The Chocolate Boy (Book One)

Chapter 11: MI : Mission Impression - The Hangouts : Part 4

*Unedited*

Chapter 11 : MI : Mission Impression - The Hangouts : Part 4

"There, there, there, finally it's time for our topper to come and see us," Krrish's voice sounded foreign as I was in a trance, still worried about Ishan.

"Okay, let's resume the hate game later but for now, I have an important announcement to make. Tuhin!"

I broke out of my trance and looked at Rakesh.

"Pay attention! So as I was saying, the first match of the season was supposed to be held on next Monday but quite unfortunately, it has been preponed to this Thursday."

A collective sighs and 'shits' were heard in the room.

"Silence! Let me finish! There will be a selector from CAB, who would be present all throughout the match to pick up five candidates from the two teams for the upcoming CAB Annual Cricket Camp and Coach wants at least three of us on his list. So we need to give our best on the field. I'm sorry guys but Dev, Thomas and Roy are taking the reserve bench for this game. Try your best to get into the team for the next one," he looked around at everyone and added as his eyes landed on me, "Unless some of us decide to drop out of the team and do us a favour."

Being hated by Krrish seemed easier to take in than being loathed and cornered by Rakesh, the one whom I thought to have some reasoning in his head.

But I had no idea why they hated me so much.

"So? What took you so long to come down, huh?" Rakesh demanded.

"I could've been faster if it wasn't Shivam whom you sent to get me."

"Really? Would the hottest girl in school bring you down faster than him?"

That was definitely Krrish. He seriously seemed to lack a filter.

"No. Actually, it isn't my fault that I'm not the best of friends with the boy who beats up my friend every now and then."

"And who's that weakling who can't defend himself?"

"You won't know him."

"Listen nerd," Krrish suddenly grabbed the collar of my shirt and pinned me against the wall, "You might stay in the world of your textbooks but we don't. Now spit his name out or I'm going to find out myself."

I couldn't understand the reason of his wrath.

"Ishan ... Ishan Sen," he was making me feel claustrophobic.

"Damn! I knew it! See Rakesh, that day I'd been right. I had heard him getting beaten up in the washroom," Krrish moved away from me. "Just because he is ..." Krrish paused and ran a hand through his already messy hair.

Where was the Krrish I knew?

"That kid is too nice to be treated like that."

"Calm down, Krrish," Rakesh put a hand on his shoulder. "But didn't you say Tuhin was the one...."

Why was everybody giving me weird looks? Krrish certainly looked pissed off but other than that, everyone looked confused.

Krrish again stepped in front of me and panic rose inside me. Letting them know that I was weak, was the last thing on my mind.

However tall I was, my height wasn't any match for thirteen giants.

"Did you just say that he's your friend?" Krrish's hot breath fanned my face bothering me a lot.

"Yeah."

"Then why the fuck did he get beaten up last time?" he spat out angrily, his fist slamming on the wall behind me.

"I...I did not notice him going missing in the break," I looked the other trying fruitlessly to stop the guilt from seeping into my voice. "I didn't know Shivam and Riyaaz back then."

His head dropped. The deep ragged breathing, now hitting my chest wasn't doing any good to my phobia. I would go in my panic mode any moment now that I had already started hyperventilating.

"Krrish?" He looked up.

"Move. Aside. Can't. Breathe. Claustro. Phobic."

Krrish's eyes narrowed in confusion but soon he was steered away by Rakesh before I had to push him away myself.

The whole room was spinning around me and I stumbled a bit before slumping on the floor of the changing room. Black dots obscured my vision and I knew that I was going to have a full blown panic attack in front of my teammates. I desperately needed my sister, or Ishan.

But that was until the door of the room flung open. I couldn't see anything but a distant voice that sounded like Afzal, was shouting, "TUHIN! ISHAN IS IN TROUBLE! SHIVAM AND RIYAAZ HAVE LOCKED HIM UP IN THE WASHROOM AGAIN!"

NO! NOT AGAIN! PLEASE, NOT NOW!

"Shit! You can't have a panic attack now! Not when he needs you." I could feel him shaking me by my shoulders but to no avail.

Having a panic attack is not my choice.

"Which washroom are they in?" I heard Krrish asking Afzal.

Why on earth is he so concerned about Ishan? But maybe he will be able to save him.

"The one on the third floor. Hurry! Tuhin? Look at me."

I was in no shape to even open my eyes.

"Open your eyes and look at me Tuhin," this time his voice was stern. "You need to do this for Ishan. Look at me now, Tuhin."

For Ishan. Just this time. For him.

I struggled to open my eyes and found him seated on the floor in front of me.

"Follow my breathing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out..."

For the second time that day, Afzal could actually calm me down and make me feel better.

"Can I.... can I get some water?"

Rakesh handed me a bottle of water at once and I gulped it down thirstily. Half of my teammates were here. The others were hopefully with Ishan.

A wave of nausea hit me and pushing Afzal out of my way, I sprinted off to the nearest sink in the changing room to puke my guts out.

Needless to say, a panic attack was physically and mentally exhausting.

I was feeling more breathless than ever when I reached the third floor by the stairs.

"It's okay, Tuhin. Ishan will be okay."

I simply nodded at Afzal and made my way through the commotion. Pushing people out of our way, I finally found Krrish and grabbed his shirt to make him look at me.

"Where is Ishan?" my voice came out all raw and hoarse.

All the other students around me, looked a bit taken aback. Not everyday would you see the school loner grab the best batsman of the school by his collar and demand an answer.

"I.." guilt swept his features. "We couldn't make it on time..," he looked away. "They threatened to beat Ishan more if we didn't let them go. And Ishan won't open the door since then."

My fists and jaws clenched themselves of their own accord but I wasn't going to let myself be angry.

I need to be there for Ishan.

I hushed everyone up and knocked gently on the door, "Ishan? Open the damn door, Ishan. It's me, Tuhin. I promise -" I got interrupted as the door flung open and I was engulfed in his smell and warmth.

How do I know his smell? Ask me later, at a more appropriate time.

CAB :- Cricket Association of Bengal.

The TuShan ship is about to embark on its voyage. But who knows if there will be anymore obstacles on the way??

Two updates in a day!! Thank me everyone!!