Tale of Silent Longing

45 | Tanya Finally Arrives

After having a small argument with Karan , Jahaan  went to Jordan  and stood with him.

"What happened? Was Karan  saying something?" Jordan  asked. "Naah... nothing, he has a habit of talking nonsense," Jahaan  replied casually. Both of them were talking when Karan  stood in the middle of the group and started to announce something.

All of them gathered around as Karan  spoke, "Good morning everybody! I am Karan Shergill  and I am the captain of the basketball team.  Today all of you are here for the trials, I hope you all are well aware of the standards of this team, so before the arrival of Coach, who still wants to back out can leave, or else there will be humiliation later. So be careful".
He spoke the last few words while looking at Jahaan .

After listening to Karan, a few people left the crowd.

"He is so demotivating. Who made him the captain... huh?" Jordan  muttered in annoyance.

All were lined up waiting for the trials to begin. The coach arrived and stood in the middle of the basketball court. "Good morning everyone, I am your coach Isaac, whoever is interested in my achievements, may take a tour of the principal's office one day, there you will see all the trophies and certificates. Without wasting much time, let's start the trials. Let's do it",", he exclaimed loudly.

The coach noticed Jahaan  standing in the row and a big smile appeared on his face. He walked towards him and called out, "Hey Jahaan Mehta ! Right?? Do you recognize me?"
Jahaan looked at him closely and replied,

"Yeah... I think I have seen you somewhere before."
The coach on hearing Jahaan  got very excited and answered, "Remember, about 2 years ago, we met in Spain on the basketball court of St. Peter's Hotel, 5th Avenue. We stayed in the same hotel and played basketball together."

"Oh yeah... Who knew that we will meet  again like this. How are you?" Jahan  recalled and greeted him.

"I am good... how are you?" the coach replied with a grin. He pulled him out of the line.

He laughed and made Jahaan  stand in the middle of the court with him as he asserted, "Today there is such an underrated player among all of you who once defeated me and shattered all my pride, Jahaan Mehta , now everyone has to see how the ball is put in the basket, Karan , please pass the ball to him.
He will give a quick demo."

Karan , who was still in the confidence that he was the captain of the team and was the best, was furious after hearing the coach talk high about Jahaan . He threw the ball towards Jahaan  and stood on the side.

Jahaan  started dribbling the ball and showed everyone by putting the ball in the basket thrice. Everyone started clapping and was impressed by him.

"Come on now everyone will come one by one and give a trial" The coach called out.

Jordan was about, to begin with, the trials as he stood first in the line when someone ran towards the court, shouting, "Coach Isaac, I am here too."

Everyone turned around to see Tanya  running towards the court. Seeing Tanya , Jahaan  smiled and thought, "So she finally figured out that I was joining the sports club."

"But why is she coming here, she is good at running, isn't she?"

Jahaan  and Jordan  looked at each other, but neither of them knew what Tanya  was doing there.

"You are late for the trials, I don't like people who are late," shouted the coach.

"Sorry, coach Isaac! First and last time, I Promise" Tanya  gasped.

"Yeah ok ok, now just stand there and wait for your turn," the coach replied.

Everyone started giving trials one by one.
The trials for the girl's team were also being selected by coach Isaac and so the trials were held together.

While Jahaan  was making the list of selected players, Karan  was handling the court.Jordan , Jahaan , and Reeva  were already selected, and Jordan  and Reeva  were sitting in a corner with the selected players.

Jahaan somehow slowly went to Tanya  and said, "What are you doing here, do you even know how to play Basket Ball?"

"No! I have come here to give auditions of Music Club", Tanya  replied with a sarcastic smile.

"Don't joke Tanya , if you don't know then go away, otherwise the coach will scold you in front of everyone," Jahaan  warned.

"No, I have come here for selections, and I will not leave from here without being selected ", replied Tanya  moving forward.

Next was Tanya 's turn. She went forward as the coach called out to her and stood in the middle of the court holding the ball.

"As soon as you hear my whistle, you have to put the ball in the basket, then you will be given 2 more chances and you have to do the same thing every time", saying this, the coach blew the whistle.

Tanya nervously threw the first ball towards the Basket, but her attempt failed and the ball came back from the very bottom. Karan  picked up the ball and brought it to Tanya .

"Hey Tanya , I didn't see you after that day," he whispered.

"Oh hi Karan , yeah you didn't meet either," Tanya  replied with a soft smile.

Jahaan's eyes were fixed on both of them, he did not know why he did not like Tanya  talking to Karan .

"Okay try to put the ball through the basket this time," Karan  instructed and turned to the side.

March  took her place and dribbled the ball again. She threw the ball but the ball did not even reach near the net.

Seeing this, Jahaan  put his hand on his face and mumbled, "When she does not know how to play? Why is she trying?"

"What are you doing?" the coach shouted.

Tanya caught the ball again, this was her last attempt. She looked back at Asher and then saw Reeva  sitting by the side laughing.

She caught the ball with a good grip and then closed her eyes. With a long breath, she threw the ball towards the basket with full force.

This time the ball went over the basket but hit the front board and came back quickly towards Tanya
.
Seeing the ball rapidly coming towards Tanya , Jahaan  dived to stand in front of Tanya . The ball hit jahaan 's back hard and

Jahaan moved slightly forward due to the sudden push.
Tanya grabbed Jahaan  with both her hands and Jahaan  grabbed Tanya's waist with one hand.

"Oh wow these two are now hugging in front of everyone", Karan  remarked with a laugh.

"Are you okay, Jahaan ?" Tanya  asked.

Jahaan was really enraged. The ball hit back with a lot of speed and force. He was angry that if he had not come forward , Tanya  would have been hit badly with such a heavy ball. He stood up straight and replied in anger, "Why are you wasting everyone's time by coming here, why do you have to do things that you don't know".

"Hey, Tanya ! Do you even know how to play Basketball or not? The coach yelled out.

"No!" Tanya  replied looking down.

Jahaan realized that he had got angry and scolded Tanya  again in front of everyone when it was not her fault. There were many such people who did not know how to play even a single game forget about basketball. Regretting, he looked at Tanya  who was just answering the coach, while staring at the ground.