First time heart flutters

Chapter-19 Heated

"Ayush had been selected as the new captain for football team." Munna declared after checking out the message from Naina.
"Pucca sure Munna, Ayush had played games..." Sameer declared.

Rihaan laid flat on his bed. Sleep was far away from his eyes.
Why did Ayush do so??
Why did he fabricate stories??
What might be the reason??
How did that letter came??
Aah...questions are eating up my mind.

Naina was lost in her own world while eating the food mechanically.
There was no sync between her eyes and hands.
Rakesh could notice the crease of tension in the forehead of his daughter. So did Rama.
Arjun was unusually silent.
"Naina?? Kya hua??" Rakesh broke her thought chains.
"Kuch nahi Papa," Naina rose from her chair.
"Arrey, eat the chapatti na,"
"I am not feeling hungry Papa," She walked inside her room while least caring about the surroundings and her Dad's confused and worrying look on her.
Why??
Why every direction of my accusation points Ayush??
Wait a second...Ayush captained the football team last year and they have even won a cup. If so, why was he changed this year??
Why was Sameer, a newbie was chosen as a captain??
Was his replacement the root of all problems??
Incapability of Ayush can never be a reason. Something else.
Socho Naina!!
Who will know things??
Whom can I ask??
Then the name struck in her mind.

Sameer sipped the milk.
Words uttered by Munna, a few hours before had made his mind pre occupied.
Ayush??
Last year he was the captain and the team won a cup if I am right?? Then why was he replaced this year by me??
No one shall replace a player with good track records.
Moreover every direction of my thoughts get stuck at Ayush.
What might be the reason for his replacement??
Incapability...no way!!
Then...socho Sameer.
What if replacement was the root cause of all problems??
There must be something.
Who will know things??
Whom can I ask??
Then the name struck in his mind.

Pundit kept kicking the football against the wall of his room.
Damn!! Ayush is back as captain.
How can this even happen??
I was very happy when Sameer was chosen instead of Ayush but now...
Just then the phone rang.
The caller ID displayed 'Naina Agarwal'

Preeti locked herself in her room.
None of the family members touched the dinner made by Bela that Day.
Bela was looking at her husband who was trying to sleep while forgetting the tension and frustration piled up on him.
Words of Naina kept ringing in his mind.
Ayush fabricated things...apology letter...compulsion...don't allow Preeti to sign at any cost...fabricated stories...
Stories...why the hell must he fabricate??
Preeti picked up her phone.
All done!! I am going to this.
Scrolling her phone screen, she pressed the contact saved as 'Rihaan'

"Pundit...Are you sure??" Naina asked with her voice trembling due to anxiety.
"Sure Naina," Pundit assured, "I am damn sure that it's Ayush's game. Everything was preplanned by him. In fact he got both of his targets done in a single attempt. I mean, he cleared both his way for captaincy  and..."
"Revenge." Naina completed sighing.
Now I could get a clear sense.
All I need is to put the details in a convincing manner and help Preeti out of the trouble.
"Ok Pundit, Thank you, Bye."
"Bye,"
Pundit disconnected the call.
It was only then he noticed 20 missed calls from Sameer.

"I am sorry Preeti," Rihaan apologised with his voice breaking.
"I did nothing, I was..."
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he heard inaudible sobs from the other side.
I can't make her cry.
"What can I do now Rihaan? My Papa and Mama are broken, they say that I betrayed them!! How can I even..."
Rihaan inhaled sharply.
Damn!! I can't even raise my voice!!
If my father finds that I am speaking with Preeti then I am doomed so is Preeti.
"Preeti, I didn't write any letter for you and moreover I have feelings for you, just as a friend, nothing else. That Ayush..."
"But will anyone believe us??"
Preeti lost her cool.
"They won't," Rihaan sighed in defeat.
"Why did you give an apology letter??"
"I wrote an apology letter??" Rihaan's voice dripped with sarcasm," They forced me to sign it,"
"What??"
"That bloody Principal made me do it,"
Rihaan said in a loud voice due to the heat of moment.
"Seriously??"
"Yeah,"
"But how can someone force??"
"He just..." Rihaan's voice died in his throat as he saw his Dad standing at the entrance of his room with red eyes.
RIP.

"Just now Naina asked me things and now it's you," Pundit declared being tired of explaining things.
It's 10:30 pm and still I am receiving calls.
"Oh, Naina called??"
"Yeah, she asked the same,"
"Ok buddy, Thanks." Sameer disconnected the call.
My secret admirer is faster than me.

Naina was trying to connect things.
Ayush and Rihaan fight
Ayush humiliated by Rihaan.
Sameer's fracture.
Sameer replacing Ayush.
Where did Preeti come in this??
"You didn't sleep still??" Rakesh asked his daughter who jerked after hearing his voice.
"I will, soon,"
"What happened Naina?? You are lost in your own thoughts??"
"Papa, it's related to school, nothing serious just few issues cropped up today,"
"Hmm,"
"Can you help me with these papers??"
"Exhibition related??"
"Haan,"
"Thank you Papa,"
Then the unexpected happened.
Arjun came in with Naina's phone.
"Didi Sameer..." His voice stuck in his throat as Rakesh glared at him.
What is my dad doing here at this time??
"Sameer??" He asked with a frown.
"Not Sameer Papa...it's Sameera. Didi, Sameera di is calling. Something related to Science exhibition..."
Naina had lost her breath in past few seconds. Bringing her breathing level back to normal, she attended the call.
"Hello Naina,"
"Hi Sameera, why did you call??"
"I am not Sameera but Sameer,"
"Haha...related to Preeti's topic in Science exhibition, why don't you call her..."
"Naina?? Are you okay??"
"My project is done, in fact Now I am going to give my Papa the theory papers to check whether the information I collected is right, He is sitting with me to get my theory work done,"
Samjao Sameer. Papa is near.
I have a rule to be followed.
'No' to talk with guys till I am 18.
Sameer chuckled at her cuteness.
"Call you later," He disconnected the call.