Sophia's Freedom

Chapter 4: The Preparation

I lay on the bed, thinking about the picture Monika showed me, suddenly I looked at her and saw that she was peacefully asleep. Soon my eyes also began to feel heavy, and I drifted off to deep slumber.

After a while, I half opened my eyes, and rubbed my eyes with my hand, I saw Sophia sitting on the chair, laying her head on the table looking at us and smiling.

I got off the bed making sure Monika is not disturbed, stood in front of her, and whispered to her, "Where are Aunty and your sisters?"

Sophia looked at me and replied, "Aunty is in her room sleeping," she paused and continued "and my Cousins are in their room resting."

I looked at her and said, "ok!!! What about you? Why don't you take some rest too?" I gave her a brief smile and continued "You look exhausted. I want my team members well rested before the game".

Sophia replied, "It's ok Joe Bhaiya, I can manage. I am used to such a rigorous routine…"

Her face definitely looked tired but she was still trying her best to hide them. I insisted "No, you need rest. Get on the bed and try to sleep. I will wake you up after half an hour".

She was hesitant at first, however, seeing the determined look on my face she removed her shoes and laid on the bed.

I sat on the chair lying next to her study table. There was a bottle of pills on the table which I didn't recall seeing in the morning. I picked it up, checked the label, and saw the name - TESTOPEL.

Strange name for medicine and kept the bottle back to where it was. So maybe she is suffering from some disease and this is helping her get better. I looked around the table and started to stare at the photo frame of the couple whom I guessed to be Sophia's parents.

Suddenly there was a noise on the bed, and I found that Monika turned around and put her left arm around Sophia. Sophia opened her eyes with a soft yelp, saw that Monika had hugged her, and drowsily went back to sleep. I smiled at the situation, took the blanket lying on the bed, and pulled it over the 2 girls.

I picked up a diary lying on the table and started to read it. On the first page of the diary was written "A Life with no existence". I opened the first page of the diary and started reading it. It was dated the 4th of June 1993. There were details about someone called Abhinu and Aarohi. I flipped through the pages.

I stopped to read another page at random. What I just read on that page was kind of disturbing and saddening. I wanted to continue through the diary, but then I remembered what Papa once told me about it not being good manners to go through the personal stuff of others. So, I decided not to read further.

When the time is right, I will come to Sophia and seek her permission to read her diary.

After about an hour, the time was showing 3:30. I got off the chair and went to wake up Monika.

I shook her up and said "Wake up sleepyhead. It's 3:30. We should get ready for the match."

She suddenly opened her eyes and when she saw that she had her hands around Sophia, she pulled them back and looked at the door. Sophia also woke up, looked at Monika, and seeing her awake got off from the bed hastily and stepped on the floor.

Monika got out of bed too. Sophia stepped forward to fold the blanket. I decided to help her tidy up the bed.

A few minutes later, we came out of the room and found that the siblings were already dressed and ready to play.

I told them, "Give us 15 minutes, we will go to our home and change into something more comfortable for playing. I will also call up my friend Vikash to be the match referee"

The siblings didn't throw any tantrums as they have been doing since morning. Strange!

I looked at Sophia and said, "Get ready, change into something more comfortable like a top, shorts, and sneakers. See you soon" and rushed to our home to get changed.

Once I reached home, I called up my friend Vikash and asked him to be the match referee. He instantly agreed to it. He becomes extremely nervous around beautiful girls and ends up blowing up any opportunity of fraternizing with them with his awkward behavior. It never mattered even if the girl is half his age, he still gets nervous. Whenever I get a chance I try to have fun with him by calling to events where there are lots of girls and today was one such moment for me.

I was ready in 5 minutes as I just had to change my jeans and the t-shirt and put on my favorite shorts with the number 9 written on them. My beloved basketball player Tony Parker wears the number 9.

I had to wait for my sister to come. It took her about 10 minutes to get ready and come out. To my surprise, we both were wearing an Identical color.

I saw that Monika had another Top and probably a short too in her hand with the same color. I asked her "Is that for Sophia?"

She replied, "Of course bro. Our team should be wearing identical colors."

I thought in my mind I am lucky to have a smart sister. We left the house and met Vikash standing outside the Banerjee residence. We came in. To our surprise, I found that the Banerjee siblings were wearing all red. I looked at them and taunted them saying "Are you guys planning to join Houston Rockets?"

Suddenly Vikash got an idea and said: "Why don't you 2 name your respective teams before the match?"

Aamaya thought it was a good idea and said: "We will call ourselves Houston Rockets just as you suggested."

I thought 'whatever' and then I replied: "We will call our-self Atlanta Hawks."

Monika looked around and asked Darika "Where is Sophia?"

She replied, "Who cares where that sissy is. She is probably sulking inside."

I saw Monika taking a step towards Darika and whispered something into her ear, which probably threatened her and she pointed directed Monika towards the direction of the door. I saw my sister taking a step back and stepping into the house to get Sophia. After a few minutes both the girls stepped out of the house. She was wearing the Blue Top and the shorts that Monika bought for her.

I saw the top and on it was printed the face of Lauren Jackson. She is one of the best basketball players to have ever lived. As Sophia stepped out of her house, she stretched her arms wide open and started to look at the sky, and suddenly in that same stance, she started to run towards the basketball field.

As she reached the center of the field she stopped, bent down on her knees, touched the center-line with her hands, and placed her forehead to the field. I remembered seeing this same gesture a couple of years back but could not recall where I saw it.

Sophia stood up and came to me and said: "I am ready to rock". I found that Sophia was wearing her black school shoes to come and play. It felt strange, so I asked her, "Don't you have any sports shoes? You will not be able to play with them."

Sophia looked down at the shoes she was wearing, and replied: "These are pump shoes, see I could run very well with these." and she started to jump and show me some moves to prove that she is comfortable in those.

I asked her to run to the end of the pillar and come back, and when I saw her limping, I told her, "These shoes are not meant for playing, and I don't think these are your shoes either?" She didn't utter a single word.

Garima who was standing nearby let out a derisive taunt "Nice Outfit, princess. Sports Tees, Hot pants, and Black Pumps. You should be doing a fashion show not playing basketball. Go back, this is not for you."

Sophia was nearly on the brink of crying, she covered her face with her hands and ran inside the house.

                                                                   TO BE CONTINUED...

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