The Chocolate Boy (Book One)

Chapter 20 : Pineapple Dreams

Warning : Bittersweet TuShan moments ahead!

*Unedited*

Chapter 20 : Pineapple Dreams

"Tuhin, are you listening to me at all?"

"No," I said and then realised what I said.

Crap. Leave Rakesh. Krrish was the first one to walk up to me. Maybe to throw some insult at my face.

But he surprised me when he asked, "Are you alright?"

I was taken aback for a moment.

Wait, is this the Krrish I knew? No? Then who is he? Did some alien invasion take place while I zoned out?

"Hey," someone clicked his fingers in front of me. Alien Krrish. "What happened Tuhin? Why aren't you being your bitchy self today?"

I rolled my eyes. "Nothing. Leave me alone."

"Okay then," his expression hardened. "Welcome back to earth, bitch."

Great. I wasn't even considered a male anymore.

"I have no time for your drama right now. I'm going for the toss. Be ready." Rakesh went out the dressing room.

With a last glare at me, Krrish got back to his locker. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him today. When did he started caring about me?

The dressing room reminded me of the first home match we had. Ishan had come down here to wish us luck and

"Krrish?" I dared not turn back to see who it was. Cause I knew that voice all too well. A cold drop of sweat ran down my spine while my stomach churned painfully, like I was going to be sick.

"Ishan!" The moment Krrish said that, my heart started practising for the Rio Olympics. I could hear the beats in my head.

Dhak. Dhak. Dhak.

I didn't want to face him.

I want to see him so badly.

I just want him to go.

I want him to hold me tight and wish me luck like he had done last time.

Could I turn around? Was he gone?

Is he there still? I wanna see him.

And see I did. I saw him grinning at Krrish, wishing him and the team all the best, throwing a hard glare my way and turning on his heels to leave. Just at the door, he looked back at me with an unreadable expression. His eyes were not smiling like they used to, instead they were blank. Like they didn't know which emotion to display.

He turned and went out. And I let him go. Not knowing that the face would continue haunting me. Even at daytime.

***

Our game was going down the drain. Krrish and I had dropped two catches each and Rakesh was slow enough to miss hitting the wicket thrice. Tushar or what-fucking-ever the name of the other pace bowler of our team was, had given 30 runs in his 2 overs till now. And the spin bowlers were slower than snails.

In short, we were a mess.

The over ended with another 10 runs for the Joseph's Squad when Rakesh gave the ball to me. This would be my third over and I had already given away 24 runs for a wicket in the past two overs.

With my heart beating like the drum beats in parades and march pasts, I was sure it would break my rib cage and hit the batsmen square on their faces. Nice way to turn them out of the field, huh?