Part 3
The whole day Madhu felt unusually merry. She believed it to be because she was able to defeat that rebel of a man. Huh! He dared to stand against Madhubala Malik. Didnt he know that she is the undisputed champion. Anyways.. he is from a different college, maybe he doesn't know much. She decided to forgive him. But apart from the game and win, what made her heart flutter every 5 minutes was when she remembered his smirk or his teasing eyes. And then the fall. She was so close to him, she hadnt felt anyone that close and why did she want it to not end. His eyes piercing through hers, made her want to lose herself. She felt weak, which was totally not Madhubala style. Huh! She chided herself for having all the stupid notions for herself and that random guy. Hey, that random guy had also told his name by mistake. Well RK doesnt sound like name. But he did address himself with that. She decided every 5 minutes that she should stop thinking about that random RK dude, but the 6th minute she was back to square one.
RK on the other hand was too excited the whole day. Much had happened today. He had just expected to have a dialogue or maybe formal introductions but then they did so much more. He went happily to the football ground in the evening. "Hey Ali.." he said as he approached from behind.
"RK.. where were you? We all searched for you the whole morning.. we had to practice.." Ali exclaimed angrily.
"Was with a friend.." he said smiling happily thinking of Madhu as his friend...
"Who was such a friend that made you skip football..?" Ali asked naughtily realizing the happiness on RK's face.
"Nah.. actually I was at basketball court.. had a small match.." he said controlling himself and shutting off those 32 teeth behind his lips which were ready to show themselves off all at once.
"Basketball? I thot you were in football team?" Ali replied sarcastically.
"So what.. I took a kind of a break.. Thats it.." RK refuted him.
"Break from football!! Man.. what's wrong?" Ali exclaimed hearing him shocked.
RK stopped and glared at him. "You know I am here to practice football.. not to answer your stupid questions.. You are not my girlfriend" RK replied.
"Okay man.. Cool down.." he said with a cheeky smile and they both walked towards the ground for the game.
The next day RK was again waiting for Madhubala at the court dribbling the ball. Soon he saw Madhu approaching and a smile played on his lips. Even she didn't have that frown she had yesterday. She saw him, and came towards him smiling slightly.
"Back to lose?" Madhu asked teasing.
"Nah.. I would enjoy the game more.." RK said cheekily.
"Is RK like The Rishabh Kundra? From St. Xaviers?" Madhu asked.
"Ooo.ooo seems like someone inquired about me.. I didn't know I had that effect.." RK said naughtily.
"Nah... when i told my girlfriends that I had a match with RK they were all shrieking and sighing with all their might.." Madhu rolled her eyes remembering them and how she had felt irritated and angry at them.
"Girlfriends?!" RK asked shocked stuck at that.
"Yeah.. like girls who are friends.." Madhu said raising an eyebrow confused.
"Ohhh" he said relaxing.
Madhu looked at him confused and then a disgusted frown formed on her face.. "ewww dude.. You are yuk..." she said shuddering at the thought.
RK grinned cheekily and continued to play with the ball.
"So..." Madhu said as she stood beside him.
"What so?" RK asked looking at her.
"You are Rishabh Kundra and as far as I could make out from words between those sighings, Arent you football captain?" Madhu asked.
"Yeah.. I am.." RK said proudly.
"Oohh.. seems like you are getting distracted.. basketball eh?" Madhu asked laughing at her own joke.
"Nah.. I am sharpening my skills with the ball.." RK said shrugging.
"Ohhh.." she said nodding her head realizing him. "You have a match tomorrow right?" She asked a little excited.
"Really girl.. you have digged a lot about me.." he teased her.
"Wow.. Getting to know that the meet is starting with a football match is digging a lot?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ahaann... Really? Its just that?" RK asked looking right in her eyes.
"Yeah just that.." Madhu replied tying her hands at her chest challenging back.
"You fascinate me girl.. You are always ready to take up a fight.." RK said laughing at her.
Madhu grinned embarrassed.
"Well I am from..."
"Yeah I know you are from St. Teresa.. The striker of the team.." RK looked at her with a naughty smile.
"Ooo So someone digged a lot about me?" Madhu said acting the way he did as she smiled haughtily.
RK laughed hearing her. "You know even I dont like to stay behind anyone in anything.." he said.
"Why aren't you the captain? I dont believe that there's a better player than you who became the captain.." he asked confused
Madhu smiled proudly. "Yeah there isnt.. but i just want to concentrate on my game and not get distracted because of any other issue.." she said shrugging.
"Hmmm.. I think you are right.." he said thoughtfully.
"I am like Sachin Tendulkar.." she said and then grinned ear to ear.
RK looked at her amused and burst into a laughter. "I see where you get your inspirations from.." he said.
"Are we just gonna talk today.. cz boy even if you are playing this for fun, I have to play for my team.." she said frowning
"Ohh yeah right.." he said realizing and passed her the ball
"Wont we have a match?" Madhu asked smiling.
"Ohh.. I thought you needed to practice.." he said confused.
"Yeah.. but I realized that this way I could practice way better.." she said happily.
RK smiled at her as she smiled back. He came towards her with a sincere smile and she felt her heart flutter again. But then he thumped his hand on the ball she was holding and took it away as he dribbled the ball along with him. Madhu was stunned at first but then she smiled and ran behind him.
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The next day, the sports festival was to start. The preparations for the footbal match were made and students had started assembling around the ground. RK took in a sip of juice as his eyes moved in search of his girl. He had invited her yesterday and she had very haughtily, said that she would see if she has time. But something in her smile told him that she would come.
