Page 37 of The Escape

“Because you hit it out.”

“Still my point.”

Trisha laughed. “He’s right.”

Raghav looked at her. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am. That’s why I’m telling you you’re wrong.”

Vishnu laughed under his breath while Meher clapped.

“It’s okay, Raghav. Let them steal a point. We can make plenty next.” She clapped hard again. “Buckle up, guys. C’mon.”

She took her position, looking at Ayaan at the other end, who quickly winked at her before he did the next serve. This time, he deliberately sent it towards Meher.

But she caught it cleanly.

Ayaan grinned. “Sorry, Mrs. Shergill.”

Meher narrowed her eyes. “You’re going to regret that.”

She sent the ball straight back at him. Ayaan barely managed to move out of the way. The ball hit the water behind him.

Meher raised both hands triumphantly. “Point.”

The others burst into laughter.

Ayaan stared at her. “You actually aimed that at me?”

“You started it by winking at me and trying to make me lose my focus.”

“That was strategy.”

“So was mine.” She smiled sweetly.

Raghav laughed from across the net. “She’s got you, Bro.”

Ayaan pointed at him. “Don’t encourage her.”

“Too late.”

The game quickly became far more competitive than any of them had intended. Neither team managed to pull away for long. Every time one side took the lead, the other caught up almost immediately.

Trisha’s controlled returns kept her team in the game. Meher surprised everyone with how quickly she adapted. She was the quiet one, but she rarely missed an opportunity to keep the ball alive.

On the other side, Ayaan and Krish worked almost instinctively together, while Siya and Simran proved far more competitive than anyone had expected.

But it was Raghav and Trisha who were beginning to cause the real trouble. They barely needed to speak. A glance was often enough. Raghav would move towards one side, and Trisha would already be covering the other. When he sent a difficult shot across the net, she was somehow there before anyone else.

Krish finally stared at them after another point. “How the hell are you two doing that?”

Trisha smiled. “What? We’re just playing.”

“No. You’re communicating without talking.”

Raghav winked at Trisha. She winked back at him.

“Maybe we just think alike.”