Unknown To Known

Missteps

Soon after, Ishan's teammates gathered around, their faces etched in concern, he could sense the camaraderie that bound them together. "Are you okay?" Bumrah asked, his voice laced with genuine worry. The atmosphere slightly shifted as Hardik, who had thrown the ball stepped forward, his expression a mix of remorse and anxiety.

"I'm really sorry," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I didn't mean that to happen." There was sincerity in Hardik's eyes, a deep regret. In that instant, despite the tension, everyone felt warmth of understanding wash over them. It was a reminder that in the world of sports, mistakes happen, but the way they all stood by each other mattered.

Ishan took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. "It's okay," he finally replied, a small smile on his face despite the lingering pain. "I know you didn't mean it." His voice was steady but he could feel the adrenaline coursing through him.

As he looked around at his teammates, Ishan felt a surge of appreciation for their support. "Honestly, I'm glad it wasn't worse." He added, trying to lighten up the mood. The tension broke as laughter filled the room.

"Let's focus on the next game," Rohit said, feeling a sense of determination. "We have got this."

With that, they pushed the incident aside, ready to move forward and face the challenges ahead.

—

Aditi's mind wandered, her thoughts consumed by Ishan's injury. She couldn't shake off the image of his battered face, the swollen eye, and the pain etched on his features. Worry gnawed at her, making it impossible to focus on her practice.

As she stood on the stage, rehearsing her lines for the upcoming pageant,  Aditi felt helpless, unable to do anything but wait for Ishan's recovery.

"Aditi, are you okay?" her choreographer asked, concern lacing her voice. "You seem distracted."

She took a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. "I'm fine. Just a little preoccupied."

But her choreographer's words barely registered. Aditi was wondering if he was in pain, if he was thinking of her too.

"Why did this have to happen now?  What if he doesn't recover in time? What if...?"

Aditi's practice ended early, the staffs sending her home to clear her head.

—

Ishan entered his hotel room, the exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on him. He decided to freshen up for comfort. However, his mind was still occupied with the event that had happened on the field.

Just as he was settled in for the night, Ishan's phone rang, breaking the silence. Seeing Aditi's name on the screen, he felt a mix of relief and concern. Answering it, he could sense the worry in her voice.

Aditi's voice cut through the silence. "Ishan! How are you?"

Ishan's voice filled the line, "I'm doing good. Just a bit battered."

"You know, i couldn't even focus today because I was too busy worrying about you!" Aditi said, her words laced with hurt.

Before Ishan could say something, Aditi vented out her frustrations. Her voice laced with worry and a bit of anger.

"I can't believe Hardik sir would throw the ball like that! It was reckless." Each of her word filled with exasperation, her concern transforming into a fierce protectiveness felt suffocating.

Ishan could feel the tension rising in his chest, a mixture of irritation and a need to defend Hardik. Silence hung in the air for a moment before Aditi started speaking again.