Raaz e Hayat

25. Basketball match

"Toh tum aaoge na party mein?" Yazaan asked.

"Han aa jaonga." Zaviyan replied and hung up.

The party was on Sunday so he had to think of a plan to sneak out without his brothers knowing as they don't think it's safe to be outside the house at such hours.

The long awaited Saturday came for Azaina. She was way too excited to play for the first time after so long but she was more happy for her family. The whole family was coming for her match so she had to play her best. She woke up with a huge smile on her face and got ready for her match. She wore her polo T-shirt and shorts with socks and shoes. The jersey was on blue colour. She tied her hair in a high ponytail and applied some skincare. She kept humming and was sliding through the banister of the staircase.

"Whoa whoa calm down little girl." Azlan said grabbing her in the middle of the staircase.

"Bhaiya... Abhi dekhte aap main seedha neeche aati." She pouted.

"Azu lag jaati aapke abhi fir aap match bhi nahi khel paati." He scolded gently and she rolled her eyes.

"I have done it many times and I am not a loser like you." She mocked him.

"And if I found about this stunt of yours again then you will be punished, we'll see who's loser fir." He said in a mocking tone too but Azaina was well aware that this was definitely a warning.

"Azaina." Azlan called her.

"Ji bhaiya?" She said.

"Breakfast table now." He said sternly knowing how much his little sister hates doing breakfast.

"Okay bhaiya but I will have waffles today and no milk." She said out her demands.

"Kis Khushi mein?" He asked her raising his eyebrows amused at her demands.

"Mera match hai na please, my stomach hurts from the heavy food in the morning." She replied cutely.

"Fine but just for today." He agreed giving a pointed look at the end.

"Yay thankyou." She smiled settling on the breakfast table near Azlan.

"Azaina aapko pata hai hamare bhi friends aaenge match dekhne." Zohan said.

"Waahhh achhi baat hai." She said but her mood dampened. She couldn't help but divert her mind from thinking how so many people are counting for her to win the match.
They all finished their breakfast and went to get ready. Azaina ran towards Aahil's room.

"Bhaiiiii." She called out.

"Ji farmaein." He replied while wearing his coat.

"Bhai Mujhe darr lag raha hai." She said hugging him tightly from the back.

"Kis baat se darr Azu." He asked wearing his watch. He then grabbed her hand and sat on his bed with her on his lap.

"What if I don't win bhai." She said scared.

"Does winning bothered you before when you were in New York?" He asked.

"No." She replied shaking her head.

"So itne saare Log aa rahe hai aapke match mein that's bothering you right. You think they are counting on you to win. Is that right?" He asked.

"Yes." She meekly replied.

"Azu look bacha we are not coming there to demotivate you. We are there to cheer you up as a support system. We will be happy if you win but if you lose then also it's okay. It's pretty obvious that in a game the probability of winning and losing is fifty-fifty regardless we all will be proud of you for trying bacha." He explained calming her nerves down.