Chapter Text
Shubman is sitting on the bench, still panting after the rigorous practice session. It is not going to be an easy one. He wipes the sweat with a towel. Winning matches like this would have been tough enough with their own team as it is, with teammates that they know how to work with and are used to. But the university had to make this stupid ass decision, and now they have to collaborate with the team from the engineering department.
Shubman quietly huffs, trying to not let the annoyance get to him. To be honest, uni’s idea might not be that bad and could actually work in their favor. Everything depends on the people and how willing they are to listen and understand and their ability to be a team player. But it is the first day of practice and they didn't even bother to show up. So yeah, he is annoyed and rightfully so.
“Relax bro.”
Shubman looks up at his teammate who has put a hand on his shoulder. Shubman shrugs and looks away. Aksh takes a seat beside him.
“Yaar,” Shubman runs his palm along his face, “How is this going to work?”
“It's the first day. We don't know what their situation is. Let's give them the benefit of doubt.”
“But…” Shubman sighs, “You have seen how cocky some of those engineering dudes can be. I just…” he stammers, he is probably being judgmental but he really doesn't wanna lose this time. “How can we practice without the whole team? We have like a month left, midterms in between, and we don't even know half of our team.”
“For starters, we know their names. I sent you the list yesterday. And we have five weeks to be precise. It will work out. I have heard that they are good,” Aksh pats Shubman’s back before getting up. “It'll be fine.”
Being good at the game doesn't necessarily make you a good teammate! We have to get along to win!
Shubman decides to not speak his mind, he looks up to Aksh. He has a smile on his face. Shubhman doesn't understand how he manages to be so calm under any situation. It is kind of impressive. He returns Aksh’s soft smile. He doesn't want to bother him anymore. Aksh has better things to do.
“See you at the mess for dinner.”
“Yeah.”
Shubman stays. He watches as the sky gets dark, people leave, hears the sounds around him fade until it is quiet and only a couple of silhouettes can be seen at the edges. Aksh would have been a much better captain. Once again the thought crossed his brain but he shakes it off and starts packing up his stuff. He hangs the kit over one of his shoulders and starts walking towards his dorm when he hears footsteps. They sound hurried and inching closer towards him. Shubman doesn't halt but turns to look in the direction. He can see a man in the faint light. It is hard to tell his expression.
“Hey! It's Ishan,” the guy stops, heaving.
Shubman looks away without responding. Ishan. So… the captain of the other team. He is too tired for a banter or a fight. The guy has the guts to show his face now! It's been hours since the practice is over. There's no point in listening to him. How could someone be so irresponsible? If he wanted to, he could have informed. He could have called or texted at least.
“Are you…” the man gulps before resuming, “from the cricket team? I mean— the management ones?”
Shubman meets his eyes, big and dark, he holds his confused gaze for a couple of moments before turning and walking away.
***
“You might be mistaken.”
“I know it was dark, but I am not a fucking idiot,” Ishan scoffs, thinking about the way he was ignored. How can someone be so inconsiderate? He would have been okay if there was no one on the field to talk to. He knew he was late and owed an explanation, but he wasn't even given the chance to do so.
“If this is the attitude they are deciding to go with, God knows how this is going to work.”
“We'll walk out if they continue this.”
Ishan looks at his teammate, frowning at the suggestion. “What?”
“We are an amazing team. Everyone knows that. We’ll…” he stops, noticing the look on Ishan’s face.
“Wow. You are going to play with that mindset? It is just as much of our match as it is theirs!” Ishan doesn't let his disappointment show on his face, but he is worried. As they approach closer to the pitch, he turns to his team and continues walking backwards.
“Guys. Listen up. I am going to have a discussion with their captain and no one else is going to speak in between. We don't want a ruckus. And please remember that there is no us or them. We are going to be a team, okay. This is our match. I am not asking you to keep taking it if they keep being disrespectful. We'll give them a chance. But if you are going there thinking that they need us,” Ishan shakes his head, “We need them just as much,” he sighs, “I am just hoping that they are understanding and —” Ishan sees the sudden change of expression in his teammates faces and then—
“Ish—”
Ishan stumbles, losing balance as he bumps into someone, taking a few steps backwards he grabs the first thing he can, the man's hand. And as he is about to pull the person down with himself, a hurried arm slips around his waist and pulls him closer. Ishan's head bumps against someone's chest and he somehow ends up in his embrace where the person holding him staggers before balancing both of their bodies.
“Fuck, sorry,” Ishan blurts out.
“Sorry, you alright?”
