Chapter 39 - A Feeling He Couldnt Name #2
"See? Dev is the only one who supports me."
"Supports you?" Rohan scoffed.
"He just tolerates you."
Dev only chuckled, refusing to join the argument.
Aadhira watched the exchange with a faint smile.
Arjun noticed it immediately.
There she goes again... smiling.
It was becoming dangerously easy for him to lose himself watching her.
Kabir clapped loudly, pulling everyone's attention back.
"Enough talking!"
He pointed toward the bowling lanes.
"First game-Bowling!"
"Teams?" Shanaya asked.
Kabir looked around thoughtfully.
"Hmm..."
Then a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"I've already decided."
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"That smile worries me."
"It should."
Kabir pointed one by one.
"Team One-Arjun, Aadhira, Dev..."
He paused dramatically before pointing at himself.
"...and the handsome organizer."
Rohan groaned.
"You mean you."
"Exactly."
Siddharth looked at the remaining four.
"So we're together."
Kabir nodded proudly.
"Team Two-Siddharth, Shanaya, Rohan and Naina."
Rohan stretched confidently.
"Easy victory."
Kabir laughed.
"Keep dreaming."
The two teams occupied neighboring bowling lanes.
"Who's going first?" Dev asked.
"I'll start," Rohan declared from the opposite lane.
He confidently picked up a bowling ball.
"I dedicate this strike to my future trophy."
Naina crossed her arms.
"You haven't even thrown it."
"Confidence is important."
He took a dramatic run-up...
...only for the ball to slip from his hand.
Instead of rolling down the lane...
It slowly rolled sideways.
Directly toward the seating area.
Silence.
Everyone stared.
Rohan blinked.
"...That was intentional."
"No, it wasn't," Naina replied immediately.
"It was a warm-up."
"For what?"
"My embarrassment."
The entire group burst into laughter.
Even Arjun couldn't stop himself.
Kabir wiped away imaginary tears.
"I expected failure..."
"...but not this level of failure."
"Be quiet," Rohan muttered.
A few turns later...
It was Aadhira's chance.
She quietly walked toward the lane.
"You've played before?" Arjun asked.
"A few times."
She lifted the ball with surprising ease.
Without any dramatic pose...
She simply released it.
The ball rolled perfectly straight.
One by one...
Every single pin crashed down.
Strike.
For a second...
Nobody spoke.
Kabir's jaw dropped.
"Excuse me?"
Rohan pointed accusingly.
"Why does everyone secretly have talents except me?"
Naina laughed.
"Because your only talent is making excuses."
Shanaya high-fived Aadhira proudly.
"I knew you'd do well."
Aadhira smiled sheepishly.
"It was just luck."
"No," Arjun said quietly.
She looked at him.
"That wasn't luck."
His eyes held genuine admiration.
"That was skill."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them looked away.
Kabir suddenly stepped between them.
"Our champion deserves a celebration!"
Before Arjun could react-
Kabir wrapped one arm around Aadhira's shoulders dramatically.
"Come, my bowling queen!"
Aadhira laughed.
"Kabir..."
Arjun felt something tighten inside his chest.
Again.
Why...
Why was Kabir always so close?
Without thinking...
He walked over.
"Your next turn is coming."
Kabir blinked.
"So?"
"You should practice."
"I already know I'm amazing."
"You haven't played yet."
"Confidence."
Arjun smiled politely.
"You'll still need practice."
Kabir stared at him for a second before a mischievous grin slowly appeared.
"Oh..."
"I see."
Arjun frowned.
"See what?"
"Nothing."
Kabir casually removed his arm from Aadhira.
"My dear teammate..."
He patted Arjun's shoulder.
"...you seem unusually interested in my whereabouts lately."
"I am not."
"No?"
"No."
"Hmm."
Kabir looked unconvinced.
Aadhira watched the exchange silently.
The corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
She had no idea why Arjun suddenly looked... competitive whenever Kabir was around.
Not that she minded.
Meanwhile, on the other lane-
Siddharth released a perfect strike.
Shanaya stared at the scoreboard.
"I refuse to believe you."
"What?"
"You're actually good."
"I've been playing since college."
She folded her arms.
"You conveniently forgot to mention that."
"You never asked."
Shanaya picked up another bowling ball.
"Fine."
"I'll beat you anyway."
"I'd like to see you try."
Her next throw knocked down nine pins.
"So close," Siddharth teased.
"I'll get the strike next time."
