Love at "The Lord's"

Chapter #9: Uske hurt hone se darta hoon!

Sidharth:

I returned to the practice promising my Squad 2 to join after thirty minutes or so, but my Squad 1 was ready to pull my leg.

"Hoye hoye hoye hoye.... kya body swing marke pappi le-li,bhai!" Virat quipped in joy.

"Mahi bhai, team mein ek Spider-man bhi tha... humko toh pata hi nehi tha....!" Raina joined in.

"Abhi se jhuk raha hain bhai.. Accha hain.. Practice ho jayega!" Dhoni added further patting my back.

"Matlab main toh khush tha hi ki mera cousins ayee hain.. Lekin jo challang marke Sidharth bhai uthaa na.. Oye hoye... matlab Olympics mein hoteey toh short jump mein Gold medal le aateeey!!" Shikhar jumped in.

"Suna tha Majnu Shukla ke bareey mein... parr aj dekh bhi liya!" Gambhir spoke this time poking me with the bat's hand-end.

"Abbeeeyyyy!!! Jaake ke practice karo! Haar gaya toh team management Gold medal ke jagah, gobar ke medals daal denge gaaley mein humare!" I refuted back.. But I was already a blushing mess!

The practice session came to an end for the day...  Though being in Mumbai, I had to stay at the hotel with the team. I took the permission from the team management and went to home for dinner with my Squad 2.

On reaching my home, I was taken over with quite a surprise, the way my Mom and Preeti Di actually hugged Shehnaaz- like ghar ki beti ayi hain kintne saalon baad! Shehbaaz,Qiran and Rajbeer was also welcomed warmly but for me there was nothing! "Tereko kya invitation dena padhega alag se! Tera hi ghar hain! Chup chap ajaa andaar." my Mom stated and then took Shehnaaz in her hands, "Ajaa baccha! Peheli baar meri beti ghar ayai hain..."

Okay, before that I need to tell you that Preeti Di lives in the same apartment just one floor below us. Naman and my nieces were so excited to meet her. I was happy but was in a shock to see how well this three ladies have gelled up as if they have known each other for years!

"Acchi choice hain.. Tera uss irritating ex ki tarah nehi!" Naman Jiju said and we both burst out into laughter. My nieces have clearly liked Shehnaaz, the child-like Shehnaaz.  At the dining table I noticed everything was of her choice. I wondered how did they know about her choice of food! Daal-Makhani, rice, lemon chicken, paneer butter masala and hot gulab jamuns. I had been noticing since the time had entered that she knew my home more than I did. I couldn't hold myself from asking, "Ye aaplog ke bonding itne strong kaise hua! You all hardly know each other!". All started to laugh as if I have asked the stupidest question of my life. "Tujhe gend aur balle ke alawa kuch dikhta hain? Tujhe pata bhi hain ghar kaise chalta hain?" My mom scoffed at me. Main kya karu!! Constant series mein hota hoon.. Jaake BCCI ko bolo!! "Kyaa yaar Saale! Ye log purey din lageey rehete hain phone mein.. Sirf jaab tujhse baat karti hain Shehnaaz taab nehi karte..." Naman whispered to my ears. Now I got it! This is how Shehnaaz knew more about me!

Point 3. In any given situation, it would have irritated me knowing any of my closer one is gelling well more with my family than me. But, knowing Shehnaaz getting closer to my family gave me peace. An actual feeling of peace. She was getting to know them and me through them and that was perfectly okay with me. What astonished me more that she took this step all by herself without my knowing, and I was actually happy! I could never imagine my ex doing this.

We were sitting on the couch savoring ice-cream when my mother asked her, "Sana beta abhi do din yahan hain toh mere paas ruk jao tum log saab! Waise bhi Sidharth toh reheta nehi yahan most of the times. Abhi bhi team hotel mein hi rehega!"