Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 97

For the next two days, Meera had found herself oscillating between long stretches of sleep and moments spent in the quiet company of Rahul and Arjun. Conversations that had been left unspoken were finally voiced, not in urgency but in a calm that seemed to envelop them all. 

She wasn't entirely whole, but she was trying—letting herself free, little by little. 

 She had taken Ayan's watch from Anushka earlier that morning, holding it with a care that spoke volumes of what it meant to her. After placing it safely in a corner of her bag, she resumed her old habit of stealing watches—this time Rahul's and Virat's. Everybody laughed about it but no one commented; they all understood, offering her the unspoken support she needed. 

 The team knew Meera was trying, and so they let her be. Arjun, too, had settled into a rhythm of silent observation. He coordinated the details of their next mission with Maithili, who, despite her efficiency, still seemed a little intimidated by him. Meera, however, had gleefully invoked her baby sister card, coaxing Arjun into taking over her responsibilities for the evening. Even Maithili, though nervous, couldn't suppress a laugh at the sight of a mildly exasperated Arjun relenting to Meera's insistence. 

 As the sun dipped lower into the horizon, the team decided to gather around a bonfire. The cool breeze carried a gentle hum, mingling with the occasional crackle of the firewood. 

Shadows danced on their faces as they settled into a circle, the warmth of the fire warding off the night's chill.Meera sat cross-legged between Rahul and Virat, her fingers idly toying with one of Virat's watches she had 'borrowed' earlier.

Virat shook his head in mock exasperation, leaning closer to Meera. "At this rate, Meera, me and Rahuliya will need to set up an entire showroom just for you. A watch showroom, tailored to your very specific kleptomaniac tendencies."

Meera grinned and gave him an exaggerated wink, holding up the watch she'd stolen with a flourish. "What can I say, Virat? You two have excellent taste. It'd be a shame not to indulge."

Before Virat could retort, Rohit chimed in with a laugh, reaching over to give Meera a high-five. "She's got a point, though. What's the use of earning all this money if we can't spoil her? Consider it your big brotherly duty, Virat."

"Big brotherly duty," Virat repeated, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the amused smile tugging at his lips. "Right, because indulging a thief is definitely in the job description."

Meera leaned back with a smug look, twirling the watch around her wrist. The playful banter brought a lightness to the group that had been missing for some time.

Across the circle, Arjun watched silently, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he observed the easy camaraderie. The firelight flickered in his eyes, softening his usual sharp expression. In these moments, he wasn't just the commanding officer or the unyielding protector—they saw him as the brother and friend he truly was.

The laughter around the bonfire grew as the team settled deeper into the comforting rhythm of jokes and stories.

Shubman and Yashasvi sprawled on the grass, trading jabs about their less-than-stellar attempts at navigating Perth's streets earlier that day. Sanjana sat cross-legged beside Jasprit, her head leaning slightly toward him as they murmured about a bet he had lost earlier. Anushka was leaning onto Virat who held her close.

"Alright," Rishabh interjected, rubbing his hands together as he scooted closer to the fire. "Who's going to tell the first story?"

Meera tilted her head, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Why don't you start, Rish? I'm sure you have plenty of embarrassing stories to share."