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Rahul was shocked hearing this.

Rahul: No.. no.. this can't be true

"Why?"

Rahul: Because.. umm..

"You already know that she loves you Mr K L Rahul"

Rahul: Pehle yeh batao tum kon ho?

"Main.. awaaz"

Rahul (confused): Awaaz? Kaisi Awaaz?

"Tumhare Dil ki awaaz Rahul."

Rahul: Dil ki awaaz..

Rahul looked here and there and then his gaze fell on the mirror where he could see his own reflection which was smiling at him even though he was not smiling.

Rahul was shocked and then he patted his own cheeks.

Rahul: Sapna hai yeh

"Sapna nahi hain.. tumhare dil ki awaaz hai yeh Rahul."

Rahul: Kya hai yaar Dil ko?

"Kuchh nahi hai bas itna hai ki apni uljhano me kisi aise insaan ka dil mat dukhana jo tumhe sachche man se pyaar karta hai Rahul. Har koi paas aake nuksan nahi pahunchata. Har koi dil nahi dukhata. Koi koi dil ko sambhalne ke liye bhi hota hai. Give her a chance Rahul"

Rahul: No.. no..

Rahul breathed quite heavily.

"At least give her her deserved friendship Rahul. She has always tried to support you.. help you. Be cordial and if possible be her friend. She has earned it. You have anyways doubted her intentions because of someone else. She deserves at least your friendship that too from your heart which my friend has already accepted her at least as your friend"

Rahul was thinking on whatever his heart said but he was not able to shrug off the thoughts he was getting which were both positive and negative.

At the end, shrugging off everything he went to sleep.

But from the next day onwards, Rahul made sure that he behaves as much cordial as he can with Athiya and does not disrespect her or hurt her in any way. If she loves him which she does but even if she just likes him, it's his moral responsibility to respect her feelings.

***********************************
It was the last day before match and Rahul was anxious and nervous just like he was before his debut. He was trying to meditate and calm himself but the anxiousness was still there.

Athiya was passing by his room and frowned seeing it opened. She peeked inside and found him trying to meditate. She also saw the state of bed and bedsheet which clearly show that he tried to sleep too but sleep too was far away. She sighed.

Athiya: Jab meditate karte hai tab try karte hai ki faltu ki baatein dimag me na aaye

Rahul groaned but looked at her.

Rahul: What do I do yaar? I tried hard to sleep but it didn't come. I tried hard to meditate but..

Athiya: Stop overthinking Rahul. Destiny me jo likha hai woh hoke hi rehta hai. Hamare hath me sirf apna kam karna aur mehnat karna hota hai. And Appa says ki mehnat ka fal zaroor milta hai. So please have some rest now, you have a match to play tomorrow.

Rahul: But..

Athiya (softly): Rahul.. you are coming back from injury and your body is injury prone too. It's better you give your body enough rest. It will help you in keeping your body fresh and ready for the match. Tired body ke sath kaise apna 100% doge batao

Rahul: Baat to sahi hai

Athiya: I am always right. Ab chalo lie down and sleep. Stop overthinking. I know you will have a superb match tomorrow.

Rahul: How do you know?

Athiya: Because I have seen you working hard for this. And I trust the process.

Rahul smiled at her.

Rahul: Thanks

Athiya: Most welcome. Now sleep. Good night

Rahul: Good night

She went from there and even he felt lighter after talking to her.

Rahul: Pata nahi kya hai tumme aisa Athiya jo mujhe tumhari har ek cheez se itna fark padta hai. Why I always get affected with your each action?

Rahul slept with a small smile while thinking about his relationship with Athiya which is growing and they both are very much comfortable with each other. But he was happy with the way it was progressing.

On the next day, when Rahul was about to go out of his room, he found a note lying there on the floor. He frowned and took it. There was no name written on it. He opened it.

"Don't overthink about anything. Just trust your hardwork and process Rahul"

Rahul smiled. He doesn't need to ask anyone who has done this for him. He kept the note carefully in his bag and then came downstairs for breakfast. He wished everyone good morning and was looking for Athiya who was nowhere to be seen.

