02
I COULD ONLY WHISPER

April

Mumbai,

"OH, THAT'S A GORGEOUS SHOT!" The commentator exclaimed as Abhishek pulled the ball for a six. "After being out of form for the last few months, Abhishek Sharma is back! A hundred for him as SRH is at 169 in 13.3 overs!"

On the field, as the ball reached the stands, the crowd erupted in cheers, the limited orange colour flags shining at Wankhede. Ishan Kishan, the batsman on the non-striker's end was grinning as he ran up to Abhishek. As he was engulfed in a hug by his teammate and close friend, the realisation dawned upon Abhishek. He'd just scored a century.

And in those fleeting moments, as the world around him applauded for him, Abhishek felt like an eclipsed sun. Still shining but swallowed completely by the dark. Lonely.

"Bhai, celebrate toh kar," (Bro, celebrate) Ishan whispered as Abhishek stood rooted at his place, no flicker of emotions on his face whatsoever. He shook his head and Ishan felt a pang of disappointment. He patted Abhishek's back, whispering a congratulations before walking off to the non-striker's end again.

"Why is there no celebration from Sharma yet?" the commentator voiced out what everyone was thinking.

"That's very strange," the other commentator chimed in.

Hardik Pandya, the bowler was also waiting for Abhishek to raise his bat or tell everyone they're losers but Abhishek simply took position again. Unable to hide his curiosity, the senior walked slightly ahead but Abhishek waved his hand, shaking his head. Hardik raised his eyebrow, approaching his junior.

In a house a few kilometers away, a woman sat on the edge of the sofa, watching the interaction between Hardik and the batsman. She didn't even realise it, but her fingers had clenched around the hem of her vermillion kurti, heart thudding in her chest.

A gentle breeze made its way in Aastha's house as she waited for him to...smile. Be proud of his ton. But, it didn't happen. Hardik had walked back and the game continued. Aastha felt tears cloud her vision, exhaling sharply. And then, she broke into sobs. She didn't want to cry, no she did not, but seeing him not raise his bat, scratch that- not even smile, it shattered her heart.

She'd fallen for his smile, not his stoic nonchalance. Celebrate the century, right? It's happened after a few long months of self-doubt, poor performance and harsh criticism. 

It wasn't about the celebration, it was about what it symbolised. He used to text her minutes before the game begun, used to send flying kisses her way during the game. And now...Abhishek was breaking, just like her and they didn't have it themselves to pick up the pieces.

As her tears came to a halt, her pain didn't subside.

Instead, the ache in her heart increased as the camera panned to the stands, showing Sara Tendulkar and Shubman Gill as Sara's brother- Arjun came to bowl. Sara, Shubman, Ishan, Hardik...just a few months ago, all of them were her people. And now— they all felt so far.

The glamorous cricket world which she'd seen up close, felt miles away again, as she sat cooped up in her house, just another viewer, again. The match came to an end but Aastha stayed rooted on the sofa, clutching onto the hem of her kurti.

She missed her Abhishek.

Almost half an hour passed while Aastha just stayed on the couch in the living room, blankly browsing on social media— eyes twinkling every time she saw a post praise her husband.

The post match interviews had also ended and she swallowed, an idea flashing in her mind.

Do it.

No.

Her thumbs hovered over the screen, eyes blinking as she contemplated whether she should act on her impulses. But, as the image of Abhishek's face, devoid of a smile after a powerful innings flashed in her mind, she pressed the phone number on the screen.

Sara, with her husband had gone to meet Abhishek, at the SRH dressing room to congratulate him when she got a call from Aastha. Her mind went blank as the familiar name flashed on the screen of her phone, heart thudding.

Aastha?

It had been almost a month since Aastha and Abhishek had filed for a divorce, and almost three months since Aastha had left their Mumbai apartment to go live in another house; thus disappearing from not just Abhishek's life but all of their lives as well.

Almost everyone tried to reach out to the woman, but she had isolated herself. And today, she was the one reaching out. Sara hastily came back to her senses, receiving the call.

"Aastha?" Sara's voice was a whisper, the name rolling off the tongue easily like she'd never stopped taking it.

It wasn't until this moment that Aastha realised how much she had missed Sara. How much the woman, who seemed like royalty to her before, then became a friend, a confidant— now felt like home, felt like a person she wanted to crawl back to...but just could not.

Do NOT cry.

"Can you...can you...." She struggled to find words while Sara let out the breath she'd been holding, her heart at peace after listening to her friend's voice after a long time.

"I just want to listen to his voice," Aastha never felt weaker, never felt more exposed and vulnerable...but she knew she was safe. Sara felt a pang in her heart at the simple request, eyes landing on Shubman as a reflex.

"Yes, yes, just I'll put in earphones and call you back, two minutes, okay? Just give me two minutes,"

"Okay," she breathed out. The next two minutes felt like eternity, but Sara called back, which she received in a second.

Sara with an EarPod in one ear, walked ahead, waving at Abhishek while Shubman talked to Ishan, stealing glances of his wife and friend, nervous about the entire situation.

"Congratulations, Abhay," Sara said, with a warm smile. She (and Aastha) expected him to tease her for he had just defeated Sara's home team but Abhishek just forced a smile, nodding.

"Thanks Sara," he said and Sara's smile faltered for a moment. She blinked, engulfing him in a hug.

"Next time, we're going to win," Sara said.

"Let's see," was all he said. This time, Aastha could hear Abhishek's voice clearly, and it felt like he was standing right in front of her.

"Conrats, Abhay," the words slipped out, and Sara quickly parted from the hug, eyes widening. Sara regretted not wearing both the EarPods, but she knew that would've looked suspicious.

"Did he hear me, Sara?" Aastha cautiously asked, she didn't want him to hear and complicate things.

Noticing Abhishek's casual demeanour, completely unaffected and unbothered, Sara inferred that he had not heard his wife's voice and she scampered away, saying a quick I got a call.

Except, Abhishek's heart was hammering in his rib cage as he walked to Ishan and Shubman, hoping he wouldn't break down right there and then.

He'd heard his wife's voice after almost a month.

Posting all the stuff I have before I go offline for a break <3

Thoughts about this one?

Also, I loooove writing female friendships with all my heart, so hopefully Aastha and Sara made you feel all the fuzzies as well!