Chapter 3 – The Second 'Toss'

Next Day – 8.00 PM – Cape Town

Khushi's POV

I tied up my hair in a high ponytail, with a band, and then stepped into my little bath and splashed my face with cold water a couple of times, so that all that puffiness around my eyes would vanish, but then it didn't completely, so I walked into my little kitchen and put some ice in a cloth and held it against my eyes.

Ice always helps with the puffiness around my eyes, when I need to get my face back to normal after crying it out for a while.

Today, was the first death anniversary of my parents and my brother, and Verma Uncle, aunty and Rahul had accompanied me, early this morning to the Radha Krishna Temple.Mom used to always visit it often and hold all her pooja's there, when she was alive, so I had scheduled a small pooja and havan with the pandit there, this morning at 730am, in their memory. And even though Verma Uncle, aunty and Rahul stood rock solid behind me through the ceremony, almost making me want to breakdown, I did not cry, I did not cry in front of them and put up the strongest face that I could, and smiled through the tears in the memory of my family and then rushed straight to work post the pooja, and then I had jamm packed my schedule back to back, and after I had finished work at the company at 330pm, I had rushed straight here to the shop and worked my shift , and today I was not just handelling the till, I was also helping Jack and Varun and Stacey and Verma Uncle take and prep orders. It had all served as the exact distraction, my mind needed, and I was doing well, until I excused myself 30 minutes earlier and came up to my room, to freshen up, and it was only then , that I allowed the tears to flow.

And I had spent the last twenty five minutes crying, in order to let all that grief and its emotions just flow through,but because I had preponed by Uber Schedule by 30 minutes today, I knew I had to compose myself and fix my frame of my mind to get ready for the same.I held the ice closer into the inner circles of my eyes for a coupls of more minutes and then moved back into my bath to check on my reflection, in the mirror and I gave myself a small smile bravely.

I looked normal.

Thank God.

I quickly made my way into the other stockroom, which was also my study room in which I had also stored some of mum, dads and krish's favourite stuff, and I opened the smaller suitcase, and my eyes fell on dad's favourite round neck black tee, the one he wore almost every second night to bed, and I picked it up, and held it close into my arms, and then I picked up mums favourite pink stoll, and Krish' favourite denim cap and just hugged it all close into my embrace, it still smelled of them.

I quickly wiped another tear that was threating to leave my eye and composed my emotions.I knew they were watching over me and were probably hating it to see me cry.I quickly took of my white tee that I had worn over my denim jeans for my shift at the coffeshop today and pulled dad's favorite black round neck tee over myself,and then placed Mums pink stoll around my neck and then I put Krish's favourite cap on and adjusted my pony tail through it and stepped in front of the mirror to look at my reflection.

Dad's tee was obviously oversized, I was floating in it, but moms stoll was perfect around my neck and krishs cap wasn't very tight around my head too.I smiled to myself ,and I picked up my phone, and looked at the time – 820PM.

I quickly made my way down.

And right as I stepped into backend off the coffee shop , I saw Verma Uncle step out of his office and he took one look at me and he pulled me into a hug as he spoke – " starting your Uber shift early today?"

I nodded – " yes uncle..."

He gave me a small smile – " good...but be safe...ok?"

I nodded,and right then Varun stepped out through our little relaxing corner, with his eyes glued to the screen and uncle rolled his eyes at him – " cmon your ten minutes break is up Varun, get back in the front..."

Varun groaned as he shut his phone – " oh cmon Uncle, the games going so well, and im already upset that I couldn't join Rahul bhaiya and its friends out there in the stadium, but India is so winning this one, im telling you..."

Verma uncle on reflex – "Well, don't be so sure, our home boys have put up a competitive today -190/4..190 is a tuff score in t20 varun.."

