ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏꜱ

.Final Match༊˚

AUTHOR'S POV :

The next day, Avni got ready and went downstairs for breakfast. She sat down in front of her dad as her mother served the food.

Her dad asked, "Isn't the basketball match today at your school?"

Avni nodded in response.

Her dad said, "Are they going to teach today? It's going to be a long match. You should take a leave and study at home."

Avni replied, "They'll be teaching us in the first few periods."

She added, "I'll get bored alone at home since you and Mom will be at work. It's better to study in the school library."

Her dad said, "Okay, as you say. Don't waste your time and make sure to use it for studying."

Avni just nodded and left for school. She took the bus and reached her school, where she met up with Nidhi, and they went to their classroom together.

Nidhi said, "I'm really excited for this year's basketball match. There will be so many schools coming."

She then asked Avni, "Have you never watched a match before? Like in your previous schools?"

Avni shook her head and replied, "No, I never did. I always stayed home and studied. My dad suggested I stay home today, but I managed to come. Otherwise, I would have missed out on hanging out with you."

Nidhi said, "You made the right choice by coming. You should take some breaks and enjoy yourself. I heard the last school you went to had a really popular team."

Avni responded, "Yes, I guess. I've only heard about them."

Nidhi replied, "They're coming here today as well. It's going to be an exciting match. Ishan's team better win. Let's head to the classroom, or we'll be late."

They attended two classes and then headed outside to the playground. It was time for the match. As they approached the ground, Avni saw Ishan's team preparing for their first match against another school.

Avni said, "It's starting now. I'll head to the library to study for a while. Come get me when it's time for the final match."

Nidhi replied, "Avni! Are you serious?"

Avni nodded, "Yes, very serious."

Nidhi sighed and said, "Fine. I'll call you."

With that, Avni left for the library. Nidhi approached Ishan and his team, holding up the signs she had made the day before to wish them good luck.

Aaron and Ishan thanked her.

Ishan asked, "Where's your best friend?"

Nidhi replied, "She's studying in the library."

Aaron looked surprised and asked, "What? She's not coming to watch the match?"

Ishan added, "I'll go ask her."

Nidhi stopped him, saying, "Relax. She'll be back. She asked me to let her know when it's time for the final."

Ishan was puzzled, "Final? Call her now."

Nidhi replied, "Calm down. I'll call her after a few matches."

With that, Ishan and Aaron went back to their team as the first match began. It was an easy win for Ishan's team, and soon other schools played their matches. The winners moved on to the next round.

An hour later, it was lunch break. Everyone, including players from other schools, headed to the canteen. Nidhi called Avni, asking her to come to the canteen.

Avni found Nidhi, Aaron, and Ishan sitting together on a bench and walked over to join them.

As she approached, a guy stepped in front of her and said, "Avni?"

Surprised, Avni replied, "Yes?"

The guy smiled and said, "I'm Yash. Remember me?"

Avni shook her head slightly, "Sorry, I don't."

Yash continued, "You probably don't. I am in the basketball team of your previous school. We never really talked."

"Oh, I see. How do you know me?" Avni asked.

Yash replied, "You always participated in school quizzes and Olympiads, you were kind of popular."

Avni responded, "Not really. Do you need something from me?"

Yash shrugged, "Nothing much. I just wanted to stay in touch. We couldn't find you after you left, no contact info, no Instagram. I recently found your account and realized you're studying here now."

Avni raised an eyebrow, "So?"

Yash hesitated, "I just wanted to ask for your number."

Avni calmly replied, "You can message me on Instagram if you want. I'm kinda busy now, my friends are waiting. Bye."

With that, Avni walked off, leaving Yash to say his goodbye to her retreating figure.

As she placed her plate on the table and started eating, she casually asked, "How's the match going?"

Nidhi, still curious, asked, "Who was he?"

Aaron followed up, "How do you know him?"

Ishan, looking slightly more serious, added, "What was he talking to you about?"

Avni chuckled at their barrage of questions and said, "Oh! So many questions."

When they stared at her, Avni shrugged and said, "He's Yash, from my previous school."

She added, "He asked for my number."

Ishan, surprised, blurted out, "What?" He quickly corrected himself, "I mean, why?"

Avni replied, "I don't know. He said he wanted to keep in touch. But I didn't give it to him, I told him to text me on Instagram instead."

Ishan's expression visibly brightened at this.

Nidhi teased, "Does he have a crush on you or something?"

Avni shook her head, "I don't know. I never really talked to him before."

They all had their lunch together. Ishan stared at Yash purposely in between.

Soon, the match began. Ishan's team was on a break while other schools were playing. Nidhi and Avni stood in the front row, watching the ongoing match. Meanwhile, Ishan and his team waited in a corner for their turn.

During the match, a ball accidentally flew towards Avni. Shocked and surprised, Avni froze and closed her eyes. Seeing this, Ishan immediately ran towards her, jumped over the fence, and intercepted the ball, deflecting it away.

Ishan asked, "Are you hurt?"

Avni slowly opened her eyes and realized she had been saved.

She quickly asked, "Are you hurt?"

Ishan chuckled at her concern and replied, "I'm fine. What about you?"

Avni answered, "Same."

With a reassuring smile, Ishan returned to his team, and the match continued. Yash, who had been on his way to check on Avni, paused when he saw that Ishan had already come to her rescue.

A few minutes later, Yash approached her and asked, "Are you alright?"

Avni nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. No need to worry. You should head back to your team, the next match is about to start."

After a few more matches, it finally came down to the last two teams: Ishan's team and Yash's team. The excitement grew as the players took a 10-minute break before the final match. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone eager to see who would win this year's basketball match.