TEMPEST LOVE

PROLOGUE

The spectators were restless. It was a win or loss moment. They decided to liven up the stadium with their chant.

INDIA…INDIA…INDIA…!

Vikram looked around the stadium. It was do or die for him. India needed 7 runs in two balls. Would he be able to deliver for his country? The batsman at the other end was a young newcomer. Moreover, he was a better bowler than a batsman. No one expected much from him, so Vikram was under pressure. Vikram came in at number 5 and was still holding on to his wicket. This was the last pair for India and all hopes were on Vikram. As his eyes wandered around the picturesque stadium of Galle, his eyes fell on her. There, she was with her long hair and sunglasses, raising her thumb to him. He caught his breath and his pulses raced. Yes, she was here to cheer him up....He was not going to fail her.

The bowler came charging in and Vikram just whacked the ball over the ropes for a massive six. The ball in fact went over the roof of the stadium. The crowd went wild. Just one more run was needed in one ball. The stadium went into pin-drop silence and waited with bated breath. His eyes searched for her again but she was nowhere to be found. The seat she occupied earlier was taken up by someone else. He looked around desperately for her. Where was she? The bowler waited impatiently for him to take position and the batsman at the other end watched him confusedly. The crowd waited in suspense. His eyes peered through the boundary lines. Where the hell was she? He could feel her presence but he could not see her. Or was that his imagination? His heart felt heavy. He closed his eyes.

Once again, she made a fool of him…

The umpire came towards him and asked, “Any problem Vicky?” He shook his head and faced the bowler. An unspoken rage took over him and he vented out his fury on the ball. It crossed the boundary and the crowd rose in ecstasy.

India won the Tri series. He knew that for the moment he became the darling of the team and idol of the nation. As he walked back to the pavilion with his partner, the captain of the team hugged him and said, “Well done...” Vikram smiled and acknowledged wishes from all. But he could not forget the image of her sitting among the spectators and raising her thumb. Like a witch, she was haunting him again...

Chaaya stood behind the pillar and waited for the crowd to thin out. She was so happy that India won the series and Vikram was the one who made it happen with his winning shot. She had been watching the match as one of the spectators when she realized that Vikram spotted her. She exited the arena hurriedly and watched the crucial end of the match, from the lobby, feasting her eyes on Vikram on the huge television set. Every time Vikram played, she had her heart in her mouth because he never wore helmet. She always feared that he would get hurt. They even had a fight over it once, but that was a long time ago. She did not think that Vikram would even remember her now. She sighed and left the stadium. Those days of not being able to live without each other were over. She had to move on in life. Vikram had already moved on. It was time for her to say 'Yes' to Rohan.