HELLLOOO EVERYONEEE...

I AM BACK WITH A SUPERLONG UPDATE LIKE 15K WORDS.

SO EXCITED FOR YOU ALL TO READ THIS.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK!

HAPPY Monday!!

And now I shall let you all dive in without further delay!

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

CHAPTER 34 – STUMPED 2.0

ARNAV'S POV

NEXT DAY – AS IN 21ST FEB – ARNAV'S BDAY – 2.52 PM

I grin to myself as I stand in front of my Locker in the locker room and browse through all the pictures of the Pooja that My Sunshine has shared with me from the inauguration of Hit Wicket Your Tongue.

I STILL CANT BLOODY BELIEVE THIS!!

I MEAN ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE!

LIKE IT IS STILL SINKING IN.

And she is also looking so mesmerising in that cotton baby pink salwar suit that she'd worn for the Pooja, it was similar to the white one she had worn a couple of days ago on the 17th Feb to the Radha Krishna Temple in the morning for the Pooja she had kept in the memory of her family ,since it was their second death anniversary on that day(and this also coincided with my grandfathers birthday and death anniversary too, but because I was on tour because of the matches, I had missed out the ceremony held at home as well, but I was in loop with everyone at home and Khushi on the video calls ofcourse.) With Khushi – I had video called her of course in the morning right before she left for the Pooja and this time she did say she was feeling more peaceful and sorted than she did last year.

And I just wanted to be there for her as always and I was kind of bummed that I couldn't be there with her physically next to her whilst she held the Pooja in their memory and MY Sunshine was all like – you are always there with me Arnav, like always so don't worry about it. And there was some kind off a peace in her eyes that I had spotted that had assured me that she was ok..like really ok and that she was not just saying all of that to make me feel better – And last night I Kind off got my Answers.

Just the fact that she had channelized all her energies and grief so Positively and the fact that how deeply she loved me had been a trigger for her – It kind off blew me away guys.

LIKE EVERYTHING WITHIN ME IS STILL STUMPED TO ANOTHER LEVEL!

Its Like its still sinking in that how is it possible for someone as innocent, pure and beautiful as her to even exist???

ITS LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT HER KIND OFF MAKES ME WANT TO RESPECT GOD LIKE A MILLION TIMEs OVER.

And like I always say I can never thank God enough for blessing Me with Her In MY Life.

I am still on that overwhelmed chain of thought when my phone beeps.

It's my Sunshine Ofcourse!

And now she's also just shared a picture of her dressed in my Jersey with a Note below it that says : My hoodie guy you are ready for your game and I am all set here for the opening...its filling up already and everyone is so excited and so am I...for this is our first screening. Varun has the screening on already and we can already see the crowd going berserk in the stadium. And I am guessing you are in the locker room now and reading this as you get ready for the national anthems and then the toss. Gosh I am so excited to be able to talk to you about it – thank god no more digienes.(she has added a sticky tongue emoticon)

That obviously cracks me up!

This girl makes me feel like I am on a permanent rollercoaster of Emotions.(WELL – NOTHING NEW ABOUT THAT GUYS!)

Insaneeee!!

HOWEVER.

I LOVE IT.

BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEACE I FEEL WITHIN BECAUSE OF HER.

I grin as I write : you are freaking adorable Sunshine..And I just thanked god for you again.how can I ever thank him enough for blessing me with You???and Yes indeed, just in the locker room Love, about to step out with everyone for the national anthems and then the toss and I am so excited to be able to talk to you about it too.

Her :ohhhooo plsss hoodie guy..dont start with all this thanking and all ya! We both know that we are equally grateful to god,fate and our destiny for making us find our way towards each other.PERIOD.And oh wait.. from now on I want you to talk to me freely about Cricket ok?? Like everything ok??? I anyway have learnt a lot in the last two months ok...trust me you are going to be so proud off me when you hear about my knowledge in cricket.And alsoooo ohhh ..do you know I have this special picture (from old times)of Daddy,Mom,and Krish with Uncle and Rahul all going crazy after a cricket win for you guys and daddy and Krish are in their Jersey's and I have gotten it blown up to like a full wall size for the Backoffices wall. The wall picture arrived just in time this morning as the pooja began for the cafe and I so wanted to show it to you toooo..and I am attaching a picture of the same now.

I grin as I read the message and then I open the picture.

My Heart Warms Up.

For it's such a Happy picture reflecting a very excited and a happy moment in time.

Me : That is such a lovely picture Khushi..I love it...And I am soooo proud of you Love.In everyway.Like I always say – You are Inspirational Sunshine!