Varun grinned – " I know, I know, but not when you have the firing machine ASR on your side no, Indias batting has just begun at 8pm, and he is on fire tonight uncle,he also was exeptional in the field today, three out of the four wickets were taken because of his amazing catches...and its just 6 overs in and we are at 58 already, and from his shots looks like he will bat through to the end of the game today...and that's why he is one of our openers, even the Cap trusts him with that responsibility, every match..", and then he paused as he looked at me and then he spoke, his expression changing into sober – "oh sorry khushi, I.."

I gave him a genuine smile as I spoke – " oh pls, don't worry about me ok, just because I don't watch the game, its not that I wont mind you all talking about it around me...I know you all are big buffs, and trust me im totally ok with it..."

Verma uncle put a hand on my shoulder as he asked – " will you also end your shift early today??"

I gave him a small smile – " I don't plan too, lets see..dont worry uncle, ill take care...",and he nodded at me and I have Varun a pat on his shoulder as he pulled me into a brief hug and I made my way through the doors and got into Rahuls car and kick started the engine, and took a deep breathe.

And it was right then that the memory of meeting him last night came back into my head.

I couldn't really believe it was true though that by some weird coincidence of fate, I had actually discovered that ; ASR aka Arnav Singh Raizada, the Vice Captain of the Indian Cricket Team was anything but arrogant.

And I smiled to myself, as I remembered our interaction yesterday and the way he was so comfortable about being addressed by the wired title of a -Hoodie Guy. I had also thought about him for a while before I slept last night, and our comfortable conversation, and about how amazingly handsome he was when he grinned like that, and about how that powerful enigma around him had the power to overwhelm the other. But then at the same time, there was this honesty and ease, about him, that it almost was unbelievable to beleive, that it had been so easy to talk to someone like him, and that was the last surprised thought that I had slept with on my mind.

And now hearing Varun mention about him, had made me revisit our coincidental encounter and my thoughts paused a little towards the last bit of it and how he'd called me his new friend and asked me to download the app of Cricbuzz, because he'd said that hed like it if he knew his new friend was keeping a tap on it.

I hadn't ofcourse.

I couldn't get around to it.

And I also couldn't really avoid hearing about the game from the radio, or the people around me anyways.

Apparently from what Varun said – he seemed to be having a good game tonight.

I smiled at that thought – well, good for him and India then,and I started to drive, and shifted my focus back on the road.

And although Last evening had been an interesting encounter ; I was sure that I was not going to be meeting him again.

We lived and belonged to two different worlds, afterall.

...............................................

Arnav's POV

I grinned at my Captain – Dev, as he patted me on the back and gestured to me to go onto the presentation area and collect the Man of the Match trophy.

We had won the match, with still two overs to spare, and I had batted through the innings.And infact the last five overs of the match, me and Cap-D(that's what i liked to call him) had, had an amazing partnership, I loved playing with him on the other side.And not just that, I looked up to this man greatly, he was the anchor of our team, and he had always been my captain.

I nodded at him , and walked over to collect the trophy and prize and then gave a little interview for that post match discussion, and soon after that I walked back into the locker room, and joined in the celebrations with my team.

And right then Cap came up and stood next to me as he grinned – " it's the same adrenaline rush, the same excitement , every win..and the reaction of the crowd...its.."

I grinned – "fascinating, as always, but really Cap, that was a huge score in front of us, if hadn't been for your and Coaches guidance and pep talk, before the second innings.."

He smiled at me – "well we would have won anyway, because those shots from your bat today lit up the stadium ASR.."

I smiled – "and the bat is able to fire, because of your trust in me surely...",and I saw him flex his lower back and I asked on reflex – " you ok Cap?"

He smiled – " I think I pulled a little muscle back in there with that rushed two runs in between the wickets..",and he winked at me – " im getting older now, aren't i?"

I rolled my eyes at him – "oh pls, you are amongst the fittest in the team Cap...but see the physio tomorrow and maybe get some rest, we have a gap tomorrow and then another game..."

He nodded – " yes I will...",and right then Ravi and the rest of our team covered in around us, and the hooting and cheering began.

