22 - The Story of Love [Completed]

5. Penalty

England has won the match by 35 runs. Daniel Edwards has been named Man of the Match.

The game had ended half an hour ago and as Daniel had hoped, the victory was for his team. The confidence was there, and the proud smile still intact on his face. He had received another Man of the Match Award and he was already waiting to get home so he could show his mother another achievement of his. After greeting all the staff downstairs in the ground after the presentation ceremony, he made his way back inside to join his team.

"Mr Edwards!"

He stopped in his tracks hearing the familiar yet unfamiliar voice. Turning back to face the person who called her, his feeling was proven right. It was her.

"Hey."

"Congratulations on the win and the award."

She said with a smile. He reciprocated in response.

"Thank you, but didn't you want Pakistan to win?"

"I did but it's a game. Someone wins, and someone loses. Your team played well so the win was deserving too."

"That's very kind of you."

"Also, thanks."

He raised his eyebrows and looked in confusion.

"For the support earlier. I don't know what brought you inside during an ongoing game just to check up on me, but I appreciate it. Thank you."

"No worries. I hope you are feeling better."

She nodded in response but stayed silence. The conversation seemed to be over and the silence was getting heavier. Daniel was finding it difficult, so he had to intervene and break the awkwardness.

"Anyways, it was good to speak to you. Take care and see you around."

"Likewise. Take care."

She responded and both of them smiled and nodding at each other walked away. Daniel was off to join his team while Hoorain had to do some sorting-out of all the mess that was created by her family today.

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Suleiman sat down on the sofa with his head in his palms with worry etched on his face. Laiba had told him that Mirha called Hoorain and told her about everything that was happening in family. Mirha arrived in the living room and upon Suleiman's gesture to sit down, she sat beside him on the sofa and looked at him nervously.

"Why did you call Hoorain when I told you not to?"

"Because she needed to know, you have been so worried since the day we came back from Ami Jee's house. So, I thought maybe Hoorain's return might solve everything. I couldn't think of anything else, Suleiman otherwise-"

"You couldn't think of anything else, so you called your daughter who is far away on the other side of the world, that too alone. Here, Laiba, you and I are here to figure things out and cope with what's happening. She is all alone there Mirha. Imagine her worry after your call. You must have caused her so much stress and discomfort and it was the first match today. She must be occupied in work. God knows how she dealt with it after what you did."