CHAPTER 8

Arjun slept well for the night but his sleep didn’t last longer, he was up by 3 am and his pondering heart didn’t let him go back to sleep. He got onto his feet and started storming around the room in circles to a point that he felt dizzy. He badly wanted to talk to someone and he knew his friends would kill him if he phoned them up in the middle of the night for a silly reason of being unable to sleep. He was swiping up and down the contacts on his phone for no reason when his phone buzzed. He was so thankful that someone had texted him. He opened the message and grasped it was Ira.

“Hey Arjun.” was her text.

“Oi.” Arjun replied immediately.

“Oh, so you are awake as I expected.”

“Yeah, very much awake. But how did you know that I might be awake?”

“Just a guess mate. I didn’t expect you to sleep anyway. By the way how is the adrenal rush?”

“Oh god! At its peak. Terrible.”

“Right” she replied with two laughing emoji.

“Can we talk?”

“I suppose that is what we are doing indeed.”

“But I suppose we are texting. Can I ring you now?”

Instead of replying Ira straight away called him. They spoke for hours till the sun shone dimly through Arjun’s window. It was four in the morning, yet they didn’t stop talking. Arjun’s room echoed with giggles and laughter. He felt his heart stop trying to leave his chest as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

“Hello, Arjun, You’re there?” Ira spoke into the phone and then she conceived he had gone back to his sleep again. She smiled to herself and cut the call.

At Arjun’s place, his alarm went off at 6 am. He rolled out of his bed and turned it off. The last two hours of his sleep felt like eternity. He got ready within thirty minutes and went down for breakfast. His dad was already there on the table as his sister served him some toast and a glass of avocado juice.

“Aju, you didn’t leave already? I thought your office timings had changed because whenever I came down for breakfast, Kavi told me you already left for the office?” his dad enquired.

It was true. Arjun always left the house before his dad got up for all those days from the time he started coaching for the match. After quite a long time he was about to have breakfast with his dad.

“Yes dad, the timings got changed. But I thought I would go a little late today. Anyways it’s been long since we had breakfast together.”

“Yes, it’s been more than a month, isn’t it? Seems like your boss is making you work a lot nowadays. But it is all going to be fruitful at the end. Once this job becomes permanent, then your life will be settled. I know you are a born winner. All this important project, whatever, will be a piece of cake to you, isn’t it? I am sure your work is going to impress your boss highly.” his dad said, the pride in his face blazing like the sun.

“It is a little bit advanced work dad, but I can manage. It’s going on great.” Arjun replied, feeling guilty about fooling his dad but his dad’s words felt like a blessing to him and he was happy to receive it.

Arjun had been on sick leave for the last one week so that he could get extra time on the court. He also extended the leave for another week as his tournaments were going to be held at a stretch of six days. Today was the first day, his first match. He had to qualify all rounds to reach the finals. Once he had made it to the finals, he won or lost didn’t matter as he would anyway make it to the state level.

Arjun finished his food and grabbed his bike keys to leave. As he approached his bike, his sister ran out of the house behind him and wished him good luck with a forehead kiss and a hug. She kept waving at him until she lost sight of her brother. When Arjun took a right turn to reach the main road, he saw a beautiful girl signalling for a lift. As he moved closer to her, he recognized the girl to his coach, Ira. He stopped the bike and questioned her about her presence in the middle of the road.

“I thought us riding together would relieve your anxiety about the match and anyway we still have to finish the discussion of mermaids which was left incomplete last night because you drowsed off to sleep while I was talking.”

“Well you can’t blame me for sleeping, mermaids was an idiotic topic of discussion.”

“Ayeee...Mermaids are my favourite mythical creature. Never mind they are not real.”

“Seriously, Ira? You chose mermaids when there are dragons, basilisk, werewolves and vampires?” he said, with an Are-For-Real look.

“I think you forgot, I AM A GIRL! Now will you give me a lift or no?”

“Get on. And not another word about mermaids being the most beautiful creatures and their magical voice that would woe any guy in the world, otherwise, I might reconsider giving you a lift.” he said, sneering.

“Okay fine!” she groaned, rolling her eyes.

But still all through the ride, they discussed nothing other than mythical creatures. It was the sign that they had become great friends as per the rule book of friendship which states that friends don’t give a damn about each other’s taunts and annoying the brain out of each other was their favourite hobby.

