Chapter 41: Taking the Spot
[Score: 0/0. Over: 41.0. Batsman: Rohan S. Bowler: Raghav R.]
A maiden over.
Rohan Sharma, the district captain, stood in the center of the net, his chest heaving, his face a mask of crimson humiliation.
He had faced six balls from the "water boy." He had been hit twice. He had been beaten, clean, three times. And he had failed, miserably, to put away the worst ball of the over.
The silence on the Shanti Vidya Mandir field was absolute.
The district players, who had been laughing and smirking just minutes before, were now standing in a silent, stunned line, their arms crossed. They were watching.
Rajat, the hostile fast bowler, had a look of pure, baffled disbelief on his face. This... this was not possible.
Raghav said nothing. He didn't celebrate. He didn't smirk. He just turned, his face a blank, professional mask, and walked back to his mark, tossing the old, scuffed ball in his hand.
