The Rules Of Pursuit

20. Least Expected That

"So you are in the dance team too?" I asked Avinash taking aim in the firing range. We both pretended as if nothing had happened at the swimming pool the previous evening.

"Yes" he shouted, so that I could hear him over the earmuffs. I pulled the trigger sending a rubber bullet of the handgun through the bull's eye. We were at the indoor shooting range, situated on the ground floor of the sports building.

I moved back and handed the gun to Avinash as he stepped in my place and took aim at the target.

"This is one thing you won't need to practice, Lady Hulk." He shouted, simultaneously his bullet tore through the bull's eye.

"Neither you." I shouted back, taking his place. He moved to stand behind me.

"My friend got selected too." I shouted as I changed the magazine. The other eleven pairs too were busy shooting. I noticed both Mandy and Natasha faired average in shooting. Danish however was a good shooter.

"The girl who belly danced?" Avinash asked.

"Yes Mia." I replied over the sounds of gunfire.

"Why didn't you try out?" He asked.

"I wouldn't dance even if my life depended on it," I laughed. "Why weren't you at the tryouts yesterday?" I asked him sending another bullet through the bull's eye.

"Because I am more concerned about my academics, than stupid dance tryouts." He replied.

"Aren't you supposed to practice for your soccer and dance face off?" I asked from behind watching him take aim.

"I don't need to practice for dance; I will pick up the steps in a day." He said confidently, his shoulder jolting from the gun's recoil. "And coming to soccer, the juniors need to be beaten to shape before we veterans get down on the field." He said handing me the gun.

"That is it," Mentor Varun announced. "The clear winners today are Mr. Chauhan and Ms. Banerjee." Avinash and I high fived casually, before turning to face Mentor Varun.

"Ten for now. But knowing you Ms. Banerjee, you will probably lose it all in the second half." Mentor Varun frowned, dismissing us for the morning.

"Hey Naxi, good one man," Mandy and Natasha walked up to where Avi and I stood.

"That is my forte, don't you forget." I pretended to shoot Mandy with my forefinger.

"So ummm Avi is it okay if I skip the practice today." Mandy made his classic puppy face.

"Aren't you doing that pretty frequently?" Avinash looked curiously.

"Actually today is supposed to be our day at the paradise." He said tentatively.

"Ummm...is that some code word?" Avinash asked a little confused.

"Oh it's this place in the forest the four of them hang out once every week." Natasha cleared his doubts.

"And it's heavenly." I chirped "that is why paradise."

"Oh! So," he looked at me "no studies today?"

"Umm..It had slipped my mind." I mumbled, "I am sorry."

After last evening things were not the same for me. I wanted to spend every second that I could wring out from the day, in Avinash's company. However, it would be selfish to abandon my friends.

"It's okay." He smiled yet I sensed the dispiritedness in his voice. "See you after lunch. And Mandy," he looked at my friend "don't make this a habit." He waved at us and left.