ALMOST THERE

CHAPTER 8: Sports? No, thankyou.

Tum Mile - Pritam
🏀🎧💦🖤

The muscles on my thighs tightened, giving way to yet another wave of agonising ache. Greasy wetness trickled down the sides of my face, its salty taste greeting me on my tongue as my lips move in a definite rhythm, pronouncing the same words over and over.

Kabaddi. Kabaddi. Kabaddi...

My knees wobbled, and for a split second, I believed they'd give up. But I wasn't here to stumble right at the peak of the game. I kept my motions steady, as the thrill of the game kept in on my toes, both figuratively and literally.

My dark eyes moved around the entire expanse of the court of the opponent team, attempting to scan every single one of the seven blurred figures poised in their places, ready to pull me in a tight embrace any moment and choke the air out of me.
But I didn't need to. For they're weren't seven of them there. Just two.

Don't underestimate your opponent, Saysha. The moment you do, they're not your opponent anymore.
They're the winner.

My own words echoed in my head as I leapt forward in a steady run, entering the opponent court.
The two of them circled me around as I made my way deeper into their grounds, keeping my eagle's eye on them, watching every step, every flex of muscle, hearing every curse muttured under their breaths. Just the way they did the same for me.

A competition is worth competing when the thrill comes in from both sides.

I advanced sideways in longer strides, feeling the dusty chalk under my feet over the damp coldness of the ground.

"One point for bonus!" I smiled in my head, as the coach's voice echoed in the humid air around us. In my head, because letting your opponent know remotely anything about your mental state during a running game is a direct threat to your victory.

We were fighting one for two. Two of them. One of us. Me. We were ahead by three points, now four, thanks to the bonus.

With the bonus bagged,I could retreat. Turn back on my heels and sprint back to the safety of my court before any of the two manage to get a hold of me, completely disqualifying my participation.

But where's the fun in that?

My breath did so much as to hitch as I sidestepped a pair of hands aimed to grasp me in their hold. My breathing intensified as I continued the chant, a smirk crossing my face as I felt the same hand grazing my shoulder as I made the run for it, the soft ground meeting my cheek as I collapsed on the court. Relief flushed through me as I realised it was my court I was laying on.

"Plus 2 points to Team B for eliminating a player."

My chest heaves as I breath in precious oxygen i've deprived myself of for the last minute or so. The soles of my feet are red from the tiny gravel forcing themselves against the skin. My back aches. It might as well snap any minute of I don't lie back down.

So I did, rolling onto my back, a the bright blue sky greeted me, forcing its brightness through the my closed eyelids as I took deep breaths to calm myself down.

Around me, I could hear the guys roar from the basketball court. Yes, roar. They almost turned inhumane during games. Probably another victory.

Can't blame them though. Not when I'm the one who's hound echoed through the field as a short one from the other team pulled on my leg, twisting my knee. The pain was still there, but I did everything in my control not to let my mind wander back to it.

Lying there just like that, it felt good, almost peaceful. The soft breeze teasing my sweaty skin, my back rested on my soft soil, it's cool tinge rippling through my senses. I could just fall asleep.