Sammy saw him.

Sammy: Rah chachu looking for chachi?

Rahul (absent mindedly): Haan

All (shocked & shouted): What??

Rahul brought back to them from his searching game and he looked at team.

Rahul: What??

Harry: Are you looking for a girl? A partner?

Rahul: What?? No..

Jassi: Then why did you say yes to Sammy?

Rahul: Yes to Sammy?? About what? (To Sammy) Did you ask anything bachcha?

Virat: Rah firstly take your seat come.

Rahul sat beside him.

Virat: Where were you lost?

Rahul looked here and there.

Anu: Pakka match ke bare me soch raha hoga

Virat: Rah everything will be fine okay

Rahul nodding in yes.

Soon enough their breakfast was served and even Athiya too has come and as there was no space left, she has to sat on a chair which was exactly in front of Rahul.

Rahul took the nepkin and was about to keep it above his legs when he found something written on it. He looked here and there and found all were busy so he quickly read whatever was written.

"You have done so many comebacks and each time your comebacks have been greater than your setbacks. It will happen once again. Have faith."

Rahul smiled and looked at Athiya who was looking at him with quite nervous face. Rahul blinked his eyes.. thanking her for the message to which Athiya smiled at him and blinked in assurance.

They all had breakfast and then got ready for the match. Rahul was near bus to keep his kit back in storage compartment and Athiya was standing beside the bus instructing everyone.

Athiya: Rahul.. aap na kit bag yaha chhod do main rakhva dungi.

Rahul: Are nahi main rakhwa dunga na

Athiya: Are koi na. Main kar lungi aap betho jao. Go. Shoo..

Rahul shook his head at her antics but went inside the bus. Athiya smiled.

Once the team reached stadium, Athiya asked everyone to get inside the dressing room after submitting their phones and all did the same.

As the team was coming out in the garden and were taking out stuff from their kit bags, Rahul found another note which was inside it. He opened it.

"All the best for the match. I believe in you Rahul. Apka aaj ka match bahut achchha hoga."

Rahul smiled. Her efforts were making him calm in a way nothing has done.

Rahul looked here and there and found Athiya busy in giving instructions to her team members and media people about the rules to be followed and everything. He smiled looking at her.

Harry, Yuzi, Shrey, Kul came and saw him looking at Athiya with a wide smile on his face.

Yuzi (singing): Kuchh to hua hai..

Harry (singing): Kuchh ho gaya hai..

Their singing broke Rahul's trance and he just rolled his eyes at them but there was a hint of blust on his cheeks. Virat who has seen his teammates teasing Rahul hinting towards Athiya felt an unease settled in his chest.

Rohit who has also noticed the same felt weird looking at Virat's expression.

Rohit: Kya hua? Why did you react like that?

Virat: Nothing just.. just like that

Virat said while sighing and looking here and there.

Rohit: I got it. It's related to that secret hai na

Virat: Ro.. I am sorry that I hid it but..

Rohit: No Vi.. I understand. And you don't need to give any explanation sach. What I am trying to say is, tumhare expression se aisa laga ki yeh sab ussi se juda hai. Is it like that Vi?

Virat sighed but nodded in yes

Rohit: Be careful Vi. And don't hesitate if you need any help okay

Virat hugged him thanking him for his unwavering support.

***********************************
It was the time for the toss and India have decided to bat first. Rahul's face was showing the different level of calmness which was though new but also comforting too.

Rohit and Rahul came at the crease. Rahul prayed to God as usual and then he took his stance. In general, he has always taken second strike but today he has requested Rohit that he wanted to take the first strike and Rohit though was not sure but allowed him seeing the determination in his eyes.

Broad was bowling and Rahul defended it for first few balls. Everyone though were having faith in Rahul but were thinking that Rohit should have taken strike. But Rahul hit a huge six on the next ball. 5 balls have passed and when the next ball is bowled, he once again hit a 6 taking 12 runs from the first over itself.

