"Celebrating a victory with you is a dream come true."

Rahul was getting ready for the after win dinner party. Virat Bhai was throwing this treat for the team. A treat that allowed you to eat whatever you want but Rahul wasn't in a merry mood.

It has been 6 days since his last chat with Ahankara on Snapchat and he was getting restless. He didn't know why? But he was missing bantering with her.

And he was visibly in a wallowing mood. A mood that made him look like he was walking around with a black cloud lingering over him.

A mood that made almost everyone in the team question him about his well being. Leave the team, even Neha, Siri and Tani have been asking him if he is fine or not?

And they've known him for just three days. Okay, maybe as the fangirls of the ICT they've known him forever but for him, it's just three days. And in these, three days he has realized certain things about them like Neha is another Jadu. She is the female reincarnation of Jadu with certain Harry like habits like speaking her heart out without caring for the world. She is a beauty with brains and kindness and he doesn't know how'll their poor Kulya handle this mixture of Jadu and Harry.

Tani, well Tani is a unique mixture of Jinks and Mahi Bhai. The peacemaker. The calm composed girl who speaks politely with you. A girl who knows how to handle herself in tough situations. And a profound love for books ingrained in her being. The way she suggested Virat a list of books to read as timepass clearly showed her love for the books.

Virat was left dazed for some minutes learning the name of so many books and Ro, being Ro laughed at his state.

And then there was Siri. The girl who is totally opposite of Neha. If Neha is an out and out extrovert then Siri is a total introvert. An introvert who seemed to have been adopted by Neha as her best friend proving the phrase of "Extroverts adopting introverts" as friends true.

Siri reminded him so much of himself. Calm and composed always. Calm and composed with her internal tornado never getting displayed on her face. 

He liked the girl enough and understood her internal battles enough to adopt her as his sister. So, Siri was his adopted little sister. While Jadu Bhaiya had happily adopted Neha as his little sister and crime partner though Rohit bhaiya seemed a little dissatisfied with this injustice done with him. He wanted to adopt Siri and Neha too, Siri for being the sleep lover as him and Neha well Neha for being herself.

And then there was Virat, Virat who had outrightly declared that Tani was his little adopted sister. Virat seriously loved the calm girl and her devotion to him. He loved talking to her and had even introduced the girls to Nushkie bhabi. 

Virat has this affinity with calm and composed persons, he likes to turn them totally like him by pulling his full influence. The people to fall under this are  Ro, Jinks, Bhuvi, Jassi, Kulya, Rahul and now Tani. Though Virat had tried to make even Mahi bhai like him well, his puppy eyes generally work best mostly on Mahi bhai.

Okay, Rahul knows three days isn't enough to know someone truly. But sometimes you know someone for a lifetime and still doesn't truly know them and sometimes even a single day is all it takes to know someone.

And yes, he knows he is being totally filmy right now. But he can't help it.

The sudden ping from his phone drew his attention towards his phone. 

So, without any enthusiasm, he walked towards his phone. He was sure it was Harry sending him his out worldly fashionable look for tonight.

But it wasn't. It was a snap notification and not any snap notification. 

It was the notification from that particular id which made him feel so restless for the past few days. The girl who had just disappeared. She texted him and without informing him, his lips had broken into a bewitching smile as he tapped on the notification.

Shreyashiiyer: Firstly congo, you were amazing in both the matches like I said you'll be 😉. Secondly, I'm so proud and happy because of you😄. Thirdly, sorry😔.

Reading her words he was smiling yet angry. He has been worried sick for the past 6 days and that's all she had to say "sorry". Where was she?

Rahulkl: SORRY? Where were you? Who disappears for six days like that? You didn't say anything?😑😑😑😑

Shreyashiiyer: Well, I didn't know my phone was going to die like that if I did, I would have informed you priorly?🙄

Rahulkl: What? How did your phone die? 😒

Shreyashiiyer: It was a small accident. I kind of fell down from my scooty. 😶

Rahulkl: How do you kind of fell down from your scooty? Are you fine? Forget that, I'm video calling you right now. Gimme, your number. 

Shreyashiiyer:  8222******. But my friends are around me, right now.

RahulKL: I kind of don't care.

Rahul saved her number fast and video called her. She picked it up after two-three rings. After a few seconds of the connection being established, her shyly smiling face greeted him. He couldn't help but stare at her for a few seconds. 

People won't call her out of the world beautiful. Cute definitely. Pretty surely, with her square glasses, a little chubby cheeks and breathtaking smile with her hair pinned on the top of her head in a messy bun with few treacherous strands framing her face. People will call her messy, chubby, nerdy and Rahul won't agree at all with them. For Rahul, Ahankara was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

"Hey" Ahankara waved the fingers of her plastered wrist in a little Hi, bringing him out of his daze.

