Upon his concern Alan smiled, "Yeah, you're right. It's been long since I've played continuously for this long. And, you're right that I am exhausted right now as well. But, boy… don't you dare think that you can go easy on me. Up until now, I have pulled out every single one of your friend's potential and judged it as well. So until the very end I am going to do the same. Better watch out Mysterious genius. I might just force you to go all out despite your harboring intentions. Best of luck!" Alan cautioned tossing the bat towards him.
Xavier who was taken aback for a moment caught the bat blinking his eyes. Soon grinning he whispered back, "Got it."
Alan headed back excited, "Yeah… that's right. He is just like how I expected him to be… a kind Mysterious genius…"
(FLASHBACK)
(AMERICA TO PAKISTAN)= (Pakistan International Airport)
"Attention, All attendants' kindly outboard flight BA6445 returning from USA. You are all requested to recheck your luggage and confirm your entry documents before further proceedings. Attention, All attendants kindly out board flight BA6445 returning from USA. You are all…" announced the voice loud and clear as it echoed throughout the entire airport.
Amid all the bustle and mid-way clatter, Alan sat on the airplane's seat staring at his phone slightly dazed yet curious. Scrolling down again and again his attention was solely tied up.
"Sir! Sir! Sir…?" called out the voice confused again and again.
Puzzled by Alan's behavior the voice called out once more louder than it did before, "Sir!!"
Alan who taken aback by the voice turned around to find a young hostess sighing in relief. "Huh?" Alan uttered puzzled.
"Sir, we have arrived at our destination. Half of the passengers have already departed the plane. Since, you were so eager to arrive back, it confused me when you weren't moving at all." informed the hostess.
Alan who was finally aware of his present situation gasped standing up. "Wah!! I didn't even realize that we had arrived, haha! Thank you." Alan thanked looking out from the plane's window to find the bustling airport casing his sight. Powering off his phone, he looked up at the luggage carrier above taking out his gear.
The hostess stared at Alan intrigued from behind. "Dear sir, if you don't mind would you like to share about the thing which kept you so engrossed?" she asked curious.
Alan glancing at her slightly surprised smiled caringly. "Hehe, I even made you worried. I'm sorry." he apologized winking his eye. The hostess flustered responded back, "No! There's nothing to apologize about. If my behavior displeased you, I'm sorry instead."
Alan taking out his bag shook his head, "It's alright. Actually, I was reading about someone who felt familiar to me. What happened to him in the past was slightly familiar to me as well. So I got caught up for a while. I really don't know how to explain it. But I was just wondering how I should feel when I hear about an individual just like myself."
The hostess hearing him wondered wordless.
Alan smiling for a while instantly realized. "Ah! My bad I took your time again and wasted it. Thank you for all your support during the overall flight." he thanked once again leaving.
Suddenly the hostess called out, "It's surprising…"
Alan turned around.
"And sympathetic… at the same time." she added.
"Dear Sir, I may not know how you feel because I haven't gone through the condition same as yours before. But, if you see a person similar to you in a good way then you are surprised and would tend to reach out to him in a way to befriend him. On the contrary, if his past turns out to be a little tough like yours then you might feel sympathetic towards him and somewhere in your heart you would want to protect and help that person in your own way." she ended.
Alan stared at her wide eyed soon smiling.
The hostess realizing her long talk apologized once again flustered, "Ah! I am sorry! Me and my big words…"
"No… thank you and you're right." Alan interrupted.
"It's definitely this feeling." The hostess smiled, "If it helps you then I'm glad."
"What's your name?" Alan asked out of the blue.
"Mine? It's… Anna." the hostess replied.
"Well Anna, it was nice meeting you. Thank you for keeping up with a troublesome brat like me throughout the journey. If destiny reconciles let's hope to meet once again. And… if you could take some time out from your busy schedule. This year's cricket world cup… do come watch it. For this time… with that boy familiar to me and my treasured team I might snatch the trophy away." Alan stated heading out.
The hostess surprised grasping the sight of his gear whispered awed, "He is… an international cricketer?!" Alan tugging his cap low walked into the crowded airport. "I am back Pakistan… and all ready to take you to the finals." he claimed.
Taking out his phone once again he looked at it reading continuously. All of a sudden he bumped into someone. "Wah!" he shrieked flummoxed.
The person who bumped against Alan caught his arm instantly pulling him up as the books he carried fell down in a scatter.
"I'm sorry!" the boy apologized as Alan stood straight clasping his phone tightly. "Close! I would've lost all my precious data with just a single crack!!" Alan thought hugging his phone relieved.
Looking at the scatter of the books around, Alan once again kept his phone aside, helping the boy instead. His hairs dark green and round glasses covering his eyes, he gave out an aura of a student.
"I am sorry as well, I was engrossed reading something important that I ended up bumping into you. Forgive me for causing a mess." Alan apologized too.
The boy nodded accepting his apology. Collecting the books Alan read in curiously, "Medical Sciences…" "If I am not being too nosy. Are you going abroad for a doctorate PHD?" Alan questioned intrigued.
The boy taking his books back agreed, "You're right. I am surprised you comprehended that right away." "Not really, your books just told me…" Alan responded, suddenly catching a glimpse of a sheet which was covered with weird signatures and comments with a small area left all white, as if not even touched.
Standing up Alan handed the sheet towards the boy, "Here you go, it's the last one." The boy took the sheet gently staring at it, "Thank you…"
"Boy~ it must be something really precious. Take care of it. You might not know. But, these weird little senseless sentences from your cherished one's will pull you through heaps of trouble, even if they are never ending. There everlasting motivation is like an angel's light in despair." Alan advised ready to leave.
The boy clutching the paper asked, "And what if… it doesn't include the words of a certain someone who's really important to you, then?"
Alan instantly halting tugged the boy's shoulder teasing, "Hehe… tell me, is that a girl then?" The boy ignored Alan's joke.
"So… he's a serious and a stoic one…" Alan thought defeated and embarrassed.
"He is… my brother like friend." the boy whispered.
Alan blinking his eyes smiled soon patting his head. The boy perplexed from his behavior glanced puzzled. "People important to you might get angry at you for a little while, boy. They might say harsh words and even ignore you. But, that doesn't mean your bond with that person is broken. It is there and it always will be. Tell me just one thing… do you believe in miracles?" Alan asked.
The boy confused gazed at his books silent. "If you do… than this empty space of yours will soon be filled." he continued tapping his finger on the empty place over the sheet. The boy staring at him dazed stood in wonder.
"Alright, now that's how far as my help goes and I pray you become a fine doctor as well. If our destiny is connected we'll surely meet again." Alan waved his hand walking away. As soon as Alan walked away, a crowd of young boys rushed beside him calling out, "Dan!" "Dan!!"
Alan smiling turned around to eye the crowd surrounding the boy. "See… if you believe in miracles they do happen…" he thought as another one went past him. His steps lighter from the others. He stared at the boy panting hard. Gathering up even the slightest bit of courage he held within, he called out,
"Dan!"
Hearing his voice the boy looked amid the crowd as his gaze widened.
Alan tugged his hat once again taking his phone out, heading back. "All's well that ends well…" he thought relieved, "Now I better not bump into anyone else…"
Tracing Xavier's image from his phone he whispered, "Seems like… I have to pull this boy up as well. This once in a millennium prodigy…"
(END OF FLASHBACK)