Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 99

The second day of the PM XI vs. India warm-up match dawned crisp and clear in Adelaide, with no sign of the rain that had washed out the first day. The Indian team was all set, dressed immaculately in their whites. Meanwhile, the security team, Meera and Arjun included, was stationed around the stadium, sharply dressed in their formals.

Meera and Arjun had wished the team the best of luck earlier in the day and now stood in heavy discussion at the security corner. Harry, on the other hand, had taken the chance to hang out with the cricketers, his usual jovial self adding to the light atmosphere among the players.

Every so often, though, his gaze would drift toward Meera. She stood a few feet away, fully focused, her ID card swinging gently from her neck as she gestured toward a security map. Her sleeveless shirt was rolled up to her elbows, and Rahul’s watch sat firmly on her wrist. She seemed unaffected by the chilly Adelaide air, her intensity giving her an aura of unshakable strength.

Harry caught himself staring when Shubman called out to him, snapping him back to the present. He turned back to the group, forcing himself to look away, but his thoughts lingered on Meera's commanding presence.

At the security corner, Meera and Arjun continued their discussion. As a rare lull settled over their conversation, Meera glanced up at Arjun, her expression softening. "Feels weird, doesn’t it?" she said quietly. "Every time something formal like this came up, Aru dii would be the first to get ready. She loved dressing up for these occasions. Used to keep complaining how our duty didn’t give us enough opportunities to go all out with the formals."

Arjun nodded, his eyes distant, a faint, wistful smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah," he murmured. "Feels strange to step into duty without those two around."

Meera’s gaze fell to the rubber band wrapped around Arjun’s wrist. Her voice softened further. "That’s hers, right?"

Arjun glanced down, his fingers brushing the band lightly. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It is. You know, we never really put a label on what we had. We just... loved what we shared. It didn’t feel like we needed to say it out loud." He paused, a shadow crossing his face. "But now that she’s gone, I’m left wondering. Maybe I should have said it. Maybe putting it into words would’ve made it... less unfinished."

Meera listened, her heart heavy. She didn’t interrupt, sensing the weight of his grief.

Arjun continued, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Some days, the duty haunts me. How many more do we have to lose? I lost Mom and Amu Aunty to missions. And now, Ayan and Arya..." He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "But the worst part? We have nothing apart from the duty to keep us going."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken sorrow. Meera placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but comforting. "We’ve lost so much, Arjun. Too much. But they left us something too—each other and the promise to keep going. We owe them that much."

Arjun nodded, but the grief in his eyes didn’t diminish. He knew Meera was right, but the pain of loss, the sense of unfinished moments, and the sheer weight of duty were burdens that didn’t lighten easily.

The match finally commenced under a clear Adelaide sky. The crowd was buzzing, and the players were ready to take the field. Meera and Arjun were back to their duties, seated at their designated security corner. They poured over lists and itineraries, ensuring everything was running smoothly while keeping a vigilant eye on the stadium. Juniors regularly reported updates, and the duo nodded in approval, occasionally giving instructions.

Amidst this, Harry strolled in, a casual ease in his steps. Meera looked up from her papers, her eyebrows arching in surprise. "Yahan kya kar raha hai?" she asked, her tone bordering on exasperation.