5th july, 2024.

7:04 am.

the sun was just beginning to rise over mumbai, casting a soft glow over the city. kasturie was still sound asleep, exhausted from the whirlwind of celebrations and events that had followed their world cup victory. but today was another important day, and she needed to get ready for the meeting with the chief minister of maharashtra.

ishan and shubman quietly opened the door to her room, knowing that waking kasturie up was no easy task. as they quietly entered her room, they exchanged a glance and nodded.

“aye kumbhkaran, uth jaa!” ishan called out softly, gently shaking her shoulder.

“subah ho bhi gyi?” she mumbled, barely opening her eyes.

“haa, aur tumhe cm se milne jana hai,” shubman added, pulling the curtains aside to let in more light. “come on, you need to get ready.”

still half-asleep, kasturie groaned and tried to pull the covers over her head. “do minute aur...”

ishan and shubman chuckled. “nahi, abhi uthna padega,” ishan insisted, tugging at the blanket.

reluctantly, kasturie sat up, rubbing her eyes. “fine, i’m awake.”

as she slowly got out of bed, shubman handed her a glass of water. “yeh le, pehle paani pi le. you’ll feel better.”

she took a sip and smiled. “thanks, shubu. tum dono mere bina kya karte?”

"neend mein yeh shabd bhi ulte pulte karne lag gyi." ishan whispered to shubman and he chuckled lightly. “we’d probably still be sleeping,” ishan joked, earning a laugh from her.

once she was more awake, kasturie headed to the bathroom to freshen up. in the meantime, shubman and ishan prepared her outfit for the day – something traditional like a light kurti, loose fitted jeans and ishan took out a pair of earrings from her dresser.

“this should be perfect for the meeting,” shubman said, laying the clothes out neatly on her bed after ironing them.

when kasturie returned, she saw the outfit and nodded approvingly. “woah, you guys have good taste.”

“of course we do,” ishan replied with a grin. "abhi jaldi se get dressed. we don’t have much time."

as she changed, shubman started getting her accessories ready. she came out wearing the outfit they chose for her and as she entered the room, shubman and ishan looked at her with wide eyes and open mouth. "muh band karo, macchar chala jayega, aur tum log aise kyu dekh rhe ho?"

"bhay tere biceps kya sexy lag rhe hai iss kurti mein." ishan said and earned a smack on head from shubman.

hearing this she grinned and flexed her biceps even more. "trainer ne bulk pe daala tha during the world cup. tum logo ne abhi dekha nalayko."

“tu din bhar agar oversized kapdo mein ghumegi toh kaise notice karenge? aaj yeh sleeveless pehna hai toh arms are on full display. yeh le tere bracelets, and don’t forget these earrings.” shubman said changing the topic.

kasturie smiled at their meticulousness. “you two are the best.”

“we know,” they replied in unison, making her laugh again.

soon, she was ready and looking every bit the confident and accomplished cricketer that she was. as she checked herself in the mirror, she felt a surge of pride and excitement.

“perfect,” shubman said, giving her a thumbs-up. “let’s go, thalaivi.”

they made their way to the car, where her grandmother was waiting to see her off. “accha dikh rha hai mera baccha.” her grandmother said and did the nazar utarne wala thing.

"tere hi genetics hai, aai." kasturie replied, touching her grandmother’s feet.

“best of luck.” her grandmother said, hugging her tightly.

“thank you, aai,” kasturie said, feeling a wave of love and support.

with ishan and shubman by her side, they set off for the vidhan sabha. the drive was filled with light-hearted banter and a sense of anticipation for the day ahead.

as they approached their destination, kasturie took a deep breath. “ready, kasturie?” ishan asked.

“always,” kasturie said with a reassuring smile. “let’s do this."

🕸️

5:32 pm.

the day had been eventful, filled with meetings and formalities. as the evening approached, a sense of quiet settled over kasturie’s home. shubman was leaving for punjab, and it was time for farewells.

