Young Love

Early in the morning, Coach knocked at the door. Luckily Punya and Jyoti were ready for practice, they locked the door behind them as Narmada was asleep.

"Oooohhh it is so cold" shivered Jyoti.

"Run for some distance, you'll warm up" said Punya.

Prakruth, Punya and Jyoti started jogging. Coach was walking behind them.

After some distance, Punya started shivering... But she didn't complain.... Her teeth cluttering gave Prakruth the hint of her shivering. He felt very bad about it but he was helpless. He saw a tea shop at a visible distance.

"Sir, why don't we drink some tea, so we'll get some energy to run" he asked his coach.

"Well not a bad idea" said the coach and headed towards the tea shop.

"Three tea and one milk" he ordered.

"Prakruth you won't drink tea?" asked the coach.

"I do Sir! Milk is for Punya.... She doesn't drink coffee or tea" he shrugged.

"Good, that's team spirit... You should care about fellow players. I like it" said the coach.

He just smiled. Punya and Jyoti were still shivering... Hot cup of milk and tea saved them.

Punya held the cup in both her hands and felt the heat radiate through her body. She was enjoying the warmth it was passing... Prakruth engrossed her every expression and felt happy. Coach said "These girls are shivering on summer morning here, imagine if we bring them in winter... We've to bring medical facilities along" and started laughing, Prakruth was busy observing Punya.

"No Sir.... We're not so weak. We're just little s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e to sudden change in temperature, night was warmer" said Jyoti.

"We'll see, start warm up... We need to practice too" instructed the coach.

"Sure Sir" said Punya.

Again they started jogging to the nearby stadium but pace was faster more like running. Coach guided all three of them to practice... Punya and Prakruth were one team and Coach was with Jyoti. He gave a tough contest to Prakruth but he returned his lessons to him. Prakruth was quick on his steps and Punya was strategic. They won most of the points but at last coach tried a new technique to confuse them and they lost.

"Sir this new technique you haven't thought to us" complained Prakruth. He was very friendly with the coach hence he took liberty to object...

"Yes... I will teach this now... The north east duo use this trick when they're about to lose a game.." the coach explained the trick. He even thought them how to defend it.

Prakruth, Punya and Jyoti listened and followed the coach carefully. After two hours of practice, they reached the hotel.

"Ok you all relax, we'll meet for practice at 5" said the coach.

"Sure Sir" said Punya and Jyoti. They reached the room exhausted.

Narmada opened the door, "Come, you're on time... I've ordered breakfast. Take bath fast" she instructed.

"Aunty, I'll rest for sometime" said Jyoti and fell on the bed.

"Lazy girl, get up. We've to go out now" said Punya.

"You take bath, I'll rest till then" she argued.

"Ok" shrugged Punya.

When she was back from bath, Prakruth knocked at the door... Narmada opened the door and welcomed him.

"Good Morning Prakruth, you're on time. Good" she appreciated him "See these girls are still taking time, Jyoti just went to fresh up." she blamed.

"Amma I'm almost ready, why is that you always complain?" said Punya who came brushing her wet hair.

Prakruth was speechless seeing her. She wore a white knee length frock with small red floral prints, she was just out from bath. Her looks were mesmerising, fresh like a new flower covered in morning mist... He had never seen her with loose hair, as couldn't control his d.e.s.i.r.e to feel the strands of her long hair... He randomly started planning for an opportunity.

"Aunty you said you've ordered for breakfast?" asked Prakruth.

"Yeah it hasn't arrived yet, wait I'll call them. Where's my phone?" asked Narmada.

"On the dressing table" said Punya.

"Two minutes Prakruth, I'll be right back" said Narmada and walked inside.

"Prakruth what's this? Amma might come, leave" she objected softly.

"Wow" he exclaimed "Your hair, My God" he appreciated feeling the strands in his fingers.

She chuckled, "Ok leave... We'll be caught" she ordered.