"Hey, how this happened?" He asked her really worried with a steely look in his eyes.

"The scooty slipped, don't mind it. It'll be fine in a few days and these sorts of things happen with me all the time. I mean, my life seems incomplete if I don't fall somehow on a simple plain path. I'm kind of that clumsy." Ahankara smiled sheepishly as she fidgeted a little under Rahul's intense gaze.

"Is it hurting too much?" Rahul asked her ignoring her prior rant.

"Naah and it's the left wrist so it's double fine though I don't think Krishika would have minded feeding me if it was the right wrist."She mumbled offhandedly and he rolled his eyes. How can someone be so careless about an injury?

"I'm sure, she wouldn't have. She is kind like that btw what were you doing right now?" Rahul asked her though his eyes got stuck on the love KL Rahul written with some type of sparkly pen along with many kinds of designs on her hand.

"Well, I was just getting scolded by Krishi. So, you might have saved me from the scoldings, my savior." Rahul just rolled his eyes at her drama as she batted her eyes innocently.

"Aku whom are you talking to? It's time for mess." Rahul heard whom he assumed as Krishika calling Ahankara as she looked at him questioningly.

"Call her, I wanna say hi" Rahul informed casually while she looked at him totally suspicious of his action but complied nonetheless.

"It's Rahul, my friend Krishi. He wants to say hi to you." Ahankara yelled at Krishika's direction.

Krishika was a little confused by this sudden invite but complied nonetheless as she adjusted herself beside Ahankara and went totally shocked watching KL Rahul smiling at her through Ahankara's phone screen.

" Hi Krishika, Ahankara talks a lot about you." Rahul greeted Krishika with a pleasant smile.

"Hi," Krishika greeted him back while throwing Ahankara a look that screamed "WTF, iska hisab dena prega."

"will you do me a favor, please," Rahul asked her looking at the exchange between the girls amused.

"Will you take care of this clumsy soul and make sure, she doesn't land herself in more such situations, please and keep me updated on her injury. I'm not expecting her to do so." Rahul said throwing Ahankara a look that read "you can't be relied on, in such situations."

"I'll try my best to conquer this impossible task, this girl keeps on banging on things like she is sleepwalking," Krishika said solemnly shaking her head remembering her roommate's antics.

While Ahankara made a face and said: " You know you're my roomie and not his right?"

And got royally ignored by both of them as they kept on talking like she isn't there.

"I think we need to teach her the fine art of walking," Rahul said looking at Ahankara with an amused quirk on his lips

"totally" Krishika agreed wholeheartedly with him on this topic.

"Btw how did this happen?" Rahul asked her not entirely believing her "I slipped" statement. 

"Well, some guys have the misconception that they're Vin diesel while driving cars and...." Before Krishika could continue the door of Rahul's room banged open and Shreyas walked in glaring at his phone.

"Come on bro, Virat is going mad at the reception muttering about you even adapted Rohit's laziness. Come fast or he'll definitely kill us. And Harry is adding fuel to the fire." Shreyas finally looked up to see a totally annoyed Rahul and two totally surprised girls looking at him.

"Oops, sorry" Shreyas mumbled 

"OMG SHREYAS, I'm a very big fan of yours. You play really well and your magic tricks are awesome too, even your raps and dance moves are seriously lit." The girl with the glasses squealed happily, Rahul frowned and the beautiful girl beside her continued staring at him without blinking.

"Thank you," Shreyas spoke a little bashfully and a lot more self-conscious under Rahul's gaze.

"Your welcome"

"Shrey, this is Ahankara and her roommate Krishika" Rahul introduced them with special emphasis on "Ahankara's" name.

"Oh! hi, Ahankara and Krishika." He said grinning knowingly at Rahul.

"Hey" Both the girls greeted back happily though Krishika seemed more shy to him.

"Umm...Virat is waiting right. You should go and even we need to go to mess. We will talk later." Ahankara said and Rahul rolled his eyes.

"Virat can wait a little, you know"

"But you shouldn't keep someone waiting"

"Yeah, yeah, got it. Talk to you later." Rahul sighed as he disconnected the call and turned to Shreyas who was looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"So...."

"We should go" Rahul didn't let him say anything else as he dragged him to the lobby where the others were already gathered.

Virat threw a nasty glare at their direction for being late but still, they managed to reach the restaurant undetected by media and fans alike. 