“tumhara flight kitne baje ka hai?” kasturie asked, helping shubman with his bags.

“shaam ko 7 baje,” he replied, glancing at his watch. “humare paas thoda time hai.”

"7 baje..." she smiled to herself showing her dimples. "thala for a reason."

"will you ever stop that?" shubman asked with a fake annoyed voice.

"nope, nevah." she grinned.

ishan entered the room after a while, holding kasturie's car keys. “ready to roll? iske drop karke we have to go to the pandya's.” he said looking at kasturie.

"oh ha woh outfits and all ka discussion karna hai." she replied.

"let's leave then?" shubman asked.

"yeah, I'll drive." kasturie said enthusiastically.

"NO!" ishan and shubman yelled together immediately not trusting her rash driving.

"kya hai yaar, itne din mere saath car mein ghume hai, zinda toh hai abhi mast uchal kud rhe hai." she muttered lightly

the three of them piled into the car, with ishan taking the driver’s seat. shubman sat in the passenger seat while kasturie was at the back. the drive to the airport was filled with a mix of chatter and comfortable silence, each of them reflecting on the past few days.

“tumhara ghar wapas jaane ka man nahi kar raha?” kasturie asked, staring out the window.

“ha bhi aur nahi bhi.” shubman replied softly. “mujhe yaha tumhare saath rehna bhi hai aur gharwalo se milna bhi hai so I'll have to go. but we’ll be back together soon.”

they reached the airport, and after parking the car, made their way inside. as they walked towards the check-in counter, kasturie felt a lump forming in her throat. she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“tumhari packing to sab theek se ho gayi thi na?” she asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

“haan, sab theek hai. thanks for helping, by the way,” shubman said, smiling.

as they reached the departure gate, it was time to part ways. shubman turned to face his friends, his eyes reflecting the same mix of emotions kasturie felt.

“tum dono ko miss karunga,” he said, pulling them both into a hug.

“hum bhi tumhe miss karenge,” kasturie replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

ishan clapped shubman on the back. “take care, bhai. jaldi milenge.”

“you too, yaar,” shubman said, his voice thick with emotion.

kasturie's eyes welled up. "tu to rhi hai?" ishan asked.

"nah bilkul nhi, i don't cry." she said but her voice cracked anyways. shubman moved forward to hug her tightly.

they stood there for a few moments longer, not wanting to let go. "tu ro nhi rhi toh shub ka tshirt geela kaise hua?" ishan asked.

kasturie looked at shubman's tshirt and saw two wet spots where she hugged him. "that's paseena."

"we all know that's not true." shubman said and the three of them laughed heartily. finally, shubman picked up his bag and started walking towards security. "dono ek dusre ka khayal rakhna aur main baat, zinda rehna."

"haa haa tu jaa ab, nhi toh flight tujhe chhodke jayegi." ishan said.

“bye, shubman!” kasturie called out, waving.

“bye, guys!” he replied, turning one last time to wave back.

as he disappeared from view, kasturie felt a pang of loneliness. she turned to ishan, who gave her a reassuring smile.

“come on, let’s go,” he said, leading her back to the car. “we’ll see him soon.”

as kasturie and ishan drove away from the airport, an air of quiet settled in the car. kasturie felt a pang of sadness but didn't want to show it. she missed shubman already, but she knew they would be together again soon.

"tu theek hai na?" ishan asked gently, noticing her quiet demeanor.

"haa re, main theek hu," kasturie replied, forcing a smile. "just going to miss him, bas."

ishan nodded, understanding. "i know. but hey, we have the ambani wedding coming up. it'll be fun."

"ha, woh toh hai," kasturie said, trying to shift her thoughts to the upcoming celebrations.

they drove to the pandya's residence, where they were meeting to discuss the details of the ambani wedding they were all invited to.

as they entered the pandya’s home, they were greeted by hardik and pankhuri, who were busy with preparations themselves.

