~•ASHLESHA SACHDEV•~
It’s been a day Karthik last visited me, he said he will be here in the morning, but it’s like 12 now already afternoon, he isn’t here, when will this guy get discipline. I take out the phone given to me to check on him.
But received something else which hitched my breath
“Cricketer Karthik Malhotra has been arrested this morning for kidnapping Vaibhav Jha, as Vaibhav Jha is found even he is taken into custody and the case on him reported by Ashlesha Sachdev ”
“Ashu I tol you no usage of phone too much agar bore lag raha hai tho bula deti your sister is always there for you babe” she holds my hand but I get rid of it immediately, nobody other than her knows the information I am cent percent sure it’s her
“Anisha, tell me the truth already” her face looses all the color I think she already sensed what’s coming for her
“Ashu mai….
“Answer one simple question, was this you?”
“Ashu list…
“Just say yes or no Anisha”
“Yes” that is it, it didn’t take me more than a second to land my hand on her cheek, I hit her for the first time though we hit each other for fun this is the first time I am hitting her out of hatred
“Ashu I can explain please”
“Kya explain karoge? Ye ki tumhe promises todne mai bohot maja aata hai? Ya tumhe dusro ki career kharab karne mai maja aata hai karke?”
“Ashu I didn’t mean it in that way, agar ye mai nahi release karti tho case aage nahi badta, you wouldn’t get justice”
“Bhaad mai gayi meri justice, 2 logo ki career zyada nahi hai kuch bhi, do you get that ki ye kaha jaa raha hai? You are destroying lives Anisha and I am not gonna spare you for this”
“I understand your pain Ashu but it was for good”
“Don’t even dare to defend yourself”
“I am not defending myself Ashu, I really mean it, it’s for the best”
“No and you are not the one who makes decision you could have discussed”
“And you would support Karthik, without thinking about anything but I want you to be out of it you deserve justice that’s all that mattered to me”
“You promised Anu, you broke it, just like everyone ever does it with me”
“Ashu..”
“Cut the crap Anisha I don’t want that justice thing, we have much better ways to get justice and you choose this, spoiling two careers”
“There are hundreds playing cricket Ashu, be practical it’s not that big thing and they are not so good after the success they have”
“SHUT UP, just shut up, you don’t know how hard it is to build a career be it anything sabko tumhare jaise silver spoon nahi milti hai and you shouldn’t have done this”
“I am doing everything for you but you still go over those boys, apne hormones ko control hi nahi kar paati ho kya ladko ke maamle mai?” that really broke me, I didn’t expect my sister saying this her eyes were filled with regret but that’s too late now
Just then our parents enter my room they heard everything, my mother slapped her hard, my mother is the most humble person ever she never raised a hand even on fly but today I saw rage, that’s what you have done Anisha,
My father instantly pulled me into his arms after 2 long years in his arms tears make their way down, not just tears, loud sobs wailing whinning whatever they call it I am a crying mess now every word she said was piercing into me hard, am I that bad in controlling my emotions? Do I really behave like a slut? But I just care for them? Is it wrong?
“Dimpy calm down, mai hoon na, chalo Karthik ke paas chalte hai” I nod at him still not leaving him
I know I need to see him, whatever Anisha told doesn’t matter, he gives peace to me. In a few minutes a wheelchair was arranged for me, I can’t even walk on my own great! Papa drives me to the police station, he’s a cricket player they could at least arrange a better place for me.
My breath hitches seeing him, a worn out t-shirt wounds all over his body, dried blood, the ever cheerful face was void of emotions, I couldn’t wait for a second more I pulled my self closer to that prison
“Karthik…” his eyes were so dull, I am sure he didn’t had sleep last night several wounds covering his face I didn’t even notice when a tear fell off my eye
“Ashi…tum kyu aayi ho..?
“Jo bhi baat karni hai 10 min khatam karo kal vaise bhi court mai present karna hai inn dono ko” just then I notice that bastard was also here, but in a different prison
“Uncle isse leke chaliye yaha se, rest ki zaroorat hai kya kar rahi ho yaha?”