“Yeah… I’m really sorry,” Ishan tries taking a step back, “Thank—” He pauses as he looks up and immediately his embarrassment turns into annoyance remembering yesterday’s incident.
“Well, that's one way to make up.” Someone from Ishan's team remarks and they laugh. Ishan shoots them a glare and they all shut up instantly.
He looks back and up to Shubman, holding his gaze. He forces himself out of his grip and moves away from him. All while looking into his eyes. For some reason, the strange lack of any expression on Shubman's face is irritating him even more. He is supposed to react. What was last evening all about? If he is upset, he needs to speak up. If he wants a fight, he can give him that. He wants him to acknowledge him. That is the most basic thing he can ask for if they want to make this work. He can’t keep ignoring him.
“Are you going to say anything?” Ishan asks with a shrug.
“I… I don’t have anything to say.”
Ishan scoffs. Why is this guy making things unnecessarily complicated? He can ask him why he didn't show up, Ishan can explain and they’ll be good. But he is acting like he is above all this.
“I was here yesterday. You didn’t bother to listen to me.”
“Well, no one saw you,” Someone from Shubman’s team shouts from the back.
“He saw me!” Ishan retorts.
“Shut up, Harsh!” Shubman speaks up before turning back to Ishan, “You were late. Were you expecting someone to be there at that hour? I wasn’t waiting here for you.”
“But the point is you were there and you ignored me,” Ishan emphasizes his words, but he is not shouting. For some reason, he can’t. It is strange. The way Shubman talks… his voice… It's so soft. It is making it so impossible for him to be harsh when someone in front of him is speaking with so much tenderness. He watches as the expression on Shubman’s face changes a bit, and he looks away for a moment, breaking eye contact, looks to the ground as if he is embarrassed. Ishan watches him do all that, and even though it all happens in a second or two, it feels way longer than that before he looks back at him again.
“Do you have a reason or you just don’t care?” Shubman asks, even softer this time.
“It was… a medical emergency. My grandma’s in the hospital and she isn't doing well. We had to be there. I’ll admit that I sort of even forgot about it and by the time I did remember it was already too late.,” Ishan gulps, he doesn’t know why he is explaining so much, “It was all kind of messed up. I had spoken to someone from your team once, I sent him the sheet, I couldn’t recall the name or if I had even saved his contact. I didn’t know how to inform and—”
“Is she okay?”
“Hm?,” Ishan hums, still processing being cut off while he is between explaining.
“Your grandma. What happened to her? Is she better now?”
Ishan nods, exhaling shakily, thinking about all that probably stressed him again and he started over explaining.
“Will you be able to practice today?”
“Yeah.”
Shubman looks around, “Guys, you all can start with your warm-up exercises while we have a discussion.” Ishan looks up as Shubman takes a step closer to him.
Although Ishan has already noticed it in the last few moments, this is the first time he is actually registering how tall Shubham is as it becomes harder to keep looking at him the closer he gets.
“I am sorry.”
Ishan doesn't speak for a couple of moments. He wasn't expecting him to be, he is not sure what to call it, but he was expecting some aggressiveness.
“I didn't know. I am so sorry.”
Ishan gulps, unsure of what to say.
“Listen. I don’t need your sympathy or anything. I didn't explain all that for this. What I want to say is that I care. If I didn't show up, I had a good enough reason behind it. Stop fucking acting like this is your game. Like you're the only one who cares about it. It is equally important to us. You are making it seem like you think you are better than us.”
***
Shubman, ridden by guilt, doesn't say a word. He wasn’t in the right state of mind yesterday but it doesn’t excuse his behavior. It was rude. He doesn't disagree with a word Ishan is saying. He has been acting like he is the only one who cares about this game and along with it, even if subconsciously, he has undermined them.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
Shubman stares at Ishan's face. He looks so confused at anything Shubman says or does. It's weird how eye contacts can be so intimidating and yet it's harder to not look into his eyes. They are just so captivating when he is always looking up like that.
“Uhm…,” Shubman clears his throat, “Calling me out on my bs and… letting me know that you care. Takes half the pressure off me. You're the captain too, after all.”
After a few fleeting quiet seconds between them, unexpectedly, the next thing Ishan does is punch him in the right arm with a little smile.
“Uff…” Ishan rolls his eyes, “Itna drama. Let's discuss the strategy while we stretch.”
Shubman can't help but smile. He's easy. That's the first thought that comes to his mind. This could have gone worse. He's already feeling better than yesterday, like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He's not alone in this.