Echoes OF My First Heartbreak

By Ritisha Ekka

While other girls spoke of boys and love,

Of letters, glances, and stars above,

My story was different — strange, yet true,

My first heartbreak wore jersey blue. 

It wasn’t a message left on “seen,”

But a whistle’s blow and a broken dream.

Not silence after a fight or call,

But the echo of a missed basketball. 

While others dreamed of stages and fame,

I dreamed of courts and my school’s name.

CISCE forms passed from hand to hand,

But mine stayed blank — I didn’t make the band. 

Only the chosen — the medalist few,

Got their chance, their moment true.

I smiled for them, but deep inside,

My love for the game refused to hide. 

Cricket was barred — “girls don’t play,” they’d say,

So basketball became my heart’s own way.

A few days passed, yet my hope stayed bright,

Until one call turned my world alight. 

“Fill the form,” my coach had said,

His words still dancing in my head.

At last — a chance, my dream unfurled,

To wear my school’s name before the world. 

I was never the star, never the best on the ground,

Yet in every practice, my heartbeat was the loudest sound.

Blood, sweat, and tears — all became my creed,

Because perfection only blooms from need. 

Each dribble echoed my silent fight,

Each shot I missed kept me up at night.

While others breathed easy, I fought for air,

Asthma in my lungs, yet passion everywhere. 

They ran with grace — I stumbled, fell,

But I rose again, my will unwell.

For I knew no shortcuts, no golden start,

Just endless faith and a stubborn heart. 

But oh, those days — how golden they gleamed,

The court our kingdom, where we laughed and dreamed.

Though sweat stung our eyes and legs would ache,

We found our heaven in every break. 

The girls vs boys — our endless war,

With teasing chants that echoed afar.

Sneakers squeaked, hearts raced with thrill,

Each basket scored gave a sweeter chill. 

Between drills, we’d gossip and scheme,

Share snacks, share secrets, and wild daydreams.

Every joke, every fall, every playful fight,

Turned our tired evenings into light. 

Those practices — oh, they owned my heart,

More than medals or victory charts.

Now when I pass that empty space,

I still feel echoes — laughter’s trace. 

The day had come — our bags packed tight,

We reached the court before sunrise light.

As others came to school, we waved goodbye,

Off to another city, with dreams held high. 

We met our principal, his blessings so kind,

Then hopped on the bus with excitement in mind.

From school to station, our laughter on track,

The thrill of the journey kept pulling us back. 

In the train we sang, with snacks all around,

Gossips and pranks — pure joy unbound.

A river we crossed, beneath skies so blue,

We tossed in a coin, wished our dream come true. 

We reached the new city, hearts wild and free,

No parents around, just friends and glee.

Autos in race, our laughter so loud,

The girls won the chase — oh, we made them proud! 

We stepped off the autos, the air warm and sweet,

Dust swirled around as excitement took seat.

Amid the green fields stood buildings so wide,

Nature and classrooms existing side by side. 

The walls were of clay, the roofs kissed by leaves,

No marble, no glass — just peace that believes.

The breeze hummed softly, the sunlight danced through,

A school that felt real, not polished, but true. 

We wandered in awe, our laughter set free,

Hostels, courts, and gardens — all open to see.

It wasn’t a city school shining in chrome,

But something far better — it felt like home. 

At seven we walked to the mess, trays in our hand,

Potato fry, rasam rice — tastes simple, yet so grand.

I ate a little, as always, calm and light,

Not knowing my calm would turn into a sight. 

While keeping my plate, a step hid from my view,

A slip, a stumble — and suddenly I flew!

The plate hit the floor with a clang! so eerie,

Like Chandramukhi’s ghungroos — loud and ghostly, yet cheery. 

The hall burst in laughter, echoes sharp and wide,

My friends giggled hard, no hand reached my side.

The boys half-stood, unsure what to do,

But my own girls — silent, just watching me too. 

Then one best friend came, sat beside me and grinned,

Her laughter so loud, made me disheartened within.

Soon came two others, and ma’am rushing fast,

They helped me up gently — my tears fading at last. 