The girls were already present there. They didn't want to be snapped with them by some crazy paparazzi. 

Entering the hotel, Rahul was greeted with Rishu, Shivam, Navdeep, and Kulcha who had come before them. 

Shivam seemed trying to talk with Siri and Rishu seemed to be showing something to Tani while Neha and Kulcha seemed to be playing PUBG.

God, he is surrounded by kids.  

"Oye, Sit properly" Virat ordered everyone alerting them of their presence.

So, tables were dragged, chairs rearranged to make a giant single table to hold every one of them.

Neha was sitting between Kulcha and Rohirat. Well, she was sitting with Rohit on her right and Kuldeep on her left. Yuzi was sitting beside Kuldeep while Virat was sitting beside Rohit.  

Tani was sitting between Virat and Rishab and Siri was trapped beside Jadu and Shivam. Rahul was sitting between Harry and Shreyas. Jassi was on the other side of Harry while Subh was on the other side of Shreyas. Bhuvi was sitting between Shami and Jassi and Manish and Jinks were sitting together.

"Oye, Voh gana bajana (play that song)" Rohit stated as the way of starting a conversation

"Knsa( which one)" Everyone asked him together

"Areey voh, jo waha bajaya tha( That one, that we played there)" And in a typical Rohit Sharma manner of omitting the real words, Ro spoke again.

"Abey Knsa" Virat threw an annoyed look at Rohit.

"Areey voh" Ro began again.

While the girls looked at the banter going totally amused, with various degrees of wonder in their eyes. Specially Neha, who was sitting beside Rohit.

"Can we play laser tag?" Harry yelled preventing a full out Rohirat banter from blowing out.

"Umm, you girls wanna do it?" Virat asked the girls before making any decision, he was especially very gentle to Tani knowing her book-loving nature. He wasn't sure whether she'll be interested in this game or not.

"Sure" Tani replied casually smiling at Virat.

"It'll be fun," Neha added grinning.

"Sure, why not," Siri said shrugging.

So, four teams were divided with Virat, Rohit, Jadu, and Harry as the Captains. The place where they went for dinner was a gaming zone plus restaurant with an indoor laser tag arena and it was totally booked by the ICT for tonight.

Virat and Rohit wanted to shoot each other to their heart's content. Harry wouldn't settle for any position than the captain while Jadu had this evil glint in his eyes that everyone automatically steered clear of his path.

Virat's team consisted of Virat, Manish, Tani, Kulya, and Rahul.

Rohit's team consisted of Rohit, Neha, Jinks, Shivam, and Shami.

Jadu's team consisted of Jadu, Siri, Shreyas, Rishu and Subh.

Harry's team consisted of Harry, Bhuvi, Jassi, Nav, and Yuzi.  

So, well equipped in their jackets the four teams stood at their position inside the field. Ready for some actions. All the teams ready to win as they made strategies.

So, when the light got killed. And chaos unleashed in the indoor arena.

Virat tugging Tani with him providing her cover and both of them watching each other's back. Manish tugged Kulya with him while Rahul was left to be the lone soldier who was grinning evilly, ready to stun Harry.

Rohit and Neha were the duo while Jinks and Shami were the other duo and Shivam was left to do as he pleases.

Jadu and Siri were together, the rest were on their own while in Harry's team everyone was on their own.

The arena was full of screams, squeals and cackling mad waves of laughter as the teams rushed, ducked and shot at each other to the content of their heart.

It didn't surprise anyone that Virat, Rohit, and Jadu were protecting the girls. 

"Teaching them cool tricks" in Jadu's words.

"Teaching her the Kohli way of doing things" was Virat's point.

"We were discussing the best food here and the fastest possible way to end this game." that was Rohit and Neha.

Though it didn't surprise anyone that Virat and Jadu's team were at the top.

It clearly did surprise Rohirat and Neha who had noticed Rishu not taking even a single shot at Tani and Shivam letting go of Siri every time. Even when she was in a clear range of his shots while both the boys let the girl's hit them.

Rohirat and Neha looked at each other with an expression that clearly read "Are you also thinking, What I'm thinking?" And then as if realizing their thoughts were the same they grinned at each other with an expression that clearly read " Ab mazza ayega na, bhidu."

The rest of the night was spent dancing on the floor all crazily to eating merrily with laughter ringing around them.

Tani, Siri, and Neha didn't even imagine that one day they'll get to celebrate the win of ICT with ICT but that was happening tonight.

And it was the best night of their entire life. A night filled with laughter, games and uncountable stories. Stories no one else will ever know.

~to be continued~

Happy?????? wanna have another laser tag game?