Ritik's POV:

Three wristbands and only one hand!

I do have two hands but in one hand I always wear the wristband which Riyaaz sir gave me. Whenever I have a match I prefer to wear that one, so one hand was sorted but for the other one, I was very confused as I got three new wristbands. One was a customised which was given by Nia, it was black in colour and had my name printed on it in red. The other was black as well, with a football, heart and infinity symbol on it. It was given by Kiara. After the day we had coffee together, we didn't had any talk. We did came in front of eachother but still never talked. Today, Mom and dad went to her house and when they returned mom gave me this band. I knew, it was Kiara's way of paying me for that ride. She didn't say a word to me after I paid the bill. And the third one was given by Aashika. No doubt, I was going to wear it because if I don't, she will get sad but why didn't she think about me? How will I wear a wristband which is Pink in colour? Seriously? Pink? I hate Pink!

"Are you busy son?" Dad asked standing outside my room.

"Not for you. Please come in and stop asking this question." I said and heard him laugh a little.

"What are you doing?" He asked and I showed him the wristbands kept in front of me, he laughed again obviously looking at that pink band. Aashika is 18 not 8, she shouldn't have gifted me a thing of her favourite colour!

"This one seems perfect for you." He said lifting the band which Kiara gave.

"Why?"

"What why? It has a symbol of football, a heart and infinity, even your love for football is infinite." He replied. Wow, why I didn't thought about this? Great choice, Miss. Arrogant!

"Even this one is good afterall it has both your favourite colours in it." He said looking at the band with Nia gave. Yes, I like Black and Red!

"But, if you ask me, you should wear this one." He said pointing towards that pink band.

"Pink? You know how much I hate it. It is too girly." I stated.

"Aashika will get sad."

"I know. I'm going to wear it but I don't know how will I concentrated if I keep seeing this colour, again and again." I said.

"Stop making a big deal out of it. It's just a colour."

"Yeah. I'm glad it doesn't have barbies on it." I stated and heard him laugh again.

"Anyway, you should sleep now. You have a match tomorrow."

"Yes. A big day for me."

"And yes, I don't appreciate the comment you made this evening." He said. I knew he was going to tell this thing to me because I was wrong. I was already disturbed because of the tomorrow's Match and mom was continuously asking questions about my life. I know she is concerned but instead of rumours she should trust me but no, she believed those rumours and started enquiring about it, I got angry and made a comment, which I shouldn't have!

'Stop talking like I got a girl pregnant!'

Probably it was the first time that I said something like that to her. I said sorry immediately but that is not going to change anything as I already committed a mistake.

"I'm sorry dad. I shouldn't have said it. Promise, this won't happen again." I replied. He nodded and went out. Again I looked at the band Aashika gave me, why Aashika why? Everyone will tease me if I wear this!

Next day,

"Shall we leave?" Aashika asked excitedly.

"Wait for sometime." I replied.

"Why are you hiding your hand? Didn't you like the band I gave?" She asked.

"I loved it. Thank you so much." I replied with a forced smile on my face.

"I know you didn't but you should understand that boys can wear pink too."
I have no intentions of arguing at this moment!

"Mom, I'm leaving." I said and saw her coming out from the kitchen.

"Ok. Drive safely."

"Yeah. Tell dad the same and come on time." I replied. I wished I could have said it to him but he was out for a walk.

"We will. All the best, play well and don't get into any fight please." She replied. I nodded and went outside. Aashika followed me as we both were going to go together.

"Leaving already?" Dad asked entering inside the main gate.

"Yes. I'm glad you are here. When you come drive safely and reach on time." I said.

"We will." He replied.

"You are telling them to come on time, aren't you late?" Aashika taunted.

"You both are so cute. I remembered my college days, when Aananya used to come with me for my every match." He said with a little smile on his face. By Aananya, he meant his sister and my very sweet aunt. I miss her so much but she lives in another state now.

"And mom? Don't she used to come with you?" Aashika asked. What a stupid question! Mom was Dad's girlfriend back then not his wife, how would she come with him?