Her : well love you are just biased about me yaaa...ok..but still thank you Arnav and - ...once again...Happy bday hoodie Guy! Just enjoy yourself out there and it shall be a good game anyway!!! I loveeeee you so so so so muchhh...oh and guess what...I just got my first order for ASR's UpperCut Coffee shot – coffee...hahaha...I am starting work Love.All the best to you!Carnage kisses.And oh wait..you have to know this too like before you play – its Like I love your Jersey on me.Did I tell you I got like 11 of them – you know since 11 is your playing number and because I am going to be wearing it everyday – I need to have my stock ready and going since things get a little messy behind the counter sometimes.

I cant stop grinning guys!

Me : realllly???? 11?????? Goshhhh Sunshine.

Her : I told you – I am nuts about you!now gooooo...play play play.tada for now.

I grin : ok now switching off the phone Love.text you in eight hours.

Her : no worries hoodie guy.I got my eyes on you anyway – Love.

I switch off my phone now and I place it in the locker and just as I shut my locker- I spot Coach walking towards me and he pulls me into a hug as he says – "happy bday my boy...happy bday..."

I hug him back as I say – " thanks Coach.."

And he pulls back and he pats my shoulder – " I am so proud of you...c'mon lets get out on the field...its toss time..",and he turns to the rest of the boys behind me as he says – " c'mon boys...its 1 for us and 1 for RSA..let's this win this ODI boys...look at the crowd...they are going berserk already...Punjab loves us and they always come out in large numbers...its going to be a good game..."

I grin at the rest of my team and Cap comes out and hugs me and he pats my shoulders as he winks – "cmon then..lets get going..",and the rest of my team members also pull me into a b'day congratulatory hug one by one and then Cap winks at me with a grin as he gestures to us that its time to head out now.

I grin and Cap leads us out and I follow right behind him and the rest of the boys follow and we take the hand of the little kids that stand with us while the national anthems go on and we see the South African team follow behind as well and the crowd goes literally berserk with excitement. And just as the national anthem begins – I feel Pride and Responsibility take over as it always does, and I get into my Game Zone.

No matter what the result - It was going to be a Bloody Good Game.

I was sure about That.

........

A couple of minutes Later as we wait for the Toss to happen – I clutch Krish's toss coin in my hand in my pocket and I feel Love rush through my Heart all over again – as I recall my moments with Khushi last night.

And right then we hear the result of the Toss – South Africa has won the toss and elected to chase and field first that means – We Bat first and then Defend our Score.

I pat Shiv's shoulder now and we both walk into the Locker room, for we have to Start Padding Up.

And I kiss Krish's toss coin and place it back into my wallet carefully like I always do and close my locker and now start to get ready to fire some shots.

Shiv grins at me from across the bench as he is padding up and he asks – " same strategy then? I go aggressive first seeing the condition and you anchor the other end??"

I wink at him – " totally..."

Shiv winks – " well it does look like a batters pitch..lets see how the ball swings.."

I grin at him – " you keep your cover drives ready Shiv...we are going to win this.."

Shiv grins – " lets do this ASR..and you keep those killer UpperCuts ready...we need to put up a big total..", and we punch our gloves, and I pick out my favourite bat and tuck it under my arm lovingly – " oh yes..lets smash those boundaries Shiv.."

I was surely going use a Lot of my UpperCut Shots Today – maybe a couple extra - for My Sunshine was watching too.

I see Cap come up to us as he gives us a pat on both our shoulders and he says – " the pitch looks good...go for it boys..a big total always puts up pressure on the chasing team.."

We nod at him and we both now step out on the field and the Crowd immediately stands up and starts roaring and rhyming our names.

GOD – THE THRILL.

I FEEL THIS EVERY FREAKING MATCH.

ITS AMAZING!

WE PLAY FOR THIS! LIKE ALL THIS CRAZE – FOR THE GAME – IT IS TRUE THAT CRICKET IS PRETTY MUCH A RELIGION IN OUR COUNTRY ANYWAY.

Shiv and Me smile at each other as we walk up the ground and now get ready on each side of the pitch and take our positions, and we see the South African team get ready in the field and I turn around and wish the SA wicket keeper all the best for the game as well – which surprises him because he was all serious and tense and my smile kind off eased him a little and we know each other well because we have been playing international cricket for so long for our respective countries, and so we have a little chat before the game begins and we see the Umpire signal us to begin.

And The Screen Goes.

3

2

1

GAME TIME!

