Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 89

Two days later, Meera woke up with a start, her chest tight and a dull, pounding ache spreading through her head. She sat upright, leaning heavily against the headboard, trying to steady her erratic breathing. Closing her eyes, she focused on the sound of her heartbeat, willing the panic to subside.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the small pill bottle on her nightstand. Popping one of her anxiety pills, she swallowed it dry and closed her eyes again, counting backward from ten. After a few minutes, when the tension had eased slightly, she picked up her phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Hello, handsome,” she greeted softly, her voice a whisper of its usual strength.

“Hello to you too, beta,” the Colonel replied warmly. “How are you?”

Meera hesitated, her fingers curling tightly around the phone. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice cracking. “There’s this…pain.”

The Colonel immediately picked up on her distress but chose not to press her. Instead, he gently shifted the conversation. “You know, Arjun regained consciousness for a while yesterday.”

Meera’s grip on the phone tightened. “He did?” she whispered, her breath hitching.

“Yes, beta. He even asked for you,” the Colonel said, his voice soft and steady. “He’s weak, but he’s fighting. Just like you both always do.”

Meera closed her eyes, a mix of relief and guilt washing over her. “I should’ve been there,” she murmured.

“No,” the Colonel interjected firmly. “You’re exactly where you need to be, doing what you do best—taking care of others. That’s what he’d want.”

There was a long pause before Meera spoke again, her voice barely audible. “Does he…know about Ayan and Arya?”

The Colonel sighed deeply. “Not yet. Let him regain his strength first. One step at a time, Meera. You can’t carry everything on your shoulders at once.”

The words hung heavy in the air. Meera nodded to herself, even though he couldn’t see her. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Always, beta,” the Colonel said gently. “Now, get some rest. You need it.”

After hanging up, Meera sat still for a moment, staring at the phone in her hands.

She exhaled shakily and got out of bed. The world outside her room was moving forward, and no matter how heavy her heart felt, she couldn’t let herself fall behind.

________

As the sun climbed higher, the WACA stadium buzzed with life. The sharp crack of bats striking balls, the rhythmic thuds of players’ footsteps on the field, and the occasional bursts of laughter formed a symphony of camaraderie and focus. Amid the activity, Meera stood near the pavilion, her demeanor calm and composed despite the emotional storm brewing within. She handed Maithili the day's duty list, her voice steady as she instructed her assistant.

Though she wore her mask of strength well, Meera hadn’t worn her watch that day. The thought of tightening it over her bruised wrist was unbearable, a reminder of the vulnerability she worked so hard to hide.

“Meera di!” Shubman’s cheerful voice broke through her thoughts.

She turned, her expression softening at the sight of him. “Kya kar raha hai idhar?” she asked, her tone teasing. “Rest karna tha na?”

Shubman grinned, scratching the back of his head. “I was bored,” he confessed. “Chale, practice dekhte hain?”

Meera hesitated, then nodded. “Haan, chal.”