Mumbai.
Jessica's POV

"Arre you could've just wore a jersey of any team, I'm pretty sure Shrey and Ishan won't take it that seriously.", I tell Smriti, as Kashish, Smriti and I wait for the second innings of the match to start.

"Main bhi vahi bol rahi thi Jess, I swear this girl never listens.", Kashish complains as Smriti glares at the both of us.

"But, both of them are really close to me-". Smriti begins to babble.

"Whatever dude, just because I'm wearing an MI jersey doesn't mean I'm not close to Shreyas bhaiya", Kashish cuts her off, "and just because Jess is wearing a DC jersey doesn't mean she's not close to Ishan. You know that she loves MI and has known Ishan for quite a long time. Don't make excuses".

"Fine", Smriti huffs and continues, "I just don't want people to make an issue out of it you know, like sMrIti iYer cHoOsEs rUmOuReD bOyFrIeNd iShAn kIsHaN oVeR bRoThEr sHrEyAs iYeR. The last thing I need is people continuing to make my best friend as my boyfriend, it's so weird."

"Smri, hum sab ne bola hai na ignore karne ke liye. I mean even people are beginning to see through this nonsense, because according to the media Kash, Anu or you are his current girlfriends; people clearly known that Ishan isn't the person to date all of his female best friends, dump one of them in two days, go to another one, dump her by the fifth day and go to the other one, dump her in a few days and continue this vicious cycle.", I critique.

"Also since we're close to four cricketers, it's hard to skip media attention.", Kashish adds.

"I'm not close to one of them tho.", Smriti mumbles, "He's probably my least favourite person in the entire world, I hate him more than I hate Thanos."

The DJ in the stadium announces that the second inning is going to begin, stopping our conversation. We begin to cheer as Shreyas and his team jog in after their usual pep talk. De Kock and Rohit Sharma make their way in to bat. Mumbai has a target of 185 to chase.

In a few overs, the opening wickets and one wicket from the middle order fell. Ishan and Hardik were the ones on the pitch with a score of 90-4; the fate of the game depending on them.

Both of them continue to fiercely hit the balls as they're known for, sixes and fours raining through the stadium as the Mumbai Indians are closer and closer to a victory.

Soon enough, Ishan reached his half century. The MI fans began to cheer and Kashish starts jumping wildly in happiness. Smriti and I share a knowing smirk as we cheer for Ishan too.

A few more balls too and Hardik reached in half century too. There were 24 runs left to chase in 2 overs, making the MI fans totally ecstatic. Their team would win this match very easily.

By another over, Hardik ended a match with the four. Leaving the MI team and their supporters with huge smiles. I smiled, without bothering the comments I'd receive for enjoying despite my husband's team losing. I love MI after all.

Ishan ended up winning the Man of the Match and a few awards, for his score of 76 runs, he thanked the fans and captain for trusting him, ending the Post Match Presentation Ceremony.

We go to the ground after the Post Match Presentation Ceremony to meet Shreyas, Ishan and a few friends from the teams.

"Homieeeeee", Kashish yips as Ishan grins and pulls her into a bear hug. Smriti and I share the knowing smirk again.

"Hey baby.". Shreyas says as he kisses my cheek and gives me a hug.

"C'mon man, why do I always have to third wheel?", Smriti groans at the four of us hugging.

"Isliye I told you Kutta (A/N: not dog guys, it's ठ not त्त) , start dating, meet more people. You won't be fed of our company", Shreyas tells as he hugs her.

Smriti's mom got married to Shrey's uncle around 6 years ago, joining her to this family. Nobody would've ever realised that they're step cousins, because they've gotten along so well it seems like they've known each other ever since their childhood.

Shreyas was called Neduvaali which was used to call somebody who was tall and Smriti was called Kutta which was used for short people in Malayalam, since they had a huge height difference. Smriti's step dad and Shrey gave them the idea for these names, since Smriti didn't know Malayalam well, as both her mom and dad were from Tamil Nadu.

"Ayyo I'm not fed up of you guys, I just feel lonely, Also, no one is interested in me, what am I supposed to do?", Smriti sighs.

"Shrek give her a break babe. It's fine Smri, take your time. It's like people say, the right person comes at the right time.", I tell her.

"Ek dum sahi, tu na zyaada stress mat le Maggi.". Ishan agrees as he hugs Smriti.

"Great innings Kissan Jam.", Smriti grins.

"No offense but those names are terrible.", Shreyas tells them as he gives them weird looks for the billionth time about the nicknames they've kept for each other.

"No use of telling them bhaiya, they've been calling each other that since they were around 7 or 8. It'll be weird for them to call each other new names", Kashish tells as she exchanges a hug with him.

"Chalo anyways who are you guys going to support for the night game?", Ishan asks us.

