Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 56

The next morning was far from calm at Rahul's house. It was a chaotic blend of laughter, conversation, and the soft clinking of dishes from the kitchen. Vamika, Sammy, and Akaay tumbled over the mat in the living room, their giggles filling the space as they climbed over Meera, who seemed to have willingly become their jungle gym. Her laugh rang out as she playfully wrestled the kids, pulling them into hugs and tickling them just enough to hear more squeals.

Athiya, Anushka, and Ritika sat on the couch, sipping their morning tea, occasionally throwing glances toward Meera.

"Sanjana's going to kill you," Anushka teased, taking a sip from her cup. "She told me she's convinced you've been avoiding her."

Meera rolled her eyes, setting Vami down. "I'll meet her soon, I swear! Just... things have been a bit messy lately."

Athiya gave her a knowing smile. "She doesn't care about your excuses, you know that. Better meet her before she shows up here with a list of complaints."

Everyone laughed, but there was an ease in the way Meera leaned back, the noise of the house a soothing hum around her.

Meanwhile, on the patio, where the men had gathered, the mood was a bit more serious. Virat leaned back against the chair, watching the sunrise over the garden while Rohit fiddled with his phone. Hardik was absentmindedly scrolling through his messages, and Rahul sat quietly, sipping his coffee, his gaze occasionally drifting to the photo of Meera on the mantelpiece inside the house.

It didn't take long for the topic to shift to Meera.

"So, how's she really doing?" Virat asked, his tone quieter than usual, as if to keep the conversation between the four of them.

Rahul glanced inside, watching his sister for a moment before answering. "She says she's fine, but... I don't know." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I feel like there's more going on under the surface, but she won't tell me."

Meera stepped onto the patio, catching the end of the conversation. She raised an eyebrow. "Talking about me behind my back, boys?"

Rohit patted the chair next to him. "Not behind your back. Come on, sit. We've been meaning to ask-how's the transition really going? From the academy to the cricket world, it's got to be... a lot." His words carried genuine concern.

Meera sat down, crossing her legs and folding her arms. She took a deep breath, the smile she wore earlier fading into something more thoughtful. "It's... different. Honestly, more difficult than I expected," she admitted, her voice soft but steady. "The academy was intense, sure. But this... this is a different kind of stress. There, I knew what I was up against-missions, strategies, life-or-death decisions. Here, it's... unpredictable. it's different. There's no crisis to solve, no enemies to outwit. But it's exhausting in a different way. Managing egos, schedules, expectations-none of it feels as urgent, but it drains me just the same."

Rohit gave her an empathetic look. "And you miss it, don't you? The adrenaline, the structure, the sense of purpose."

Meera nodded, her expression conflicted. "I do. But I also don't. The long nights, the endless pressure. The constant fear of losing someone-or not making it back myself. But at least I knew what I was doing there. Here, it's like... I'm always playing catch-up, trying to fit into a world that isn't mine."

Rahul, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "Do you regret it? Coming here?"

Meera looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing everything-the missions, the battles, the friends she'd made and lost, and the life she was now trying to build. Her gaze softened as she leaned in slightly, locking eyes with Rahul.