As the team practiced on the field, I sat in the stands, observing the players with a keen eye. My attention was fixed on Dev, who stood at the crease, ready to face the next delivery. The tension in the air was palpable as the bowler approached, releasing the ball with precision.

But just as he swung his bat, a sudden miscalculation caused him to miss, and the ball struck him squarely on the forehead.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
A collective gasp echoed through the stadium as Dev stumbled backward, clutching his head in pain as blood started to flow.

Panic swept through the team as we rushed to his side, our voices a cacophony of concern. My heart raced with fear as I searched the crowd for Jiya, the team's physiotherapist, but she was nowhere to be found. Do minute pehle to yaha hi thi yaar.

Feeling a surge of adrenaline, I rose from the seat, my mind racing with urgency. "We need to get him to the dressing room," I declared, my voice trembling with anxiety. "I'll take a look at the injury." I said as our eyes locked and I swear a hundred conversations happened right there.

I led the way to the dressing room, my heart pounding in my chest. The sight of blood doesn't usually unnerve me, but the fact that it was on him certainly did. But knew I had to remain calm for Dev's sake.

Once inside the dressing room, I ushered Dev to a seat and knelt down to gently inspect the wound. It was a deep cut, but thankfully not as serious as it initially appeared. With steady hands, I applied pressure to the wound, staunching the flow of blood as best I could.
As I applied some antiseptic on his cut, he winced slightly, the sting of the antiseptic making him flinch.

" I hate this." Dev said as he flinched.

"You're going to be okay, Dev," I said, my voice steady despite the underlying worry.

"I hope so," Dev replied, his voice strained with pain. "It hurts like hell, though."

I offered a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, you always did have a hard head, didn't you?"
Well that earned a weak chuckle from Dev. Progress, I guess.

As I cupped his face to clean Dev's wound, I couldn't help but notice the way his breath hitched the moment my fingers touched his skin. It was a fleeting moment, but one that sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a spark of something I couldn't quite name.

Meeting his gaze, I found myself drawn into the depths of his eyes, a silent exchange passing between us in the hushed silence of the dressing room. In that moment, it felt as though time had slowed to a crawl, the world fading away as we lingered in each other's presence.

But before I could fully comprehend the depth of the connection between us, I heard a light cough coming from the door. Startled a little bit, I almost lost my balance as I was on my toes . As I looked back at the door, guess whom did I see?

" Umm, how is he now?" Kl said as he pointed at Dev.
I swear to god he's knows something is going on and that is not good.

I cleared my throat and said," He'll be fine. The wound is bandaged for now. We have to-"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could speak, Jiya burst into the room, her eyes wide with worry as she rushed to Dev's side. "Dev, are you alright? What happened?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with concern.

I watched as Jiya hovered over Dev, her hands fluttering nervously as she checked his injury. There was a palpable tension in the air, a sense of unease that hung heavy in the room.As I watched Jiya rush into the room, her worry evident in every line of her face, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. It was a feeling I couldn't quite name at first, a strange mix of sympathy and unease that left me feeling unsettled.

As Jiya hovered over Dev, her concern palpable in every gesture, I couldn't help but notice the way her eyes lingered on him, the tenderness in her voice as she spoke to him. And suddenly, it hit me like a ton of bricks—She liked him. More than just as a teammate, more than just as a friend.

The realization washed over me like a wave, leaving me feeling oddly hollow inside. Part of me wanted to look away, to pretend I hadn't seen the way Jiya's eyes softened whenever she looked at Dev, the way her voice trembled with worry as she checked his injury.

But I couldn't tear my gaze away, couldn't ignore the truth that stared me in the face. Jiya liked Dev, and by the way he listened to her, it was painfully obvious that he didn't feel the same way.

A pang of sympathy welled within me as I watched the interaction unfold before me. I knew all too well the pain of unrequited love, the ache of longing for someone who could never be yours.

Dev shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I'm okay, Jiya," he said softly, his tone gentle yet firm. "Just a cut, really."

I couldn't help but notice the way Dev's eyes seemed to glaze over as Jiya continued to fuss over him, a distant look in his gaze that spoke volumes about his feelings—or lack thereof.

And as Jiya continued to dote on Dev, I  couldn't shake the feeling of sympathy that welled within my heart.