Anushka's POV

"Bhai sone do yaar.", I groan as Kash and Smu try to roll me out of my bed.

"Ye ladki pagal ho gayi hai.", Smriti groans.

"You guys are literally trying to roll me off my bed, who's the mad one here?", I retort.

"Haan but it's your birthdayyyy.", Kash exclaims.

"Even I'm excited but pehle meko chain se sona hai.", I sighed, "I stayed up late celebrating with the both of you."

"Subah das baj chuki hai yaar uth jao abhi.", Kash tells, "you've slept for atleast nine hours."

"Haan we have to get ready in a while at then leave for the stadium.", Smriti reminds me.

That wakes me up.

"Oh shit haan.", I get out of the bed and scurry around to freshen up and then get ready.

"Arre shanti rakho, you have like one and a half hour to get ready.", Smriti stated.

"Yeah she wants to take her time and look good, Abhay is going to be there na.", Kash teases me.

"Oh for god's sake.", I roll my eyes, "birthday pe toh mat karo.", and they start laughing.

Few hours later, Wankhede Stadium.

"Happy birthdayyyyy", Jessica squeals as she pulls me into a hug.

"Thank you.", I grin as I hug her back.

"I'm excited for today's match.", Smriti tells.

"I just hope they don't lose, that would be horrible.", I sigh.

"Hopefully, they won't.", Kashish assures.

Surprisingly, India wins the toss and Virat chooses to bat first.

"WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY ISHAN IS NOT IN THE SQUAD TODAY????", Kashish shrieks.

"He probably wants him to take rest or something like that. You know Ishan right, kabhi kabhi he over works himself.", I try to console her without sounding freaked out.

"Aur abhi aur todhe matches baaki hai, he might get a chance in that too.", Jess joins her.

"Yeah but we were really hoping to watch him play today.", Smriti sighs worriedly.

Shubman and Rohit Sharma come in as the openers for the match. The entire stadium begins the cheer for them and we join.

"So how's things going on between you and Shubman?", Jess asks Smriti.

"We're some spending time and well, the awkwardness is reducing. Also, we might get engaged by the end of this month.", she says casually.

"WHAT??", Jess almost yells.

"We're not sure, it might mostly be then.", she shrugs.

"You're being ridiculously casual about this." I commented.

"I've already said yes and well, Shubman's basically a nice guy.", she shrugged, "It's not like I have any other option now, I don't think I need one either."

"Yeah but I will be planning everything at your engagement and wedding.", Kash tells.

"Of course you will. Shubman and his family would love that, and mine would too obviously", she tells.

We hear the crowd groan in disappointment and realise that we missed Rohit Sharma getting out because of our conversation.

"Bhai ye log kar kya rahe haiiii.", I groan.

Virat comes in and I start cheering loudly. Shubman and Virat start playing with their usual way; patiently and aggressively.

A couple of overs later, Virat is on strike. He hits a ball high and all of us think it's about to be a six but an English player was right below in with his palms open.

"Abhe bhench-", Kash starts but then proceeds to cheer as he drops the ball and it goes towards the boundary. All of us clap in excitement.

He has just 4 runs left to score an half century while Shubman has 10 left.

The match is going really great so far.

Soon enough Virat and Shubman reach their half centuries. The entire stadium cheers in happiness.

A fews balls get spend with dots and one runs. Shubman is on strike and...

.....he gets out by the ball ends up hitting th stumps.

"Yaaaaaaar Shubman.", Smriti whines disappointedly. Fans end up becoming quiet and the stadium is filled with no noise at all.

Shreyas bhaiya enters the stadium and Jess starts to whoop excitedly to support him.

They were an absolutely adorable couple.

Shreyas bhai takes on the lead this time and Virat plays smoothly by his side.

(A/N: I'm horrible at writing matches ball by ball/over by over so time skip to the end of the first innings.)

We all cheer for Virat and Shreyas as they walk towards the dugout after an amazing innings. Shreyas bhaiya was close to a half century and Virat was close to a century but nevertheless the total set for the second innings was great so everybody was happy.

"I'm so happy today!", Jess squeals,"I mean it would've been better if Shrey could get his half century and Virat bhai could've scored his century. But it was still an amazing innings to be honest."

(A/N: Time skip to the last over of the second innings cause as I said I'm not that good at this I'm so sorry y'all 😭)

It had been the last over, there was ten runs left to score by England to win. Abhay was given the chance to ball the last over. He had already taken two wickets in the overs he had played so far.

Time to pray again.

