Thanks for the response. I guess the topic just got buried under others the first time! So Part One's below. But updates maybe pretty delayed as I'm buried under schoolwork. Sorry about that!😔
Part 1
"THIRD time! In one evening! God...why doesn't Rahul fix this DVD player?!" groaned Naina Shaw. Her closest buddy, Anya Kapadia sat right next to her, looking totally bored with everything. "Does it matter?" she yawned. "I mean, I have never seen such mushy trash!"
"Hey...it's not trash! It's such a sweet, romantic story...and tune lead pair ke beech chemistry notice kiya?"
"Puh-lease! I've got plenty of better things to do! Main jaa rahi hoon. Maybe I can still get in some practice. Tu yahan reh apni ghatiya movie ke saath!"
"Oh god, tu aur teri practice! All right, I'll come with you!" groaned Naina, and they walked out after calling to Rahul.
"Hey, there's your Bharat!" giggled Naina suddenly, as they neared the tennis courts.
"My Bharat?" Anya raised her eyebrows.
"Well, the , and hero's name was Bharat, aur woh sach mein Bharat hai...aur tu, Anya!" explained Naina, nudging her friend in the direction of the courts. Anya looked. Someone was on the court practicing, practicing, practicing...serves only!
"Hmmm...not a bad server," she observed. "Maine kahin dekha hai kya usey?"
"Uh-huh. Chemistry Lab. Mehak ka partner...poor girl."
"Poor girl kyun? I mean, zyada baat nahin karta hai, but he doesn't look like a bad guy."
"That's a record! Pehli baar teri observation power is wrong! He is the rudest guy in the entire college. Aaj tak kisi se bhi politely baat nahin kiya."
"Kisi se bhi nahin?" echoed Anya, eyes still on Bharat.
"Nah! Except teachers aur princi."
"Okay...I accept the challenge," a smile flitted across Anya's lips. "I'll talk to him right now and he won't be rude to me."
"What?" Naina eyebrows almost disappeared into her head. "BHARAT SINGH tujhse theek se baat karega? No way!"
"Bet? Loser treats winner at a restaurant...winner's choice."
"You're on! Mujhe Capretto's jaana hai!"
"Hey, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Paanch minute ruk...main abhi aayi." Anya disappeared into the changing rooms...and returned within a couple of minutes in her tennis outfit, swinging a racquet in her hand. "Watch yourself lose the bet, Nan! Ek ghante ke andar," she grinned and walked onto the court.
"Pretty ferocious serve," she thought to herself and studied a couple before hitting the next one back...for a searing winner that whipped past the surprised Bharat. Anya walked upto the net...as Bharat did the same.
"Match?" she smiled. Bharat nodded curtly, "But one set only. Mujhe wapas jaana hai." and Anya consented to that.
Anya may have been superior in drop shots and slices...with a killer forehand...but Bharat's venomous aces backed him in times of need. Both were quite well matched, really, and the score reached 5-5 without either player getting a break. Then Anya lost her serve to fall behind, 5-6; it was mainly a couple of unforced errors and a surprising forehand crosscourt from Bharat. Entangled in a situation that was do-or-die to both...at that moment...Anya outdid herself with a couple of spectacular crosscourts and a volley at the net to earn three break points. But Bharat's next three serves zipped past her as aces as he levelled scores. Another ace...set point AND match point to Bharat. His serve was less speedy than usual and Anya lashed at it. It shot back...and hit the net! Bharat had won! Bharat sauntered to the net as Anya did likewise, a little pink about the cheeks.
At the net, Bharat held out his hand, saying,"Yahan emotion ki koi jagah nahi hai, you know."
"Aur nahi jeet ke aadat ki," retorted Anya as she shook his hand. "Aaj jeet gaye, next day...who knows?" Bharat actually gave a half-smile before walking off the court! Naina's mouth dropped open! "H-how...?" she said weakly as Anya walked up. "Meri treat...at Food Funda??" she grinned.
Edited by clarissa - 16 years ago
