NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Stokes X Root III
Promise
What was the pinky promise?
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'After raising his helmet and bat aloft, he looked at his team members outside the ground and gestured with a pinky finger. But what did that celebration mean?'
~Hindustan news
Eng vs Ind,
4th test on the row when Root hasn't made a hundred even a half century yet. It was England's 1st innings when opening order were unsuccessful to make runs. Wickets were started falling. Everyone was disappointed. At that time, Root comes on field and started getting few boundaries. He started his batting slow but he touches an unfaithful desire. A 100! He finally made a century. As he promised! He finally made his 31st Century off 216 balls. It was taugh for him to get runs as his batting partner was Olie Robinson. Their 7th wicket partnership was more than 100 too. He was batting slow but steadily. He ran over the pitch, got 1 or 2 runs, sometimes gave a maiden, sometimes he didn't bat on the over. He barley hitted boundaries. It wasn't a wicket pitch though, but each batters were unable to get runs. Eng ended up their first innings in 353. Root scored 122* unbeatable and Olie scored 53. He wanted to score more runs and throw some rocks over the people who once was against and made sufficient disbelief toward his innings. He wanted to shut the speaker of at the same time. He feels disturbed!
When he hitted the length bowl with his bat, it was touched the boundary for four. He just took a run, released his helmet off his head and kissed the logo. Which is normal for celebrating a hundred! But then he took off his gloves and moves to his right side. Raise his pinky finger up and holds his head down. Like, he did it! He turned to the dug-out and showed his celebration up to there.
There were few members sitting. Bairstow was alongside of Stokes and Baz. When Root hitted the ball for Four no one, literally nobody on that ground even in England was as happy as Stokes! He cheered Root all the way down from start. He claps even harder, clenched his palms and said out loud, "YES JOE..."
Even the Indian crowd stands and claps for him. It was so taugh to make a ton under pressure. Even after his 122, England's 10 wicket fallen and he didn't make more runs. It was okay with him.
Not only a century what made everyone proud and made everyone speak out, ask out about several terms, but also his uncouth celebration was a huge question mark to Root too. The medias and journalists weren't so curious about his celebration or the way he showed it. Like it was a promise. Why even they would be curious? But the fans, they were much inquisitive about his celebration and why he raised his finger up. The media didn't ask him about his celebration that's why lots of fans were disgusted but lets it go. But one media which was belong to Indians, raised question about his celebration. Cause his celebration dissapointed Sunil Gavaskar!
His celebration wasn't new. When he did it on 2022, he said to media, "Ben watched the Elvis Presley film the other day, and he's been doing that all week, so it's a little tribute to him." And that day, Stokes did the same. The news also said that- The gesture was in fact a tribute to the former New Zealand captain and his love for the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Heading into the match, McCullum had watched the American rockstar's biopic and started doing that iconic gesture in the camp.
Days ago,
"I don't want to hear any of those anymore. I have to do something. That's why I practiced a little bit more." Root answered Stokes when he asked why he was doing extra practice. It was like a Now or Never vibe. He scoffs after hearing that. He wanted to make him sure everything is going well behind him. Nothing to worry about. Still they have couple of tests remaining. "Take rest." Rather he said it and left.
At the time of napping, Stokes comes late in room. Root opens his sleepy eyelids hearing door sound. "Haven't slept?" Stokes asks while changing his t-shirt. "No. Trying." Root answers. Stokes makes his way to bed and crawled under blanket. He sighs and turned right where he was facing Root. "What is the plan?" He asked cause the next day they're gonna play their fourth test. "Make a ton." Root claims sharply. Stokes smiles and raised his hand, keeps it on his cheeks and tickles it. "Wanna make a promise?" He says dimly. Root smiles confusingly, "What!" "A promise." "What's it about?" He further asked. Stokes thinks a little and says, "You're gonna make a century for me." Root jerks a little but hide the hesitation, "I promise." He helds his pinky finger as Stokes does the same, laughing a bit, Root moves his finger and locked it to Stokes's. "I'm gonna make century for you." He said out hushly.
Next night,
"So, I'm happier." Stokes says when Root made his way on dressing room. Though they are alone but Root didn't take more steps. "Thanks." He lets it go with it. When they come to hotel, Stokes gave a message to Root for meeting with him on roof, as Root replied- okay. No sooner he comes, Stokes holds him from behind and kissed his shoulders. Root got frightened a bit. "STOKES!" He manages himself to turn around while Stokes is still holding his back. "Hey, Love you. You know how much I wanted to hold you tight at dressing room?" Stokes yells. "Shhh! Low." Stokes actually lowed his head while staring at Root. Root irritates for his behaviour. "I meant low your voice not head." Stokes smirkes and kissed Root. Root pushed him after one sec! "Why!" Stokes says. "No, Stokes." Root demands.
Stokes took some steps behind Root and asked, "What were you-" "Yeah. I remember what I wanted to ask you-" He turns around and faces Stokes, "-that why you gestured the SAME as mine when I turned to dug out?" He asked the same question what media tryna asked out. Stokes scoffs and holds his shoulders, "Cause you promised me and you gave it well. I wanted to show it you too. That's why I did the same. Cause not just YOU wanted to come back with century but also me, who wanted it too. I celebrated it more than you did." Stokes explains, "I don't care what media thinks or not. I just care us giving each-other what we should give and what we PROMISED." Root is still staring at him, speechless. "I'm just happy." Stokes hugs him more tightly than he wanted at dressing room. Root closed his eyes and hugged him too. That's how much peace he felt in right between his heart hugging Stokes back in that way. Stokes kissed his jaw.
"You know you were looking cute raising pinky finger up," Stokes says. "Yeah. And you're looking like monsters." Poked him. Stokes made an annoying face, "'A handsome' would work too." Root laughs louder. Stokes nothing but captured inches of his face by his narrowed eyes. And that's how he passed his days watching Root smiling over matters. 'I missed your laughing, Joe.' He thought.
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