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

TWO HOURS 50 MINUTES LATER

I grin as I see Cap fire his signature Helicopter Shot for a Six straight into the Stands, from the other end and I walk up to him in the middle of the pitch and we smack our gloves together and I wink at him adjusting my helmet – " Cap...what a beauty that was...you should have seen the look on Stan's face..he couldn't believe that his high paced ball got smashed like that...and that too in the death.."(Stan was the South African Ace Pacer..)

Cap grins and winks and he studies the pitch as he says – " the over just finished..12 more balls ASR...lets go for it...this is the best situation we could ask for..for we are both set...and you get aggressive now as well..i will try to take a single on the first ball of the next over to get you on the other end and you take over."

I nod and I watch Cap take his position back in spot.

OK GUYS.

I AM SO GLAD WE ARE BATTING FIRST.

THE PITCH WAS AMAZING.

AND SO WE ARE 300 – 3

LIKE SORRY SUNSHINE!!!

RSA CANT BELIEVE WHATS HIT THEM TODAY!

IN ALL THE DRINKS BREAK – I HAD THE SA WICKET KEEPER GIVE ME LOOKS LIKE – WHAT DID YOU EAT FOR LUNCH TODAY???AND THEIR SKIPPER TOO – HE'S FACE HAS BEEN LIKE – LETS GET THIS ASR OUT MAN!!

SORRY DUDE!

NOT TODAY!

SO.

Shiv and me were having a brilliant partnership and we always plan this way that he takes the aggressive lead first and boy was he in amazing mood today...he fired through the Power Play -and he fell to a thrilling catch out at the boundary line at 55 and I was still batting slow and steadily at 25, and then I had a decent partnership with Kunal as well and he fell to a tricky LBW at 47, and I was still playing slow by then because I was planning to anchor through and so I let Kunal take the lead with his amazing shots and then after his wicket, in came in Yuvaan – he is a amazing young find that we have added to the team months ago – and he fired quick four boundaries each a 4 and then a six and then he fell to a brilliant stumping by the SA wicket keeper after that quick 22. And Then in came in Cap and we had planned to take it slow and steady and keeping targeting for some big overs in between with the focus on keeping both our wickets.

AND BOY WE HAD.

BECAUSE THE SA TEAM WAS TRYING EVERY MIX OF BOWLERS LENGTH AND LINE TO GET US OUT TODAY.

BUT CAP AND ME WERE JUST IN THE MOOD TODAY.

AND CAP'S FIRED HIS INNINGS QUICKLY (As he wanted him to get aggressive first and have me anchor him first) and he is now at a 86 himself with that amazing helicopter six in the last ball of the 47th over.

And I am 90 Right Now.

And the bowlers changed of course and I can catch the worried expression on the SA skippers face because he knows the last 12 balls and with Cap and Me both Set on the Crease – and with 7 wickets in hand – he knows the scores going to get only higher and competitive to chase and he's telling his ace spinner that he needs a wicket.

I grin to myself as I adjust my Helmet and I say to myself – NOT TODAY MY FRIEND.

ANY OTHER DAY.

BUT NOT TODAY.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A WICKET TODAY!

And the spinner is stressed obviously because its too much pressure but he bowls in a beautiful delivery bang on line and length and Cap hits it through softly and we take a quick single and I take the Crease now.

And The SA Skipper is quite unhappy.

Well its on his face.

For he's standing right behind the wicket keeper at first slip hoping to get a catch out from my Bat.

I know that's what he wants – because that's what His position tells me.

AND HE KNOWS MY SKIPPER'S JUST ASKED ME TO GO IN FOR MY BIG SHOTS.

AND SORRY DUDE – ONCE AGAIN.

I TOLD THE LOVE OF MY LIFE LAST NIGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO UNLEASH SOME MASSIVE CARNAGE ON HER COUNTRY'S BOWLERS.

AND NOW WAS THE TIME.

BECAUSE OVER TIME I HAD LEARNT TO PLAY THIS SPINNER VERY WELL – BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXPOSURE WITH HIM IN THE IPL IN THE MUMBAI TEAM.(AND HE IS BRILLIANT IN DEATH BOWLING AND INFACT I HAD HIM BOWL TO ME IN THE NETS LAST YEAR IN THE IPL TO GET MY TECHNIQUES IMPROVED IN THE DEATH)

AND I KNOW HIM WELL.

HE IS FREAKING TENSE BEFORE GOING IN WITH THE NEXT BALL.

HE KNOWS ME WELL TOO.

HE CAN READ MY INTENTION WITH MY BODY LANGUAGE.

SORRY FRIEND – BUT YOUR ECONOMY IS GOING TO GO FOR A TOSS TODAY!