“Chup, hamesha mere baare mai kyun soch rahe ho”
“Ab tum ho hi itni special mere liye” he said showing his dazzling smile, how is this guy even able to smile
“Hey hey taarif kar raha hun tumhara, why are you crying” I forcefully rub my tears
“Come on aaram se nikalo inn aansu ko aur mujhe vo dimple vaali smile dikha dho, please” he looks up at me with those puppy dog eyes, this guy can make me smile in my worst
I give a small smile to him he gestures with his hand to give a bigger smile, I smile big this time not breaking the eye contact with him, I can clearly see his eyes getting watered he blinks them rapidly to prevent them falling out, I know you better boy, stop that act. I place my hand on his hand which is on the railing of this prison
“You will get back Karthik, I promise tumhare career ko koi problem nahi aayegi”
“Career se yaad aaya, you are not gonna tell anyone about bhai being involved in this promise me on that”
“But karthik..
“No Ashlesha, if a career has to be destroyed it has to be mine, his name shouldn’t be out”
“Tumhare career ko kuch nahi hoga Karthik I promise”
“But agar career ko kuch ho raha hai vo mera hi hona chahiye, mera vaise bhi koi extravagant career nahi tha jo kharab ho jaye, aur bhai ka bohot sahi hai I don’t want a name against it Ashlesha” I nod at him
“Tell this to your sister Ashlesha, it won’t be good to her if she doesn’t keep her little mouth shut this time, I am not gonna spare ab mere saare cricket bats khali hi padenge tho I would really use them”
“Karthik I understand you are in pain but it’s my daughter you are talking about”
“I don’t give a shit about it sir,
I am sorry sir for how I talked to you but I am not sorry about how I talked about her”
“Karthik enough stop, relax” I run my fingers over his, he passes me a small smile
“Agar case kuch opposite hua tho mujhe lifelong jail mai rehna padega kya?”
“No, I will make sure you won’t aur ham case jeetenge”
“Patha nahi Ashi ye law bhi badi ajeeb cheez hai criminal ko pakadne ke liye jail mai daal diye hai, well what am I even talking? Tumhara injuries kaise hai how’s your health now”
“I am fine Karthik and you can show your grief to me I won’t judge you “
“Madam time up , kal court mai mil lijiye ga”
“Haa bass 2 minute” I don’t wanna leave him here alone but I know I have to
He places his lips on my fingers looking into my eyes I gesture him to come closer I move a little closer onto the railing so that our foreheads touch, a lone tear of mine falls on his knuckles I press a quick kiss on his nose
“We will be fine, Karthik” I leave on my way giving one last look to him
“Inspector sir, uss ladke ke galti choti hai zyada maariye mat” my father tells him in a really soft tone
“Irada tho hamara bhi nahi hai sir par upar se orders aaye hai”
“This jha guy”he mutters under his breath
“Chodo ab mai bol raha hun uss lakde ke upar ek haath bhi utna nahi chahiye nahi tho nateeja acha nahi hoga” my father warns the inspector, I could see the fear in that guy’s eyes and with that he pulls me out and places me carefully in the car
“Kya ladki hai Ashu, baap ke saamne kiss kar rahi hai” I could easily see the playful glint in his eyes
“Stop that papa” I giggle at him and he joins me too, guess that our relationship didn’t break that bad
“Yes ashu we never broke that hard”
“I said that loud?”
“Yes you did that”
“My bad, sorry”
“Well don’t be coz you were not wrong, we never broke from each other Ashu, we drifted apart but that doesn’t change the fact that we love each other, I am still your father”
“Of course papa, I still love you, I will always love you, you are my first love forever” I didn’t even plan saying something like this but this came out as an instinct as it is the truth
“Everything will be fine Dimpy, everything you will be be happy” he places a kiss in my hair
Yes, when I said ‘we will be fine, Karthik’ I meant it we will be fine in every means, I will be with him.
I like him
Or more than like
Yes that another L word but I need more time for that, but if there is anybody that I would have that L relationship that would be Karthik for sure
And I like him, very much
We will have a future, Karthik
We will surely have it, together.
~•AHAAN MALHOTRA•~
“Bhaiya aapka phone aarahi hai” I heard Aman’s voice, when I looked up he was holding my phone
It was Ishqi, what am I gonna tell her she must be so worried about everything happening around
“Bhaiya explain her, she will understand” yes he knows it’s me, actually everyone in the team knows it’s me, I nod my head and pick it up, unwillingly for the first time
“Ahaan…Karthik….why did he did this Ahaan, mujhe nahi patha tha nahi tho mai usse rok leti, tum chinta mat karo, mai Anisha ko call kar rahi hun, abhi police station bhi jaa rahe hai, he will be fin…
“It’s me Ishqi”
“What?”