"Come on RK.. be quick.." Sikky said as he ran to the ground taking high steps while jogging, warming up.
"Yeah.." RK nodded slightly as his hopes that Madhu would come started to dwindle.
"I hope you won't play basketball instead of football here.." Ali said from behind him.
RK turned to her frowning. "Yeah. Like your mind is still stuck on basketball right?" Ali asked with a teasing smile.
"You really need to shut that blabberbox of yours." RK said angrily.
"Well the basket ball players are on the left.." he said grinning cheekily and RK turned to look at that side instantly. There he saw his girl with her hair bunched in her trade mark ponytail with her trademark sweet frown as she inspected the ground. RK's face brightened up immediately as a smile formed on his face.
"Didn't know a girl could cause that effect on you.." Ali said from behind amused at his friend.
RK turned to him for a while still smiling and then turned back at Madhu.
"Its the curly one right?" He asked in a whisper.
"Yeah..." RK said dreamily.
"What a girl man..!" Ali said admiring her too.
RK frowned instantly as he turned to Ali. "Have a problem with those teeth in your mouth?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I mean bhabhi is beautiful.. what a choice.." Ali said quickly covering up.
RK nodded his head forgiving him as he had called her bhabhi and turned to Madhu again.
"Will you keep admiring her or give her that chance too?" Ali asked.
RK looked at him confused.
"Cant you see.. she is searching for you on the ground" he asked
"She is?" RK asked astonished while he looked at her as if to confirm.
"Yeah and you are standing between the crowd.. lets get on the ground and let her warm her eyes too.." Ali said smiling naughtily.
"Yeah right.. lets hit the ground.." he said excitedly.
"Today's gonna be your best game i suppose.." Ali asked amused.
"Totally man.. RK's gonna rock today.." he said with an attitude.
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Madhu was still searching when she saw him walking inside the ground as he talked to his friend smiling over something. She sweared she had lost one or two of her beats. He looked so damn handsome and hot in those knee length navy blue shorts and the white shirt with blue stripes. He even laughed over something and gave his friend a hi-fi and Madhu felt crazy. Though she totally couldnt understand what all that was for.
Just then she heard the girl beside her sigh loudly. She looked at her in panic. "What happened Surabhi?" She asked worriedly.
"Hayyeee. RK.." she said sighing again.
Madhu couldnt understand why she felt like smacking her face. How dare she take his name like that? He was her partner. huh! She frowned as she looked straight ahead.
After sometime she saw RK turning to her side. A sweet smile plastered on his face as he waved at her. Madhu waved back slightly though embarrassed at the sudden attention that was focussed on her by her group members.
"Did he just wave at you?" One of them asked with eyes wide open.
"Nope.." Madhu said while chewing on her gum.
"But you waved him back.." Surabhi said accusing her.
"He had waved here, and it would have been against manners not responding to it.. " she said while chewing trying to act ultra-cool. Though in her heart a part of her wanted to show off in front of those despo girls that RK did wave her.. but then that wasn't her image.. and it wouldnt be polite. Nope.. she dropped the slightest trace of that idea.
The game began soon and the ground filled with cheers and hootings. In between there were also RK's name cheered out and Madhu felt a strange pride. As if someone close to her was being appreciated. She was watching the match very closely unlike the other girls who were majorly focussed on the guys. Sports was her passion. And she had to admit that RK did play great. He was very good in basketball but he was much better in football for sure.
RK was too engrossed in the game. He didn't even realize that whenever he would want to relax his nerves he would take a look at Madhu who was watching the match with a great interest. A slight frown plastered on her face as she was focussing on the ball and the scores and goli keeping his position or not.
The game continued with utmost thrill. Both the teams played great and as a result both teams had equal score. But just before time out! St Xaviers got a penalty shot. And who would have come from the team other than RK. There was utmost silence as tension was quite high. RK stood infront of the ball trying to concentrate on the goal.
Madhu who had been closely monitoring the goalkeeper had noticed his flaw. She prayed to God that RK look at her for once and she would tell him what is the way to break it. As if on cue RK looked at her trying to calm his nerves.
"Straight ahead" Madhu gestured through her hands.
While RK looked at her confused for second but then he realized what she meant. He looked at the goal again and a smirk played on his lips. He came running from a side and kicked the ball hard straight ahead. And there it was,the goli jumped to one side and the ball hit the goal directly. The whole stadium roared with cheers and hootings and also sighs of the ones who lost. RK ran in excitement to his team mates and all jumped in joy celebrating their victory. Madhu who had been till now sitting with composure also sprung up from her seat clapping. RK turned to look at Madhu to thank her and saw her rejoicing his victory. Suddenly this victory felt all the more special to him. He smiled seeing her and she smiled back.
When the game finally ended RK turned to walk to Madhu and also thank her but she was not where she was sitting till now. He walked around trying to look for her but she was nowhere to be seen. For once he even thought to ask her friends but then dreading a 'Dipali like reaction' , he dropped that idea.
"Hey.. couldn't find your girl?" Ali asked with a frown trying search for her himself.
"Yeah.." RK said disheartened..
"I saw her walking off sometime back while we were still playing.." he told him.
"Were you playing or stalking my girl?" RK asked him angrily.
"Come on.. that was just a coincidence... And do you think I didnt notice the eye-talking going on between the two of you. " he said teasingly and RK chuckled hearing him forgiving him.
"Okay I have to go.. I know where she would be." He said running away