Queen

Ch 16 : Longing for eachother

                   Two years later

Smriti's pov :

In the whirlwind of her cricketing career and the tumultuous terrain of her personal life, Smriti found herself standing at the precipice of change. The past two years had been a journey of growth and introspection, marked by the highs of victory on the cricket field and the lows of heartache in her relationships.

As the newly appointed captain of the Indian women's cricket team, Smriti's focus remained steadfast on leading her team to success. Yet, amidst the chaos of matches and training sessions, her thoughts often drifted to the one person– Harleen.

Despite the passage of time and the silence that echoed between them, Smriti refused to relinquish hope. Week after week, she penned letters to Harleen, pouring out her thoughts and feelings in words that spoke of longing and devotion. And though Harleen remained elusive, her absence only served to fuel Smriti's determination to find her.

The dissolution of her relationship with Palash served as a turning point in Smriti's life, a catalyst for change and self-discovery. As she navigated the complexities of love and loss, she realized that true happiness lay in pursuing what truly mattered to her- cricket and also  finding her way back to Harleen.

With each match won and each milestone achieved, Smriti drew closer to the realization that her heart longed for the companionship and connection she once shared with Harleen. And as she embarked on this journey of rediscovery, she knew that the road ahead would be filled with challenges and uncertainties.

But armed with courage and unwavering determination, Smriti set out to reclaim the bond she had lost, knowing that the quest for connection was a journey worth taking, no matter where it may lead.

Harleen's pov :

In the quiet solitude of her quarters, Harleen sat with a weight on her shoulders that felt heavier than the burdens of the world. The transformation wrought by her time at the Air Force Academy had sculpted her into a new incarnation of herself – disciplined, focused, and resolute. Yet amidst the accolades and the anticipation of earning her wings, a lingering sense of emptiness pervaded her soul.

As she sifted through the stack of letters from Smriti, a hundred silent witnesses to the passage of time and the distance that had grown between them, Harleen felt a pang of longing tug at her heartstrings. Each letter, a testament to Smriti's unwavering devotion, echoed with the echoes of a love that had once illuminated her world.

But Harleen hesitated, her fingers hovering over the envelopes. The chasm between her past and her present yawned wide, a divide too vast to bridge with mere words. She had changed, evolved into a version of herself that felt foreign yet familiar, bearing the scars of loss and transformation.

And yet, amidst the turmoil of her inner turmoil, one truth remained steadfast – her love for Smriti, unyielding and immutable. In the silence of her solitude, Harleen allowed herself to entertain the fleeting fantasy of reconnecting with the girl who had captured her heart so completely.

But reality intervened, a sobering reminder of the complexities of their intertwined destinies. Harleen knew that to rekindle the flame of their past would be to court the risk of reopening old wounds, of dredging up memories better left undisturbed.

With a heavy sigh, Harleen set aside the letters, a silent vow etched into her heart. She would carry that love with her, a ray of light in the darkness that lay ahead. And as she prepared to step into the unknown, to claim her rightful place among the ranks of her fellow officers, she braced herself for the challenges that awaited her.

For Harleen Deol, the journey was far from over. With only two days remaining until the ceremony, she stood on the precipice of a new dawn, her spirit tempered by the trials of her past and the promise of her future. And as she faced the uncertain horizon that stretched before her, one question lingered in her mind – what would she do after spreading her wings and taking flight into the vast expanse of the real world?