Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 58

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the stadium as Meera arrived, her footsteps quick and purposeful. A cool breeze cut through the air, but the atmosphere was buzzing with energy—Virat, Rohit, and Rahul had already started warming up on the field. She waved at them from a distance, but her focus was elsewhere. She had expected to meet Ira, to be there instead, she spotted Ayan waiting by the entrance.

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Ayan gave her a casual grin, shifting his weight slightly. "Nothing. Colonel told me to come."

Before Meera could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Arjun.

Arjun: Tell your boyfriend he owes me one.

Meera couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and easy. Ayan chuckled too, amused by Arjun's ever-watchful interference in their lives.

"Okay, officer," Meera teased, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "But seriously—what's the plan?"

Ayan's expression shifted instantly. The playful warmth that usually lingered in his demeanor vanished, replaced by a focused, professional air. "Chalo," he said briskly. "Let's go over the security details once."

"Main entrance secured," Ayan began, his voice steady and authoritative. "Two guards at the secondary gates, and patrol units rotating every thirty minutes. We can't afford any lapses." He scanned the surroundings with a practiced eye, his attention to detail meticulous. "CCTV feeds are all monitored—no blind spots. We'll keep moving, so I want us to be adaptable to any situation."

Every word he spoke reinforced her confidence in him. Meera couldn't help but admire how easily he slipped into this leadership role, his instincts sharp and unwavering. "Good," she affirmed. "And crowd control?"

"Handled. We'll direct players straight to the briefing area to minimize interaction." There was a decisive edge to his voice, underscoring the importance of their task.

Meera glanced around as more cricketers joined Virat, Rohit, and Rahul on the field. Ayan stood next to her, scanning the surroundings with the sharp gaze she admired.

Shubman, Siraj, Yashasvi, and Rishabh came in next, laughing among themselves as they grabbed their gear. Not far behind, Jasprit was already loosening his shoulders, accompanied by Ashwin and Jadeja, discussing strategies. Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Sarfaraz Khan were deep in conversation with Gautam Gambhir, the head coach. Fielding coaches hovered around, setting up drills and markers.

The atmosphere was light and full of energy, but Meera noticed the undercurrent of tension. This wasn't just a regular practice session—it was a charged moment, a pressure cooker, with the world waiting to judge every move.

After they had covered the security protocols, Ayan noticed Meera adjusting her coat, a frown settling on her brow. "What's wrong, princess?" he asked, his voice softening with concern.

"Arey yaar, Athu made me wear this coat," she replied, fiddling with the fabric. "But now I'm feeling hot, and it's too pretty for me to just toss aside."

Ayan chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Give it to me; I'll hold it for you."

Meera's expression brightened with mischief. "Acha, will you?"

"Of course," Ayan said, taking the coat from her shoulders. As he did, his eyes lingered on her soft pink t-shirt, the bare skin of her arms, and the old watch on her wrist—a small token of their shared past.

"You look good in that," he remarked, a hint of admiration in his tone.

Meera grinned, adjusting her pistol in her waistband as she felt the warmth of Ayan's gaze slightly blushing. "Thanks!"