You Belong With Me

Sourav felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could someone be this evil? His mind raced as he tried to process the impossible choice before him. Sacrifice his own dreams and happiness for Rahul? Or sacrifice everything he had worked for, including Rahul's future, to save their relationship?

His chest tightened with the weight of the decision. He looked at Mukesh, his eyes pleading for some semblance of mercy, but all he found was cold indifference. It was as if Mukesh took pleasure in his agony.

Sourav took a shaky breath, trying to steady his nerves. His hands trembled as he considered his options, each one more daunting than the last. But no matter which path he chose, he knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

"I'm ready to give up the captaincy, heck, I'm even prepared to be dropped from the team. But why should I sacrifice my relationship? That's none of your business," Sourav challenged, his voice tinged with frustration and defiance.

"Oh, my dear, it absolutely is my business," Mukesh retorted, his tone dripping with bitterness. "You've made me suffer, you've brought shame and disrespect upon me. This is payback for all those painful memories. You'll suffer just as I did!"

Sourav felt a knot forming in his stomach, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend Mukesh's words. "But-" he began, his voice faltering.

"Either you leave the team, and I'll ensure Rahul leaves as well, so you can both live peacefully together," Mukesh interrupted, his eyes glinting with malice. "Or you leave the team and abandon Rahul, allowing him to pursue his career without any hindrance. It's time you check your priorities."

Sourav stood there, stunned into silence, feeling the weight of Mukesh's ultimatum pressing down on him. Mukesh opened the door, a sinister smile playing on his lips, silently urging Sourav to make his choice.

Flashback Ends

Vanshika sat frozen, her heart pounding like a drum against her ribs. The words Sourav uttered sliced through the air, piercing her consciousness with their weight. She had heard whispers, rumors even, about the murky underbelly of cricket selection, but to witness it firsthand, to see the tangled web of dirty politics, favoritism, and vindictive schemes unfurl before her, was a revelation that sent shivers down her spine.

"But why would he do such a thing to you?" Vanshika's voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and indignation, her eyes wide with the urgency of understanding.

Sourav's gaze met hers, a storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface. "When I earned my place in the team for the first time, his own son was vying for that coveted spot alongside me," he began, his tone heavy with the weight of past grievances. "Despite his position as a selector, despite his influence, his son fell short. It was simple: I was better. My skills, my dedication-they spoke louder than any familial ties or nepotistic favoritism."

A bitter edge crept into Sourav's voice as he recounted the aftermath of his triumph. "The other selectors, they didn't spare him. They lambasted him in the media, accusing him of bias, of putting personal interests above the game itself. And in his eyes, I was the catalyst for his downfall, the one who had brought his humiliation to light."

Vanshika listened, her mind racing to connect the dots of this twisted tale. "So, he blamed you for his own failings," she murmured, a sense of empathy mingling with her growing fury.

Sourav nodded, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "He despised me for it, Vanshika. His hatred festered, poisoning his every thought, every action. And when I ascended to the captaincy, it was a slap in the face, a reminder of his own inadequacies."

The truth hung heavy in the air, suffocating in its injustice. "So he sought revenge," Vanshika concluded, her voice a whisper tinged with disbelief.

Sourav's gaze flickered, a shadow passing over his features. "He targeted what he knew would hurt me most-my personal life. And he struck where I was most vulnerable-Rahul."

The name hung between them, a specter of pain and betrayal. Vanshika's heart ached for Sourav, for the burden he carried, for the wounds inflicted upon him in the name of ambition and pride.

"Then what happened?" Vanshika asked.

Flashback

Sourav's footsteps echoed softly as he stepped into his dimly lit room, the weight of his dilemma heavy on his shoulders. He sank onto his bed, the soft mattress offering little comfort against the turmoil raging within him. It felt as though he was caught in the midst of an impossible chess game, with every move leading to a perilous outcome. Mukesh's words reverberated in his mind like an incessant echo, each syllable a reminder of the choice he must make.

To choose his relationship with Rahul would mean jeopardizing not only their careers but also risking the stability of the team they both served. Yet, to prioritize Rahul's career over his own would mean sacrificing the love that had become his very essence, his lifeline amidst the chaos of the world.

The weight of his responsibilities as captain pressed down on him, crushing him beneath their burden. His team relied on him, their hopes and dreams intertwined with his own. But in this intricate web of choices, it seemed inevitable that he would lose something dear to him. The specter of his sexuality loomed over every option, a silent judge condemning him to a life of secrecy and shame.

Rahul's love was his oxygen, sustaining him through the darkest of nights. How could he even begin to fathom a life without Rahul by his side, his warmth and laughter a beacon of hope in a world filled with uncertainty? Yet, Rahul's career, his passion for cricket, was the very essence of his being. To strip him of that would be akin to tearing away a part of his soul, leaving him adrift in a sea of regret and lost dreams.

But even if Rahul were to discover the truth, Sourav knew in his heart that he would relinquish cricket without a moment's hesitation. For Rahul was selflessness personified, his love a force of nature that knew no bounds. And yet, the thought of condemning Rahul to a life devoid of his greatest passion filled Sourav with a sense of overwhelming guilt.

As he lay there, lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, Sourav realized that there was no easy solution to his predicament. Each path before him was fraught with peril, each choice laden with consequence. And so, he remained trapped in the limbo of indecision, torn between his duty to his team and his love for Rahul, knowing that whichever path he chose, he would emerge forever changed.