Chapter 152

It was a breezy evening at the U19 women's cricket academy. The sun was gently setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the lush green grounds. As usual, Jahnavi Singh was sitting alone at a corner table in the academy's dining area, engrossed in her meal. Nitish Reddy, watching from afar, took a deep breath. Today was the day he had decided to gather the courage to speak to her.

Nitish had been tracking Jahnavi's presence for months, appreciating her from a distance. He knew her name, thanks to a conversation with the academy's receptionist, Ramesh, who had become his confidant. This information had been a treasure of sorts for Nitish, a key to the enigma he had been admiring.

As he approached her, Nitish's heart raced. This wasn't a pitch, and he wasn't facing a fierce fast bowler; this was an entirely different kind of challenge. His usually steady hands felt clammy, and his words felt tangled even before he uttered them.

Nitish (nervously): "Uh, hey... Jahnavi, right?"

Jahnavi looked up from her plate, her almond-shaped eyes meeting Nitish's. For a moment, he felt like time had slowed down. Her smile, albeit a bit surprised, was warm and welcoming.

Jahnavi (with a friendly nod): "Yes, that's me. Nitish, isn't it?"

Nitish (with a nervous laugh): "Yeah, that's right. I mean, yes, I'm Nitish."

Jahnavi gestured to the chair opposite her, inviting him to sit. Nitish obliged, his heart pounding as he took the seat.

The silence hung awkwardly between them for a few moments. Nitish fiddled with the edge of his napkin, while Jahnavi continued with her meal. It was evident that Nitish had taken her by surprise, and the weight of initiating a conversation now rested solely on his shoulders.

Nitish (trying to break the ice): "So, how's the training been going for you?"

Jahnavi (with a polite smile): "It's been good, thank you. We've been focusing on our fielding techniques this week."

Nitish (nodding enthusiastically): "That's great! Fielding is so crucial in the shorter formats, isn't it?"

Jahnavi (with a nod): "Absolutely. Every aspect of the game matters. By the way, how's your IPL preparation going?"

Nitish felt a flicker of excitement that she had asked about his cricketing endeavors.

Nitish (with a proud grin): "It's been going well. The team's looking strong this season."

Jahnavi (showing genuine interest): "That's fantastic to hear. You must be really excited."

Nitish (nodding): "Yeah, absolutely. But, um, you know, it's not just about cricket. There are so many other things I enjoy too."

Jahnavi (curious): "Oh? Like what?"

Nitish (feeling a bit more relaxed): "Well, I enjoy photography. I've been trying to capture the beauty of the places we travel to during the IPL. And I'm into fitness too."

Jahnavi (with a smile): "Photography sounds interesting. I'd love to see some of your pictures sometime."

Nitish (enthusiastically): "Sure, I could show you on Instagram if you'd like."

Jahnavi's face lit up, and she nodded in agreement.

The conversation continued, gradually becoming less awkward. Nitish was delighted to learn more about Jahnavi. She spoke about her family, her love for North Indian cuisine, and her passion for painting. They even shared a few laughs over their cricketing mishaps.

But as the dinner progressed, Nitish couldn't help but notice a pang of disappointment. He had decided to follow Jahnavi on Instagram, hoping to get to know her better through her posts. However, when he checked later that night, he realized that she hadn't followed him back.

Nitish was puzzled. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't follow him when their conversation had seemed pleasant. Was she not as interested in getting to know him as he was in getting to know her? It was a nagging thought that lingered in the back of his mind.

Days turned into weeks, and Nitish continued to admire Jahnavi from afar. They had occasional conversations during meal times, but he couldn't bring himself to broach the subject of Instagram again. The awkwardness of their first conversation still haunted him.

One day, as they discussed their dietary preferences, Jahnavi mentioned that being a vegetarian, she found it challenging to get enough protein in her diet.

Jahnavi (with a playful smile): "I sometimes envy you non-vegetarians. You have so many options for protein."

Nitish (with a grin): "Well, you know, there are plenty of vegetarian sources of protein too. Maybe I can share some recipes with you?"

Jahnavi (with a chuckle): "That would be great, Nitish. I might take you up on that offer."

As the weeks rolled on, Nitish couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted to be more than just a fellow cricketer to Jahnavi. Yet, the question of why she hadn't followed him on Instagram remained a mystery. It was a puzzle he couldn't solve, a thread left hanging in the tapestry of their budding connection.