"Beyond The Boundary "

The Interrogation

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon when the house settled into a calm that everyone found comfortable. After a few hours of joy-filled discussions, jokes, and catching up, everyone retreated to the cozy living room of the quarters. The air had a kind of tension, though, almost like everyone knew that something would soon shift, and they were ready to see where it would lead.

Shubman and Abhishek, as usual, found themselves lounging lazily on the couch, arms draped around their respective girls, the joy from yesterday’s match still glowing on their faces. Ishan, Khushpreet, and Agni had grabbed chairs and joined the scene, settling into their usual banter. The vibe was light, and there were occasional bursts of laughter as the group exchanged jokes, teasing each other over the little things that had happened on the field during the match.

However, as everyone chatted and enjoyed the warmth of the room, two figures—Komal and Shahneel—entered the room, their footsteps silent but purposeful. They stood there for a moment, eyes scanning the room before they turned to face their respective brothers. The tension was palpable. Shubman and Abhishek looked up, suddenly sensing the shift in the atmosphere.

"What’s wrong, Komal? Shahneel?" Shubman’s voice held the barest edge of concern, though it quickly turned to curiosity. He could tell something was coming. His sister’s stern expressions never meant anything good.

But before Shubman or Abhishek could ask more questions, Komal and Shahneel moved forward in sync, sitting down right in front of Rihi and Aashna. The boys were left standing for a moment, surprised by the sudden shift.

Without a word, Komal spoke, her voice firm and direct. "Rihi," she began, her eyes piercing, "Shubman is like my brother. I’ve seen him grow up in front of me. So, tell me... what are your intentions with him?"

Shahneel mirrored her words for Aashna, his voice equally firm. "Abhishek’s not just a teammate to me. He’s practically family. So I’m asking you, Aashna, the same question. What are your intentions with him?"

The entire room went silent. Shubman and Abhishek glanced at each other, then at their respective sisters, suddenly feeling a wave of unease pass over them. They had hoped for a moment of peace, a quiet afternoon, but it seemed like that wasn’t in the cards today.

Aashna and Rihi exchanged glances, both of them feeling the sudden weight of the situation. They knew this was coming—the questions, the interrogation. They could already feel the pressure building, but they didn’t want to crack under it.

"Well?" Komal pressed on, her arms crossed as she leaned forward slightly, her eyes never leaving Rihi. "You’ve known Shubman for how long? And don’t say you’ve just met yesterday after he scored his century." Her voice was teasing but sharp.

Rihi swallowed, feeling her heart race. She had known this moment was coming for a long time. Ever since the match, ever since they decided to step into this new world, she knew the scrutiny was inevitable. But still, facing it was different.

"I... I’ve known Shubman for five years," Rihi began, trying to steady her breath. "We met during a match at Eden Gardens. A six of his hit me square on my cheek," she added with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. "And he... asked his security to escort me to the dressing room to make sure I was okay he was also in that room and apologised me. After that, well... we stayed in touch. Over time, we got close. Very close."

There was a slight twinkle in Komal’s eyes as she nodded. "Interesting," she mused. "So, a six to the cheek... and you were hooked? Not bad."

Rihi couldn’t help but laugh, her nerves easing just a little. "I guess you could say that. But it wasn’t just that moment, you know. We’ve built something real over time."