Shadows Of The Stumps

Falling like Domino

The next morning, the living room was brighter than the day before, sunlight spilling through the curtains, carrying with it the sounds of laughter and mock-arguments.

On the carpet, Meera sat cross-legged with a ludo board spread out before her, her hair loosely tied back, a faint tiredness still shadowing her face from the previous day’s painful session. Across from her sat Krunal, grinning ear to ear like a schoolboy about to cheat his way through a game.

“You’re gone, Meera!” Krunal declared dramatically as he rolled the dice and moved his piece. “Straight to home. Khatam.”

Meera narrowed her eyes, feigning outrage. “You wait and watch, Krunal bhai. I’m sending all your pieces back to start.”

From behind them, Hardik, who had been pacing like a nervous child outside the principal’s office, finally crouched down next to her. His face was practically carved with ‘please forgive me’ expressions.

“Meeru,” he began softly, leaning toward her shoulder, “dekho na… let me roll once for you? Just once. I’ll bring you a six, pakka promise.”

Meera didn’t even look at him. “No thank you.”

Krunal instantly burst into laughter, slapping his thigh. “Arre waah, Hardik Pandya denied! Aur suno, bhai… she’s not even looking at you.”

Pankhuri, curled on the sofa with their little one on her lap, chuckled. “Hardik, you should just accept defeat. She’s enjoying this too much.”

Hardik’s mother, sitting beside Pankhuri, shook her head with a knowing smile. “Pagal ladka. See how he’s circling her like a puppy. Arre, let her play in peace.”

But Hardik wasn’t ready to give up. He slid in closer, practically kneeling on the carpet now. “Meeru, please… I know you’re not angry-”

“I am angry,” Meera cut in smoothly, though the corner of her lips betrayed the ghost of a smile.

“No, no, you’re not,” Hardik countered instantly, his tone more boyish than defensive. “Because agar tum really angry hoti, you wouldn’t even let me sit here.”

That made even Meera laugh under her breath, though she quickly hid it with a toss of the dice.

“See!” Krunal pointed at her dramatically. “She laughed. You’re losing your drama-queen power, Meera.”

Meera rolled her eyes. “Krunal bhai, you’re not helping.”

“Helping? I’m enjoying this!” he teased. “Finally someone who doesn’t melt at your bhai’s puppy face.”

Hardik groaned loudly, throwing his head back, making Pankhuri and his mother laugh harder. The kids, Vayu and Kabir, who didn’t quite understand the game but understood the noise, were clapping along as if cheering for Meera.

In the middle of all the chaos, Meera finally allowed herself to smirk at Hardik, her voice soft but playful. “It’s going to take more than your silly faces to win me back, Hardik.”

Hardik placed his hand dramatically on his chest. “Challenge accepted.”

Krunal cackled. “You’re finished, bhai. Retire. Even the ludo board has rejected you.”

Meera leaned forward, flicking her token with a delicate push. “Bhai, don’t encourage him,” she said with mock severity. But the way her eyes sparkled betrayed how much she was enjoying this.

Pankhuri shook her head, rocking Kabir gently on her lap. “Bas, Hardik. Just accept she’s not going to melt easily. Yesterday you made her cry, today you’re suffering.”