CHAPTER 50 - A SUDDEN STORM THROUGH THE CAPE OF MY HEART

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Hello everyone

thank you so so smuch to everyone for the wonderful wishes for my elder Daughter on her Bday that was on Saturday!

And I am now back with the Update

Monday night as I mentioned in replies to comments – guys..but yes..i know it got pushed late into the night..oops..but still Monday night technically.

Its 15k plus words guys.

Prepare yourselves for a Rollercoaster ride guysss – you know as the title suggests...hehe...ok and now I shall let you all dive in without further delay!

Havent proofread guys – please ignore editing errors.

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CHAPTER 50 – A SUDDEN STORM THROUGH THE CAPE OF MY HEART

12 Days Later

18th December - Sunday

ARNAV'S POV

9:30 PM

I give Ravi nod as he tells me that he needs to excuse himself off the dinner table and take that call from his dad and I smile at Dad who grins at me gesturing to me that he was absolutely enjoying the dinner time with everyone and I nod back at him in acknowledgement of the same, taking the last bite of my Dessert now – and I cant help but grin to myself as a mischevious thought crosses my head.

And My eyes fall on My Precious Sunshine , who is sitting right opposite me and is still finishing on her bowl of the Custard,Fruits and Jelly pudding and is in a conversation with Anjali and Mom and Dadi with regards to the Wedding Preps that have been in like full swing – for the last 12 days!!!

And I text her now.

Me : You haven't texted Me in An Hour Sunshine! You gotta pay up a Heavey fine...Tonight( I add a wink emoticon)

I see her immediately pick her phone up and she reads my text now and she looks at me from across her eyes narrowing at me with amusement and I see her type into the phone.

I get a quick reply.

Her : hoodie guy..you just need a excuse to fine me ya...not that I am complaining...but love I have been in front of you for the last hour literally...that's why no..and that is a fair point to be noted Love –so I quite do not understand the context of my fine...but I shall process it anyway...(she adds a blushing emoticon)

I quickly reply : well...yes technically you've been in front of me but I do not have your undivided attention now do I?? Actually I haven't had your undivided attention since 5pm today Sunshine...ofcourse I'm going to fine you!for after tea time..you were like super engrossed in playing chess WITH Dad in His study and as much as the sight warmed my heart...I was completely jealous of the board game in the moment...and well after that..all through out later..you were busy chatting with Dadi and mom, and anjali whilst I chilled with Ravi..and now again at dinner..youv been busy with everyone..and have only been smiling and looking at me and talking to me in between as per in context of family time...and so ofcourse...now that I have recalled all of the above your fine kind of doubles up tonight sunshine with a sweet twist.Ask me what?

And I Tap send and I see Khushi quickly read my text and right then Mom also asks her something and she answers her and then quickly replies : ( I get a line of blushing smiles and hearts ) ohh godammit you.. what sweet twist are you talking about Hoodie Guy??

I smile do myself as I quickly reply : I am totally going to ask HP to save you some this delicious pudding and ask him to have it placed in your pantry mini fridge after dinner ! I HAVENT HAD A DESSERT OFF YOU...IN FOREVER SUNSHINE...AND I DEFINETLY FEEL LIKE JUST THAT TONIGHT!I AM SURE YOU REMEMBER THE REVISION SESSION WITH YOUR TIRAMASU CAKE..well but this one will surely be stepped up...you know since now I am allowed to explore all of You.

I smile to myself as I tap send and I see Khushis eyes widen to cups and saucers as she reads my text and I control my laugh as she reaches for her glass of water immediately and she gulps it down so fast and Mom looks at her as she asks momentarily concerned – " khushi...beta you ok??", and she nods back adorably continuing to sip on her water and I bite back my smile as I watch her gulping down the full glass.

And right then I see her type into the phone, and I get a quick reply.

