The tension in the stadium was palpable as the crowd roared with excitement, the atmosphere electric with anticipation. Naima stood at the edge of the bowling crease, her heart racing with adrenaline. 

The Australian team needed 245 runs to win, but they were teetering on the edge of defeat at 201 runs for 7 wickets. The field was set, the sun casting long shadows across the pitch, and the energy was charged, filled with the thrill of competition.

Naima wiped the sweat from her brow, her focus unwavering as she prepared for her next delivery. 

She had already taken four wickets, and her confidence surged with each ball she bowled. The Australian batsmen were struggling against her sharp deliveries, and the sledging on the field was reaching a fever pitch.

"Is that all you've got, Naima?" one of the Australian batsmen taunted as he settled into his stance, grinning smugly. "I thought we were supposed to be scared of you!"

She smirked, unperturbed by the banter. "Maybe you should worry more about your own game instead of mine," she shot back, her voice cool and steady. The crowd erupted in cheers, fueled by her fearless response.

The next delivery was a perfect leg-break, spinning sharply and catching the edge of the bat. The ball flew to the slips, and just like that, another wicket fell. 

The Australian batsman walked back to the pavilion, disbelief written all over his face. As he passed Naima, he glared at her, and she couldn't help but revel in the moment.

With a cheeky grin, she raised a finger to her lips, mimicking a "shh" gesture. The gesture didn't go unnoticed, and the crowd erupted into laughter and cheers, enjoying the drama unfolding on the field. 

"Quiet down now," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The sledge seemed to ignite a fire in her, making her performance even more electric.

With her overs coming to an end, she walked back to her position, heart pounding from both the exertion and the thrill of the game. 

The Australian crowd's reactions echoed in her ears, mixed with shouts from her teammates urging her on. Shubman, standing at the edge of the circle, caught her eye and grinned, pride radiating from him.

"You're on fire, Naima!" he shouted, clapping his hands together as he adjusted his cap. The moment made her feel invincible; it was as if their unspoken connection fueled her passion and drive.

As she took her place on the sidelines, the energy shifted slightly. The atmosphere was still charged, but Naima could sense the Australian players' frustration mounting. 

She exchanged glances with her teammates, who were all smiles and laughter, teasing each other in the light-hearted banter that marked their camaraderie.

"Keep it going, Naima! We need just one more wicket!" Ishan hollered from the boundary, pumping his fist in encouragement. The crowd cheered in unison, the anticipation building as the last few overs ticked by.

But things took a turn as the next Australian batsman stepped onto the pitch, his presence commanding and full of bravado. 

With a dismissive glance in Naima's direction, he cracked a smile, obviously undeterred by the earlier events. "Let's see what you've got left, bowler," he taunted, taking his position at the crease.

Naima narrowed her eyes, a playful grin dancing on her lips. "Don't worry, I've got plenty more in store," she replied, her confidence unwavering. 

She could feel the intensity of the match enveloping her, each moment surging with adrenaline.

With the final ball of her spell approaching, she steeled herself, focusing intently on her target. The crowd hushed in anticipation, a collective breath held as she released the ball with pinpoint accuracy. 

It pitched just outside off stump, curling in perfectly. The batsman swung, misjudging the line, and the ball crashed into the stumps, sending the bails flying.

The stadium erupted into a frenzy. Naima let out a triumphant roar, throwing her arms up in victory. 

"That's what I'm talking about!" she yelled, turning to her teammates, who rushed in to celebrate her.

As the Australian batsman walked back, he shot her a glare, frustration etched on his face. But Naima winked, feeling a rush of exhilaration and satisfaction. The sledging might have been intense, but this was her moment, and she was here to own it.

"9 wickets down, and your team's in trouble!" she called out, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction. The noise of the crowd echoed around her, a sweet symphony of cheers and shouts.

As she returned to her position on the field, Shubman was waiting for her, his eyes shining with admiration. 

"You've got the whole stadium buzzing, Naima. You're unstoppable!" he exclaimed, clearly impressed.

"Just doing my job," she replied with a cheeky grin, trying to keep her cool despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach at his words.

"Keep it up, and we might just take this match home," he said, flashing her a wink before returning to his position.

With the last few overs ahead, Naima could feel the momentum swinging in their favour. The energy in the stadium was electrifying, and with every ball bowled and every wicket taken, she knew they were inching closer to victory.

Later that night, the team celebrated their hard-fought victory over Australia in the hotel's lounge area. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, cheers, and the clinking of glasses as players recounted highlights from the match. 

Naima, still riding the high of her incredible performance, was the centre of attention, regaling her teammates with the stories behind each of her wickets.

"Did you see that last delivery? I swear I sent him back to his mum!" Naima laughed, her eyes sparkling as she animatedly mimicked the way the batsman had looked before the ball hit the stumps.

"Honestly, it was a thing of beauty!" Shubman chimed in, leaning against the bar, a glass of soda in hand. 

