9th June, 2024.

6:37 am.

the morning of the crucial match against pakistan had arrived, and with it, a palpable tension hung in the air of the hotel gym where the indian cricket team gathered for their pre-match workout. kasturie, sensing the need to lighten the mood, had conspired with hardik to pull off a prank that would bring some much-needed laughter to the team.

"ishan kaha hai?" hardik asked noticing his absence.

"kya pata, kal se gayab hai. he said he's going to meet a certain someone. nhi toh we're pulling a prank aur woh saath mein nhi hai aisa kabhi ho sakta hai kya?" she said and hardik nodded.

as the players started their warm-up routines, kasturie subtly signaled to hardik that it was time to execute their plan. hardik, with a mischievous grin, nodded in agreement. he discreetly set up a small bluetooth speaker hidden among the gym equipment.

just as the team was getting into their exercises, the unexpected blare of a bhojpuri version of baby shark song filled the gym. the abrupt change in atmosphere caught everyone off guard.

virat, mid-stretch, looked around with a mix of confusion and amusement. "yeh kya bakwas hai?"

rohit, who was on the treadmill, chuckled as he recognized the prank. "kasturie, hardik, kya masti kar rahe ho?"

kasturie couldn't contain her laughter. "arre, thoda energy boost karne ke liye! dance karne ka mann kar raha tha."

the players, initially taken aback, soon found themselves smiling and laughing along with the infectious beat of the music. even virat, known for his serious demeanor before matches, couldn't help but join in the light-hearted moment.

meanwhile, hardik had another part of the prank ready. he had strategically placed a few rubber snakes around the gym floor. as the players moved around, they noticed these fake serpents, causing some startled reactions.

shubman, spotting a snake near his dumbbells, jumped back and let out a girly scream. "are bhai, yeh kya hai?"

kasturie burst into laughter again. "relax! it's fake. pagal, tu ladki jaisa kayko chillata hai."

the gym echoed with laughter and playful banter as the players teased each other about the prank. the tension that had been lingering before their morning workout had dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and light-heartedness.

after a few more minutes of fun and stretching, the team wrapped up their workout. rohit clapped his hands together, still grinning. "aaj ka warm-up toh extra special tha. ab match ke liye tayyar ho jao, boys and the lady!" he said the last part looking at kasturie and she gave him a cheeky grin.

as they headed back to their rooms to prepare for the match, the team was in high spirits. kasturie and hardik exchanged satisfied looks, knowing their prank had achieved its goal of bringing the team together and easing the pressure before the big game.

🕸️

9:18 am.

the morning of the big india vs pakistan match dawned with a mix of excitement and tension in the air. the team was gathered at their hotel, preparing for what would undoubtedly be a thrilling and intense game. breakfast wasn't so quiet, thanks to hardik and kasturie. still each of them were mentally gearing up for the challenge ahead.

kasturie, after the fun work out session they had, she came back to her hotel room. she had a ritual of meditating with some songs playing in her headset for a few minutes before a match to calm her nerves and focus her mind. today was no different. as she sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, she took deep breaths, visualizing the game and her role in it.

meanwhile, in another room, shubman was pacing back and forth, unable to shake off the nervous energy. he glanced at his phone and saw a message from kasturie: "relax, dude. we'll smash it today!" he couldn't help but smile at her confidence, feeling a bit more at ease.

downstairs in the hotel's dining area, the rest of the team was slowly trickling in. virat was already there, sipping his coffee and going over some strategies with rohit. the two of them were discussing field placements and possible scenarios they might face during the match.

hardik entered the room, immediately noticing the serious expressions on their faces. "bhai log, chill karo. hum jeetenge aaj," he said with his trademark grin, trying to lighten the mood.

rishabh joined them next, grabbing a plate of fruits. "woh bandar kaha hai? usually she's the first one down here," he remarked.

"probably doing her pre-match meditation thing," shubman replied as he walked in, finally feeling a bit calmer.

