The Sun in Jaipur rose lazily that morning, streaking golden hues through the iron-barred windows of our girls' hostel. A soft breeze stirred the curtains, and the faint sound of temple bells echoed from afar, blending with the chirping birds. The air was light, the city just waking up, and I felt the warmth of nostalgia wrap around my chest as my phone vibrated against the bedsheet.
It was Aryan.
"Good morning," he said, his voice deep and gentle.
I blinked, my lips curling slightly.
"Wake up, boss," he added, chuckling. "And wake the other two too. Have breakfast. We'll meet at the court."
The call ended before I could say anything more. But my heart raced. Just that—his voice. His sweetness. It sent goosebumps down my spine.
Kajal stirred on the bed next to me. "What are you smiling at?"
"What are you wearing today?" I asked casually.
"Shorts. It's gonna be hot."
I nodded. "Then shorts it is."
As I stood in front of the mirror, trying to tame my sleep-ruffled hair, Kajal came up behind me, a brush in hand.
"Your hair is a mess. Come, I'll fix it."
Within minutes, she tied my thick hair into two neat pigtails. "You look like a total college girl now," she laughed.
"Good," I grinned. "Let's go cause trouble."
The three of us—me, Kajal, and Dhara—headed to the canteen. The air was filled with the smell of poha, samosas, and chai. We devoured breakfast with sleepy eyes and quick bites, then made our way to the stationary shop on campus to print out our ID slips and game documents.
I called Aryan again. "Where are you guys?"
His voice was clearer this time, excited. "You three come straight to the court. We're already here."
We made our way to the college sports ground, the court buzzing with players from different universities. The energy was electric.
Before the matches, there was an inauguration ceremony. A girl in heavy, mismatched makeup and shiny red lipstick stepped up to host.
We all stifled laughs.
"Did she think she was auditioning for a music video?" Kajal whispered.
"She's giving '90s wedding vibes," Dhara snorted.
I bit my tongue, trying not to laugh. The whole team was chuckling. The ceremony, awkward but brief, ended quickly.
And then, the matches began.
The girls' matches weren't scheduled for the day, so we took our seats near the bleachers, ready to support the boys' team. Aryan was on court, tall and focused, gripping his badminton racquet with purpose.
The first match was against a team from Kota. It began with a singles match — Aryan's game. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. The way he moved, sharp and agile. The sound of the shuttle hitting the racquet. The tension of each point. Aryan won his match in straight sets.
The doubles came next, fast-paced and coordinated. Aryan and Tashi made a flawless pair. Their rhythm was perfect. I caught myself holding my breath every time Aryan made a dive.
The second match was against a university from Jodhpur. Same format: two singles, two doubles. Again, they swept it clean.
And the third match, against Bikaner University, had the most pressure. The boys were tired. The sun was harsher. But they fought. Aryan, once again, was the anchor.
Between matches, the entire team made trips to the mango shake stall at the edge of the ground.
During the second break, I teased, "I have a crush on someone here."
Everyone turned.
"What? Who?" Kajal leaned forward.
"Whoever guesses right gets a treat," I smirked.
Kajal squinted at the crowd. "That guy who defeated Tashi in singles?"
"Nope."
"Is it that tall guy from Kota?"
"Nope again."
"Someone from our team?"
I grinned. "You all are so dumb."
Aryan said nothing. He was sipping his shake quietly, but his glance flickered towards me briefly.
Evening rolled in. The sky blushed with shades of orange and mauve. The final whistle of the day blew, and the court slowly emptied.
We all trudged back to the hostel, feet tired but spirits high.
I showered, slipped into fresh pajamas, and curled up on my hostel bed.
The lights were dim, the fan creaked softly.
And my thoughts? They circled back to Aryan — his game face, his soft voice, the sweat on his brow, and the way he didn't join in the guessing game.
I smiled in the dark, and somewhere deep inside, my heart ached with something I hadn't named yet.