"You had him rattled the whole time. I thought he was going to cry!"

Ishan, sitting next to him, added, "I would've cried! That was like watching a horror movie. You were a monster out there!"

The group erupted in laughter, and Naima felt a rush of warmth at the camaraderie and support. 

"Thanks, guys! I couldn't have done it without you all cheering me on," she replied, looking around at the smiling faces of her teammates.

"Just wait until you see the highlights on social media," KL said, scrolling through his phone, his expression shifting from light-hearted to shocked. 

"You're trending! Everyone's raving about your performance, and the memes are already pouring in!"

"Memes? Oh, great!" Naima laughed, playfully rolling her eyes. "I can already imagine how that'll go."

"Let me guess, 'Naima Prushka, wicket-taking queen?'" Hardik teased, nudging her playfully.

"I'd settle for 'bowling badass,' thank you very much," she shot back, laughing.

As the celebration continued, the energy shifted slightly when Virat raised his glass for a toast. 

"To Naima," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "For not just leading us to victory today, but for proving that hard work and determination pay off. You've shown everyone what you're made of."

"Cheers!" the rest of the team echoed, raising their glasses in unison.

"Thanks, guys! You're the best!" Naima grinned, feeling a rush of gratitude. But as the cheers faded, a different tension lingered in the air—one that was unmistakably tied to the chemistry between her and Shubman.

Throughout the evening, Naima caught Shubman stealing glances at her from across the room. Each time their eyes met, there was a spark—a lingering question that hung between them, unspoken yet palpable.

Eventually, the festivities began to wind down, and players started to trickle out of the lounge. Naima and Shubman found themselves alone, the laughter of their teammates echoing softly in the background.

"Great job today," Shubman said, leaning against the bar, his eyes fixed on her. "You were incredible."

"Thanks! It was such a rush," she replied, her heart racing slightly under his intense gaze. "I still can't believe how well we played."

"Believe it. You made the difference out there," he said, stepping a little closer. "I mean, you've got to know that, right?"

She felt her cheeks heat up, a mix of pride and shyness creeping in. "Well, I couldn't have done it without the team backing me up. And you all were amazing in the field," she deflected, brushing it off.

"Yeah, but you were the star," he pressed, his expression earnest. "It's not every day we get to watch someone take charge like that. You were fierce."

"Fierce, huh?" she teased, raising an eyebrow, a playful smile creeping onto her lips. "You make it sound like I'm some sort of superhero."

"Maybe you are," he replied, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Super Naima, the wicket-taker. Ready to save the day one ball at a time."

They both laughed, the tension between them softening as they shared this moment. But Naima could feel her heart racing. 

There was something electric in the air, and she could sense the way Shubman was looking at her—not just as a teammate, but as someone who admired her strength.

"I just love playing," she said, trying to keep the conversation light, but unable to ignore the heat of his gaze. "And winning, of course."

"Yeah, but you love the spotlight, too, don't you?" he teased, leaning in just a bit closer.

"Maybe a little," she admitted, feeling bold. "But I think I enjoy the challenge more than anything else."

"Challenge accepted, then," he said with a grin, his blue eyes sparkling. "Just don't forget you have a whole team behind you."

Their playful banter hung in the air, charged with something deeper. Naima couldn't help but notice how close they were standing, the chemistry between them palpable. As she gazed up at him, she felt a flutter in her stomach, a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

The moment stretched, the soft music playing in the background fading into white noise as they both seemed to forget everything else. 

Naima's heart raced, torn between wanting to lean in closer and the uncertainty of where this might lead.

Just then, Virat reentered the lounge, breaking the spell. "Hey! You two lovebirds planning to leave us hanging or what?" he joked, walking over with a teasing grin.

"Just talking strategy," Naima said quickly, stepping back and feigning nonchalance, her heart still racing from the moment they had shared.

"Right. Strategy for what?" Virat asked, arching an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"Just a plan to crush Australia again next match," Shubman replied smoothly, masking his earlier intensity with humour. "You know, no big deal."

Virat laughed, but Naima could sense the underlying curiosity in his gaze. "You guys are too much. Let's head to bed; we've got an early morning tomorrow."

As they all filed out of the lounge, Naima caught Shubman's eye one last time. The connection between them lingered in the air, a spark that had yet to ignite but felt on the verge of bursting into flames.

"Goodnight, Naima," Shubman said, a hint of mischief still in his voice.

"Goodnight, Shubman," she replied, her heart fluttering.

As she lay in bed beside him, the thrill of the match and the day's events replayed in her mind, but it was the moments with Shubman that echoed the loudest. 

She knew there was something special brewing, and whether it would remain a friendly spark or develop into something more, only time would tell.

welcome to the sixth chapter of "The Man" !

she's so badass! the world loves her and hates her at the same time :(

what are your thoughts about the next chapter?

anyway, hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! make sure to comment on what you liked!

until then, yours truly

soup 🫶