As soon as they reached the Central Badminton Court, where the tournament was being held, and Arjun’s blood rush started again. He was more scared if his blood would break through his heart and veins, drenching him in a puddle of blood than the match he was supposed to play in another hour. He was ready to run all the way back to his house only if Ira would let go of his arm. She was gripping his arm and pulling him along through the crowd.

“Arjun, I am wondering why am I getting the feeling that you are ready to run away, which is making me hold on to you. You okay?”

“Ira this is too much. Look at the amount of people participating. I don’t think I even have got a chance here.”

“Do you trust me?”

“What the hell does my trust in you have to do here?”

“Just answer.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“So I am saying you have got a lot of chances here. Just relax and do your best. The rest will fall in its place.”

Arjun took a deep breath and said, “You just make sure that you are in my sight while I play.”

“I will.” she said, assuring him

Arjun got changed from his formal wear to the badminton friendly clothes. He pulled out his wallet and pored over at the picture he had. It was a pic of his family, his mom with his dad and sister. They were all smiling. He gaped into the picture for some time and whispered, “I will win the tournament for you mom.” and kissed the photograph. He felt a sudden shrill of confidence in him. He looked over his shoulders to see Ira standing beside him.

“Your mother looks beautiful. I see that you have inherited your good looks from her. You have got the carbon copy of her smile.”

Arjun beamed at her gently and asked, “Are you done with checking the registration?”

“Oh yeah, I came over here to call you for that. You need to show your Identity Proof and sign the form they give. Then it's all done. We have to wait till you turn.”

“Great. When do you think….”

Arjun got cut off as a person behind them spoke

“Are you Ira Varadharajan? Oh my god, yes you are. I am big fan ma’am. Can I get a picture with you?”

“Uhm yes. Why not.” Ira said, looking uncomfortable.

She was blushing with awkwardness. Within no time, she was out of sight as a swarm of fans swept over her. Meanwhile Arjun had finished with the registration work and was searching for Ira who was nowhere to be found. He then heard his name being called, as he swirled to the direction of the voice that called him, he saw Ira struggling to pull herself out of the crowd. Instead of helping her, Arjun started laughing at how pathetic Ira looked. She seemed breathless and her always flawless hair was messed up a bit. Ira somehow got herself out and gave Arjun a stern look for laughing instead of helping her.

“Ira, one autograph please. I love you so much, I am a big fan. You are spectacular.” spoke a random passerby.

Ira signed his book and wheeled around to Arjun as that person walked off.

“Please tell me I was not this bad the first time we met.” Arjun said, trying so hard to control his laughter.

“You were not, mate.” Ira sighed, as she took off the baseball cap Arjun was wearing and put it on herself. “I think I need the cap more than you do.”

“I totally think that too.”

“I never knew these many people would recognize me. I don’t fancy being the center of attention. It tests my nerves.”

“ Well, we are at a badminton tournament and considering the fact that you are a champion in that sport and also Chennai being your birth place, I would have been flabbergasted if you went unrecognized.”

“Right. Let’s get ourselves a seat.”

Both of them watched the others playing and waited patiently for Arjun’s turn. Arjun kept noticing the different strategies and styles of different players. Ira kept murmuring points to be taken into notice in his ears. As time kept passing, Arjun’s heartbeat started rising.

“Next up, Arjun Rajashekar versus Sharan Kumar.” was announced by the speaker.

Arjun jumped onto his feet and saw Ira who had gotten up too.

“Arjun, think of this as a practice match. Calm yourself and play freely. It will all be good.” Ira said, with a slight tremble in her voice indicating she was being nervous too.

“Ira, tell me some tactics. What if I mess a serve? What about making fouls?” Arjun said, sounding terrified to the core.

Ira pulled Arjun into her arms for a tight cuddle.

“I trust you Arjun. You won’t mess up. Just think of the reason you are here today. Put your faith into that reason and yourself.”

Arjun just nodded his head vigorously and walked over to the court. Ira moved closer to the court so that she can have a clear view of Arjun.

As the whistle went off, Sharan, Arjun’s opponent, took the first serve as he had won the toss. He was of medium height, thin and dusky. He too seemed a little nervous yet he delivered a clean service. Arjun swung his racket and the shuttle left his half of the court smoothly. He didn’t even have time for a quick glance at Ira as the shuttle flew back to his side and he missed the shot.