We watch nervously as the first three balls end up in being dots and the fourth one goes for a four.

Virat goes towards him and talks to him for a few minutes probably giving some advice.

The next ball ends with 2 runs, which isn't a blessing or a curse because there's four runs left to win a ball.

The four of us tap our feet against the floor nervously.

Abhay bowls the next ball and it flys up high.

"Ughhh", I groan.

But then it flys down and Kamlesh catches it.

"Hum jeeth gaye.", Smriti yells as she starts to jump and clap her hands together and the rest of us do the same in happiness too.

"Shall we go down after post presentation?", Jess asks.

"Okay", Kash agrees.

Time lapse to after the ✨post match presentation ✨

"What the hell happened to you?", I ask Ishan worriedly as I give him a hug.

"Arre kuch nahi, abhi there's the T20 series left na. So Virat bhai thought it'd be better if I take some rest.", he explains. "And happy birthday.", he wishes me with a grin and I thank him.

"We thought you over worked yourself again during practice session.", Kash told him.

"Who said he didn't do that? Of couse, he did that too.", Shreyas reveals making all of us glare at Ishan.

"Don't do that, the last time Shubman did that he ended getting injured so badly that he couldn't even play for three months.", Smriti warns him.

"How do you know about that?", Shubman asks her, surprised.

"You're literally a celebrity, baby face.", Jess tells him, "and she's been watching cricket forever, so of course she'd know about that."

"Hey, I don't have a baby face anymore.", Shubman defends himself.

"Uh, hi?", we hear a voice behind us and turn back to see it's Abhay.

"Goofyyy.", Smriti squeals and she hugs him.

"Hi kiddo.", he tells her as he hugs her back.

"Again, those are the worst nicknames ever.", Shreyas tells.

"Well, I think it's very obvious that I'm not good at nicknames so can we just not have this discussion anymore.", she retorts.

He hugs everyone else and then comes in front me. "And we meet again.", he tells with a grin as he shakes my hand.

"You were great today.", I compliment him with a small smile

"Thank you.", he tells, "Accha so shall we go to meet Virat bhai now?"

"Now??", I ask him.

I didn't really have myself prepared for that yet, I don't know why.

"Of course, I promised you that day didn't I?", he reminds me of our previous conversation.

"Ohh, also aaj uska birthday hai. So it'd be perfect timing.", Shreyas bhaiya adds on and I give him a small glare.

"Wait really? That will be even more amazing then. Happy birthday by the way.", he tells excitedly and ushers me to come with him.

He's even more adorable in real life.

"You ready?", he asks me as we're behind Virat.

"I guess so.", I tell him nervously.

"Everything will go well, don't worry. He's very friendly.", he assures me with an encouraging smile.

"Bhai.", he calls Virat as he Pat's him on his shoulder, "This is my friend, Anushka and she's a huge fan of yours. It's also her birthday today."

We're friends.....?

"Hello.", Virat tells me with a smile, "Happy birthday!"

"Thank you", I tell him softly.

This is awfully nerve wrecking, I think I'll scream.

"I just wanted to say that I love you so much, you make me happy and thank you for that", I ramble nervously.

"That is so sweet, thank you so much.", he tells me as he hugs me.

Am I dreaming?

"Uh, if you don't mind could I have a picture with you?", I ask him, still nervous.

"Of course.", he tells sweetly and Abhay takes out his phone to click a picture.

"Virat, you'll have to go for the press conference abhi.", a person, probably the PR manager tells him.

"Haan main abhi aaya", he tells him, "It was great meeting you Anushka."

"Likewise.", I tell him timidly and he leaves for the press conference.

"Thank you so much.", I tell Abhay with a huge smile. This was just the second time I was meeting him and he'd already done so much to make my day.

"Don't mention, it was the least I could do.", he smiles back and hands his phone to me, "Oh accha, also just save your number on my phone so that I can send the picture to you."

"I see what you did there, smart", I tease him a bit.

He looks a little surprised as this was the first time that I spoke freely to him and then laughs.

Best birthday ever.

༶

Author's note:

This chapter is dedicated to anushkak2307 whose birthday it is today👀 I hope you liked it bestie❤️

And on the other hand, my bestie crueloveascities has started writing an Ishan fanfic 'Home' which features Abhay and Shubman too. So do check it out, you won't regret it ;)

The next chapter will mark a very special beginning and I can't wait to write it hehe.

I hope y'all liked this chapter <3

Lots of love,
~S.

Published on: 13 July 2021