Her : hoodie guy...are you insane?..you just didnt write that to me like right now over dinner ya with everyone..I still cant get over our session from last night...you freaking didn't let any of us get any sleep till 4am!( add she adds a line of blushing embarrassed emoticons)

I quickly reply : well dont I always say.. Insaner me dammit...Sunshine!( I add a wink emoticon) And ofcourse Saturday nights call for special treats Sunshine...and so do Sundays...so yes..be ready to be Carnaged Insane..I am bring fair and square by giving you a heads up as always( I add a wink emoticon).

And my phone beeps now.

Her : you kill me ya Hoodie guy..(I get lines of hearts and blushing smilies)

And I give her a wink from across and right then Ravi walks back and then we all finish with dinner and desserts and get together in the informal living area and we connect with everyone back in CAPE town on a quick video call.

And once me and Ravi and Dad have finished talking to everyone – Dad says that he wants to discuss something with Ravi in private in his study( I think it's about Anjali) and I see Ravi exchange a loving reassuring look with my sister and then Dad and Ravi... both leave and then I do make my way to freshen up as I see that Khushi, Mom and Anjali are busy in the video call discussing preps with Raima aunty, Diya and Zara on the video call still – and reconfirming their travel itineraries since Zara,Zain and Ashher were landing like day after.

Okkkk then.

Guys.

I think I can do a quick recap and give you all a Glimpse of all that has happened in the last 12 days.

Sooo Yesss.

My Sunshine totally gets Hijacked by Mom and Anjali and Dadi ever since breakfast time and then that goes on like all through out the day as the wedding preparations are in full swing - sometimes they hijack her away for meetings with the event teams because they obviously wants her opinions on what she feels and MY precious Sunshine is always like – Mom...I am totally in with whatever all of you elders Decide – you know since Mom and Anjali have been in touch WITH Raima aunty and Diya too back in CAPE town with regards to the same – and then on other days they whisk My Sunshine away on a shopping spree for her outfits with respects to the Wedding Functions – and it's like a top notch amongst the three now as they wont even give me a heads up off what Khushi is going to be wearing( can you imagine..the three of them have ganged up on me on this..they do not give me a hint...) – not even Khushi..shes been gulping down a lot of Digeins.. though and she keeps telling Me ...Hoodie Guy Please dont ask ya...you know I cannot keep anything from you anyway and I do want you to see me Like on those Days finally so please...and because the gentleman I am..I did agree to not question her further on the same...provided she agrees to get fined Heavily in Return in our Carnage Sessions later on in the nights...which she obviously agrees too by giving me dramatic adorable expressions as always!

And then when they are not out...Khushi is busy bonding with Dadi as she listens to her Music classes to keenly and sometimes even sings along with Dadi later on in practice sessions for the next day ....and know this guys....until Khushi none of us were ever allowed to sit WITH Dadi in her music class...she would always be like you all will distract me...haha..and I'm so so happy to see that MY Sunshine Sunshine that levy with her...Dadi absolutely adores her guys...and when it's not bonding with Dadi...Khushi likes to spend her time bonding with Mom and Anjali at home too as they all literally swim together every evening in our indoor pool as like a devoted – all girl workout time – and other than that they are always bonding over wedding preps...or other homely stuff...and then ofcourse Dad loves to play chess with Khushi everyday too..and it totally warmed her up when he asked her to play with him.( I did let him on the fact that Khushi and her daddy would always play a lot of chess together ..and he was all like..finally I get to have a partner who can help me revisit the game I havent played in ages...so yes guys that happens like everyday and Khushi and Dad both love it...its like their time together – I mean we all sit and watch them play sometimes...because the sight warms all our hearts and also guys MY Sunshine joins Dad on his morning walks too on alternate Days – and dad absolutely loves it and he spends all that time talking to Khushi about her work experiences in Cape Town – and trust me guys when I say this – Dad is like super impressed by Khushi's intelligence and he also told her like yesterday morning that he was very happy about Hit Wicket your tongue and was sure that Hit Wicket Your tongue would be like a roaring Hit in here and then all over India too – which made Khushi very very happy ofcourse and she couldnt stop gushing about how Dad was so warm and sincere and loving and so so grounded too.

