CHAPTER 4 - I AM IMPRESSED!
The day at school began to wane, and as the clock ticked past 5 in the evening, Rishabh’s thoughts turned to her. Unconsciously, his eyes swept the parking lot for her bicycle. It was gone—she had already left. Again, the inexplicable desire to see her gripped him.
At home, his parents were deep in conversation. They looked up as he entered.
"Rishabh, you're late," his mother said.
"Yes, Mom. Vikram, Rehaan, Kabir, and I stayed back to discuss something for class," he replied, hugging her playfully.
His stomach growled. "Mom, I’m starving."
She nodded and soon placed a plate of sandwiches and a milkshake in front of him. “Go, freshen up and eat. You have a match today, right?”
After a quick shower, Rishabh called his spirited younger sister, Kriti, to come down. She grabbed her basketball and water bottle from their mom and hopped onto the bike behind him.
"Coming, Brother!" she chirped as they zoomed off toward the court, twenty minutes away.
When they arrived, Kriti hopped off. "See you later. Don’t forget to call me!" she shouted.
Engrossed in his phone, Rishabh walked straight into someone, making both stumble back. Dazed, he looked up—only to freeze.
It was her.
He had admired her from afar, but this close, her beauty was far more than just looks. It was in her presence, her scent.
"I’m so sorry, are you okay?" he asked.
"I’m fine," she replied softly, not meeting his eyes.
His heart fluttered. She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the girls’ court.
Rishabh ran a hand through his hair and followed her. Rehaan and the boys waved him over. He tried to focus, but he kept glancing at her tying her hair into a bun.
"Control yourself, Rishabh," he muttered.
The tournament started the next day, and pressure was mounting. That evening, their coach had a surprise.
Avani, still reeling from their accidental encounter, wasn’t sure what she was feeling. She’d never been in such a situation. But she couldn’t deny the butterflies.
Coach gathered both teams.
“Tomorrow’s warm-up match: Under-18 girls vs. boys,” he announced.
“We’re going to beat the boys!” Smriti cheered.
Avani chuckled but stayed focused.
As the match began, she noticed senior girls ogling the boys.
"Ignore them, Smriti. Focus," she said, taking position.
Across the court, Rishabh stood with the coach and the girls’ captain. Their eyes met briefly, and he gave her a small smile.
Caught off guard, she quickly looked away.
The whistle blew.
Rishabh dribbled toward her, but she snatched the ball from him, sending her heart pounding.
She passed it to Smriti, ignoring the heat rising in her cheeks.
Rishabh couldn't help smiling. She was confident and graceful—nothing like he'd imagined.
Kabir teased him from the sidelines, but Rishabh stayed focused.
Meanwhile, Vikram’s eyes were glued to Smriti. Rishabh intercepted a pass, scoring effortlessly. He gave Avani a teasing smirk, finding her reaction—gritting her teeth—oddly endearing.
In the next round, she moved with such elegance, it stunned him. She passed the ball with a silent message in her eyes—a challenge.
Yes, he was impressed.
The final buzzer rang. The boys had won.
Back on the bench, Rishabh wiped his face.
“What was that?” Kabir asked.
“What?” Rishabh replied.
“Don’t act innocent! Felt like it was just you and her out there,” Vikram joked.
“You were drooling over someone else,” Rishabh shot back, giving Vikram a playful glare.
They all laughed, and as the teasing continued, Rishabh’s gaze drifted across the court to Avani.
She looked upset. But even angry, she was adorable.
That’s when he knew.
He liked her.