RAGHVANSH'S POV:

I continue to cant as I grab a bonus and return back to the midline. Wondering what cant is? When a player goes to the other side of the line and in the opposition territory, he has to chant 'kabaddi' without taking breaks and in a single breath.

Wiping the sweat beads off my forehead, I curse under my breath.

Tiring. Too tiring.

I close the courtroom door behind me and enter my room for a shower. My Apple watch flashes the time. 

9:00 AM

I was up by 6 am, and I went to the gym within my mansion and started my mat practice by 7:30 am. This has been a part of my daily routine ever since I debuted in the Indian team. It was pretty exhausting at first. I remember not being able to walk properly for a week. Not that it's a child's play now, but I'm quite used to it.

I set the temperature and enter the walk-in shower. Letting the water rivulets slip down my body, I start to hum a song out of nowhere.

Tera hone laga hoon
I've started to become yours

Khone laga hoon
I've started to lose myself

Jab se mila hoon
Since I've met you

What? A love song? No! Dammit! It's the hospital girl’s effect. Again!

I close my eyes, trying to understand what in the universe I was doing. Something is seriously wrong with me. 

‘Perhaps it's time you realise you're falling for her,’ my conscience butted in.

"No thanks. I trust my self-control." And I continue pretending to be unaffected by her aura.

I get out of the shower and change into my casuals. That is when my phone beeps, and I let out a low groan. For a minute, like just for A MINUTE, can't people on this planet leave me alone? I wish I could sever ties with everyone and go live on Mars.

I unlock my phone and instantly regret my previous statement.

+91 8934 6354 73: Hello, Mr. Raghvansh Birla! We hope you are doing well. This is a message to inform you that your orthopaedic sessions will be conducted virtually due to the unsuitable weather conditions for now. The session will be conducted on Monday, tomorrow. Thank you for your cooperation.

Okay. That's probably a forwarded message from my manager. Don't ask me why I haven't saved his number; I have no clue.

Coming back to the topic at hand, I don't know how to feel exactly. It would be safe to say that I am happy and somewhat disappointed too. But a virtual session doesn't sound that bad, though. At least I will get to see her. I smile and let out a dreamy sigh.

What is this girl doing to me? Maybe I should go for a swim? 

No. Time-consuming.

I think for a while and take a good couple of minutes to reach my house’s backyard for some fresh air. But then I spot my 'dear brother' by the poolside, smoking.

SMOKING.

It doesn't take me a second to snatch his cigarette out of his hands and crush it under my foot, only to be punched by him.

"What's your problem? Can't you fucking mind your own business!" he yells at me. 

Ouch, my jaw hurts. "You look like a heartbroken teenager. Smoking, crying to yourself. Are those under-eye bags visible to you? Haven't you slept for days?!" I holler back. 

He exhales and sits back.

Something is seriously wrong with him. That bastard punched me. Had it been someone else, I would've beaten him to a pulp, but Utkarsh? Never. Yes, I do care for him and also pity his situation right now.

"What's wrong? Why're you in Pune, and why do you look like a dead man?" I ask as I sit beside him on the swing.

"I don't need your sympathy." He snorts. "And yes, I'm here for a project."

I mutter an 'Oh'. He lives in Mumbai with his parents, or as it should be, OUR PARENTS, and he's also the sole heir to the Birla Industries.

"Anyway, which area does this Koregaon park lie in?" 

Can someone be this dumb? "Koregaon park is an area. And why do you ask anyway?"

"Personal work. I'll borrow your car. How long will it take to get there?" 

Sounds very suspicious. "I live in camp so... won't take you more than 15-20 minutes. I'll accompany you. It seems like you're taking drugs or something," I say, only to be glared at.

"You don't have to, Raghvansh. I'm good."

I feel my heart sink. He always called me 'Raghav' when we were young. "Raghvansh, it is now. Cool, you know what? I thought at least you wouldn't hate me, but I was wrong, Dada, my dear elder brother. You hate me, don't you? Just because I am problematic. Fuck it! I was problematic. Look at you acting all rude and formal towards me. I've never even blamed you for whatever happened years ago. Why do you have to distance yourself from me like this? Do you even remember the last time we met?"

"It's better if we don't talk about this now. Meet me in the parking lot within ten minutes," he says and leaves me alone. Again.

_________________________

RAGHVANSH'S POV CONTINUES:

"Here we are." I halt my car in front of a single-family detached house.

"Is it this one?" He points at the small blue home 

I nod. "Dada?" 

He hums. 

"Tell me, why are you here?"

He intensely stares at me for a minute. "What makes you think I'll tell you?" he says coldly.

"Maybe it's easier to share with strangers." 

I hear him bitterly chuckle. "You aren't a stranger. Anyway, because you gave me a lift, plus I think you're the only person I can share this with, though it's been decades since we met or even though we aren't close, I know you're the person who'll get me." He takes a deep breath. "Aaraya, the project manager of Swiss Ltd., India. I saw her at a conference in Lonavla last week. One sight of her was enough for me to fall in love with her. I immediately knew that she was the one for me—the one who would make me happy, the one who I would love for a lifetime. It was very overwhelming, and I was unknown to this emotion. It felt like time was standing still, and I was wrapped in bliss. I desired nothing more than to be with her. It felt like I got slapped in the face by emotions that made no sense, even though I'm not an emotional person. The feeling of true happiness was creeping into my heart. I just know when I saw her, it felt like 'Who's that? Who’s making my heartbeats go wild?' It felt like I'd known her all my life, and she was meant to be there. Fuck it! She swept me off my feet."

He smiles, and I see his eyes well up.

"It's fine; you won't understa—" 

I cut him off. "I do, maybe not totally, but I understand what you mean."

"You're falling for someone, aren't you? It's clearly visible," he says with a grin. 

I flash him a smile, silently agreeing. 

"It's easy to look at you and say you're trying hard not to. Don't. It's not worth it. It's just about recognising the soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again. We can't help it." 

I smile because of the emotions consuming me. "I'm happy for you."

"I'm happy for you too."

 We fall into a peaceful silence.

"Does she live here?" I ask.

He nods. 

Oh. I get it now why he has been behaving like a teenager. "Then ar- wait, what the fuck? Did you set up your project in Pune of all places for her?"

"Yes."

"Look, I will back you in this, but don't turn into a stalker or something. Don't freak her out. Take it slow, okay?" I say as my anxiety is at its peak.

"Will you stop acting as the elder one?"

"Shut up! You're just eleven months older than me."

And we continue bickering.

~√~√

Picture note*

Kabaddi court:

Backyard swing:

Author's note*

Hey, hope you're doing well!
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The next update will be out on 8th, Tuesday.
Take care!