18

Chapter 19

Nil changed into a comfortable outfit to play tennis. He looked in the mirror. His eyes were heavy and his face was pale, even though the wounds on his face had recovered well. He takes a small breath, keeps his back inside the locker with his black mask, and locks it.

"You are coming to play, aren't you?" A 15-year-old teenage boy, Parth, was his playmate who saw him quiet and still in front of the mirror, asked from the doorway.

"a...hm, I am coming." He said in a gloomy tone.

"Are you okay, brother?" He asked.

"I don't know." He told himself, but it wasn't the place to show it. He gathered him up a bit and said, "Yes, I am fine. Just give me 2 minutes, okay?" He said, putting a smile on his face. On that, Parth nodded and left. On the other hand, Nil again looked at the mirror,

"Don't ruin others' mood." And he put on a fake smile again with a sigh and grabbed his tennis racket. Within a minute, he was inside the court. It was a big court, so 4 teams could play tennis without disturbing the others.

"Toss?" Parth asked as soon as he entered in court. "Isn't it what they do while playing officially?" Nil asked, knowing everything about tennis but giving some chances to energy in front of him.

"Yes, right, and my future coach says, if I want to achieve the dream, then first try to live like it."

"Future coach?" Nil asked while bouncing the tennis ball several times.

"Yes, if I play happily and without losing interest for a year, my mom will let me join his academy and then he will be my coach." He explained, "It's a deal between 3 of us."

"Cool, then toss?" Nil said with a smile, liking his energy, "If heads, I will serve. If tail, you won't."

"Okay.... wait what?"

Nil chuckled at it, "It's just a joke, Parth." "Okay, let's go..." He felt embarrassedly relieved and quickly took 1 rupee's coin and tossed it. They both looked at the tossing coins and finally landed near Nil's foot.

"Oh, tail." Parth said with a smirk and said with a dramatic tone, "Go to your baseline, Nil..."

"Seriously, when you will keep in mind that I am older than you." He said dramatically while going towards the baseline.

"Never..." He smirked and bounced the tennis ball several times and, with a powerful swing, he sent the ball to the other side. At first, Nil wasn't ready, but in a split second eyes were already on the ball, didn't take any chance and sent it back. And the game started. Neither Nil nor Parth missed any chances, and the ball kept going from between the two. The game continued smoothly until Parth missed one.

"I am playing since the age of 14." And chuckled.

"That doesn't mean you will always gain points," Parth said, ready to serve.

"Let's see...." Parth didn't let him finish and served yet another powerful shot, but Nil managed it in the second. The ball was flying between the two of them and the simple match was turning into actual competition. After an hour, the score of the first and second set between Nil and Parth was 7-3 and 4-9.

"I was right, it doesn't guarantee more points". Parth said while pointing the tennis racket at him.

"Keep your eye on the ball, otherwise maybe it will guarantee me a match."

"Let's see." And the ball flies towards Nil, and then towards Parth. It was the last set and none of them wanted to let the other win. For Nil, it was such a sport that can momentarily make him forget about all his problems.