"I'll wait."
"Keep waiting."
Their playful rivalry only made everyone smile.
On another bench-
Naina struggled to lift a heavier bowling ball.
"This is heavier than it looks."
Rohan immediately walked over.
"Use the lighter one."
"I can manage."
"I know."
He gently took the heavier ball from her hands.
"But I don't want you hurting your wrist."
For a second...
Naina simply looked at him.
"...Thank you."
Rohan smiled.
"Don't mention it."
Kabir quietly looked toward Arjun.
Without missing a beat-
He walked back to Aadhira.
"So..."
He leaned closer.
"If we win today..."
"You owe me dessert."
Aadhira laughed.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm adorable."
She shook her head.
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
"You will."
Arjun watched them talking.
Again.
Laughing.
Again.
Why...
Why did it bother him so much?
Dev noticed Arjun's expression and glanced toward Kabir.
He hid a smile.
He's really getting jealous.
Poor Arjun had absolutely no idea that Kabir was doing all of this on purpose.
And Kabir...
...was clearly enjoying every second of it.
After bowling, the group moved toward the arcade section.
Basketball machines.
Air hockey.
Dance simulators.
Racing games.
Every corner echoed with laughter.
Kabir immediately challenged everyone to air hockey.
"I hereby declare myself undefeated."
"You've declared that five times already," Dev reminded him.
"And I'll continue declaring it until someone proves me wrong."
"I volunteer," Arjun said.
Kabir's eyes sparkled.
"Oh?"
"Let's play."
The others quickly gathered around the table.
"This should be interesting," Siddharth murmured.
Kabir twirled the striker dramatically.
"Ready to lose?"
Arjun gave him a calm smile.
"We'll see."
As the game began, the small plastic puck shot across the table at incredible speed.
Within seconds, both men were fully focused.
Kabir attacked relentlessly.
Arjun defended every shot.
The spectators cheered from both sides.
"Come on, Kabir!"
"Arjun, don't let him score!"
The score remained neck and neck.
Finally-
Arjun found an opening.
With one swift move, he sent the puck straight into Kabir's goal.
Goal.
Kabir froze dramatically.
"I demand a rematch."
Arjun smiled for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
"You lost."
"I was distracted."
"By what?"
Kabir looked at Aadhira.
"Our team's lucky charm."
Arjun sighed.
"There he goes again..."
Aadhira simply laughed, completely unaware that every smile she gave Kabir made one particular man beside her feel emotions he still couldn't understand.
And the games...
...were far from over.
"One last challenge!" Kabir announced, raising both hands dramatically.
The others turned toward him with expressions ranging from curiosity to concern.
Rohan sighed.
"I don't like that smile."
"You never do."
"Because it always ends with me suffering."
Kabir ignored him and pointed toward the large digital scoreboard mounted on the wall.
"We've played bowling, air hockey, basketball and racing simulators."
He grinned.
"The scores are almost tied."
Everyone instinctively looked at the screen.
Team One
- Arjun
- Aadhira
- Kabir
- Dev
148 Points
Team Two
- Siddharth
- Shanaya
- Rohan
- Naina
148 Points
Rohan gasped dramatically.
"Seriously tied ?"
Kabir nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
"So..."
He pointed toward the VR gaming arena.
"The final game decides today's champions."
Siddharth cracked his knuckles.
"Finally."
"A game I might actually enjoy."
Shanaya smirked.
"Confident again?"
"I usually have reasons."
"We'll see."
Everyone collected their VR headsets before stepping into their designated play zones.
The challenge was simple.
Work together.
Protect your teammates.
Complete the mission within the shortest time possible.
As the countdown began, the virtual city appeared around them.
"Enemy approaching from the left!" Dev shouted.
"I see them!" Kabir answered immediately.
"I'll cover you."
Arjun noticed how naturally everyone had fallen into their roles.
Dev remained calm under pressure.
Kabir rushed into danger without hesitation.
Aadhira quietly observed every movement before giving instructions.
"Arjun."
He looked toward her.
"Behind you."
Without questioning her, he turned instantly.
A virtual opponent appeared.
He eliminated it just in time.
"Nice catch," he said.
"I told you."
Her voice remained calm.
"There were three footsteps."
He blinked.
"You heard that?"
"I always pay attention."
A faint smile crossed his face.
Of course she does.
As the mission continued, Arjun found himself unconsciously following Aadhira's directions.
"Left."
"Duck."
"Wait."
"Now."