Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 103

Meera slowly woke up the next morning, a faint pain lingering in her veins from the injection, but it was a discomfort that seemed distant compared to everything that had happened the night before. As her eyes fluttered open, she smiled softly, her head feeling lighter than it had in what felt like ages. Yesterday had been heavy, both emotionally and physically, but the end of it all had taken away the lingering fears that had weighed her down. Her gaze drifted to the ghungroos on the nightstand, and a silent gratitude for Harry washed over her. The pain in her arm was nothing now, a mere reminder of how much had been overcome.

As the quiet moment lingered, Shubman's voice broke through, filled with his usual energy. "Arey sambhalke, injection laga tha udhar," he called out, his tone light and teasing. Meera chuckled, appreciating the lightness in his voice. "Acha ap ready ho jao, sab nikal hi rahe hain, team bus ready hai, woh Arjun bhai aur Maithili ne dekh li thi," he continued, all the while bustling around the room. "Rahul bhai aaye the, lekin maine bhaga diya sabko. I told I'll get you ready. Acha han, Anushka bhabi ne apka saman pack kardiya hai, ap fir bhi check karlo ek baar. Aur woh waha apka ID card hai, saath mein woh Maithili kuch brown packet deke gayi thi, apka uniform hai bolke. Woh bhi dekh lo. Aur kuch chahiye apko? Acha uth jao, ready ho jao, bas hum hi late hain, obviously Ro bhai bhi, par woh captain hai na?"

He spoke so quickly, it almost felt like a breathless rant, and then, noticing her silence, he paused and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Arey ap kuch bol kyun nahi rahi?"

Meera, still smiling, shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Tu bolne dega tab na," she teased, her voice soft but full of warmth.

After a quick shower, Meera emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in the same tracksuit the cricket team wore, her ID card dangling from her neck. She glanced at her reflection, noticing how her watch fit perfectly on her wrist, and the soft strands of her hair, left open, framed her face as she slipped into the hoodie that completed her look.

She felt more herself than she had in days.

Shubman, who had been leaning against the doorframe, did a double-take when he saw her. "Are same tracksuit?" he asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

Meera grinned, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Han, the board has decided we need to blend in with you guys so no difference in outfits," she replied with a teasing tone, adjusting the hoodie with a smooth gesture. "Chale?" she asked, picking up her pistol from the nightstand.

Shubman's surprise quickly turned to amusement, and he laughed. "Yaar, aise kon puchta hai?" he said, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

Meera chuckled, zipping up her hoodie and making her way toward the door. "Let's go, Shubi."

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As Meera and Shubman walked towards the team bus, the morning sun was just beginning to shine on the quiet street. The atmosphere felt lighter than the night before, as if the weight of everything had been lifted with each step.

As everybody made their way onto the bus, she caught sight of Rahul standing off to the side, engrossed in his phone.

Without thinking, she jogged over to him and threw her arms around him in a tight hug, her heart swelling with gratitude and affection. Rahul laughed, his voice a little more relieved than usual. "You okay?" he asked, looking down at her with concern in his eyes.

Meera nodded into his chest, finding solace in his familiar presence.

Rahul gave her a light smack on her arm, chuckling. "Speak, you idiot," he teased, pulling away slightly to look at her. "What's up with you today?"

Meera, feeling a little sheepish, pulled back, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Han han, I'm okay," she repeated, her voice lighter now. But then, her expression turned more apologetic as she spoke again, "I broke my specs last night... galti se."