"arre, aagaye tum log!" hardik exclaimed, pulling them into a warm hug. "come in, we were just about to start discussing the wedding plans."

"perfect timing," pankhuri added with a smile. "let’s sit and chat."

the living room was abuzz with activity. krunal and his kids, kavir and vayu were already there, along with agastya. the atmosphere was lively, which helped lift kasturie’s spirits a bit.

"toh, kya plans hai humare?" ishan asked, settling into a comfortable chair. "also, kal aarya aa rhi hai india mein, she'll be my date to the wedding."

hardik grinned. "well, it’s going to be a week-long celebration. we need to be there for all the events, from the sangeet to the reception."

"sounds amazing," kasturie said, trying to get into the festive mood. "we should plan our outfits and everything. yaar so much mehnat."

"exactly!" pankhuri chimed in. "we were thinking of coordinating our outfits for each event. it’ll be fun!"

they spent the next couple of hours discussing the details, sharing ideas for outfits, and talking about the guest list. the conversation flowed easily, and soon, the room was filled with laughter and excitement.

"mehendi ke liye kya socha hai?" pankhuri asked, looking at Kasturie and Ishan.

"main soch rahi hoon ki kuch not so heavy but not so plain ho jaye," kasturie replied. "koi bright color, like green or something."

"perfect," hardik said, nodding. "and what about the sangeet?"

"sangeet ke liye toh full-on bling hona chahiye!" kasturie exclaimed. "lots of glitter and glamour."

everyone laughed at her enthusiasm. pankhuri added, "absolutely. sangeet should be a night to remember."

as they discussed the guest list and dates, kasturie noticed hardik seemed a bit reserved. she knew about his recent divorce and felt bad that he might feel left out during the wedding.

"hardik, tumhare date ka kya scene hai?" kasturie asked casually.

hardik shrugged, smiling slightly. "koi nahi hai. main bas akele enjoy karunga."

kasturie thought for a moment and then said, "hmm... toh phir main tumhare date ban jaati hoon. waise bhi hum dono ko dates nahi hai, toh kyun na hum ek doosre ke date banein?"

hardik’s eyes lit up, and he smiled genuinely. "sacchi? you'll do that?."

"why not?" she shrugged.

"thank you so much, it means a lot." he smiled and hugged her lightly.

"thank you kya bol rha hai yaar. hum sab saath hain, yeh din enjoy karna hai," kasturie said, feeling a sense of camaraderie.

pankhuri smiled at kasturie. "that’s a wonderful idea, kuku."

as the evening progressed, they moved to the dining area for dinner. the meal was filled with lively chatter about the upcoming wedding and their recent cricketing triumphs.

as dinner was served, the pandya household buzzed with the kind of warmth and laughter that made everyone feel at home. pankhuri had outdone herself, setting the table with an array of delicious dishes. kasturie, ishan, and hardik sat down with krunal, pankhuri, and their kids – agastya, kavir, and baby vayu.

the kids were excited to have guests, especially kasturie, who always had a special bond with them. as everyone began to eat, the room filled with the sounds of chatter and laughter.

"toh reception ke liye kya socha hai?" krunal asked.

"reception ke liye toh something very elegant," hardik said. "like a classic black tux or a sherwani for the guys, and stunning sarees or lehengas for the ladies."

kasturie nodded. "main bhi kuch aisa hi soch rahi thi. aur hairstyles bhi decide karni hongi."

"hairstyles aur jewelry, don’t forget," pankhuri added. "we have to look perfect."

they continued planning each event meticulously. from the color schemes to the accessories, every detail was discussed.

after dinner, the kids wanted to play, and kasturie was more than happy to join them. she took agastya, kavir, and baby vayu into the living room, where they played a game of hide and seek.

"main chhupunga!" agastya declared, running to find a hiding spot.