"As much as I love Abhay, gotta go with RCB. I mean, we all know that I love Virat the most in ICT after Dhoni.", Smriti shrugs.

"Ohhhh also, Anu will be watching the match live in the stadium today.", Kashish tells us.

"But the match gets over around 11:30, utna raat ko akele rehna is kinda risky na?", I ask them. Even Bangalore's record of women's safety was not as terrible as few other place, no female was safe in any place that late at night, unfortunately.

"She knows Abdul na, SRH team se. I'm pretty sure he'll make sure ki she'll be safe.", Ishan tells.

"Even Daivik is going with her, so she'll be safer.", Kashish adds.

(A/N: Daivik is Anuskha's brother, younger than her by three years and is studying in Bangalore.)

"It sucks ki she's never met Abhay tho, considering she is a huge fan of his.", Smriti tells.

"Well they might as well meet today, who know?", Shreyas tells and continues, "Chalo let's all go to the hotel now. The teams are leaving aur waise bhi match will start in like two to three minutes. We can watch it together in the hotel."

We part ways as Ishan and Shreyas go to their team buses and Kashish, Smriti and I go to my car; all us leaving to meet at the team hotel later.

Bangalore.
Abhay's POV

I grin at my team mate Abdul as I finished bowling my last over for the innings; it had been one of best overs. Taking the wickets of Devdutt and ABD while giving just 25 runs. It wasn't everyday you have a great innings, as a cricketer. I really hope we win this one.

We all get into our fielding positions instructed by Bhuvi bhai and then he bowls.The crowd goes wild as Virat bhai hits a six. I look at it in awe, as the ball lands on the roof of the stadium. Chinnaswamy Swamy stadium always has such buzzing energy, you can't help but love it even if they aren't supporting you.

The last ball of the over ends up rolling to the boundary. The umpire shows the gesture that it's a four and later points his fingers to his wrists, indicating that it was a strategic time out. I join my team members next to the pitch as we have a discussion on what strategies we'd have to use to reduce the speed in which RCB was scoring.

Davy bhai asks me to go to the other side for fielding, I jog to where I was asked to go and wait for the next over to start.

Rashid bhai was the one bowling, so he managed to restrict RCB from scoring from scoring for a few balls but Virat bhai hits the last ball of the over for a six. I look into the crowd, where the ball had been towards.

This girl caught my eye.

"Wohooooo Virat yessssssss.", she cheers as she waved her RCB flag..... and she looked really familiar. Her enthusiasm and cheeriness made her even more pretty.

Everyone loved Virat. He's such an amazing player and a chilled out person off field too. Many people might be watching cricket just for him, his passion for the game spread to the ones watching it.

You're playing a match now Abhay, concentrate, I tell myself and turn back after taking once small look at the pretty girl.

RCB ended up scoring 203 runs; Jonny and Davy starting the innings. They brought a great start but Jonny gets out soon. Later Manish bhai also goes but gets out in a few over.

Kane goes to the pitch to bat and starts smashing the balls, so does Davy. At the end there are 14 runs are left to get off the last over. Everybody in stadium, the fans and both the teams, begin to tense up.

The pretty girl is shown on the screen of the stadium with many other fans, she's restlessly praying like other fans. Infact, she was into her nervousness that she didn't even realize the camera was showing her to the screen.

"Yaar she's so pretty na?", I lean over and ask Abdul.

He looks at the screen and then glares at me asking, "Tu yahan khelne aaya hi ki dulhan doondna?".

"Arre chill, itna gussa kyun ho raha hai bhai?", I ask him as I raise my hands in defense.

Siraj comes up to ball the last over. Man this going to get very tough, I think. Two really good batsmen and one of the best bowlers.

The first two balls pass off as singles, the next ball is hit for a six. The atmosphere get even more tense, six runs had to be chased in two more balls. We still have a chance.

The next ball ends up being a dot, making all of us at the SRH dugout groan. I tap my feet against the ground nervously. We had the win this.

The last ball is bowled and also ends up with dot. We sigh and get up as the crowd erupts in cheers, their team had won after all.

We shake hands with everyone from the RCB franchise and I start talking to Chahal bhai and Devdutt.

"Anu, Daivik, tum log aa gaye.", I heard Abdul yell excitedly.

"Of course aate bhaiya, saalo ho gaye mile hue.", I hear a guy say.

"Man you guys were so close to winning, par haar gaye.", a female voice giggled.

"Dost haarne ke baad itna khush kon hota hai?", Abdul asks her in a fake offended voice.

"Arre but my favourite team won. Mere dono favourites Virat aur Abhay na accha khela toh why should be upset?", the girl asks.

I turn back to see find that it was the girl who caught my eye before.

Oh my god.

༶

Author's note

I hope you guys liked this chapter! Do let me know how you feel in the comments.

Lots of love,
S.

Published on: 09 May 2020