Ten minutes later, we got into the team bus and took my seat at the back end of the bus, and looked out the window as the bus started to move, and I looked at my teammates ahead in the front and smiled, we had a after-party planned for the night.

I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat and took a deep breathe.

Last year, on this very day, I had played an exceptional innings at Johannesuberg too and won the man of the match for that game, and that game had been the final one of the series and we had clinched the title of the series with that win, last year. I was happy that we had won today as well and that I had played well and fired those shots off my bat today too, for the date today, had a very significant role in my life.

Fatefully, today was the birth-date and also the death anniversary of my grandfather, the man I never knew, the man who founded it all for my family, who had been so supportive and encouraging to my father and his love for the game, and I know that it was that guidance and love and support, that shaped my father to be the man that he was today, which has had such a profound impact on my Life too.

So if I ever had the opportunity to play on this day, I really put my heart and soul into it, and gave it beyond all.

It was like paying a homage to my grandfather, in my own little way.

I opened my eyes, and looked out the window, and my thoughts drifted back to the one I couldn't stop thinking about ever since I had met her yesterday.

I couldn't stop thinking about Khushi and her mesmerising smile and eyes and her words, and the encounter I had, had with her yesterday.

It had all been on my mind, before I slept last night too, and her thoughts were creeping their way back into my head everytime I was alone or had some free time and break from the game.

And now, after this win, all I really wanted was to just head down to Chai and Coffee and find her.

I looked at my phone for the time -it was 10.15PM.

The game had ended at 930Pm, and it would still take us another 20 minutes to reach the hotel and I still had to freshen up and then make an appearance at the after party for 15 minutes before heading out, and according to this plan, I would only reach the shop by 1130ish...the café would be closed, but maybe I could knock on that back enterance door and get Khushi to step out for a little talk.

Yes, that seemed like a good plan.

I smiled to myself, as I wondered whether she had downloaded that application or not??

Had she kept a tap on the game?? Or had she maybe seen the match?

I was curious to know.

And for that I had to go look for her.

..........

11.50 PM

I shrugged helplessly, as I knocked on the back enterance door of Chai and Coffee, for what seemed like a millionth time.

Ok, so I had gone according to my plan and reached here at bang on, 1130PM and I had spent the last twenty minutes waiting in this back alley on the back end of the enterance into the building, in the same hoodie disguise as yesterday and I had knocked on this door so many times already, but it was all in vain, because no one had come to open this door, and there was absolutely no sign of Khushi, much to my disappointment.

Maybe, she was asleep already.

I booked an Uber for myself and my brains started to go into an overdrive,I had to get her contact details somehow surely, maybe I just had to find the contact details of this café online and ring up here and request to be connected to khushi ; yes that seemed like a good idea.

I should have thought about this earlier.

I don't know why I was so disappointed at missing out on seeing her tonight though.

And I looked at my phone and tried to wile away time as I waited for my Uber pick up.

Five minutes later, a car pulled in front off me and I adjusted my hoodie properly so that It covered the sides and half of my face and walked towards the car, and it was right when I almost opened the back door, I heard a voice call out to me – " is it you hoodie guy??"

I looked up instantly because I recognised this voice and it was Khushi's and instantly pulled off my hoodie as I looked at her and I grinned – " khushi, is that you??"

She gave me a small smile from the driving seat as she spoke – " yup, its me,your uber pick up, now cmon in are you getting or not..."

I nodded and I asked – " is it ok if I sit up in the front seat??"

She nodded, and I walked around and I got in and sat next to her in the front seat,and she gave me a small smile as she started to drive, but she just remained silent,and she had her full focus on the road.

And I took that moment to just study her, from the corner of my eyes.

I was now both mesmerised and intrigued.

And I asked – " is it ok if I change the location of my destination, in the middle of the ride?"

She turned to look at me for a brief second and she nodded with a polite smile – " sure, you can do that, where do you want to go??"