"uska kuch alag hi shuru rehta hai. good thing is she has good coping mechanisms," virat said, nodding in approval. "everyone does. as long as it works, it's all good."

a few minutes later, kasturie arrived, looking refreshed and focused. she joined the team, and they all exchanged encouraging nods and smiles. despite the underlying tension, there was a palpable sense of unity and determination among them.

"ready for the big day?" rohit asked, looking around the table.

"more than ready," kasturie replied confidently. "we've trained hard for this."

"and we'll show them what we're made of," virat added, his voice filled with conviction.

as they finished their breakfast, the team gathered for a final meeting. the coaches went over the game plan one last time, emphasizing key points and strategies. each player knew their role, and they were all prepared to give it their best.

"remember, it's not just a game. it's a matter of pride for our country," rohit said, looking each player in the eye. "let's make everyone proud."

the team nodded in unison, the gravity of the match sinking in. they left the hotel, boarding the bus that would take them to the stadium. the streets were lined with fans, waving flags and cheering them on, a sea of blue and green showing their support.

inside the bus, the atmosphere was a mix of quiet contemplation and shared anticipation. kasturie sat next to shubman, both of them staring out the window, lost in their thoughts.

"you know, this is what we live for," shubman said, breaking the silence.

"yeah," kasturie agreed. "no matter what happens, we'll give it everything we've got."

as they arrived at the stadium, the roar of the crowd greeted them. the energy was electric, and it fueled their determination even more. they headed to the dressing room, each player getting into their zone, preparing for the battle ahead.

kasturie put on her gear, feeling the familiar weight and comfort of her jersey. she looked around at her teammates, each one of them focused and ready. "let's do this," she said, her voice steady and strong.

"let's send them back home." shubman replied, giving her a fist bump.

with a final huddle and a shared roar of "india!", they stepped out onto the field, ready to face their biggest rivals. the match was about to begin, and they were determined to give it their all.

"let's go guys, aai zhavun taka pakistan chi!" kasturie yelled as they dispersed.
(maa chod do pakistan ki.)

🕸️

the highly anticipated india vs pakistan match had the stadium buzzing with excitement. the stands were packed, fans 95% from india cheering loudly for their team. india lost the toss and pakistan chose to bowl first.

india's batting wasn't upto the mark. they were all out in the end of the 19th over. they made about 119 runs.

the 2nd inning began. india was fielding, and the players were giving it their all, determined to put up a strong defense.

amidst the intensity of the game, dark clouds began to gather overhead. the weather forecast had predicted a possibility of rain, but no one had expected it to arrive so soon. within minutes, the skies opened up, and rain started pouring down in torrents. the umpires quickly signaled for a halt in play, and the players began to run towards the dugout, seeking shelter from the sudden downpour. kasturie, however, stood rooted to her spot on the field, tilting her head back, closing her eyes, embracing the rain. it was as if the stress and tension of the match were being washed away, leaving her feeling refreshed and alive.

hardik, who had been making his way to the dugout, turned around and noticed kasturie standing alone in the rain. shaking his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation, he jogged back onto the field, the rain drenching him as he made his way to her. "aye pagal, andar chal! terko nhi lenge aashiqui 3 mein." he called out.

kasturie opened her eyes and laughed, the rain soaking her hair and clothes. she made no move to leave the field, clearly enjoying the moment. "bhai i love this feeling. thodi der aur bas," she said, her voice filled with joy.

hardik sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. grabbing the back of her jersey, he started dragging her towards the dugout. "chalo, miss monsoon. baad mein baarish enjoy kar lena," he said, shaking his head at her antics.

as they reached the dugout, the rest of the team was already gathered inside, shaking off the rain. rohit, standing near the entrance, watched the scene unfold with a bemused expression. "kasturie, tum kabhi nahi sudhrogi na? hum match khel rahe hain, aur tumhe baarish mein dance karna hai?" he said, trying to sound stern but failing to hide his amusement.

kasturie grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "sorry rohit bhai, thodi der bas enjoy kar rahi thi," she said, not looking the least bit apologetic.

rohit shook his head playfully, but there was no real annoyance in his voice. "acha, acha. par agli baar se dhyaan rakhna. team ko bhi toh safe rehna hai," he said, giving her a mock stern look.

the team shared a light-hearted laugh, the tension of the match momentarily forgotten. as they waited for the rain to subside, kasturie found herself surrounded by her teammates, their camaraderie and support lifting her spirits even higher.

