Night of 25TH

CHAP 16: Turbulent Truths Unveiled

Past:

Shubman

As the plane soared gracefully through the expansive skies, carrying the triumphant Indian cricket team back to the embrace of their homeland, the cabin lights gently dimmed, creating an aura of tranquil introspection. Amidst the soothing hum of the aircraft and the camaraderie shared among chattering teammates or those lost in the embrace of slumber, I found myself engulfed in profound contemplation. The memories of my awe-inspiring double century during the test match, the exhilaration of achieving two centuries in just three captivating ODIs, and the electrifying encore of adding two more centuries in the T20I series, continue to be vividly etched within the tapestry of my mind. Each guttural roar that escaped my lips after reaching those momentous milestones served as a testament to the blazing fire and unwavering passion that surged within the depths of my being, relentlessly driving me to excel and perform at the pinnacle of my abilities.

However, amidst the euphoria of my achievements, there was a lingering sense of confusion and intrigue. Anya's indifference to my accomplishments perplexed me.

Back then, every time I stole a glimpse back at the dressing room after notching yet another century, an eager hope surged through me. I longed for her eyes to hold a glint of admiration, a touch of marvel at my accomplishments. Yet, her expression remained resolutely unperturbed, as if my achievements were ordinary occurrences to her.

Ishan, who was sitting next to me on the plane, noticed my contemplative expression and poked my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Gill! What's going on in that brain of yours?" he asked with a playful grin.

I sighed and turned to him, trying to make sense of my feelings. "It's about Anya, man. I don't understand her. Usually, people react when someone accomplishes something remarkable, but she acts like it's no big deal. It's like my centuries mean nothing to her," I confessed, my frustration evident in my tone.

Ishan chuckled and nudged me. "You really care about her opinion, don't you?" he teased.

"Stop that," I said defensively, growling at him.

"Come on, don't lie, you surely do," he playfully poked my dimples, and I swatted his hand away, warning him "Ishaaaann."

"Okay, okay," he surrendered, laughing at my reaction.

Suddenly, his demeanour underwent a noticeable change, betraying a hint of guilt as he uttered, "There's something I need to confess," immediately captured my focus.

"Now, what have you done?"  I asked, raising an eyebrow and shifting my head against the seat for a more comfortable position.

"Do you remember those taunts and provocations from Anya on the game day?" he said, avoiding direct eye contact.

"How can I possibly expunge that from my memory?" I exclaimed, frustration evident in my voice. "That malevolent woman!" I uttered in a low voice, my hand inadvertently hitting the armrest as a surge of recollection brought back the sting of her hurtful words. Simultaneously, I cast a fleeting gaze in her direction, observing her poised in the adjacent row, an air of complete tranquillity enveloping her as she remained deeply engrossed in the embrace of her book.

"Yeah, well, it was all part of the plan," he confessed with a sigh, gently turning my face towards him to ensure I was focused.

"What?" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with shock, still trying to grasp his words.

"Speak low, you idiot; everyone is sleeping," I heard Anya's voice from the adjacent row, her nose scrunched in annoyance while her glasses rested on the brim of her nose like Minerva McGonagall.