I AM JUST IN THE MOOD.

AND ITS MY BDAY!

Cap gives me a thumbs up from the other end in a go crazy signal and I nod as I adjust my Helmet and then before I take my position – I look at my Sunshine's secret coded message on my bat and I smile to myself, and I look up straight towards where I know the camera's are, for I know she will catch on to this gesture – for she's watching this and I Grin now as I take my position and the ball comes in and I time it perfectly as I smash it through the middle of my bat for a killer UpperCUt straight into the stands for a Six.

I grin as I see the Crowd go wild and the cheering begins and the Umpire Signals a Six and Cap comes forward into the pitch in the middle and he grins at me an pats my arm and he signals me to keep firing as he says – "happy bday ASR..."

I see the Scoreboard.

I am on 96 with that.

And we are at 307 – 3 (48.2 Overs)

I grin as I walk back to my position and adjust my gloves in my hand again, and take position.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE FOR YOU MY LOVE.

And the ball comes through – and I smash it straight up into the air for a massive UpperCut AGAIN, and I keep my eyes on the ball with a grin up my face as I see it roar high into the air through the stands – I THINK I HIT THAT ONE OUT OF THE PARK.

HAHA!

CARNAGE...!!

MASSIVE BLOODY CARNAGE!!!!!

I can see and hear the crowd go Insane as they start rhyming my name and I see the rest of my team mates from the dug out stand up and cheer along with both our coaches and Cap comes to me as he hugs me and I hug him back and I step back in sheer happiness and I raise my Bat High to the crowd – for iv just reached 102 with that Six.

WELL – THIS CENTURY IS FOR YOU SUNSHINE!

I LOOK STRAIGHT AT THE CAMERA AND THEN I KISS MY BAT EXACTLY WHERE SHE'S WRITTEN ME HER CODED MESSAGE AND I RAISE MY BAT TO THE CROWD AGAIN!

The Crowds roaring and I grin as I run back to my position and I grin at the SA wicket keeper and give him a wink as I say adjusting my glove and helmet – " sorry friend, just one of those days when I am in the mood.."

He shakes his head at me amused through all that tention up his face and I give him a grin and take my position and I hit the next ball for a amazing cover drive straight to the boundary covers for a Four , which sends the crowd roaring again and then I hit another four on the second last ball of the over and I hit the last ball for a smashing Six again in a Hook Shot and I reach 116 with that last hit and we are now 327 -3 in 49 overs.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM STILL CANT BELIEVE WHATS HIT THEM TODAY.

HAHA.

WELL – SORRY GUYS.

I grin as I now walk up to Cap and I tell him – " Cap..go for the last over now...its been ages since we'v both had a century in the same game..'cmon...im watching from the other end..."

Cap grins at me and winks and I see him take the position and I know he's going to have some extra fun too, for we couldn't ask for a more favourable situation.

And I cant help but Grin as I see Cap fire A SIX and then we take a three doubles too and then he misses hitting the second last ball and he ends the last ball with an amazing four and we finish 343 -3 in 50 overs.

And Cap finishes with a 102 - Not out.

And I finish with a 116 – Not Out.

AND WE ARE THRILLED BEYOND IMAGINATION

AND THE REST OF THE TEAM COMES IN RUNNING THROUGH AND TOPPLES OVER US BOTH AND I CANT HELP BUT GRIN HAPPILY.

I FREAKING LOVED EVERY MINUTE ON THIS AMAZING PITCH TODAY.

EVERY MINUTE OFF IT.

AND OFCOURSE CAP AND ME BOTH KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET CALLED IN FOR A MID GAME INTERVIEW BY THE REPORTERS AND WE ALREADY SEE A COUPLE OF REPORTERS RUSH TO THE PITCH AND CAP GIVES ME A WINK AND WE MAKE OUR WAY TOWARDS THEM.

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

I cant hep but grin as I hear the reporter ask Cap – "well, Congraulations Skipper, you must be very happy with that performance.....your very own, and your Vice Captains too.."

I fold my hands across my chest n sheer joy as I hear Cap answer with a grin – " ofcours I am....i am beyond thrilled.."

The reporter – " well a century for you both...what a entertainment that has been for us all...we were beyond thrilled..how did those last two overs feel on the pitch??"

Cap grins as he says – "well I cant put it in words..maybe our bday boy can..ASR..wana tell them??

I chuckle.

The reporter turns to me – "ASR?? its your bday today...happy bday to you...and what a treat you have dished out for your fans..."

And before I can say anything, I hear the Crowd Cheer Insanely and a huge part of it starts rhyming my name