The next few days passed in a blur of sweat, energy, and determination.
After every university lecture, Sakshi and her teammates headed straight to the court for at least three hours of intense practice. Their coach was strict, but Sakshi's drive pushed everyone harder.
Sleep, eat, play — that was all they did.
And for the first time in weeks, Sakshi's fear had started to fade into the background. The sound of the bouncing ball, the squeak of shoes, and the roar of teamwork drowned out everything else.
Finally, the day arrived.
They were leaving for Rajasthan — one day before the national tournament. The entire team, along with their coach, boarded the bus in excitement. Laughter filled the air, snacks were passed around, and plans were made for exploring the new campus.
By evening, they reached their destination — a massive university with open courts and banners flying high.
After freshening up and changing, the girls couldn't stop themselves from exploring. They wandered around the corridors, giggling and teasing each other, taking photos and meeting other teams.
That night, they slept early — or at least tried to. Tomorrow was big.
---
Morning came fast.
Their schedule was packed — four matches in a single day.
Two in the morning, two in the evening.
They fought hard, their teamwork sharper than ever. Some matches they won with ease — the scoreboard lighting up with their dominance. Others came down to the final seconds — a single point making all the difference.
By the end of the day, their bodies ached, but their hearts soared. They had made it to the finals.
---
The next morning was the most crucial one.
The finals.
Their opponents were strong — physically built, fast, and aggressive on the court. It wasn't going to be easy.
But trouble began even before the match started.
Sakshi, Anu, Pihu, and Ishu were running late. They had misplaced their kits, and chaos broke out in their room. Jerseys flew everywhere, shoes were missing, and hair ties vanished. By the time they finally found everything, they had already missed the opening ceremony.
Rushing into the stadium, they barely had time to stretch before the whistle blew.
And then — the game began.
Sakshi was on fire.
In the first few minutes alone, she had scored a third of the team's baskets — defending, attacking, and shooting like a storm.
She hardly let the ball leave their side, blocking passes, stealing shots, and confusing her opponents with her speed.
But the match was long, and the finals were ruthless. As minutes passed, her muscles started to burn, her throat dry.
With just two minutes left, their team was leading — but only by ten points.
Sakshi slowed down, panting, stepping to the side to let her teammates handle the pressure.
Then it happened.
The opposing team took advantage — breaking through the defense, racing toward their basket. Everyone shouted — but before anyone could react, Sakshi appeared out of nowhere.
She snatched the ball cleanly, her reflexes almost supernatural, and passed it straight to Ishu — who scored perfectly.
But as Sakshi turned, one of the opponents shoved her hard.
She fell — the court burning her skin — but instead of getting up, she just lay there, smiling, watching the clock tick down.
When the final whistle blew, their team had won.
And Sakshi, instead of standing, rolled over and started doing bhangra right there on the court.
Her teammates burst out laughing, joining her, and soon the entire audience was cheering and clapping for their victory — and their chaotic celebration.
---
The award ceremony began soon after.
The winning team was called on stage. Sakshi was standing there, sweaty, tired, and happy — but her attention was elsewhere.
Across the stage, in the crowd, she spotted someone — a new friend she had made from the opponent team. They exchanged playful eye contact, silently laughing about the game's crazy moments.
Because of that, Sakshi didn't even hear the announcements.
She didn't realize who the chief guest was.
Not when he was called.
Not when he started walking toward the stage.
Even when her name was announced as the captain to receive the trophy, she was still looking at her new friend.
Then — a shadow fell over her.
She turned automatically as the trophy was handed to her — and froze.
Her fingers went cold around the metal. Her heart stopped.
The noise of the crowd vanished into silence.
Sakshi's hands trembled as she held the trophy. The crowd around her was cheering, cameras flashing, people clapping — but she couldn't hear a single sound.
All she could see were those same dark eyes staring into hers.
He leaned in slightly, his breath cold against her ear, and whispered,
> "Be ready to welcome me in your life, babygirl. You've caught my attention."
Her heart stopped.
That same deep voice — the one that haunted her dreams ever since that night.
And then came that smirk.
The devilish curve of his lips, full of danger and desire, the same one she'd seen in the shadows of that hotel parking lot.
For a moment, Sakshi forgot how to breathe.
Pihu, Ishu, and Anu saw her expression — the shock, the fear, the trembling in her hands — and instantly understood.
Without a word, they stepped forward, pulling Sakshi slightly back, standing protectively around her.
"Smile, Sakshi… please," Anu whispered softly. "It's about the university's reputation."
She somehow managed to lift her lips into a faint smile, though her body felt like stone. Cameras flashed, and everyone cheered again, unaware of the silent storm inside her.
He was still there — standing right beside her — close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him, his aura overpowering, his presence intoxicating yet terrifying.
Her heart raced faster and faster until she couldn't take it anymore.
As soon as the ceremony ended, Sakshi handed the trophy to her coach with trembling hands and ran off the stage.
Ignoring everyone calling her name, she ran until she found herself in a small park behind the university building. The evening sun was fading, and the soft creak of the old swings filled the silence.
She sat down on one, gripping the chains tightly, her body shaking. The world around her blurred as she tried to process everything.
He was here.
The same man.
The devil she'd hoped never to see again.
Her thoughts were spinning when she heard hurried footsteps — and then Pihu, Ishu, and Anu came running toward her.
"Sakshi!" Pihu cried, kneeling beside her.
Anu placed a hand on her back while Ishu hugged her from the side.
Sakshi didn't say a word. Her heartbeat was thundering in her chest, louder than anything else.
Her eyes were blank, fixed on the ground, her body motionless — as if her soul had frozen in fear.
> "He… he was there," she finally whispered, voice breaking.
"He whispered in my ear… he said I caught his attention."
The girls exchanged terrified glances, trying to hold back their own fear.
They tightened their arms around her, trying to comfort her trembling body, but nothing helped — because Sakshi could still feel his breath against her ear… and that smirk burned into her mind like a scar.