𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙳𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜 [ Yashasvi Jaiswal ]

24

The team began their practice, Yashasvi's mind kept wandering back to Divya. He tried to focus on his batting, but every time he paused, his thoughts drifted back to the previous night's interaction. The awkward exchange at the welcome dinner had left him feeling unsettled.

Divya, meanwhile, was busy with her responsibilities, making sure everything ran smoothly during practice. She maintained her professional demeanor, but inside, she was struggling to keep her emotions in check. Every time she saw Yashasvi on the field, her heart skipped a beat.

During a break, Yashasvi decided to talk to Dhruv, hoping for some advice. He found Dhruv sitting on the grass, enjoying a bottle of water.

"Dhruv, can we talk for a minute?" Yashasvi asked, his voice low.

"Sure, what's up?" Dhruv replied, sensing the seriousness in Yashasvi's tone.

Yashasvi sat down next to him, taking a deep breath. "It's about Divya. I can't stop thinking about her. That kiss in Dharamshala... it changed everything for me. I think I have feelings for her, but I don't know how to tell her."

Dhruv listened attentively, nodding. "Look, Yash, you need to be honest with her. Avoiding the issue will only make things worse. You need to find a way to talk to her and clear the air."

Yashasvi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know you're right. I just don't want to mess things up more than they already are."

"Just be sincere," Dhruv advised. "Tell her how you feel and see what she says. It's better than keeping everything bottled up inside."

Yashasvi nodded, feeling a bit more resolved. "Thanks, Dhruv. I'll try to talk to her soon."

Later that evening, Yashasvi decided to find Divya and have a heart-to-heart conversation. He knew it was now or never. As he walked through the corridors of the hotel, he spotted Divya talking to her friend Kriti in the lounge area.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to do. But as he approached, he overheard part of their conversation.

Yashasvi's heart sank as he overheard Divya's voice carrying through the corridor, mingled with the soft murmur of her conversation with Kriti. He froze in his tracks, his breath caught in his chest, unable to tear himself away from what he was about to hear.

"Do you really like him, Divs?" Kriti's voice was gentle, probing.

There was a moment of hesitation before Divya replied, her tone tinged with regret, "I don't know, Kriti. That kiss... it shouldn't have happened. I don't know what I was thinking. It was a mistake."

Yashasvi felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if someone had sucker-punched him. He leaned against the wall for support, struggling to process the words that felt like daggers to his heart. The world around him blurred, the noise of the hotel fading into background static. All he could hear was Divya's voice echoing in his mind, repeating those damning words.

"It was a mistake."

Those words reverberated in his ears, each repetition deepening the ache inside him. He felt a mix of disbelief, hurt, and anger swirling within him. He had been about to approach her, to finally lay bare his feelings, only to discover that she regretted their moment together.