"She used to be there to see his matches and the other information we will ask later." I replied.

"Ok."

I started the bike and again my eyes fell on that Pink band. A proper disappointment!

Soon we reached college. I parked the bike and took Aashika to the ground and found her a proper place to sit from where she was see me clearly and also won't have any trouble.

"Sit here and please don't go anywhere else."

"Ok. Nia is coming here soon." She replied.

"Ok. Fine." I replied and turned to leave

"RiRi." She said making me stop.

"Where is your shriya?" She asked and within no seconds, I went and shut her mouth with my hand.

"Firstly, she is not mine and secondly, keep your voice low. We are not in our home." I warned her.

"Ok. I'm sorry but tell me, where is she?" Aashika asked. She won't rest until I tell her.

"When the cheerleaders come, look at their head one. Means look at the girl who comes first." I replied and went away from there even before she could ask anything else.

I was on my way to go and meet the Coach and other boys when I saw Nia coming towards me.

"All the best. I hope you win." She said and hugged me.

"Thank you so much." I replied.

"Aashika is sitting inside."

"Yeah I know. Don't worry. I will take care of her." She assured. I said thanks to her and went ahead. I went inside the college and made my way towards the dressing room and this time I saw Kiara standing in the corridor busy looking at something on the notice board. As I went near her, she glanced at me for a second and then back at the board and then again at me.

"Oh, hi." She greeted. Didn't she noticed me the first time?

"Hi. What are you doing here?" I asked. She replied saying that she had some work with the noticeboard. She was telling me about it when her eyes went towards my hand and a smile appeared on her face. No, not a smile. It was laugh which she was trying to control.

"Stop laughing."

"When did I laugh?" She asked with the same smile on her face.

"Kiara." I called.

"Ok. I'm sorry. I should leave before I laugh. All the best. Play well." She said and began to leave. I didn't reply anything as I was too busy looking at my wrist.

"Richie rich." She called making me turn to look at her.

"I'm happy to see that you choose your sister's happiness." She replied and went away from there. Sister's happiness! I wish my sister thought about my happiness!

This time I didn't look for anyone else around and went directly inside the dressing room. As expected everyone was there and I was late.

"I'm sorry." I stated.

"It's ok. You are on time." The coach said and started with his last minute instructions and motivation. Today morning I got a call from Riyaaz sir so I was already very much motivated to win this game and having my parents here, it was like a target for me to complete, so that I can see them smile.

After we were ready to go on the ground, we came and saw Sakshi standing there waiting for Viraj.

"All the best." She said and hugged him. This is the only time I feel like I should have a girlfriend.

"All the best captain, win and come. Also, please don't get into any fights." She requested. Why does everyone thinks that i'm the one who start the fights?

"I was joking. Don't get angry." She said and then we made our way to the ground. I heard everyone chanting for us and a sense of responsibility grew inside me. We have to win this game for everyone here!

The match was about to start and everyone was making sure they were perfectly ready for it. I glanced at the place where I made Aashika to sit and Nia next to here. Even Mom Dad, Abhi uncle, Sanjana aunty, Kriya aunty and Ruan uncle were present there. I waved at them and turned immediately only to bump at Shriya. When did she came here and why?

"I'm sorry. Are you ok?" She asked as she touched my chin. It hit her forehead and I was worried that she might have got hurt but here the thing is different, she was worried about me.

"I'm alright. Are you?" I asked.

"Yes. I'm totally fine. I came to give my best wishes. Win it." She said with a very cheerful smile and hugged me.

"Thanks." I replied.

"Your parents are looking at you." Viraj whispered as he passed by. Oh no! Busted!

Kiara's POV:

"Is she shriya?" Aashika asked. Nia nodded unwillingly and then I saw her telling something to Aashna aunty. Just like Aashika even aunty didn't looked impressed, not even a little bit. I guess she thought shriya is Ritik's girlfriend. Poor richie rich.

"Dad." I said poking his hand. There was a thing I wanted him to do because he was only person who could have helped me however instead of doing that he was being stubborn.

