Just Roommates

the basket ball affair

On the 14th of August, Diya and Arjun were finally done with all the arrangements, all that was left was for the guests to arrive and the event to take place. They decided to do a final inspection of the school and the sports courts especially since a few sports giants were invited. There were a bunch of boys school students playing there while the students of the girls government school sat there. Diya walked up to them and inquired why they weren't playing. One of the girls said, 

"Didi, we are actually a little embarrassed to play infront of the boys"

"Yeah didi, they play so much better than us" one more said.

"Moreover, basketball isn't even a girls thing to do" Another one added

"What? basket ball is not just for boys, girls! Are you kidding me? you shouldn't be embarrassed to play in front of the boys, infact you should go and play against them and then beat them"

Arjun who was standing right there interrupted Diya, "Playing in front of them or with them is fine, but beating them, don't give them false hope Diya"

"False hope? Oh so you think girls can't beat boys?"

"No, I think if we played against each other, you cant and wont beat me" Arjun said smirking. His hands in his pocket. 

"What? rubbish, R-U-B-B-I-S-H" Diya asked, visibly upset

"oh is it? fir hara ke dikha do" Arjun said as he smirked and held a basket ball that one of the boys had just passed to him

"oh really? You wanna lose that bad haan? alright bring it on, one on one, Lets go" 

The vast court became empty, the boys stood on one corner cheering for Arjun while the girls stood on another cheering for Diya. Arjun unbuttoned the top button an loosened his tie still smirking at Diya while Diya with full determination and confidence, draped the Saree pallu around her and tucket it in the skirt and then tied her long hair in a bun without a rubber band. she then removed her chappals and put them to the side. Arjun came in the middle of the court holding the ball and so did Diya. He then told her, "Suno, zara Saree sambhal ke",  a confused Diya looked at what was wrong with her Saree and just then the coach blew the whistle, Arjun smiled in pride and dribbled the ball past a confused Diya. Diya realizing what was going on ran behind him and then was right in front of him with her hands spread out trying to defend. Arjun shot the ball in the air but it hit Diya's hand and she took the ball and dribbled to the other side of the court, Arjun came from behind, and pulled the ball from her hands as soon as she was gonna shoot it. She realized this and was now again in front of Arjun not trying to let him enter her court, she took the ball from him as he dribbled and shot, it was into the basket and the girls team broke into a loud cheer and applause

The sky was gloomy and there was a forecast of a thundershower yet Diya and Arjun were sweating profusely. The humidity was making it worse. The score as of now was diya 7 and Arjun 6, the crowd was starting to get tired but not Arjun and Diya.  

It had begun drizzling. Diya had the ball now and she was running to make another basket, Arjun swiftly came before her and stealthily pulled her pallu that was tucked into her skirt, out. Diya's pallu began flying and she was disturbed by it, also by the fact that Arjun had just touched her waist. Arjun smirked, snatched the ball and made a basket. Suddenly the thunder roared, and it started pouring heavily. All the kids began running to their house and Arjun and Diya kept looking at each other. Diya and Arjun too ran to the steps and picked up their belongings each and then rushed. Arjun held his water proof laptop bag on his head while Diya covered her head with the pallu and held her chappals in the other hand. Both of them looked at each other and begand laughing. As they got off the stairs that led to the court, Arjun handed his hand to Diya and she took it. They reached the main road and tried to stop a rikshaw. Diya spotted a peacock and she showed it to Arjun, like an excited child. It continued to rain, non stop, Arjun's hands were tired of holding the laptop bag on his head and so he was fully drenched to too, Meera's clothes were now sticking to her body, her pallu had almost become transparent by the time they reached home, running on the road, holding hands in heavy rain like little children would do with their best friends in school.