Cheering For Him In The Match
"I am so excited", Naina says. We both looked at the shirt Shravan gave us with the team name on it. "I am too. Let's go now", I say and we rush to see Shravan and his group waiting for us. We sit in his big car and drive off.
"Let's play some songs", Shravan nods his head at his friends and switches on the radio. My favourite song plays on the radio so I start humming in an inaudible voice lost in my own world.
Until, I hear a male voice in the part of the male singer. Opening my eyes, I see Shravan humming and smiling at me. Guess, I wasn't inaudible. Then all join us in the fun music concert.
We reach the school where his match is and get out of the car. "Are you nervous?", I ask Shravan and he looks at me. "Yes. How did you know?", he asked me. "You were fidgeting with your fingers", I point out.
"Don't be nervous. You have practised a lot and you will definitely rock it today", I say to him. "How can you be so sure? Players who come are no less than professionals", he tells me.
"Well, then even you are the one professional player that is participating in this match. And the game is not about winning and losing. It is just about enjoyment. And not every student gets selected in the teams. You are selected. So stop getting nervous and play with your free mind", I say softly and he smiles at me.
I smile at him and wish him luck. Then we go to the seats of the audience as the boys leave for their match. We girls sit down and eagerly wait for the match to get started. My gaze shifts on Shravan who is doing warm up and he looks so good.
"Dude. The six pack of these guys will kill me. Especially Shravan", Naina says, staring at all of them. I look at her amused. "I thought you were innocent", I say and she just winks at me.
The match starts and we eagerly look at how it's going forward. Shravan was right. They are no less than professionals. What game are they playing? I feel my excitement getting out of control.
I am enjoying this.
We all yell in excitement seeing our school team going forward and on the winning point. You can do this. But then...
My smile falls as Shravan slips really bad while taking runs and rolls over. Silence spreads among us girls. That must have hurt him.
I see him trying to get up but failing. And then, "Shravan", I shout his name in a loud voice. "Get up. You are just one point away from this and you are gonna win. Get up. You can win, you will win", I shout and all the girls join me as we shout his name.
The boys start shouting his name too and he gets up and completes his run by jumping a loud gap. Fortunately, he hits on the wicket ground faster than that leather ball which falls beside him afterwards and rolls off.
The referee ends the game with his whistle and the shout of the boys make us realise that our school won and we girls get up yelling in happiness and rush down as the boys run up towards Shravan and pick him up.
"You did it", they yell and his gaze shifts on me. He grins at me and I smile back. He is kept down and the girls jump on him and then go to hug others. He comes towards me limping slightly and hugs me as I hug him back.
"Are you ok?", I ask worriedly and he nods. "We are going to the medical room", a boy says and they come up to us as they support Shravan. Like I said, that was a bad fall. We go to the medical room and fortunately, these are minor injuries which will fill up with time.
"Thank you for giving me the hope that I can win at the right time. Otherwise, my legs would have not supported me", he says in a kinda emotional tone. I understand this. This match means a lot for the players. It's natural.
"It's alright", I say softly and after some time, we all gather back on the school ground where the teams receive their medals. Shravan touches the gold trophy on his forehead making me smile at him in adoration.
"Let's buy ice creams on the way", Payal, Shravan's friend, suggests and we say yes, liking her idea. We settled in Shravan's car and he is sitting just beside me now and not in the passenger seat because of his dead legs.
He has his eyes closed and he is taking deep breaths. "Water?", I say, offering him a water bottle and he nods, taking it from me and drinking water. "Come to the school during the break we are getting. We guys usually sit in our place and study there", Shravan says.
"Yes. You both will join us", Vedika says. "Fine. We both will come", I say and we drive off. We drop all his friends back like it was decided and then leave for Naina's house. We ate ice cream on the way and Shravan is all good by now. He has gone to a lot of matches so he is quite habitual but I know he will sleep like a horse as soon as he gets back home.
"Bye", he says as I get out after we reach my home. "Bye. Take a rest and text me. Just for precautions otherwise I may worry", I say and he smiles. "I will", he assures me and I step upstairs.
"Suman", I ring the doorbell and turn to look at him. "I will help you with your studies so don't take stress. It'll be ok", he shouts, smiling and waves.