"aur main tumhe dhoondhungi," kasturie said, closing her eyes and counting loudly. "one, two, three..."

the kids giggled and scampered around, trying to find the best hiding spots. it wasn’t long before kasturie found them all, their squeals of laughter echoing through the house.

"mil gaye tum sab!" she exclaimed, scooping up baby vayu and twirling him around. "tum log toh master chhupne wale ho!"

pankhuri brought out some dessert. "yeh lo, thoda meetha ho jaye," she said, placing a plate of gulab jamun with vanilla icecream on the table.

"perfect end to the night," kasturie said, taking a piece. "this is so good! thanks yaar pankhu, i love you." she smiled.

they all enjoyed the dessert, the conversation flowing easily. the camaraderie and warmth in the room were palpable, making kasturie feel even more at home.

"toh sab ready ho na kal ke liye? hume outfits finalize karne jaana hai." pankhuri asked, as they wrapped up.

"bilkul," ishan said. "kal subah jaldi uthna padega."

"jaldi uthna hoga yaar, but it’ll be worth it," kasturie said, smiling.

after dinner, as they were getting ready to leave, pankhuri pulled kasturie aside. "you okay?" she asked softly.

kasturie nodded. "yeah, just missing shubman a bit. but I’ll be fine."

"he’ll be back soon," pankhuri reassured her. "and meanwhile, we have a lot to keep us busy."

"true," kasturie said, smiling. "thanks, pankhu."

as the evening wore on, the kids began to tire. pankhuri put them to bed, leaving the adults to chat and unwind. hardik, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up.

"you guys should stay here tonight," he suggested. "it's too late to drive back now."

ishan and kasturie exchanged glances. they both knew why hardik wanted them to stay – his room reminded him too much of natasa, and he didn't want to be alone.

"of course, hum yahin rukte hain," kasturie said firmly. "three of us will crash in the living room."

"haa," ishan added. "let's have a sleepover here. it'll be fun."

hardik smiled, grateful for their support. "thanks, guys."

they grabbed some blankets and pillows, making a cozy setup in the living room. the three of them settled down, the comfortable familiarity of each other's company making the room feel warm and safe.

they chatted late into the night, sharing stories and laughing about old times. every now and then, hardik would fall silent, and kasturie or ishan would quickly jump in with a funny anecdote to keep his spirits up.

"remember that time in dubai when hardik ne swimming pool mein jump maar diya without checking the depth?" ishan said, laughing.

"haan, aur phir pani mein almost dub gya." kasturie added, giggling. "woh toh acha hua ki lifeguard waha tha."

hardik laughed along, shaking his head. "you guys will never let me forget that, will you?"

"never," they said in unison, making him laugh even more.

as the night grew later, they eventually fell silent, the exhaustion of the day catching up with them. but it was a comfortable silence, filled with the unspoken bond of close friends.

kasturie lay between ishan and hardik, her thoughts drifting. she thought about how much things had changed in such a short time. from winning the world cup to navigating personal challenges, the journey had been anything but easy. yet, here they were, finding solace in each other's company.

hardik, who was staring at the ceiling, turned his head slightly. "thanks for staying," he said softly.

"we're a family, dada." kasturie replied, squeezing his hand. "we stick together."

ishan nodded in agreement, his eyes already half-closed. "haan, hum sab ek dusre ke bina adhoore hain."

as they lay there, the living room filled with the gentle sound of their breathing, kasturie found herself thinking about shubman. she missed him already, but she knew he would be back soon. for now, she was content to be here, supporting hardik and sharing these moments with her friends.

🕸️

a/n : wassup y'all. kaise hai sab log. hardik and natasa ki news dekh ke i was in shock for some time. buy kya hi kar sakte hai it's their decision. all we can do is support hardik no matter what.
i feel bad for aggu tho, he does not deserve all this. parents living in two different continents is going to be very difficult for him.
aaj author's note mein likhne ke liye jyada dimaag nhi chal rha mera.
so just keep commenting and voting.
bye bye.

peace out.
~k.