Tangled Hearts - In the Eye of The Storm

The news

Ishan couldn't believe his eyes. As he sat down and saw the BCCI contract list for this year. He didn't even know whether to feel angry or sad about it. He was just numb. Throughout the day he just went by his chores mechanically and didn't pick the numerous calls that he got from friends and family.

It all started a few months ago when he started feeling very low. Despite travelling with the ICT continuously he only got a chance when one of the other players was unavailable. Slowly but surely this started breaking his confidence and the man who was known to be always secure and confident about his game began faltering and questioning himself. He couldn't handle the mental turmoil and decided to pull out of the SA tournament and remain unavailable for some months citing mental fatigue. Little did he know it was the beginning of a bigger struggle for him than he would have ever imagined.

Ishan went on to practice for MI and put on a brave front and a smile whenever anyone met him. But little by little his confidence was shaking even more. He didn't speak to his family for six days after the BCCI contract list came out but on the seventh day when they called he couldn't stop himself and picked it up. His mom was on the other end.

Ishan's mom : Ishu beta.... Phone kyun nahi utha rha. Itna dara diya tune. Tu theek toh hai na beta. Khabardar Aisa vapas Kiya tune phone nahi uthaya agar toh!

(Ishu son why didn't you pick up the phone. You scared us so much. Are you okay son? Don't you dare do this stunt again of not picking up your phone!)

Ishan : Ma....

With that he broke down.... Crying his heart out and pouring out all the pain that he had been harbouring since almost a week. He was shaking, shivering and whimpering as he listened to his mother's voice.

Ishan's mom : Shh Ishu ro le beta. Nikal se sab kuch bahar. Par uske baad tujhe vapas khade hona hai. Tu haar nahi sakta Ishu. Aise setbacks toh aate hain na. Tu bahut strong hai bacche. Mujhe pata hai abhi aage bahut struggle hogi. But tu kar lega bacche. I know you will do it you can do it.

(Shh dear. It's okay cry and let out everything that you are feeling. But after that you need to stand up again. You can't lose and give up. Setbacks like this will keep coming in anyone's life. You are very strong son. I know the road ahead is full of struggles. But I know you can do it dear.)

Ishan's dad : Ishu beta. Sab theek ho jayega. Jab Tak tu theek hai Ishu sab theek hai. Samjha na bacche?

(Ishu son everything will be alright. Till the time you yourself are alright everything's fine. Understood dear?)

Ishan's brother: Ishu beta haarna nahi. Waqt hi toh hai guzar jayega. Tu chinta mat kar. Bas mehnat kar mehnat ka phal hamesha milta hai. Bhagwan ke ghar der hai andher nahi.

(Ishu dear don't give up. Time keeps on changing for everyone. This too shall pass. You don't worry dear. Just keep on striving hard and doing your hard work. Hard work always bears the fruits of success eventually. God might give you what you deserve after a bit of a delay but rest assured you will surely get it.)

Ishan felt better after crying his heart out and talking to his family. All his questions about his future and what he would do seem to have taken a backseat and finally after seven days he felt like he breathed normally.

From the past few months, it felt like nothing was going his way. He had skipped the Ranjhi trophy in order to play the DY Patil Trophy but was unable to make his mark there. And this has probably cost him his BCCI contract. But now, after this conversation with his family he felt rejuvenated. He felt determined and ready to give it his best and play the IPL with a new spirit.

His phone buzzed again and he looked at the caller ID.

Gill❤️

Ishan sighed. His best friend had tried to talk to him ever since the BCCI announcement and had called him once every single day but Ishan didn't know what to speak. So he did what he did with all other calls and didn't pick up his best friend's call. Shubman and Ishan had always been aiming for the same spot in the Indian team yet they never had any rivalry or animosity between them. Ishan was Shubman's senior in under 19 and even went on to become the under 19 captain. However, the tables had turned now. Shubman was currently in his golden era of his career while Ishan was facing setback after setback. Ishan didn't want to burden Shubman with his insecurities. What kind of a best friend would he be if he did that?