Going Back To You

02.

Age 12 is an awkward age where you're neither a child nor an adult. The world seems too large to tackle, but you're gifted with enough baseless confidence to rebel against the world. Arin was a personification of such baseless confidence, a kid high on an eternal adrenaline rush.

When he first joined school, I didn't give him a second thought - a skinny nerd boy was the initial and final curated opinion I had on him. My life would have remained simple if it were left at that, but, Arin had a passion for proving people wrong.

Arin was a person born ahead of his time, if he were born now he would have been lauded for his intelligence; instead he was met with reproach for disturbing the unquestioned status quo upheld by conservative traditions.

"Election campaigns are legal bribing methods to gather votes."

"Eclipses happen because of the position of the Earth, moon and Sun, you won't be cursed."

Arin refused to restrain his words, "you should talk while you can."

I began to find him entertaining. He was from a different dimension, a breath of fresh air in a stagnated but peaceful world I lived in, I wanted to breathe in it a little longer.

One summer day, my friends and I were out playing cricket. A 20 over match, the most intense one I had played all season. Six, six, four, four, six...It was the best I had played, I was in top form, I felt I could take on The Kapil Dev, I glared down at the bowler...out.

My ego came crashing down, to give way to a cursed child born out of anger and embarrassment. I heard a boy giggle behind me...Arin.

Bastard, I was ready to beat up the skinny nerd.

"You got over confident and lost control of your footing", he smiled widely at me.

"Yeah you think you're so great huh? I bet you can't beat my score."

"Oh? Bet?"

"26 in 5 balls, or are you scared?"

"If I win I get your bat."

"Okay, deal."

I was confident, my limited edition bat, my father's only gift to me, it had always brought me luck, it wouldn't end up in the hands of a nerd. And besides he would need to hit consecutive sixes and fours to beat my score, even the best cricketers struggle to get such a score.

The nerd stood confidently in front of the wickets, holding a bat that was twice his size. I couldn't help but laugh, he wouldn't be able to lift the bat. Victory was within my reach.

Six, four, six, six, four, four. Fuck.

The ground erupted in cheers. How? What just happened?

"The bowler is really slow, it's not that hard predicting the trajectory of the ball. I'll take the bat from you tomorrow okay?" He cheekily smiled while patting me on the shoulder.

That bastard.

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A/N: Remember, this is a collaboration between I and my co-writer, Merakioni. Please, go and support this story which is up on her profile as well!