Page 34 of Stumped

“Are we on for Mahabs next month?”

“Have we ever not done Mahabs?” Patrick retorts.

Nina growls. “I wasn’t asking you, you dumb tree.”

“Yeah, we’re still doing Mahabs,” I reply, hoping they’ll stop winding each other up. It’s pointless, because they don’t know how to have a normal conversation. Ever.

“Where the fuck are you, E?”

“Mumbai. Played the Legends yesterday.”

Patrick’s eyes widen. “Wait, you played? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m still being punished, remember? And that requires me to travel with the team.”

“Duuuuuude.” Nina shakes her head. “Sorry you missed out on kicking Mumbai’s ass!”

We’re also really supportive of each other and watch every match we play. The whole time Patrick and the Indian hockey team were winning medals to qualify for the Olympics, Nina and I were glued to our screens. Pat and I do the same for her and they do it for me. We’re also a little too involved in each other’s lives, knowing minute details about our bowel movements and sex lives. But that’s the way it’s always been.

Five years older than me, Patrick’s my hero and I admire how hard he’s worked to get to where he is. Nina and I are only two years apart, but our bond is far less volatile than the one she has with Patrick. It might sound dangerous, but it’s how they show love. We’re lucky to have such a close bond and to know if anything happened, the others would come running. When I was benched last year, Patrick came to live with me in Chennai forthe first three months. He helped me through recovery and was at every PT appointment. When he had to leave for international games, Nina took his place.

I envy people who don’t love their siblings the way I love mine. I would be nothing without them.

“How’s training going?” I ask, taking another sip of my coffee.

“I’d be okay not playing badminton until I get to Paris. I’msooootired,” Nina whines.

“For once, I agree with Ninan. This is fucking brutal. I know we need to be at our best, but I’m gonna fall apart soon.”

I wince on their behalf, because as someone who knows what training for a professional sport is like, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. But talking about it makes me miss the routine and having somewhere to go and things to do.

“Any idea when you’ll be back on the pitch?”

I shake my head. “Dr. Theo needs to sign off on everything, but I’m hoping soon. Things have been pretty good. A few twinges here and there, but nothing unbearable.”

“And what about the woman that got you in all this trouble?”

Flashing them an awkward smile, I say, “She’s…uh, here?”

“Like in bed with you?” Nina’s eyes are so wide as she leans in, like she can see anything else.

“No, calm down.” I laugh and set my cup aside. “Okay, technically this isherroom. But she’s at a meeting, so I’m eating breakfast while I wait for her.”

“Shame you’re not eating her for breakfast,” Patrick says with a smirk. My big brother presents as a ladies man, but I know he’s waiting for the right one to come along.

“Jesus, Patricia.” Nina groans and rubs her face.

I laugh at my sister. “I’d love to eat her for breakfast. Maybe another meal.”

“Atta boy,” Patrick cheers and we crack up as Nina continues to groan, shaking her head at us.

“You two are the fucking worst.”

“Aw, poor Ninan. We’ll find you someone to eat for breakfast.”

She flips us off and Patrick grins at riling her up. “Maybe I have a hot, leggy pixie in my bed after I had the best meal of my life.”

I scoff and my brother brings the phone closer to his face. “Do you, really?”

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