Queen

Ch 20 : Can we ever be the same?

The next day, Harleen made the shift with all her belongings to Smriti's room. Aware of Harleen's sleeping habits, Smriti offered her the left side of the bed. Smriti herself wasn't the neatest person; she tended to be quite messy. In contrast, Harleen, now a military woman, was disciplined and organized. She meticulously folded her clothes, ironed them, and arranged them in the cupboard in an orderly fashion. She cleaned her shoes and made her bed with precision, embodying the epitome of discipline.

Despite Harleen's silent acknowledgment of Smriti's disorganized tendencies, Smriti could sense her discomfort through her clear eyes. In response, when Harleen first moved in, she made an effort to keep both her side and Smriti's side of the room clean. When Smriti noticed the difference, she realized the impact Harleen's habits were having on her. Inspired by Harleen's discipline, Smriti began to adopt better cleaning habits herself.

As the days passed, Harleen attempted to integrate with the other team members, but there remained a noticeable distance she preferred to maintain. Smriti made efforts to engage with Harleen, but she found herself constantly avoided, as if she were a nuisance to be avoided at all costs. This behavior began to wear on Smriti, and she decided to confront Harleen one evening.

After completing her evening tasks, Smriti returned to the room with the intention of addressing the issue. As she entered, she found Harleen sitting on the balcony, strumming a guitar and singing softly to herself. Smriti stood silently in the doorway, captivated by the beautiful melody and the soulful voice of her friend. Unaware of Smriti's presence, Harleen continued to sing, pouring her heart into the song. It was a Punjabi melody, Noor's favorite, that Harleen sang with an effortless grace.

Lost in the music, Harleen suddenly became aware of Smriti's presence and stopped abruptly, chiding Smriti for eavesdropping. Smriti gently countered, stating that there was nothing wrong with enjoying her friend's music. Harleen glanced at Smriti before swiftly leaving the room, leaving Smriti to ponder the complexity of their strained relationship.

Finally it was India's first match of the T20 World Cup series. As the tension mounted in the dressing room before the crucial match against Pakistan, Smriti felt the weight of responsibility as the captain of the team. She knew that regardless of her personal differences with Harleen, they had to set aside their differences for the sake of the team's success. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Smriti addressed the team, delivering an impassioned speech to motivate them for the upcoming game.

Once she finished, Smriti cornered Harleen. Her eyes bore a steely determination, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. With a firm tone, Smriti began to speak, her words cutting through the tension in the air.

"Harleen, I don't know what's going on between us, but right now, none of that matters. This match is crucial for our team, and I won't tolerate anything that could jeopardize our chances of winning. We need to play together, as partners, to secure a victory for our country. Do you understand me?"

Harleen listened in silence, her expression unreadable. Inside, she was grappling with conflicting emotions. Memories of a past match against same Pakistan flooded her mind, memories of a conversation with her beloved sister, Noor.

In Harleen's mind, she was transported back to that moment, a phone call with Noor, her voice filled with excitement and determination. "Heer, just score a century and wash out the other team, here I'll beat my opponents with sky shots and missiles and u beat yours with a bat!" Noor had joked, but her words are now echoing in Harleen's ears.

Feeling a pang of regret for not fulfilling Noor's wish in that match, Harleen silently resolved to make amends this time. She nodded in response to Smriti's words, her inner turmoil masked by a facade of composure.

As the time came to take the field, Smriti and Harleen walked out together, side by side, their shared goal uniting them despite their differences. With each step, they carried the weight of their nation's expectations on their shoulders, determined to emerge victorious for their team, for their country, and for the memory of Noor.