.
---
The next morning, the entire team sat at the long dining table, waiting for breakfast to be served. The atmosphere was strange—quiet, heavy, filled with worry. Haniya hadn't shown up the previous day for breakfast or practice, and the silence she left behind felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
Vivaan was about to crack a joke just to break the tension when the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned.
Haniya walked in.
And the moment they saw her, every single person froze.
Her hair was messy, tied in a loose, uneven knot.
Her eyes were swollen and darkened as if she hadn't slept the entire night.
She looked pale, drained, almost hollow.
She didn't make eye contact with anyone—just quietly sat down in her usual spot as though she was forcing herself to function.
Kashvi leaned forward immediately.
"Haniya… are you okay?"
Haniya didn't answer.
She didn't even look up.
But today, something was different—Aarav was sitting beside her.
He had noticed the second she entered the hall that she looked worse than yesterday.
He shifted closer and silently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
She froze for a second.
Then her lips trembled.
And before anyone could understand what was happening, tears began falling—big, uncontrollable tears that dripped onto her plate.
"H-Haniya?" Vivaan whispered, shocked.
They had never seen her cry.
Not once.
She was always strong, stubborn, fierce.
But today, she broke right in front of them.
Aarav immediately moved closer, worry flooding his eyes.
"Haniya… what happened?" he whispered.
She clutched his hand tightly, as if holding onto him was the only way she could breathe.
Aarav wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her gently against him.
She leaned into him, crying harder—her whole body shaking with every breath.
It stunned everyone.
Vivaan stood up without thinking.
Harsh's face fell instantly.
Kashvi rushed to her side, rubbing her back softly.
"Haniya, talk to us," Harsh said quietly, scared.
"We're here. You can tell us," Vivaan added.
But she only shook her head, unable to form words.
"I… I can't tell," she choked out, her voice barely audible.
Aarav's jaw tightened, the pain in his eyes clear.
He knew why she was drowning in guilt and pressure.
He knew the truth she couldn't say out loud in front of everyone.
But he stayed silent, letting her decide what to share.
The food arrived, but she didn't touch it.
She picked up her spoon, stared at it for a moment, then put it down again.
She didn't even take a single bite.
"Yaar, she's eaten less than half of her diet these two days," Vivaan muttered, deeply worried.
"And she didn't come for training either…" Harsh whispered.
Aarav looked at her again, trying to catch her eyes.
His voice was low, gentle, breaking slightly.
"You need to eat something… please."
She didn't.
She simply pushed the plate away weakly.
Kashvi's voice cracked. "Haniya, please… tell us what's going on."
She only shook her head again.
Her silence was louder than any confession.
Everyone had seen her fearless.
Everyone had seen her bold.
Everyone had seen her strong.
But this version of her—crying, shaking, broken—was something none of them were prepared for.
Aarav squeezed her hand under the table as if silently telling her:
I'm here. You're not alone.
---
At Practice
The team jogged onto the field, tense and distracted.
Ten minutes later, Haniya walked in.
Slowly.
Head low.
Expression blank.
When she started playing, it was obvious she wasn't herself.
She missed easy passes.
Her timing was off.
Her focus was shattered completely.
The coach blew the whistle so loud it echoed across the entire field.
"HANIYA!" he shouted.
"What are you doing?!"
She flinched.
"THIS is your performance? This?!
Tomorrow is the match, and you can't even concentrate for five minutes?"
Her eyes filled with tears again, but she blinked them away.
"I… I'm sorry, sir," she whispered.
"No. Enough," the coach snapped.
"You're not playing tomorrow's match. We'll let Anamika play her final one."
The words hit her like a bullet.
Her throat closed.
Her chest tightened painfully.
It felt like the ground beneath her disappeared.
Aarav took a step forward immediately.
"No, coach—"
Vivaan cut in, angry.
"Sir, she just needs time!"
Harsh followed.
"You can't bench her like this!"
Kashvi's voice rose too.
"Coach, we're all saying it—she plays tomorrow."
The coach glared at them.
"You think this is a joke?"
"No sir," Aarav said firmly, "but if Haniya isn't playing…
none of us are playing."
The coach's eyes widened.
A full team rebellion.
"Are you all crazy?!" he shouted.
Vivaan crossed his arms. "Try us."
Harsh nodded. "We'll stand with her."
The coach looked at their determined faces, one by one, and realized they meant every word.
Under pressure, frustrated, he exhaled sharply.
"Fine! FINE!" he yelled.
"She will play!"
Haniya's eyes filled again—this time with tears of helpless gratitude.
Her team… chose her.
Stood for her.
Protected her.
But inside, she still felt broken.
Because the real war wasn't outside.
It was inside her.
And it was tearing her apart.
---