Second Chance (Vol.1) Squandered

95: Little Fingers

Going back Zoya Noor and Adi saw the board all set for a fresh game.

And Harsh was eagerly waiting for them.

Harsh: Sohail... Anjana... severe migraine. Anjana is sleeping off the medicine she took. Arshad is checking what's best for Sohail. (he rubbed his hands in glee) Ek game ho jaye?

Noor was delighted. She had missed her little masti (mischief) time with Hooda Uncle for some days now. Another relationship she was afraid would probably end soon, forever.

So it was Hoodas Vs Siddiquis.

Harsh: Let's start... youngest first... so Noor than me and then Zoya. Because if my boy starts then he clears the board and no one gets to play.

Noor and Zoya stared at Adi. Was Hooda Uncle being sarcastic? They had assumed Adi disliked the game because he couldn't play well.

And Adi would have maintained his bad form had Pa not got an attack of nostalgia.

Harsh: It is so many years now. (Excited) Adi see if you can squeeze a double shot here....

That thrill and expectation in Pa's voice! Adi did not have the heart to let Pa down. Pa pointed to coins and called out farmaish after farmaish; called out special requests of certain specific shots and Adi obliged; rarely missing. The two seemed at home with all carrom jargon.

First Zoya and Noor glared at Aditya. Then they also joined the fray. Game abandoned; they challenged Adi to pocket this coin and that.

Coins Zoya pointed to, Adi gave a wide berth. It helped that he was super frustrated with her Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naah but he hated snubbing her even when angry. Royal-ignore was a resolution easy to make but not easy to implement.

Zoya drew back after a few snubs.

A little while later, Arjun joined them.

Arjun: Did I just miss the Championship Point?

Adi: No. Just TP.

Arjun gave Adi the car keys and the brothers had their own quick quiet exchange.

Adi threw Arjun a questioning look.

Arjun: (almost inaudible) I drove exactly like you asked me to Bhai... and... no problems. Details later. (angrily) Why you up?

Adi: (quietly, exasperated) Don't ask! Later.

Harsh: (impatient) Last one! Adi! Board-shot this one...

5 pairs of eyes, alert knowing it was a blink and miss moment, followed the striker as it hit the 3 sides of the board before shooting the coin straight into the pocket.

Noor: (both hands up in the air, jubilant) Yeah!

Before Appi or Aditya could slip away Noor got everyone talking and quickly began to set the board again. Arjun helped her first and then Adi and Zoya also joined them, gathering the coins.

Unintentionally Zoya's hand went under the same pocket net that Adi was emptying. Adi withdrew his hand without making it obvious to the rest. But Zoya could not; her hand simply refused to move; trying to convey a sorry till the last contact; till her fingers felt empty and her guilt heavy; staring at his set jaw and averted eyes as he helped Noor and Arjun with fake merry cheer.

Soon there were oohs at missed shots and yeahs and high-fives for good ones. Pa sat back; watching the game less and his 4 bachchas more. They were all good. As soon as one started to play the other 3 would become coach/cheerleader. If one was stuck suggestions were forthcoming. They were not playing to win. They were just catching up on a once loved passtime skill gone a little rusty.