Arjun’s face dropped in colour and he looked pale, dreadful, disappointed and scared. He reluctantly took a glance at Ira. He expected to see her disappointed but her face was full of excitement and positivity. She grinned at Arjun and nodded. That small gesture of hers put the spirit to win back into Arjun’s lifeless face.

As Arjun dropped the shuttle, the service was again delivered by his opponent. The shuttle ran back and forth in the court, high in air. Clear shot returned with net drop, a high lift and smash! Sharan had missed the shuttle. Ira jumped up and down in her place. Arjun grinned ear to ear looking at her, feeling delighted about his perfectly timed smash. The game went on, everyone’s eyes were following the shuttle, no one happened to notice the sweating players who were scrutinising their faces in order to focus on the fast moving tiny shuttle.

Arjun’s full concentration was on the game. After his smash, he gained a lot of confidence that a foul he had committed didn’t affect him at all. Just as his eyes were focused on the shuttle, his ears were focused on the cheering Ira had been doing all the time.

“Come on Arjun, if not now, never after.” she screamed.

She acted like his personal cheer girl more than his coach and her claps were the loudest.

Arjun was in full form. The score was even, 19-19. Arjun had to score two points simultaneously to win the match, otherwise the match would get dragged on longer.

It was Arjun’s turn to serve and he delivered it so tactfully that Sharan missed the shuttle. Again Arjun had to serve. Sharan realising his previous mistake, was so determined not to lose the shuttle again. The shuttle once again danced right and left in the air until Arjun mastered a gorgeous net kill.

“THE MATCH IS WON BY ARJUN RAJASHEKAR. NOW SWITCH SIDES.” said the announcer into his microphone.

It was a best of three match. Arjun won the first one, now he had to win once more to get selected for round two.

Arjun was in his comfort zone for the second match. He knew he could do it. He played casually and stress-free, showing off his skills and talents. He kept playing at his strengths- the clear shot and net kill. He was leading in score with a difference of 4 points. And he finished the game with another majestic smash. The smash, started growing on him and he got it right all the times he tried it with ease.

“WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE WINS, MR. ARJUN RAJASHEKAR HAS WON THIS MATCH.” said the announcer.

After shaking hands with his opponent, Arjun ran to Ira and hugged her, sweeping her off her feet. He was all sweaty but that was the last thing Ira would care about that minute. She took Arjun to a chair and sat him down. He took a moment to take a couple of long breaths. After that she offered him water. As soon as the water made its way smoothly through his throat, Arjun screamed, “I won.” making sure Ira could hear him over the voices of people around them.

“I know. You were incredible.” she said, smiling from ear to ear.

“After missing the shuttle for the first time, I thought it was over and I was going to lose. But then I saw your face. You still wore your smile, unfaded. That gave me a grip. After that I kept thinking of the reason I was here today, it got me through the rest of the game.” he said, still gasping for air.

“I have too much faith in you, that little miss couldn’t kill it. I am so happy for you. All your shots were great.”

“Thank you. And I won’t let you down.”

“I know.”

Arjun had to play a few other matches with different people before he could make it to the second round. The enlightened spirit after his first match helped Arjun with his rest of the matches. After his last match for the day, he wobbled his way through the crowd and sat down on a chair that was unoccupied. Ira followed behind him with a bottle of water.

“And you’ve made it to the next round.” Ira said, trying to boost his energy.

“Yeah.” he said, grinning weakly.

“And we can leave now. Your next match will be on the day after tomorrow,”

“Great. All I want now is good food and a bed to catch some Zs. The food part I know I can get, but the bed is a real disappointment. ”

“Why? You can go home, right?”

“Nah I can’t. It's only 2 pm now. I can’t show my head for another six hours near my home. My dad will get fishy.”

“Alright, if you don’t mind, you can come home.” Ira said.

“Your home? You’re sure about this? What will your mom think?” he asked, unsure about the idea.

“Yes, my home. I am sure about it. My mom won’t think anything because she won’t know about it. I don’t live with her. But the real problem is my neighbors, they shouldn’t see you otherwise I will be thrown out of the house by the owner. For today I can sneak you in. For the next few days, think of a lie to tell your father for your early return to home, in case your matches get over at the start of the day.”

“I will think of something. But why don’t you live with your mom?” he said, sticking up to Ira who was strolling away already.

“I’ll tell you later. Now let’s go.”