And guys Yesterday evening too- Khushi was all like extra emotional because Mom wore Khushis Mom stoll as they went out during the day and then later once they were home Khushi saw Dad sign some papers with Her Daddys Ink pen and she came and hugged me so tight with overwhelmed happy tears after that as she told me that her heart was bursting with Happiness – as she also noticed that her Moms bracelet was being worn by Mom everyday too and Anjali was also using Krishs stationary in her sketches and Dadi ofcourse had the Radha krishna murthy next to her bed side table and she had also been wearing the stoll – and Khushi was all like..hoodie guy..I feel like Mom, dad and Krish are here..like a part of us all right now too.

AND because she was all emotional.. she definetly made us all emotional too over dinner as she exclaimed how all of us were like majestic banyan trees because of how grounded we were and she couldnt thank god for blessing her with such a loving family and she thanked everyone so sincerely for using all her gifts and then she also cried a little in Mom and Dads,anjali and dadis arms as they group hugged her ,telling them – that it's because of their warmth and love that she was sure that her family was Literally dancing up in the Heavens right now totally feeling like a part of all the wedding preparations too.

God this Girl – so it isnt just me ok guys..she touches a zillion non existent emotional heartstrings in all of my family members hearts too!

God I Love Her!

Okkk so yes Guys coming to what iv been upto in the last 12 days – since we are on a little break in our schedule with the matches...Iv been catching up with Dad in office ...along with my fitness regimes and then net practices too with the team in between on and off as usual – during all of my last 12 days too.

And guys another thing I love...so usually when I return Home in the evenings with Dad from office ...I have My Sunshine come to the main door everytime herself as she opens the door for me and greets me with that Twinkle in her eyes and her Wonderful Smile that I am a Goner for anyway – and I love it....exactly what I want to come Home to Everyday Guys – and then on the days we are home first before them – I totally open the Door to my Sunshine, mom and Anjali and welcome them Home too!

Haha!

They love it too.

But usually after that as we all get back Home we usually are just busy with everyone as we all sit and chat and discuss the respective of our days and after Dinner time and Some Chatting Up After , and when everyone retires for the Night – Is when i finally get My Sunshine all to myself!

And by the end of the day – that's what I look forward to Insanely anyway and so I sneak up to her floor almost immediately and we spend an hour or so in each other arms...talking personally now and catching up with the other about the rest of the day( and for the last five days especially ...MY Sunshine has been there for me in every way.. hearing me out..listening to my most innermost thoughts that I havent voiced out to anyone and then being subtly supportive as always and I shall get to the details of this in a bit since it's very important...) but before I get I that.. you all must know that all of our talking happens all over her floor because she says Hoodie guy you got this space done up for me with so much love ..I would want us to spend time and make memories in like every nook and corner so Sometimes we are talking by lounging on the futon sofa in her study space which she has set up so adorably with all her stuff ...or sometimes in the living space as we cuddle on the sofa with a cup of hit coffee..or then sometimes on that Swing bed on the outdoor patio or sometimes by standing on the terrace looking into the skyline and just enjoying standing against the railings and looking out enjoying each others embrace and or sometimes while we chat - My Precious Sunshine will want to Play Hopscotch on the Chess Board edged out on the terrace for Fun – and then once we are done with our catching up...I whisk her up in my arms to her Room and I most definitely make sure that I Carnage her Insanely for a couple of hours before we finally doze off into a peaceful slumber in each others arms – and then my Sunshine will wake me up at around 7am and will ask me to make my way down to my room in that adorable sheepish tone of hers – shying away from meeting my eyes as she remembers our heated moments from the night before.

Haha!

Loveeeeeee Itt.

And now as I step out the washroom...my phone beeps.

And I unlock my screen to see a MESSAGE from Cap – as he was reconfirming our meeting at the BCCI headquarters tomorrow here in Delhi with Coach,the chief selectors and officials – for 11:00 am.( It was going to be 7 of us in the meeting tomorrow – coach, me,cap,bcci president and vice president and the two chief selectors – but no one else apart from Cap and Me had a clue what this meeting is about...I had asked Cap to schedule one with everyone but we havent yet revealed the agenda of our discussion yet – it's in between of us)

And I quickly text him to confirm the same as we decide that we will leave together.