"Give me a proper reason and I promise, if I find it valid. I will do your work." Dad assured. Valid reason? I will first have to form sentences before saying them to him.

"Fine. We will talk after the game." I replied and got up to leave.

"Aren't you going to watch it?" Aarav uncle asked.

"What to watch? I know Richie rich is going to win it." I answered immediately and within no seconds felt so stupid of me to say that when I saw Nia and Aashika looking at me.

"I mean, his team, our college is going to win it. And uncle, I'm coming back. I would never miss the chance to watch this game with you and your commentary." I said and went away from there. I'm a cricket fan because of my father and brother but I always enjoying watching football with Aarav uncle.

I went out and discussed everything with my two idiots. Both of them were not happy with what I was going to do but still supported me.

"I love you both. Meet me after the game." I said and came back to place where everyone was sitting. The match was already going in full swing so I had to ask Aarav uncle for the details.

I looked around and saw everyone cheering for their favourites. The excitement in the eyes of everyone was worth watching. Earlier I thought that the game was one-sided and our college will win it easily but here the thing was totally opposite. It was almost going equal, The opponent team was playing pretty well. We make a goal, they make a goal.

"Can't he stay out of fights?" Aashna aunty asked annoyingly when she saw Ritik have a squabble. To be honest, here it was not Ritik's fault, the opponents are encouraging him to fight. Lucky enough he had Viraj with him, who was controling him from time to time. Richie rich and his anger issues are too much, I mean he is very short-tempered.

The first half continued with this squabbles and by the end of first half the scores were equal. I looked at Ritik and saw him standing in front of his coach. The coach was saying something however I hardly think he was listening to him, he looked angry, very very angry and with anger there was also a bit of tension visible on his face.

"Is he nervous?" I heard Aashika ask to Aarav uncle.

"I don't think so. He is short tempered, can't control his anger but because he knows we are here and he is in the middle of the game, he is trying to control himself." Uncle answered. That is so true.

"He got that short temper from you, anyway!" Aashna aunty said. My sweet aunty was pretty angry today.

"Not the truth. I was able to control my anger but he definitely has no control over it." Uncle stated.

"Stop it both of you." Dad said making all of us laugh.

"Kiu, do you think we will win?" Aarav Uncle asked.

"Surely." I replied. No matter how good the opponents are, I had a feeling that our College is going to win.

"What about you Nia?" He asked.

"We will win." She replied and saw a smile formed on his face.

"I guess, even shriya thinks the same. Look she is talking something with Ritik." Aashika said and so I immediately looked at him and saw Shriya gesturing something. Ritik is surely busted today.

During the second half of the game,the match seemed very interesting. Everyone was in action, also there were no fights or arguments this time as all of them were sincerely concentrated on their game.

The time was about to finish and the scores were equal, I looked around and found everyone tensed just like me. By the end, only five minutes were left and still the score was same. Woah, the game is getting very interesting.

"Stop biting your fingers." Aarav uncle said removing my hand from my mouth. Oops, why am i so tensed when I'm not even a football fan?

Those last five minutes were breathtaking. Everyone was tensed and it was very much visible by their looks. However idiot Ritik looked more tensed and all the frustration he was taking on his co-players for every wrong move they made was too much. Everything was a mess until Ritik passed the ball to his other player and the goal was made. Yess! Now we are on lead but still there was one minute left and everyone was still so worried as the ball was with the other team.

"I'm so tensed." I stated.

"Me too." Aashika replied with her eyes still glued on the ground. I looked at the timer. 43 seconds! With every second that passed, my heartbeat was going on raising.

"We won." Everyone screamed at once when the timer stopped. Finally! I looked at Ritik and found him so so happy. His face was glowing and the proud smile was not at all leaving his face.

"I'm so proud of my son." Aarav uncle said.

"I know, I know. Congratulations to you too." I said giving him a fist bump. I did the same to Ruan uncle and turn turned towards my dad. Time for telling him a valid reason.

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