Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 60. Sports tryouts

Weekday came and with it came college. And with college came all the stares and whispers. But Shrishti cared less. She was just happy that vandalism of any school property that she used had stopped. But then she also had less time to think about these things. She had other worries.

'Shrishti? You ready?', a third year student asked.

Shrishti took a deep breath and nodded.

Today she was exempt from her first lecture. Why? Because she had a tryout for javelin throw. Shrishti did not know whether she was good at javelin throwing. But Daljeet wanted her to try, so she was attempting it. Next to her was Daljeet. Daljeet competed in both javelin throw and shot put every year. She was not the best but she was good enough to get bronze last year in college in javelin throw and attempt for intercollegiate sports competition. She had won bronze there too. But she could not go state level as she had her kabaddi competition on the same day.

Arpit stood nearby taking notes. Arpit and Daljeet both were part of sports committee just like they were in her first life. And just like in her first life, Arpit was the captain of boys basketball team and Daljeet was captain of the girls kabaddi team. Shrishti was proud of her friends.

'Ready.'

'Set.'

'Throw.'

Shrishti threw her javelin and the throw went short and did not even get close to the line her spear was supposed to cross. Her eyes widened before she chuckled. Daljeet and Arpit groaned while remaining people around her politely encouraged her. There were some handful people here to try out and several members of sports committee. Other than them, there was the sports coach of the college and one or two teachers who had interest in sports and tended to help the coach sometimes.

'No worries. You have two more chances.', Arpit encouraged. He looked nervous.

Shrishti chuckled. 'Why does it feel like you are more nervous about this than me? I am the one throwing the thing here!'

Arpit huffed at her teasing. 'Of course, I am nervous. What if you did not get in?'

'If I not, I not. What is the big deal?' Shrishti shrugged.

'People will mock you!', Arpit said vehemently.

'Will they?'

'Of course.'

'They won't care!' Shrishti waved him off.

'Of course, they will.' Arpit looked adamant. 'They want to pull you down and they will find every excuse to! You are public enemy number one for them!'

Shrishti felt disgusted. 'They are still not over me? How boring!'

Arpit looked surprised at her reaction.

Daljeet spoke up just then. 'Aren't you hurt that you are being treated so badly by the whole college?'

'What whole college? Some whispering has lessened. And our classmates seemed to have mellowed down.'

'That's because some of them saw you with Arpit's Raghav Bhaiyya!', Daljeet huffed. 'So our classmates spread that message that you are genuinely into Raghav and hence, the whole you toying with Deepak has to be fake!'

Shrishti rolled her eyes. Daljeet continued, 'But that does not negate the fact that you have come under spotlight now because of this whole mess and now everyone is watching you, waiting you to fall.'

Shrishti rolled her eyes again. 'I don't care. Fall or rise! There is a life outside college too. This college is not my universe that I worry so much about my reputation here!'