Chapter 10 : Sunday study session

After practice, Mak walked home, the familiar rhythm of the day's events still fresh in his mind. His house stood at the end of a quiet lane, a two-story home with a neat garden and a small front porch where his family often relaxed in the evenings. The warm lights glowing from the windows felt inviting as he opened the gate and stepped inside, relieved to finally be home after a long day of school and cricket practice.

As he entered the house, the sound of utensils clattering in the kitchen reached him, along with the faint aroma of curry. His mother, Angali, was preparing dinner, her movements calm and practiced. From the living room, Mak heard the voices of his sister Ava and his father discussing something in light tones, probably one of Ava's school projects.

"Mak, you're just in time," his father called out as he stepped into the living room, still in his formal work attire but more relaxed after a day at work. "We were just talking about our plans for the weekend."

Mak smiled, dropping his cricket bag by the door. "Hey, Dad. Everything good?"

Rajesh nodded with a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. But I have to head to Hyderabad on Monday for a few meetings. It's only for a couple of days, and I'll be back by the end of the week. So don't get too comfortable with me being gone!" As a financial consultant, he often traveled to meet clients across India and sometimes abroad as well.

Mak nodded, used to these short trips. "Alright, we'll manage. Just bring back something good from Hyderabad, okay?"

His father chuckled. "Deal."

Dinner was simple but delicious—steaming hot chapatis, a fragrant vegetable curry, and some fresh yogurt on the side. As the family gathered around the dining table, the conversation flowed easily, covering everything from Ava's school assignments to cricket practice. Ava, only a few years younger than Mak, was an animated talker, eagerly filling them in on her day at school and her plans for the weekend.

"You'll be busy with Aisha for that math session on Sunday, right?" Angali asked, her eyes on Mak as she passed the chapatis around.

Mak sighed. "Yeah, we have a lot to cover. Math is the only subject pulling my grades down, so Aisha's helping me out. She's way better at it than I am."

Angali smiled. "Well, it's good that you have her helping. Make sure you focus—don't spend the whole time talking about cricket."

Mak grinned. "No promises."

After dinner, Mak headed to his room to relax for a bit. The next day was Saturday, and he had school in the morning, but at least the afternoon would be free. He quickly checked his phone for any updates from Raghav or the team group chat, then set an alarm before lying back on his bed. His mind drifted to Sunday, knowing the study session with Aisha was important. They had been friends for years, and he knew she'd push him to focus, but he still felt nervous about how much work they had ahead of them.

The next day, Saturday, came and went in a blur of classes and a quiet afternoon spent at home. The half-day at school passed quickly, with everyone eager to get out early and enjoy their weekend. With no cricket practice scheduled for this Saturday, Mak used the free afternoon to catch up on some homework and relax, though cricket was never far from his thoughts. He replayed moments from practice in his mind, thinking about the upcoming match and how much work he still had to do to stay sharp.

By the time Sunday morning rolled around, Mak was ready for the study session. He had told himself that today would be the day he truly buckled down on math. He could hear his mother in the kitchen, preparing for his father's upcoming trip, but his focus was on the books spread out on his desk. Just as he was going over a particularly tricky equation for the tenth time, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Ava called out from downstairs.

Mak heard her chatting with someone at the door before she yelled up the stairs. "Mak! Aisha's here!"

He grabbed his notes and made his way downstairs. Aisha was standing at the door, a backpack slung over one shoulder and a smile on her face. "Ready for some math?"

Mak groaned. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Aisha laughed as she stepped inside, greeting Angali with a polite, "Good morning, Aunty."

"Good morning, Aisha," Angali replied with a warm smile. "You're saving Mak from failing math, I hear."

Aisha grinned. "I'm trying, Aunty. But we'll see if he listens."

Mak rolled his eyes. "I listen… sometimes."

Angali chuckled. "Well, good luck to both of you. Let me know if you need anything."

With that, Mak led Aisha up to his room. They set up at his study table, and Aisha wasted no time diving into the material.

"Alright, we need to start with quadratic equations," she said, flipping through her notebook to a section filled with neat, handwritten formulas. "You still remember the basics, right?"

Mak nodded, trying to recall what they'd covered in class. But as soon as Aisha started explaining, he realized how much he'd forgotten. They worked steadily for the next hour, with Aisha patiently guiding him through each step, breaking down the complex problems into simpler parts.

Mak's frustration flared up a few times, but Aisha kept things light. Whenever he got stuck, she'd crack a joke or make some random cricket analogy to help him understand. "Think of it like batting," she said at one point. "You can't just swing wildly at every ball. You have to pace yourself, watch for the right opportunities."

By the time they took a break, Mak could feel his brain starting to catch up. "I think I'm getting it," he said, half-surprised.

Aisha smiled. "See? I told you it's not that bad. You just need to practice more."

After grabbing some snacks, they returned to the books. This time, Mak felt a little more confident, tackling each equation with a bit more ease. The hours passed quickly, and soon, they had worked through a significant portion of their study plan. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress, and Mak felt a sense of relief wash over him as the session wrapped up.

Just as they were finishing, Angali knocked on the door and popped her head in. "You two have been at it for hours. Need a break?"

Aisha smiled and stretched her arms. "We're just about done, Aunty."

"Well, I hope Mak was a good student," Angali said teasingly. "I've never seen him study this hard."

Mak grinned. "Don't give me too much credit, Mom. Aisha did most of the work."

They all laughed, and Angali invited Aisha to stay for lunch, but she politely declined. "Thanks, Aunty, but I have to head home. Maybe next time."

After a few more minutes of chatting, Aisha gathered her things, and Mak walked her to the door. "Thanks again for all the help today. I actually feel like I understand this stuff now."

Aisha smiled. "No problem. Just keep practicing, and you'll be fine."

They said their goodbyes, and as Mak closed the door, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The study session had been productive, and for once, he didn't feel completely overwhelmed by math. As he headed back upstairs, he couldn't help but think about how lucky he was to have Aisha as a friend—someone who pushed him to be better, both on and off the field.

The day wound down slowly. Mak's father finished packing for his trip, and the family spent the evening together, discussing the week ahead. They sat in the living room, the television playing softly in the background as they talked. Ava, as usual, dominated the conversation with stories from her day, and Mak listened with half an ear, his mind still drifting to the upcoming match and his recent progress in math.

Before heading to bed, Mak's father caught his eye. "Remember, Mak, stay focused on your studies while I'm gone. Cricket's important, but so is school."

Mak nodded, smiling. "I got it, Dad. Don't worry."

His father gave him a pat on the back before turning in for the night, and Mak headed to his room, feeling a sense of calm. Between his father's trip, the study session with Aisha, and the upcoming match, the next few days would be busy, but he felt ready for it. The practice, the math, the cricket—all of it was part of his journey, and slowly, step by step, he was learning to balance it all.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts shifted to the match ahead. The friendly game against Riverdale High was just a few days away, and it would be his first real chance to prove himself on the team. There was still so much work to do, but for now, Mak was content. He'd made it through another weekend, and as far as he was concerned, that was a win in itself.

With that, he drifted off to sleep, the hum of the quiet house lulling him into restful dreams of cricket fields and the friends who stood by his side.