Chapter : 2

Rishav's POV

Deepak stood behind the stumps on the opposite side, playing the role of the umpire. I stood facing the bowler, Farhan,  as he took a short run and threw the ball towards me. It was a spinner, something I was very comfortable in hitting. With a strong swing, I hit the short pitched ball over the heads out of the boundary. Farhan's face contorted in anger for I was raising the bar with each major hit.

We ended the game with a victory of 178 and Ravi was really happy. Kabir was also grinning but our happiness was short lived for soon each of us began to receive calls from home. It was about five in the evening now and a Friday. I wished to stay a while longer but since I was the only source of accommodation for Kabir, I kick started the bike while Ravi too got on his Enfield.

"Listen, are you free this Sunday?" Ravi asked me, strolling his bike out of the grounds while I followed the actions.

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Actually, my sister is returning from Vizag and I won't be there to pick her up since I'll be going to a nearby district with Dad. So I was thinking you could help me out. She's been away for over eight years now and will easily get lost otherwise," Ravi explained.

I mentally scowled at his request. The sole reason why I survive through a stressful week of school and life is because I await for weekends to come so that I can chill my heart out. My day would be ruined if I had to pick up some girl from the airport.

But thinking of refusing to Ravi was something I couldn't do. His charcoal eyes were filled with hope and trust which I could never ignore.

"Fine," I sighed, "tell me when to pick her up."

Ravi grinned at me with his grateful eyes twinkling like ornate gems victoriously. "Thanks man, she'll arrive at 7:00 AM or earlier." With that said, Ravi and drove off.

Okay, WHAT?

7:00 FRIGGING AM?

I mean, fine, not that early but to me it's like waking up before dawn breaks on a Sunday Morning.

Ughhh.

So officially my Sunday has been ruined. Damn that girl.

My chain of thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my shoulder.

"Zoning out, bro?" Kabir asked from behind me.

I realized that I had a guy to drop off. Shaking my head clear, I drove off towards our homes.

***

"Okay, now do as I had taught you all the previous class," Mr Imran spoke.

All the students exchanged nervous glances at one another. Everyone was uncertain about which chords to start from. I, on the other hand, was slouched at the back of the class, at a corner seat with the guitar perched on my lap like everybody else.

I never found music much to my interest but seemed like I was destined to be sitting in this class. My Mom was a professional classical musician and had always been obsessed with making me learn at least one instrument. I initially went for the Sitar, like her, but ended up with a hundred cuts on my fingers with blood oozing out. The teacher then advised my Mom to not put her dreams over my shoulders for me to carry on but to let me pursue my own dreams. So she let me choose something I would want to play. I wanted to say I didn't wanna play anything at all except for cricket but, to keep her heart, I went for the guitar.

"Maybe Mr Neil can give a headstart to you all," Mr Imran said looking at me expectantly.

All eyes turned to the back, on me. Some even turned their chairs to get a comfortable position to listen as I got my hand positionings right.

I began with a few bar chords and took speed. The strumming pattern was pretty easy to me. There was pin drop silence until I finished. The class erupted in deafening applauds once I ended.

"You live up to my expectations, young man," the teacher smiled at me.

I simply nodded, not returning his smile. I don't really know why, but of all the tasks in this universe, smiling back to someone appears to be the most herculean one to me. It's like I'm being forced to mirror an emotion of someone else without really feeling it, and this makes me quite awkward. The class then turned their attention back to the front where the teacher began instructing.

I turned my attention to tuning the strings of my guitar, my eyes fixed on the frets. I felt someone's presence beside me but didn't bother to raise my head and acknowledge the person.

Feeling the person sit down beside me, a flowery fragrance hit my senses, something like the roses. I still didn't avert my eyes.

"Hi." A feminine voice reached my ears.

I raised my eyes finally to my left where a girl was sitting with a friendly smile gracing her pink lips. Her eyes were bright blue, something quite unusual for an Indian face, and her face was framed between her dark, wavy tresses. Overall she was cute.

"Hmm." I simply hummed and gave a nod.

"Fiona, Fiona Williams. And you?" the girl spoke before stretching out a hand for me to shake.

I glanced down at her hand and peered back at her face, contemplating if I should shake it. I finally took it, shook once, and quickly released it.

"Rishav Neil," I introduced rather awkwardly. Socializing? Yeah, I suck at it. 

"Nice," she affirmed with a nod and passed me another lively smile.

I tried and returned a small smile to her. I wasn't much accustomed to talking to girls. The only time I interact with them is during projects or any other academic purpose. Fiona was someone I had often took notice of in the music class but we never talked. But I never missed the way she would look at me with a smile when I'd be playing the guitar. She and I were classmates too but never interacted this way, which is probably why this encounter came across as such a surprise to me.

I guess that's why she thought of an introduction to be necessary, or maybe she didn't know my name in the first place.

"You play really great," she added, probably attempting to fill the void of silence between us.

"Thanks," I responded, making small talk.

The class soon ended and I swiftly made my way out of the class, towards the parking lot to get my bike. Furrowing my brows in confusion, I turned around when I heard someone call my name. It was Fiona striding towards me.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Um... I was thinking if you could... um... tutor me to play the guitar?" she mumbled, shuffling over her feet with uncertainty. "We have got the test in the coming month and I will probably flunk the test if I don't get some help," she added hopefully.

I frowned at her request. I never liked playing the guitar myself and now I had to tutor a girl? I was about to decline when she pouted at me like a little kid.

"Please! I promise I'll be a good student," she begged with her blue eyes going wide.

I blinked at her. Finally giving up, I agreed to teach her every Friday.

*Author's Note*

Hey my readers! I'm really sorry for those who are not familiar with the game of Cricket. But don't worry, I won't use too many terms of that game. You won't be too confused.

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Lots of love,
Arhana💗