, who knows?" He said, his eyes glistening a little.

Ayaan noticed this and his face turned a little red. He didn't know how he was feeling and why he was feeling it, but he did know one thing, he was feeling something.

"Alright! Can I request all visitors to please take their seats now? The game is about to start." The coach of the team announced.

"Alright, well, I'll see you after the game." Shaan said, smiling at Naina, "Do I get a best of luck?"

Naina chuckled, "I would love to, but that would be disloyalty to my university. Wouldn't it?" She smiled and continued, "But, I'll wish you a good game. Hope you play well enough that you leave the pitch satisfied with your game."

Saying so, she walked away, leaving Shaan in awe of her answer. He walked over to Rohan, "Bro, is that girl single?"

Rohan absentmindedly asked, "Who?"

"Her," he pointed at Naina, "Naina."

Rohan looked at Shaan, his interest in Naina clearly visible. He didn't know what to reply. He didn't know how Ayaan felt about Naina clearly but at the same time he knew Ayaan felt something. But he also knew that Naina had shut him off. So, he just decided to be honest, "Yeah, she is. Why?"

Shaan simply smiled and walked off, leaving Rohan confused and intrigued.

~•~

It was the last few minutes of the game. A very tight game. Delhi had put a record of 147 for St Xavier's to bring the title home.

Xavier's had given quite a fight to limit the score, but Delhi fought back, trying to slip the game from their hands. They had almost done it. Xavier's now needed 5 runs in 2 balls.

An almost impossible situation.

Ayaan stood on the strikers end while Shaan stood opposite him, ready for his run up and for Ayaan to face his delivery.

The crowd was silent. Fingers were crossed, not a soul was moving, people on the edge of their seats. Everyone watched Shaan run up and flick the ball towards Ayaan in an effective manner, one which Ayaan couldn't grasp.

A wave of 'Oooo' erupted in the crowd as they noticed Ayaan's narrow escape from being out.

"LAST BALL. 5 RUNS TO WIN." The umpire announced, "AYAAN ON STRIKE."

This was it.

It was his last chance to win it.

Ayaan's fingers were numb. His eyes focused on the ball, and his heart was pounding in his chest. He knew all eyes were on him. They always were on him but it was different today. Today, the eyes were on him out of expectations. And he didn't want to let anyone down.

Shaan raced up and swung the ball in a unique manner, hoping to distract Ayaan just enough that he can't hit it.

The ball raced towards Ayaan and he managed to connect it with his bat. As he heard the click, in a nanosecond, Ayaan's confidence took a jolt and he used all the strength in his arms to hit the ball in the direction.

The crowd stayed silent as everyone observed the ball fly. Will it cross the boundary or not? A moment of silence followed.

Everyone looked towards the umpire as the ball touched the ground. "SIX!"

Cheers erupted in the pitch. People jumped up with joy and laughter as applauses echoed throughout. Ayaan removed his helmet and was engulfed in a tight bone-crushing hug by his teammates as he smiled, satisfied with his shot.

"WOOOOHOOOO!" Meera screamed as they all got up and cheered and hugged her friends.

Naina, surprised by the sudden burst of energy, stood up slowly but was indeed very happy for the team. She hugged her friends and then took nice photos and videos for everyone to capture this moment. She had also been recording his last shot, which led them to victory.

"Come!" Let's go down and meet them!" Meera said and dragged Naina and Ananya.

"Are you sure we'll be allowed to?" Naina asked.

"Don't worry. I called Rohan. He said he'll sort it out and get us in the common room." Meera replied, "We need to hurry up though!"

They ran downstairs and reached the gates of the common room, from where the loud noises were very visible. She stood, shocked. She had seen all this in movies but seeing it live was a whole new feeling for her. A good one.

Meera managed to enter, using Rohan's name and they walked in. As the doors opened, a loud burst of explosive energy was oozing through the crowd. Everyone was cheering, clapping and celebrating - even Delhi players. Why were they celebrating? She thought.

"Heylo!" Meera yelled through the crowd and managed to grab Rohan's attention along with his friends, "Congratulations!"

They embraced each other, followed by Ananya embracing everyone as they celebrated. Naina stood behind her friends and watched all these explosive energies meet.

She smiled, recording everything.

When Rohan's eyes fell on Naina, he walked to her. Naina noticed and smiled, "Congrats!"

"Thank you, Naina!" He smiled and held her shoulders, "Come! Don't stand like a statue!"

She walked towards to the speakers, where everyone had started cheering and dancing to celebrate, along with her friends. She stood and watched everything. After clicking a few photos and videos, she kept her phone in her pocket and started to observe the scene in front of her.

"Aren't you gonna join in?" A voice distracted her from her staring and observing.

She turned to see Shaan standing. She shook her head in a no and then added, "I don't dance."

"Everyone dances, Naina, some just dance easily whilst some need the push." He smiled and said.

"By the way," Naina said, "Good work today."

"Are you sure you follow cricket? We didn't win." Shaan retorted back, looking disappointed.

"I know that, but you managed to make the whole pitch, almost 2000 people, on the edge of their feet, praying. You got everyone's heart rate up and you had everyone crossing their fingers and in the most unnerving situation. That kind of power is insane. We might have won, but you should be very satisfied by the way you played. You had 2000 people afraid of you." She smiled.

Shaan looked at her, amazed by her thinking. "Wow, you, you think very differently."

"Am I wrong?" She asked, almost confident.

Shaan chuckled and shook his head, "No."

Naina smiled at him, in acknowledgment, while Shaan wondered how he had come across Naina, someone so different, so quiet yet magnetic. But, behind them, there was a person standing, who was celebrating winning one game, but fearing losing something else.

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