Shuttles And Stars

Sia

As I stepped back into the living room after Neeraj dropped me off, I was greeted by the familiar sight of Netra lounging on the couch, flipping through her phone, and Meera sitting cross-legged, sipping tea. I settled down on the armchair across from them, feeling oddly restless but content.

“He's just so… humble,” I blurted out, almost without thinking.

Netra raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Meera, who smirked knowingly.

“You know, Neeraj, I mean. For someone who's such a big deal, it’s surprising how down-to-earth he is. He drove me to the hospital without even a second thought. No complaints, no drama. Just… a really good friend.” I leaned back, feeling a little flustered at how much I had rambled.

Netra and Meera exchanged glances before bursting out laughing. I looked between them, completely lost. “What? What’s so funny?”

Netra, trying to suppress her giggles, said, “It’s been an hour, Sia. And you’ve only had one topic to talk about—Neeraj. Don’t you think it’s a little… obsessive?”

I blinked, taken aback. “Obsessed? I’m just appreciating his efforts, that’s all! He’s this national celebrity, and yet he’s so—so—”

“Humble,” Meera finished for me, with a teasing smile.

“Exactly!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “He doesn’t let any of it get to his head.”

Netra pressed her lips together, fighting back more laughter. “Okay, okay. We get it. He’s a saint.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. They were my friends, after all. They knew me too well. Meera reached for the remote and switched on the TV. The screen flickered to life, landing on a sports channel.

And there he was. Neeraj, right in the middle of a championship match, his movements on the court swift and precise. The camera zoomed in on his face, intense and focused. For a second, I forgot where I was, caught up in watching him play.

“You’re not even blinking,” Meera’s voice broke through my concentration. “Don’t you think he looks even hotter when he’s on the court?”

I shot her a look, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my cheeks. “You’re ridiculous.”

Netra leaned over with a grin. “Oh come on, Sia. You’re drooling.”

“Alright, I’m leaving!” I snapped, grabbing a cushion and tossing it at them before standing up to head to my room.

As I walked out, I could still hear their laughter echoing behind me. I shook my head, smiling despite myself. It was all just harmless teasing. They always loved to push my buttons, especially when it came to Neeraj. And maybe… maybe they weren’t completely wrong.

I was about to head upstairs when Vikram appeared at the doorway. His serious expression instantly sobered me up.

“Netra, you need to prepare the report again,” he said, his tone all business. “The one on the incident. It needs to be passed on to the R.A.W office for further investigation.”

Netra groaned from the couch but nodded, knowing there was no way around it. “Right. I’ll get to it.”

Vikram turned to me. “Same goes for you, Sia. Don’t miss any details. We need it done by tomorrow morning.”

“Understood.” I nodded, mentally shifting gears to work mode.

After lunch, I sat down at my desk, spreading out all the necessary papers and files. I took a deep breath, ready to dive into the report. But just as I opened my laptop, my phone buzzed.