Rohit too smashed the ball out of the park in the next over. Whenever Rahul got strike, he was taking runs more in boundaries than running but those all were risk free. His risk free game was so impressive that everyone was thinking that he was not even out because of injury.

Soon enough Rahul reached his half century in just 30 balls. Rohit too was nearing his half century but got out and Virat joined Rahul.

Virat and Rahul were taking runs by running hard as the outfield was getting slower.

Virat: Main ab risk leta hoon. Tumhe abhi wicket keeping bhi karni hai. Mahi Bhai ke knees me problem ho rahi hai to keeping ke liye mana kiya hai

Rahul: Main marta hoon na

Virat: No. I want you to complete century. So no taking any unnecessary risk okay

Rahul: We need runs. My century can wait. Team is important

Virat was about to protest but Rahul went to take strike making Virat huff at his stubbornness.

Rahul hit 20 and 14 runs respectively in Wood and Broad's overs. He was playing at 99 when wokes bowled a bouncer and Rahul ducked it very well.

Virat glared at wokes who just shrugged his shoulders. Wokes once again tried to bowl a bouncer but Rahul hit it for six completing his century. The team was giving him standing ovation.

Virat and Rahul did their football style celebration.

Rahul then raised his bat and acknowledged crowd's cheer for him. He then turned towards dressing room and raised his bat. He found everyone was standing on their feet and was clapping for him. His gaze fell on Athiya who was jumping and clapping with Sammy and Vami like she has scored the century. Rahul chuckled but he pointed his bat towards dressing room for the world but in real, it was towards Athiya when her gaze fell on him. Athiya smiled at him warmly.

India scored 356-4 with Rahul unbeaten at 145* at the end of 50 overs.

When Rahul came inside the dressing room in the innings break, he was welcomed with a huge round of applause. He thanked everyone and quickly went to take a shower before the second innings started.

When the second innings started, the ball was swinging and it looked like Bowler and Rahul are playing as English players were not having any chance in playing the ball. But soon enough they started building the steady partnership and they were even increasing the run rate.

Jassi was bowling and Rahul signed him to bowl outside off stump. Butler tried to cut it but it edged and Rahul caught the ball and India got the much needed breakthrough.

Next Bairstaw and Malan were trying to build the partnership but Rahul did an awesome stumping dismissing Malan.

Soon enough Bairstaw and Stokes too got out. But then once again there was a partnership was building between Moin Ali and Phil Salt. England needed 80 runs in last 10 overs. The match was in crunch situation.

Athiya: Bhagwan ji.. please India ko jeeta do na aaj please 🙏

She prayed to God from the bottom of her heart. And soon enough God heard her and a run out happened and India once again got control of the match. And then it was just a matter of time when England got all out and India won the match.

The team was so happy and were on cloud 9 as they started this cricket season with a win that too in England against England. Rahul was awarded with Man of the Match award

Host: Congratulations Rahul

Rahul: Thanks a lot

Host: How does it feel? Coming back from injury and getting century here

Rahul: It.. it feels surreal. I was anxious when I came here to be honest. But then when you have people around you who care for you, who helps you in doing better every day, keeps you motivated, you can achieve your goals.

Host: Looks like you have got a lot of support from the team

Rahul: Of course. They have always been very much supportive, the team and support staff both. I am greatful to everyone who have come into my life and helped me to go through that phase and motivated me to keep faith in my abilities.. my hardwork and their best wishes were with me and here I am. I really appreciate their efforts and really greatful for everything. Thank you so much

Though Rahul looked back towards the dressing room but his gaze was stuck at Athiya when he said the last line and she too blinked in acknowledgement making him smile widely.

Host: That's great and All the best for future games Rahul

Rahul: Thank you so much. Cheers!!

Rahul went from there and then the team too got ready to go back to hotel. Rahul wanted to personally thank Athiya for her efforts but was not getting time as she was busy in arranging their departure. But he could see that she was looking a bit anxious, nervous and quite hyper and scared. He frowned seeing her like that. He took his kit bag and kept in storage compartment of the bus. He was about to go inside the bus but was shocked.

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So that's it for this chapter. Hope you guys like it.

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