48 The Tournamen (2/2)
”Hey Jyoti” Punya chased her.
Prakruth chuckled softly and he spoke to the cycle hiring person and got a cycle.
”You both need some privacy so I will go cycling first” said Jyoti.
”Jyoti” scowled Punya ”Why didn't you take two more cycles? we could also go” she asked Prakruth
”I'm tired, I can't cycle now” said Prakruth.
”OK, let me go” said Punya and walked a little away.
”Someone was afraid to see me stand alone, now they're ready to go....” he rolled his eyes.
She looked at him and chuckled....”That was a song” she said.
”So you don't mean it? You don't love me so much?” he asked.
She just nodded a yes... ”Then come with me” he put his arms around her and took her inside the park. They sat against a tree on the green lawn.
”Such a nice weather, I expected Snow but yet it is fine” said Punya.
”If it was snowing, I should've carried thermals to protect you from cold” said Prakruth.
”I think I'm not so weak” scowled Punya.
”Who was trembling in the flight as temperature went down later in the midnight. I covered you with the blanket but even then you were shivering. Do you remember that you pulled me closer and hid your face in my jacket?” he asked.
”No, I didn't do so” she blushed.
”Yeah may be I was dreaming” he said in a teasing tone
Sun was about to set in the west lowering the temperature to 16°C. She started trembling as the cold breeze blew past her.
”Will my dream come true now?” he asked seeing her tremble.
She chuckled softly. The yellow floral print frock was fitting her so well that her features were clearly mark-able, she had made a pony of her hair which spread on her back, her fair arms and leg below the knee were shining due to sunlight, orange light of sun had lit up her beautiful face, her pink lips were so tantalizing that made Prakruth mad. He embraced her warmly rubbing her bare arm. She didn't resist which encouraged him.
”Punya, can I kiss you?” he asked. She gasped and moved a little away from his embrace.
”Only if you permit or else I won't force” he said looking into her eyes.
She was bewildered to allow or not. He could sense the confusion and wanted to drop the plan but suddenly she said ”You can”.
He started laughing. She was defiantly blushing while looking down. He lifted her face in his hand and kissed her on the left cheek by turning her face to left.
She gave a eccentric look.... ”I like your dimple the most so I kissed it” he shrugged.
She hit her head softly, she had expected something more.
”Punya are you scared of tomorrow's match?” he asked.
”Yeah kind of nervous” she said.
”Why...because it is nationals?”
”Yeah there are many who are strong out there, people will laugh at me if I lose” she said sadly.
”Come on, be a sport. Forget all the expectations, forget the winning or losing, just play for the game. Remember people who love you will love you whether you win or lose and the people who hate you will hate you for anything you do. Don't think about them just live for yourself” he advised.
”Do you think I'm good at the game?” she asked.
”You're great at it. Just focus and be confident. Trust yourself. Will you?”
”Yeah, I will”. He embraced her warmly passing all the positivity in him.
”Can we go? Jyoti will search for us” he said softly.
”Yeah” she got up brushing her dress.
They headed towards the walking track and Jyoti came cycling towards the pathway.
”Punya, are you ready to go?” she asked as she halted.
”Yeah” said Punya taking the cycle from her.
Punya rode away. Jyoti asked Prakruth ”You both were only walking here all this time?”
”Yeah, what did you expect?” asked Prakruth.
”Nothing” shrugged Jyoti drinking water. ”Boring couple, if I was in such a romantic weather, I would warm myself up” thought Jyoti. Prakruth chuckled softly as he read her expressions.