🕸️

the india vs pakistan match had reached a tense standstill as the rain poured down, forcing a temporary halt in play. players and fans alike waited with bated breath, the outcome of the game hanging in the balance. the team huddled in the dugout, trying to stay loose and focused.

after what felt like an eternity, the rain finally began to let up. the umpires inspected the pitch and, much to the delight of the crowd, decided to resume the match. the players quickly took to the field, ready to pick up where they left off.

kasturie, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins, took her place on the field. with india needing to defend a modest total, every wicket was crucial. she knew the weight of the moment and the expectations of the millions watching.

as the match resumed, kasturie bowled with precision and determination. she delivered a beautiful outswinger, tempting the pakistani batsman into a drive. the ball caught the edge and flew straight to virat at slip, who made no mistake in taking the catch. the stadium erupted in cheers. kasturie punched the air in celebration, her teammates rushing to congratulate her.

rohit clapped her on the back, saying, "well done, kasturie! ek aur chahiye."

she nodded, focused and ready. her next delivery was a well-disguised slower ball, catching the batsman off guard. he mistimed his shot, and the ball soared high into the air. hardik, stationed at mid-on, positioned himself perfectly and took a clean catch.

"yes! great ball, kasturie!" hardik shouted, grinning.

with two quick wickets, the pressure was firmly on pakistan. the indian team was energized, feeding off the crowd's enthusiasm. kasturie, sensing an opportunity, delivered another tight over. the batsmen struggled to find gaps, the tension on the field palpable.

in her next over, kasturie faced pakistan's captain, babar azam. the crowd hushed, aware of the significance of this wicket. kasturie took a deep breath and bowled a sharp, swinging delivery. babar misjudged the line and the ball clipped the top of his off-stump. the bails flew, and the stadium exploded in applause.

from behind the stumps, rishabh yelled, "tel lagao dabur ka, wicket lo babar ka!" his words echoed through the ground, and the team couldn't help but burst into laughter, the tension momentarily lifting.

as they celebrated babar's wicket, virat patted kasturie on the back, saying, "that's the big one! awesome job, kasturie!"

with pakistan's middle order in disarray, the indian team tightened their grip on the match. the bowlers, inspired by kasturie's performance, kept up the pressure, and the fielders were sharp and alert.

as the match drew to its final overs, the equation became increasingly difficult for pakistan. the indian team, united and resolute, played with determination and heart. in the penultimate over, kasturie bowled her final ball, a yorker that rattled the stumps of pakistan's last recognized batsman.

the crowd erupted once more, sensing victory. with just a few runs needed off the final over and only tailenders left to bat, the result was all but sealed. india's bowlers finished the job, and pakistan was all out with a few balls to spare.

the stadium was a sea of blue, fans chanting and celebrating the hard-fought victory. kasturie, drenched in sweat and rain, was mobbed by her teammates, their joy and relief palpable.

rohit hugged her tightly, saying, "fantastic job, everyone! special shoutout to kasturie for those crucial wickets."

"thanks, rohit bhai. it was a team effort," kasturie replied, smiling.

as they walked off the field, kasturie felt a wave of emotions - pride, joy, and relief. the match had been a rollercoaster, but they had emerged victorious, and it felt incredible.

🕸️

a/n : happy happy happy.

aaj mera mood bohot accha hai, idk why maybe because after ages i slept for more than 8 hours.

usually i sleep only for 4-5 hours. ik it's not healthy but yeah. abhi main full say soyi so maybe raat ko neend nhi ayegi. agar dimaag chala toh I'll write another chapter and post till morning.

peace out for now.
~k.