UNLIKELY PARTNERS( Smriti & Perry)

Unyielding Bonds

The match began with a jolt of excitement, but the RCB team’s spirits were quickly dampened when Sophie Devine was dismissed for a golden duck. Smriti and Perry found themselves at the crease together, and the tension in the air was palpable. Perry’s earlier reassurance in the bathroom lingered in Smriti’s mind, a beacon of confidence amidst her swirling emotions.

As they prepared for the next over, Smriti turned to Perry with a determined glint in her eye. “It’s our game, Pez. Just stick around me, please.”

Perry’s smile was a blend of warmth and admiration. “I’m always sticking with you, Ms. Mandhana. You’re stuck with me.”

Their eyes locked in a moment of shared understanding, a comforting and loving gaze that solidified their unspoken bond. With a nod of reassurance, they turned their focus back to the game.

Smriti was a force of nature that day. Every ball, whether good or bad, was met with a fierce determination to hit it to the boundary. Her batting was relentless, and she completed her fifty in just 18 balls, setting a record for the fastest fifty in the WPL. Perry played her part perfectly, rotating the strike and ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking.

As the powerplay ended, Shruti Rana entered to bowl. Smriti’s face tightened with a slight tension at the sight of her past adversary. Perry, sensing Smriti’s unease, approached her with a calming presence. “Look into my eyes, Miss Mandhana,” she said softly.

Smriti gazed into Perry’s striking blue eyes, which sparkled with an unspoken promise of unwavering support. They were the most beautiful and reassuring sight she had ever seen. Perry continued, her voice steady and filled with conviction, “You are not alone, Smriti. I’m always by your side. You don’t have to fear anything. Together, we can do anything.”

With those words echoing in her mind, Smriti felt a surge of confidence. She stepped into her crease with renewed vigor. The next few deliveries were a masterclass in batting. Boom, boom—four, six, dot, six, six, four. Smriti dispatched Rana’s deliveries with stunning power and precision, her focus unshakable. She didn’t even glance at Rana, so immersed was she in her own rhythm.

Perry, too, picked up the pace, complementing Smriti’s aggressive play with strategic rotations. The Gujarat bowlers were left bewildered as Smriti and Perry built an unbreakable partnership. The momentum was all theirs, and no bowler seemed capable of breaking their stride.

As the 19th over approached, Smriti was on strike, batting on 90 not out. The tension was electric. The first four balls of the over yielded singles, leaving Smriti on 92, needing 8 runs for her maiden WPL century. Perry came down to her, her eyes filled with encouragement. “Smriti, just trust yourself and your hard work,” she said gently.

The fifth ball was a towering six, and the final ball, an even grander six. The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating not just the sixes but Smriti’s historic century. As the ball soared over the boundary, Smriti’s heart swelled with pride and joy. Her first act was to sprint towards Perry, who stood waiting with open arms.

They embraced fiercely, their joy evident in their shared laughter. Both women were elated, their happiness uncontainable.

With the match now in their favor, Smriti chose to celebrate her century in style. Channeling her earlier frustration, she executed the same send-off to Rana that Rana had given her in the previous match after taking her wicket. It was a poetic moment of redemption, a statement of her resilience and the strength she had found.

Exhausted and unwell, Smriti did not come out to field for the remaining overs. Yet, the team won the match easily, buoyed by the remarkable partnership between Smriti and Perry.

As they were heading to the bus, Smriti was sitting in a seat, while Perry was making her way to the back. Smriti reached out, stopping her. “Please sit with me, Pez.”

Perry smiled warmly and sat next to Smriti. The bus journey to the hotel was long, and Smriti, weary from the day’s events, rested her head on Perry’s shoulder. The bus’s gentle hum and the rhythmic vibrations were soothing. In the silence, both found a peaceful solace in each other’s presence. They fell asleep, their connection a quiet strength that anchored them through the long ride, a serene end to a day of both personal and professional triumph.