Chapter : 71

Rishav's POV 

It's been three weeks since that incident.

Three weeks since Ravi got pushed out of the team and sent back home.

Three weeks since that day when he was accused of being involved in drugs.

"It's okay boys... We are still in the game." Kiran told us as we walked into the bus which would be taking us to the railway station.

The three test matches of this game were over and we had lost terribly. With my really bad swings, I had been declared bowled out at probably the second over. Ravi's absence had hit everybody hard. He was the best wicket keeper we had. Sumit, the substitute wicket keeper was not as good as Ravi and we missed potential runouts as a result of his midfields.

I slouched back on my seat and looked out of the window listlessly. Nothing seemed to be able to distract me from what had happened. Ravi did not deserve this. He never would be involved with drugs! I know him well enough to state that.

The Board had carried on certain blood and other tests on him to check for the presence of Cocaine in his system. I don't know what the results have been and neither have I talked to Ananya yet. The past three weeks have been complete silence for me. All this while I've been pondering over how those packets ended up in Ravi's bag. Was this some sort of conspiracy against him? Considering how famous Ravi was, there is a possibility that someone had tried to frame him into this scene.

***

"How have you been?" Ananya asked me as I entered her home.

She hugged me even before I answered. Hugging her small frame back I nodded into her shoulder.

"Why is there such a huge crowd outside the residence?" I asked as she parted away. Ananya sighed and looked away, not answering me.

"Ananya what is it?" I asked and held her hand to silently tell her it's okay.

"They are the haters..." Ananya spoke but stopped short on her words.

I frowned at that.

What?

Ananya silently walked back towards the coffee table and picked up today's newspaper from it. Walking back to me, she handed it out and pointed at the article. I didn't question her but read the article silently.

Drugged Or Not?

Drugs seem to be pulling innocent lives into it's clutches in the recent era. In the recent events of the Ranji Trophy test matches going on, Ravi Sharma (17) of the Delhi team has been alleged of being involved with Cocaine.
However, all tests carried out declare him clean of any such drugs and he has been declared innocent by the higher officials...

"This is great news Ananya. He's safe!" I said, still confused about her worry stricken face.

"That's what you and I think - That Ravi is innocent. But who will explain this to the people out there? In their minds, Ravi Sharma is a drug addict who got out of this mess with the power of money. They've been creating mobs outside the house ever since Ravi returned..." Ananya spoke slowly, her voice breaking at the end.

I frowned as her words registered in my head. Taking Ananya in my arms, I shushed her and tried to calm her down. She sobbed silently. I knew there was no one at home apart from Ravi and her. Ananya needed to vent out her thoughts to someone.

"Where's your dad?" I asked her.

"He's out settling some talks with the police after which he'll be coming back to disperse away the crowds with the help of the authorities..." She explained, still in tears.

"It's okay Ananya. Your brother is fine." I tried to comfort her.

"How will he be fine Rishav? I'm really afraid of what future holds... Ravi stays locked up in his room for hours... Doesn't talk... Doesn't respond.  All I know is that he's alive when he comes down to pick up the plate of food only once in the entire day." Ananya cried.

My phone buzzed, indicating a call but I couldn't care less. My top priority were the two people I loved the most who were in terrible state of minds currently. Ravi was broken. Ananya was afraid for him.

I pulled her down to make her sit on the sofa and kneeled down in front of her to look at her face. She looked exhausted. It was as if she hadn't slept for hours. Her brown eyes were no longer holding that twinkle. It hurt to see her in such a state.

I opened my mouth to speak but got interrupted by my ringing phone again. Cursing, I pulled out my phone and looked at the number. It was an unknown caller ID.

"Pick it up. Could be someone important." Ananya told me, wiping her cheek. Smiling, I rubbed away her cheeks once more and attended the call.

"I had dug the trap to catch the lion. But guess what? The tiger fell in." A voice spoke.

I recognized it as Madhav calling.

"What is it now?" I asked, annoyed.

"How stupid of me to have put that packet in Ravi's bag. Wish I had got the right bag." Madhav said.

I... What? How.

"Where the fuck are you?" I asked, loosing my calm.

Ananya looked at me with worried eyes. I looked at her but didn't respond.

"I'm at the very place where this all started." Madhav said.

Disconnecting the call, I stood up. Ananya still had her eyes trained on me questioningly. I looked at her but wasn't in the right mind to answer her. Heading out of the mansion, kick started the thunderbird and drove off for the Chinese Restaurant where it had all begun.

Parking the bike roughly at the stands, I looked about and found him standing at the far end of the street with a malicious smile. I felt my anger taking lead of my actions as I advanced towards that little bastard. My rage was radiating off me. For some reason, Madhav was still smiling.

"Why the hell Madhav?!" I spoke as I grabbed his shirt and raised my free hand but before I could proceed, someone jerked me back by my arm, away from Madhav.

Before I could comprehend anything, a hard punch landed on my jaw. I staggered back, not ready for the sudden attack.

"How's that for a punch huh?" The voice of the attacker reached me as I straightened up and looked at him with bewildered eyes.

"You?" I asked as I looked at Dinesh. That very guy who had taken Ananya for a date and whom I had handled at the park.

Once back to my senses, I took a deep breath and advanced for him with a hard punch on his nose, within moments, it was all a blood laden scene with two guys fighting about in the middle of the street.