"Man... You're so addictive" he said and kissed on her neck before leaving her. He went and sat with innocent face as if nothing happened. Luckily Narmada walked in after few minutes and said "Breakfast is at the door"

Punya exhaled deeply. She gave a angry look at him, he chuckled hideously.

Jyoti who came from bath, sat next to Narmada on the bed for breakfast...leaving only the chair next to Prakruth for Punya...

Punya looked at her surprised...

"What?" asked Jyoti.

"Nothing" nodded Punya and sat next to Prakruth.

Prakruth thanked Jyoti by a nod and said "Aunty, here is the list of places we'll visit" he gave a sheet to Narmada.

"Oh Nice... You made a list... You're a good organiser" she appreciated looking at the list.

"Ma let me see..." asked Punya.

"No Aunty don't show it to her, she didn't pick my call last night" he complained.

"Everyone complains, go I'll not come, I'll not even have breakfast" Punya scowled.

"Punya Sorry, don't waste food... Please eat" begged Prakruth.

"No" she frowned.

"It is OK... I'm hungry. I'll finish it" said Jyoti.

Narmada chuckled seeing her silly behaviour.... "You laugh!!! I'll complain to Appa" she went out with her phone.

Prakruth felt bad for spoiling her mood. He couldn't eat anymore. He got up with his plate.

"What happened Prakruth ?" asked Narmada.

"I'm done Aunty" he said and walked away.

Punya called her father, he picked at first ring "Hello" she said.

"Hi darling, Good Morning"

"Good Morning Appa"

"Hmmmm, my darling's mood is off... What happened baby??" he asked.

"Appa you understand me so well, I miss you so much." she said.

"I miss you too baby, you want me to come over? Is your mother not taking care of you properly??" he asked.

"No no she is. But I can't explain everything in words"

"Is it nervousness for the match which is troubling you??" he asked.

"Partly yeah... But there are other things which are happening with me... I don't know whether they're right or wrong" she said perplexed. She summarised the new experiences she's enjoying with Prakruth, her confusions about him, guilty feeling of hiding it from parents and bluffing each time to be with him as things...in her mind.

"Are you a part of those things or someone else is imposing it on you?"

"I'm also part of it, I like some of them but some are out of my control. I'm worried about them"

"Baby, I can understand your point. Enjoy the things which you like, and for those which are out of your control, just watch them as third person but remember those things happen to either teach you a lesson or to give a wonderful experience. Learn to grow with them" he advised.

"Yeah some of them are wonderful indeed" she said recollecting intimate moments with Prakruth.

"Some which are unpleasant... Just ignore. You shouldn't worry about satisfying everyone. Make your own decisions and ask yourself how much are they right???"

"Yes Appa" she said.

"Punya can we go?" asked Prakruth.

"Yeah" she said "Ok Appa, we're going out for roaming... I'll call you later"

"Wait is that Prakruth??"

"Yeah, why?"

"Give it to him, I wanna talk to him" he said.

"Prakruth Appa wants to talk to you" she handed over her phone.

"Hello Uncle, Good morning"

"Hello my boy, how's Shimla? How was the game??" he asked.

"Everything is fine Uncle"

"Prakruth I wanted a favor from you"

"Uncle don't call it a favor... Just order"

Varun chuckled... "I like your obedience... Just talk to Punya privately. Something is bothering her.. She is open to me but she spoke to me about them in a coded language, that is like not revealing details. She might not open to her mother too. But you're her friend, she might tell you. Take Jyoti's help if you want and try to know what's going on... Will you?" he asked.

"Sure Uncle, I will" he assured.

"I don't want her mood to affect her game. Basically I can't see her sad or confused. She must be happy always. That is the only thing I struggle for" he explained

"Me too" he thought "Don't worry uncle, I'll try my level best to see her happy again" said Prakruth.

"Ok... Have a great day ahead... bye" said Varun

"Bye uncle" Prakruth hung up.