Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 67

As soon as Meera walked back into the room, the air shifted. Rohit was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief and frustration. "What the hell happened in there, Meera? You're not the security head anymore?"

The team collectively gasped, eyes wide in shock as they absorbed the news. Virat, looking equally agitated, blurted, "What? Seriously?" Rahul, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought, clearly overthinking and already trying to make sense of it all. No one was giving Meera a chance to respond, their voices rising in confusion and disbelief, filling the space with a chorus of questions and gasps.

In the corner, Arya, Ayan, and Arjun watched the scene unfold, comfortably settled on bean bags with amused smiles. They exchanged a glance, clearly sharing a silent "we warned you about this" expression as they watched the unfolding drama with mild amusement.

Athiya, visibly shaken and unable to control her emotions, rushed to Meera, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry... Meera, I... I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she stammered, her voice heavy with guilt.

But Meera gently pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, none of this is your fault," she assured softly, brushing a comforting hand over Athiya's arm. "Han, thoda naraz hoon mai... but it's nothing my bhabhi can't fix, hai na?" She offered a warm smile, hoping to reassure her, but Athiya's expression was still clouded with guilt.

Meera continued, her voice calming yet steady. "I know what you're all thinking. Yes, it was my decision to step down as security head. With the recent attacks and rising tension, handling both the team and the officials became... complicated. We realized that me stepping down was a better option than risking the whole security team being replaced. And given the threats... well, I'd rather protect you all with a team I trust than leave you with strangers."

The team's murmuring quieted, and she looked directly at Athiya. "Athiya, I know why you felt the way you did, and trust me, it's okay. We've all been there, and yeah, it did sting a bit. Thoda bura laga mujhe," she admitted, her smile softening, "but it's nothing that a few dozen chocolates from you can't fix." She winked, lightening the mood and earning a laugh from Athiya, who wiped away a stray tear.

Then Meera's gaze shifted to Rahul, who looked torn between concern and guilt. She walked up to him, meeting his worried expression head-on. "Anna, can you please stop overthinking? None of this happened because of you or Athiya. Trust me on that," she said firmly. "Also," she added with a mischievous grin, "you're not allowed to disagree with my bhabhi, okay?"

Before Rahul could respond, Meera slipped into his embrace, her voice muffled as she buried her face in his chest. "I promise, I'm fine," she murmured, her words soft but reassuring.

As Meera slipped into Rahul's embrace, she could feel the weight of his emotions-a mix of last night's unresolved thoughts and the fresh confusion of this morning. His arms tightened around her, holding on just a bit longer than usual. He didn't say anything at first, but she could feel him taking steadying breaths, as if struggling to hold back tears.

After a moment, Meera leaned up, her voice a gentle whisper meant only for him. "You know, right... I'm not as tall as Virat or you, and I can't hide your tears like he did on your maiden century." She teased him lightly, hoping to ease his heart with a bit of humor.

At her words, Rahul let out a small, choked laugh, breaking the tension that had settled over him. He wiped his eyes quickly, but there was a softness in his gaze, a vulnerability he rarely showed. "You don't have to hide anything for me, Meera," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. "I promise," she said, meeting his gaze with a reassuring warmth. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Their moment was broken as Anushka and Ritika playfully swatted at her again, pulling her out of Rahul's arms and back into the lively chaos of the team. But there was a quiet understanding between her and Rahul now, a reassurance that she wasn't just the team's strength-she had them to rely on, too. And even if she couldn't shield him like Virat, she would be there, always.