“It’s me Ishqi, maine kiya hai ye sab, mai vaha nahi tha uske badle mai Karthik sambhaal raha tha”
“Tumne Vaibhav ko apne saath le gaye ho?”
“Yes” it was more of a whisper, which shows how much guilty I was.
“Why” her voice was slow now, I could sense her shock
“I..don’t know Ishqi, it was a impulsive decision I was not in my right mind…I am really sorry for that”
“Well someone else is paying out there for your mistake” her voice was serious now
“I will surrender Ishqi, I am coming back, meri flight hai 2 ghante mai, kal dopher tak pounch jaunga”
“Court mai case morning hai Ahaan, and baat vo nahi hai, tumhe ye kaam karna hi kyun tha?”
“I am sorry Ishqi” I don’t know how to explain it better, but whatever it is I am guilty for it.
“That doesn’t help anything here Ahaan, aise kaise kar sakte ho? Law ko apne haato mai kon lene bola hai?”
“Mai aise hi hun Ishqi, aggressive, impulsive, stupid and I accept it was my mistake”
“Accept karne se mistake sudhar nahi jaata hai Ahaan, it is still a mistake”
“I know”
“But clearly that doesn’t matter now Ahaan, kaise le sakte ho aise decisions? How can you be so impulsive, this is not you”
“No Ishqi, this is me, I am aggressive and impulsive that is what I am, but I am a different person when I a, with you but in real I am not the sweet Ahaan you see”
“No Ahaan, you hate being aggressive but that’s where you show your emotions, you turned into this person because of your father, you don’t want to vent out your feelings on the people you love so you show that your game, on you opponents, you just don’t think anything else now but you know what who you are hurting? Yourself, you are being hurt, stop being the person which you aren’t
You are scared, tum darte ho kahi tum apne papa jaise ban jaoge karke, so you show the real self to me, you be honest with me
You know when I feel you are real? The moment I am in your arms your heart beats rhythmically, no words being spoken but your eyes speak so hard, they are just pure and clean, be that Ahaan” and the call goes off.
That’s the reality of Ahaan Veer Malhotra, it’s the bitter truth which I didn’t share with anyone
But I really underestimated her, she got to know me so well, too well
Just then I felt my shoulders shaking, I see Aman with my packed bags
“Time ho raha hai bhaiya aapko jaana hoga”
“Haa nikal raha hun” I rub the corner of eyes which were almost about to tear up
“Bhaiya”
“Haa bolo”
“Sab thik ho jayega bhaiya don’t worry”
I didn’t know what to reply, because I wasn’t sure if everything would be alright, maybe this could be last time I see him as a teammate, I just hug him tight as tight as I could, soon everyone in the team joined the hug
No matter what happens I would be always be grateful to these people.
“We will see you captain, soon” said our coach, which I am not sure of but I hope.
“Hopefully bhai” I pass my hand for a handshake but he pulled me into a hug
“I have never seen a player like you Ahaan, and I am sure in the coming years also I would not see someone like you, the team needs you and you will be here, you both will be here” he says holding my shoulders
I know it cannot be possible but I wish I really wish that happens, somewhere in the corner of my heart I still believe that we still have a chance
“Thank you bhai, thank uou guys, hopefully see you all soon” everyone passes me a warm smile.
I turn around taking my bags with me, more than the bags my heart felt heavy, I always wanted to go home from a tour but today I am feeling to leave but I don’t belong here now, preparing myself I start leaving.
“Bhaiyaaaaa, ek minute rukiye” Aman called and ran somewhere, this guy is making harder than it is
He came inside the room running with my…kit bag?
“Bhaiya aap ye bhool gaye hai” to be honest I didn’t forget I left it myself
“Lijiye bhaiya kya dekh rahe hai, ye zaroorat padega aapko “
“Vo sahi keh raha hai Ahaan, take it with you”
I don’t want to, I don’t know if ever again I will be able to hold it.
“Bhaiya please don’t lose hope, ye aapka kaam aayega trust me lijiye aapke saath” he looks uoto me with hopeful eyes, the eyes which I could never say no
With that I took my kitbag with me as well and without turning back I left from there.
This maybe the last walk as a Crickter in London
I am leaving everything on my fate now, May I get what I deserve.
Goodbye Cricket…