Beyond The Hoops

Chapter 4: Double team

DEVANSH'S POV:- 

I woke up to the soft hum of the morning light creeping through the edges of the curtains. The alarm clock was still quiet for a few more minutes, but my mind was already awake, turning over the events from the night before. There had been something in the way Neha moved, something in the way she spoke so carefully and softly when she thought no one was listening. I had seen that kind of hesitation before, but there was something about her that made me want to understand what it was.

The subtle way she held herself, like she was hiding something—her energy always brimming just beneath the surface, but never quite letting anyone in. And I, for some reason, couldn't stop thinking about it. She didn't know it, but she had drawn me in, even when she was keeping her distance.

I dragged myself out of bed, trying to shake off the fog of my thoughts. It was too early to be thinking about any of this. I dressed quickly, not bothering to put much thought into the outfit. Just a pair of sweatpants, a team shirt, and sneakers. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my bag, and made my way downstairs. I wasn't exactly in the best mood, but there was no way around it. The joint training was today.

As I stepped into the breakfast area, the smell of eggs and toast hit me first. Almost everyone was already there. I scanned the room quickly, noting who was seated where, until my eyes found her—Neha. She was sitting at the far end, talking to Riya, laughing about something I couldn't quite hear. I wondered for a second if she even knew what kind of pull she had on people—how she made everyone feel like she was both a part of the group and a million miles away all at once.

I hesitated, my feet stuck in place for a second before Aryan, of course, came over, giving me a shove with his shoulder. "You alright, man?"

I tried to brush it off, like I wasn't caught off guard by how easily she could take up space without even trying. "Yeah, I'm good."

He didn't buy it for a second, though. "Come on, let's grab breakfast."

As we made our way through the line, I couldn't help but glance at Neha again. She was reaching for the same plate I was, our hands brushing for just a brief moment. I couldn't help the way my chest tightened, the way everything seemed to slow down for a second. She pulled her hand back quickly, mumbling an apology, but I could tell she was just as surprised as I was by the accidental contact.

"It's fine," I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice was too quiet, too soft. She nodded and looked away, her eyes flicking briefly to mine before she quickly turned her attention back to her food. I should've felt embarrassed, but I didn't. The air between us had shifted, and even though we said nothing more, there was an unspoken acknowledgment.

"Dude, you're really not that smooth, are you?" Aryan teased, grabbing a handful of fruit as he spoke. "You're staring."

"Shut up," I muttered, half-laughing, trying to push the thought of Neha out of my mind. "I wasn't staring."

Aryan just smirked, clearly unconvinced. "Whatever, man. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

We walked over to the table where the rest of the team was sitting. The coaches were already there, taking their places at the front, and I followed Aryan to the seat next to him. Neha was across from me, facing forward. Our eyes met briefly, and the briefest flicker of something passed between us—maybe it was just a look, maybe nothing at all—but it felt like there was this invisible thread connecting us, and I couldn't quite pull my attention away.

Coach Vikram stood up and clapped his hands, demanding attention. "Alright, enough chatter," he said. "Practice starts at 9 sharp. Be on the court, ready to go. Today's a joint session, so no slackers. Captains, you two are in charge of getting your teams organized."

Neha shifted slightly in her seat, and I caught the way her gaze flickered toward me before she quickly looked away again. There was something in that look, something guarded. She wasn't just focused on practice, I could tell. But what was she thinking? What was she holding back?

"Got it," I said, not even realizing I'd spoken aloud until Aryan raised an eyebrow.

"Sure you're fine?" he asked, his tone suddenly more serious.

I nodded quickly, more to convince myself than him. "Yeah. Let's just get this over with."

We finished up breakfast in a quiet flurry of plates and coffee cups, but the tension between Neha and me still lingered in the air. I didn't know if it was the way she moved, the way she held herself, or if it was just me overthinking things—but something had shifted between us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this camp was going to be more than just another training session.

Time Skip:

By 9 AM, the gymnasium was filled with the sound of sneakers on hardwood, the thumping echo of basketballs being dribbled, and the buzz of excited voices. Everyone was on the court, preparing for the joint practice session. I stood at the sideline, stretching my legs and loosening up, my mind still half on Neha and what had happened that morning.

Neha was across the court, chatting with her teammates, but there was something in her posture that suggested she wasn't entirely present. Maybe it was just the way she stood there, with her shoulders tense, like she was constantly on alert. It made me wonder if that was how she always was—never letting her guard down, even for a second.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my phone buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw my dad's name flashing across the screen.

"Devansh," he said as soon as I answered, his voice sharp, business-like, even through the crackling connection. "Where are you? I need you to join the conference call with the board members. They're waiting."

My heart sank. "Dad, I'm in the middle of practice."

"Don't make excuses. You can practice later. We need to talk business."

I could feel my mood slipping, the anger creeping up my throat. It was the same thing every time. He couldn't care less about basketball—couldn't see it for what it really meant to me. "I can't just leave the court. I'll—"

"You'll do as I say, Devansh. This is important."

I sighed, closing my eyes and trying to steady my breathing. "Fine," I said, the frustration in my voice barely concealed. "I'll join the call."

Before I could hang up, my dad spoke again. "Remember, this is about the future of the business. You need to get involved more. Don't forget that."

The call ended, leaving me with that familiar sense of resentment simmering in my chest. I shoved my phone back into my pocket, forcing myself to focus.

Aryan came up to me then, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "You good, man?"

I forced a smile, not wanting to unload all that on him. "Yeah, just a bit of family stuff. Nothing new."

He nodded, not pressing me further, but I could tell he saw through the mask. "Alright, well, let's get to work."

Coach Vikram blew his whistle, gathering everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up! We're doing a shooting drill today. It's going to be a competition, a boy and a girl on each team. Let the best team win."

I looked across the court and saw Neha already preparing herself. She was focused, her stance poised and steady, like she was ready to take on whatever came her way. I couldn't help but admire that confidence in her.

And for the first time since I'd gotten here, I felt like maybe this camp wasn't just about training. Maybe it was about something more than basketball.

And maybe, just maybe, I was going to have to face whatever that was.