My friends pressed ice packs on my knee with care,

While Ma'am fed me curd rice — love floating in the air.

That moment felt special, warm, and so right,

Yet worry crept in — will I play tomorrow’s fight? 

We saw the grand court — shining, wide, and bright,

Too slippery to trust, yet a thrilling sight.

Back in the hostel, with laughter and cheers,

We played Mafia, made plans about the game — memories I hold dear. 

While all the world slept in calm midnight’s hue,

My tears fell softly — no one ever knew.

Hurt by the laughter of the one I called mine,

I felt like a burden, left lost in the line. 

At three I woke, in pain so deep and wild,

My swollen leg throbbed — I whimpered like a child.

Yet my two dear friends like sweet little doves,

Healed me with care — their hands spoke pure love. 

We rose with dawn, our spirits high and free,

Tied up our hair, in proud unity.

Wore our school’s jersey, hearts filled with pride,

That moment of honor — no one could hide. 

We reached the court where all had come to play,

Crowds and colors brightened the day.

Nervous yet thrilled, my heart took flight,

That surreal moment — pure delight. 

We watched the matches, cheered loud and clear,

For some we clapped, for some we jeered.

Strangers turned friends, in sportsmanship’s flame,

No names, no numbers — yet hearts the same. 

When our turn finally came that day,

I was so excited, in every way.

But the refrees said I can’t play cause I was hurt,

And that really broke my heart, it did hurt. 

I requested them, begged them to agree,

They saw it in me, my will to be free.

So they let me play just half a round,

Still, that joy in me completely drowned. 

We lost the game, oh, miserably so,

The pain inside just refused to go.

The opponents weren’t even that great,

Yet somehow, they decided our fate. 

My best friend said it was the seniors’ blame,

That their rude words had caused our shame.

At that time, I believed what she said,

Her words kept echoing inside my head. 

But now I know, they weren’t wrong at all,

Their scoldings taught us to never fall.

They showed the world’s not sweet or kind,

But brave and bold we must remind. 

Though rude they seem even now, I swear,

Deep down I know, they truly care.

They shaped us strong, they showed the way,

And I’ll love them, come what may. 

All of us cried, our hearts did ache,

Except our seniors, who didn’t break.

They’d seen the world, they knew its ways,

While we were stuck in our losing maze. 

Though I played just for half that round,

Tears in my eyes, they made no sound.

Basketball wasn’t a game to me,

It was my breath, my heart, my glee. 

I miss those moments, pure and true,

Wish I had valued them as I grew.

Now when I think, tears fill my sight,

That loss still hurts, even tonight. 

Maybe we weren’t meant to win that day,

Maybe fate had planned it that way.

Some losses teach, some lessons stay,

Though it hurt, I’ll never stray. 

When I reached home, with eyes so red,

My brother asked, “Where’s your medal?” he said.

My parents stayed silent, but I knew,

Their disappointment quietly grew. 

They taunted me soft, with words so deep,

“What’s the point of practice you keep?

You lost your focus, your studies too,

And for what? You didn’t even pull through.” 

For days I cried, I skipped my class,

Watching my spirit slowly pass.

Each time I’d think of that defeat,

Tears would fall, my heart would beat. 

Mom would ask, “Why’re you so still?

Where’s the spark, that burning will?”

But I had no words, no way to say,

That my soul had drifted far away. 

I’ve always been one to hide my pain,

To smile through tears, to bear the rain.

But when I think of all that I’ve been,

It hurts to know I lost within. 

When I came back to the school, I couldn’t stay,

The court just tore my heart that day.

I took one glance, then turned away,

My spark was gone, my soul astray. 

Days passed by, but I stayed still,

The world moved on, yet I lost my will.

Laughter around felt far, not near,

A silent storm I fought with fear. 

And now, when I look back, I feel,

It wasn’t that bad — though it still hurts, still real.

A bittersweet memory, maybe more bitter than sweet,

But the best days of my life made in an unknown place — nothing could ever beat.

By Ritisha Ekka