Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter 9 - Strength, Unity and Pillow Fights

Before dawn broke over Chennai, the basement of the hotel buzzed with anticipation. Arjun and Meera stood side by side, meticulously brushing up on their firing and combat skills. The dimly lit space echoed with the sounds of gunfire and sharp commands as the entire security team assembled around them.

Arjun moved with effortless precision, explaining the duties assigned to each member. "Focus on your targets. This mission is critical, and we cannot afford any mistakes." 

His confidence instilled a sense of purpose in the team, and Meera couldn't help but admire his dedication.

As the sun began to rise, they retreated to Meera's room, their laptops in tow. Meera settled into her chair, her eyes scanning the documents detailing their security arrangements. Just then, Rahul and Virat burst in, both looking for a missing item.

"Meeru! Have you seen my T-shirt?" Rahul shouted, glancing around the room.

"Yes, I've stolen it," Meera replied cheekily, tugging at the hem of the oversized shirt she wore.Virat chuckled as he watched the sibling banter unfold. 

"Didn't think you'd be stealing clothes now, Meeru," he teased.

Arjun interrupted the siblings with a smirk on his face. "Enough of this. Remember, we have a meeting with the security team in an hour. And you Ms. Meera will preside over it get ready "

Meera nodded, but as she prepared to change, her gaze fell on Ayan's watch lying on her bedside table.

 A wave of nostalgia washed over her, pulling her into a vivid flashback.

"I'm going to steal your watch someday," Meera had teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. They were at a quaint café, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow around them. Ayan had grinned, leaning closer, his voice low and playful.

"Oh really? You think you can just take it from me?" he challenged, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. Their laughter filled the air, and in that moment, everything felt perfect.

"Maybe I'll just take you along with it," she had whispered, her heart racing. Ayan's expression softened, and he leaned in, their lips almost touching, the world around them fading away. In that fleeting moment, their laughter turned to silence, and they shared a gentle, tender kiss that spoke volumes of their love.

"You better be careful," he had murmured against her lips, "or I might steal your heart."

Suddenly, Arjun's voice broke through her reverie. "Meera, we need to go." His tone was serious, but concern flickered in his eyes as he recognized the pain etched on her face.

"Right. I'm coming," she replied, shaking off the memories. Ayan was gone, but his presence lingered, reminding her of what could have been.

Once in the meeting room, they faced their teammates, who were buzzing with energy the atmosphere serious.

But when they returned to Meera's room afterward, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The entire Indian cricket team was engaged in a raucous pillow fight, laughter echoing off the walls.

"Seriously?" Meera groaned, exasperated. "You all realize we have a meeting to attend, right?"

Arjun shot her an amused glance. "Well, at least they know how to unwind."

Shubh, caught up in the chaos, accidentally tossed a pillow at Meera. "Khotte da puttar!" she shouted back, her voice laced with playful annoyance.

Virat nearly spewed out the water he was drinking, laughter erupting from his chest. "Did you just call him that?" he exclaimed, clearly amused.

Rohit and Rahul sighed, exchanging knowing glances. "Here we go again," Rahul muttered. "The Punjabi duo is ganging up against us."

"Just what we needed," Rohit added, shaking his head with a chuckle. The pillow fight escalated, with Jassi, Rishabh, Jadeja, and Siraj joining in, creating a chaotic whirlwind of laughter and feathers.

Meera tried to restore some order. "Guys! We seriously need to focus," she attempted, but it only fueled the chaos. 

The seniors, amusingly frustrated, shared glances of disbelief as the juniors let loose. Ashwin, shaking his head, muttered, "I can't believe this is our preparation for a crucial mission."

Amid the laughter, Meera rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. 

Just then, the pillow fight took another turn when Rishabh accidentally hit Jadeja, who retaliated by launching a pillow at Subhman.

"Alright, alright, enough!" Arjun finally shouted, trying to regain control. The room quieted down, though a few snickers persisted.

"Guys, we're heading to discuss security protocols and potential threats," Meera reminded them, crossing her arms as the chaos subsided.

The team eventually gathered for the meeting with the coaches and support staff. The atmosphere grew tense as Meera began to discuss the potential threats they might face during the upcoming test match. She explained the logistics, outlining the safety measures that had been put in place.

However, mid-discussion, a support staff member challenged her. "How can we trust you when you couldn't save your own teammate?"

Before Virat or Rohit could snap back, the coach - Gautam Gambhir intervened, raising a hand. "Let her finish, please."

Rahul's brow furrowed as he contemplated the number of questions Meera would have to answer. Jassi, sensing his concern, glanced at him and blinked in assurance, silently encouraging him to trust her.

Frustration rippled through the room as teammates exchanged glances of disbelief. Rohit's jaw tightened, and Virat's fists clenched, ready to defend Meera. Arjun stopped them signalling towards Meera, who was trying to catch her breath.

The frustration on the faces was replaced with worry as Meera took a deep breath, the weight of the question pressing down on her. "What happened with Ayan was a tragedy, and I understand your concerns," she said, her voice steady but her heart racing. "But I'm here to ensure that nothing like that happens again. I've spent months preparing for this, and I deserve to be part of this team."

Her confidence and determination shone through as she made her case, and the team absorbed her words, the initial skepticism giving way to grudging respect.

Rohit, Virat, and Rahul exchanged determined looks, rallying behind her. They would face the challenges together, and as the meeting continued, Meera felt their support strengthen her resolve. Ayan's memory fuelled her determination, and she was ready to honour it by proving her worth to the team. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united as one.