So High School!

Chapter fourty two

Aarushi

Boards. Boards. Boards.

The only thing going in my mind. The only thing in my head. I have my Boards in less than 2 weeks and a mountain of syllabus staring at me.

The amount of stress I am taking is surely gonna land me in hospital.

And then, there was Aadi. In another city, playing matches like nothing could touch him. He is not stressed, not thinking, and doesn’t give a fuck. Why can't I be so nonchalant?! Why can't I just shrug off the weight of the world and go about all care free?

Ugh! I hate this. My head was spinning, stomach aching and all I wanted was...

I look at my side to find my phone buzzing.

Aadi. My heart skipped. And just like that a smile made it's way to my face.

"Looks like someone remembered they have a girlfriend." I say trying to sound a little mad. Although I wasn't. I know he has been caught up with stuff lately.

"Sorry sweetheart." Aadi murmured. He didn’t sound his usual self.

"Aadi, are you okay?" I ask, my voice softer than before. I could be mad anytime but right now, he needed me.

"Yes. I am fine." The reply comes almost immediately. Yeah sure.

"I know you are not." I murmured. "What's wrong baby?"

There's a long pause. He sighs preparing himself to say something. He cannot even be vulnerable before thinking about it and that breaks my heart even more.

"It's just the match pressure, sweetheart. I have my final match in an hour." He says. I know he is trying to open up, to talk about it. "And I am just scared."

"Why are you scared, Aadi?"

"Because it's my last chance." He takes a long pause before continuing. "Last chance to prove myself, to my parents, to my coach, to everyone... cricket not just a mere hobby for me Aarushi. And today if I don't perform, they would never understand."

"Why are you thinking like that? I know it's overwhelming you." I whisper, clutching my phone a little tighter. "But my love, Everyone knows Aadi Singhania and his batting."

He doesn't say anything but I can see how scared he is like he is holding the phone with trembling hands.

"You're not here." He finally mumbles. Barely audible. And my heart breaks a little more.

"I know." I whisper. "Trust me if I could be there, I'd be there in the front row, screaming my lungs out everytime you hit a six."

A chuckle escapes him but he still sounded sad.

"I just... don't want to fail." He says, his voice dropping lower. "Everyone is expecting a lot from me. Coach says that this match decides our selection in state. My parents had warned me last week, 'Either make something out of your cricket obsession or quit this.' One match. One damn match."

"Aadi. Take a deep breath and now listen to me." I say firmly. "You have worked for this, bled for this, and you are going to walk onto that field today and show the world exactly who you are."

He stays silent.

"You're Aadi Singhania. The boy who hits sixes out of the damn stadium when he is angry. The boy who plays like the world dissappears. The boy who doesn’t give up, even when he is scared."

"Sweetheart..." He whispers.

"And even if the whole world doubts you, I wouldn't."

Another pause.