Whispers of the Heart

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 9

Ahaan was fast asleep when Shubman walked into his room, gently shaking his shoulder. "Ahaan, wake up," Shubman said, his voice calm but firm. "We have practice to get to. Let's go."

Ahaan groaned, pulling the covers over his head. "Five more minutes, Papa," he mumbled, his voice muffled under the blanket.

Shubman chuckled, crossing his arms. "You wanted to play in the IPL, right? Then you have to keep up with the early mornings. Come on, get up!"

Reluctantly, Ahaan threw off the blanket, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "I didn't think practice would start at dawn," he grumbled, though a smile tugged at his lips.

As he got ready, Shubman watched him with a sense of pride. "You know, when I started, I didn't have anyone waking me up or pushing me like this. It was all me, dragging myself to practice day after day."

Ahaan looked up, pausing as he pulled on his jersey. "You mean you didn't complain back then?"

Shubman laughed. "Oh, I complained. A lot. But that's part of the journey." He gave Ahaan an encouraging pat on the back. "Let's go show them what you've got."

During the practice session, Ahaan found himself momentarily distracted, his gaze fixed on Shubman as he effortlessly executed his strokes in the nets. Every movement, every shot, seemed like a work of art to Ahaan, who couldn't help but feel a surge of pride watching his father in action.

Lost in admiration, he didn't notice Surya, one of his teammates, approaching him. Surya nudged Ahaan with a grin, breaking his trance. "What are you staring at so intently?" he teased.

Ahaan gave a small, sheepish smile. "Just...watching my dad," he admitted, nodding toward Shubman. "I've watched him play on TV a hundred times, but seeing him out here...it's different. He's always been my role model."

Surya raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's some high praise! It's not every day you hear a son talk about his dad like that. He must be proud to have you by his side here."

Ahaan looked back at Shubman, who was now preparing to take another shot, the intense focus etched on his face. "Yeah, he is," Ahaan replied softly. "But honestly, I'm even prouder to be his son. Playing with him feels like...a dream come true."

Surya clapped Ahaan on the back with a smile. "Well, with that kind of admiration, you're bound to make him proud out there, too. Let's get back to it so you can give him a reason to keep smiling."

With a renewed sense of determination, Ahaan nodded, and they both headed back to practice, Ahaan more inspired than ever to give his best.

After a grueling practice session, Ahaan dragged himself into the house, his body aching from the intense drills the head coach had put them through. He could barely keep his eyes open as he slipped off his shoes and made his way to his room for a quick shower.

When he came back downstairs, his hair still damp, he found Sara and Aadhya sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing over something. The sight of his family instantly brought a sense of calm, making him forget the exhaustion for a moment. Without a word, he walked over, plopped down next to Sara, and gently laid his head on her lap.

Sara chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead. "Long day, champ?"

Ahaan nodded, his eyes already drooping. "The longest," he murmured, feeling her fingers start to stroke his hair. "Coach wouldn't let up... I didn't even think I'd make it home."

Aadhya, sitting across from him, smirked. "Oh, poor little bro, can't handle a bit of hard work?" she teased, but her voice was light with affection.

Ahaan gave a lazy smile, not even lifting his head. "You try running drills with Dad watching. He doesn't miss a thing."

Sara smiled, her fingers continuing their soothing motion. "You're doing great, Ahaan. But remember, even the best players need rest. So take a little nap before dinner. Aadhya and I will be here when you wake up."

With that reassurance, Ahaan let his eyes close fully, and before he knew it, he was drifting off, surrounded by the warmth and love of his family.

Ahaan jolted awake, heart racing as he heard a loud crash from the kitchen. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he sat up quickly, looking around to see Sara and Aadhya already on their feet, exchanging amused glances.

"Oh no, Dad's in the kitchen," Aadhya whispered, eyes wide with a mix of horror and humor.

Just then, Shubman appeared in the doorway, holding a saucepan in one hand and looking sheepishly at the three of them. "Uh... don't worry, everything's under control," he announced, a little too confidently.

Ahaan stifled a laugh, rubbing his eyes. "Dad, what exactly are you trying to do in there?"

Shubman grinned, a little embarrassed. "I thought I'd make something special for dinner. Didn't realize it would be so... loud."

Sara raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile. "You thought you'd make dinner without help? Brave," she teased.

"Don't doubt me, I'm better than I look," Shubman replied, laughing as he motioned for them to follow him into the kitchen.

When they entered, they were greeted by an assortment of ingredients scattered on the counter and flour dusting half the surfaces. Aadhya's eyes widened in exaggerated shock. "Dad, were you trying to bake?" she asked, holding back a laugh.

Shubman scratched the back of his head. "Yeah... Well, it seemed like a good idea at first."

Ahaan smirked, finally awake. "I'm starving, Dad. Are you sure we can eat whatever you're making?"

"Oh, definitely," Shubman insisted, trying to save face. "And since you're up, Ahaan, maybe you could...help me out?"

Ahaan and Aadhya exchanged knowing looks and then burst out laughing, joining Shubman by the counter. Sara, shaking her head, grabbed an apron. "All right, let's save this kitchen from Dad's 'cooking'."

And with everyone pitching in, the kitchen quickly turned into a chaotic, fun mess as the family cooked together, laughing and teasing each other with every step. By the end, they had somehow managed to pull together a meal, the kitchen filled with warmth and the lingering scent of home-cooked food.