And I now finally make my way back to everyone and the video call is still on with everyone back in Cape Town and I wink and smile at Khushi from across as I take my seat and then browse through my phone and my thoughts divert to the only – crucial inner thought conflict that I have been facing within for the last five days( remember how I mentioned a little before this point that I have been discussing this with Khushi a lot since the last five days and shes been like my pillar of rock and strength as always being so subtly supportive and loving- so guys – all of this is with regards to my decision in regards to my Future With Cricket.

So A Little Glimpse into the Context.

Guys Cap returned from His family home, back to Delhi about six days ago and the very next day – I went to Meet Cap at his place over an evening Tea with Khushi and Khushi and Sachi maam and Zoya spent time catching up in the meanwhile Cap and me got talking in His Study and first thing out I confessed to him about the fact that I had always planned about stepping back from the games when I was 30 and I explained him the context – but he was obviously shocked and surprised because he was like what???? Arnav this iss like a bouncer to my head right now becuase I never expected to hear this...and then I asked him about his plans because i told him it was important for us to now open up to each other about the same so that we could take this strategically and smoothly from here and then obviously what Cap said next came as a Bouncer to My Head – because he started with a lot of seriousness that He wants to Step Down as Captain after the January surely and then he will announce his retirement from International cricket in the next two months post that – like around the end of March ..because Coack asked him off that and requested him not to quit both the captaincy and the team at the same time and that Coach wanted Cap to be in the team for atleast two months so that new Captain could soak in the new role and seek his assistance in the process too and then once that was settled,he would step away from International Cricket for good. And he also mentioned that both Coach and Cap had been discussing about the fact that they both along with the BCCI wanted to see Me – take over from Cap as the Captain of the Indian Cricket team- in all the three formats of the Game (since split Captaincy never worked with out teams culture and dynamics and have Shiv come in along side me as the Vice Captain)

And to be honest guys – listening this from Cap on such a serious note did Come as Bouncer to My Head for the situation was now obviously more complex to handle – because If Cap and me both stepped down in like a matter of months – it would indeed cause a lot of chaos in the Public eye and also affect the Team not really performance wise because we have such talented players otherwise and so much new talent coming up all the time that needs to be given chances too...but more so from the point of Team culture and dynamics within our bind for we were a close knit unit and everyone would feel flabbergasted emotionally if Cap and Me both sat back – and Cap pointed the same thing too and he said- " ASR..we gotta think this through.. because we are in a very good space on the ICC rankings in all the three formats and specially after the World CUP win and as much as I understand your reasons ...I di with for you to continue playing because this is not my soft corner talking...its the fact that in the last year my belief has really strengthened that You will be an excellent Captain..and specially how you played that Final...I totally see you as stepping into my shoes for as much as I wish I could continue longer...my age and fitness/health is reaching to the point when I cant push it further....and I think it's for the best ASR...its about time I give the rest to the Bat..its been a wonderful journey and I know it's time to Step back...but it's my time to Call in...and Not yours surely ASR...your best is yet to come my friend and trust me when I say this...I see you breaking records...not just as Captain but as a batsmen too...And then also as a bowler ...you do know that off late the bowling coach and coach sir have been having these discussions to take you on as a full time bowler too..and only fair..for your arms have been wonderful with both the bat and ball...you will be an excellent Leader for Indian cricket right now ASR..its exactly what the country needs...and so with deep conviction I say this that it's my time to stand up and your time to jump right in...my health is a deciding factor Arnav...the wear and tear of two decades into international cricket has gotten onto me now..."

I know what he means guys – for he is 8.8 years older to Me – He is almost 39! And I totally understand where he is coming from and that is why I told him that I will obviously think this through- I did tell him that I could rethink the thought of continuing playing but I was still unsure about Captaincy – as in it wasnt that I didnt beleive that I couldnt do it – because off late in the

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