And I couldn't hep but wonder why she had that denim cap on in the car as well??It was kind off an obstacle in between my line of view towards her eyes.

I looked at her – " I just want some place nice and quiet and with a nice view...you tell me , this is your city, where can I find such a spot?"

She looked at me and finally gave me a smile that now reached her eyes, and I felt at ease, there had been something very solemn in her expression and also in the smile uptil now and she asked – "do you want to see this amazing viewpoint I know off, it's a little far though..."

I smiled – "I think id like that...". I was going to get to go with Khushi on a drive, and for the first time I didn't have to worry about having my eyes on the road because I wasn't the one driving.

...................

Khushi's POV

I had been very surprised when I had got a notification of a pick up from the backside of my the shop and my home, and I was wondering who was it that wanted a pick up from that point at this time in the night, and that was the thought that was on my mind, as I drove for the pick up.I was tired too, and so I had planned that this would be the last pick up for the day and then I would stop for the day.

It had been a busy night, because India had won the match and I had made a lot of pick ups from the stadium too, and been doing to and fro around it a lot, there were a lot of celebrations going on.

And I was totally shocked, when I saw Arnav in front of me, standing at the back enterance of my building.

And the first thoughts that came in my head – What was he doing here right now??

India had won the match, it was all over the radio, and he was also the man of the match, clearly there would be an afterparty for the celebration, and why was he missing that and standing here, in front of my back door in that hoodie disguise?

I wasn't in a very great mood today and I was exhausted too, and that's why I just chose to remain silent for a while, until he asked me to suggest him about somewhere peace and quiet and with a lovely view.

I had wanted to go to our family viewpoint for such a long time, but wasn't getting the time too.The family viewpoint where me , mom and dad and krish would often stop at for Sunday picnics, and it was an amazing point, and now that Arnav had asked for a space, I couldn't help but think about taking it to this one.

It was a little away from the city center though, half way through to the drive to the Table Mountain, which was a prominent landmark of our city, and now that he was ok with it, I had to first take care of the formality.

I quickly pulled the car near the enterance of his hotel and I looked at him.

Did I just catch him looking at me?

He asked – " hey, I thought you were taking me to a nice viewpoint?"

I gave him a small smile – " I am, but before I do that, I need to punch ina complete trip in my uber no, and anyway this was to be my last pick up for the day...",and I just quickly picked up my phone and dealt with the formalilites and then logged out, and I could feel his gaze on me all this while.

Jeez.

I finally finished as I asked – " you ready??"

He smiled – " yes..."

And I started to drive as I asked, now curious, happy for the distraction actually, because otherwise I'd probably just be crying myself to sleep tonight – " just by the way, what were you doing at the back enterance of my building at this time, I mean don't you have an after party going on???India won the match no..."and I paused as I spoke – " congratulations on that man of the match.."

I saw him grin at me before I retuned my attention to the road and he asked excitedly – " you know...so did you watch? Or cricbuzz then??"

I gave him a small smile as I shook my head – " well, no, I didn't watch , I know because its all over the radio, and iv done so many pick ups from the stadiums today, that I know everything because of the enthusiastic fans of both the game and you...they couldn't stop talking about how good a game it was..so yeah..."

He gave me a nod – " ohkk then...thanksss",and then he paused for a minute as he spoke – " well to answer you, I was there because I was hoping to find you, I did forget to take your cintact details afterall..."

Ok.Now I was surprised.

He wanted to see.

He had forgotten to take my contact details?

Wait..he was thinking about me??

Me?????

He had come to my backdoor, leaving all his party and celebration mid- way in the hope of finding me??

How was this even possible?

And I asked on reflex – " really??but why?? Why would you walk out of your celebrations and afterparty and come to see me?"

He looked out through the window for a second and then turned a little slightly towards me.It was a good thing that I was driving right now, and I heard him say softly – "well , to be honest, I don't know, it felt really good to meet you yesterday and I never really connected with anyone so easily, it feels