Helllooo eveyoneeeee

SURPRISEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

I am back with The very last bit of HWMH - Epilogue 3.0

– Its 8K words almost!!!!

And I am super duper Overwhelmed as I am posting this ofcourseee!!

** happy dancing**

**happy tears toooo***

Can never literally thank you guys enough for all the Love and Support to Hit Wicket!!!!!!!!

Also this is the first draft..Please pleaseeeee.... ignore editing /grammatical/ repetition of common words - errors as I have not Proofread.

And I shall now let you all dive in without Further Delay!!

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EPILOGUE 3.0 – "LOVE-FULLY" EVER THEIR'S...

SIX YEARS 11 MONTHS LATER (FROM THE LAST EPILOGUE)

22nd December, 2030

@ The Firoz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

Khushi's POV

Helloooo to You Guyssss.

Ok remember how I said – Long Time no see the last time I met you all after a while??

Remember??

So I think, that today I should say something like – Long Long Long Long Long Long Time No See!!!!

Haha.

Because, yes it totally feels like Just that, Indeed.

Please know that both Hoodie Guy and Me really Missed you all.

Ok.So – I hope you all payed a little Attention to the date on top. Its 22nd December, 2030. And well first thing out I do want to state(one more time) that Yours Truly, Goofy and Crazy Khushi, is still as Goofier and Crazier as she used to be.Haha. Guys I am telling you all seriously, there surely was something up in my MRI in the way my brains had been wired that all these doctors couldn't catch onto – Ever!! Haha!!

Like every time , I wake up in the morning these days, I tell myself – Khushi you are now running into the 34th year of your Life and are a mommy to Four Kids.( Its about time that you make a conscious effort to reduce that Goofiness in your head...)

Haha.

But Guys, apparently even though I give myself these little reminders everyday – it's like there's no point, because I think I am just destined to get more goofier by the Age. Haha.

And yes guys, you all read that right. I am a Mommy to Four Kids Now. Hoodie Guy and Me, were blessed with another pair of twins (one boy + one girl again), on the 22nd March, 2027( about three years two months after Aarna and Krish were born). And we named them Shivaay and Arha.

Ok Yes. I think since we are on that Note – it's only fair enough that I give you all a brief glimpse into the extended family details versions of our Friends and Family, first.

So, starting at home, we are now a family of Nine. Dadi, Mom, Dad, Hoodie Guy, Me, Aarna, Krish, Shivaay and Arha. Next Update on Ravi and Anjali, they are now parents to two adorable boys whom they have named Rehaan(4yrs) and Atharv(2 yrs).

And well now for an Update on everyone back in Cape Town and our close friends – Uncle, aunty,Rahul and Diya had another addition into their family as well when Baby Ayana came along a little over 2 years ago as well. (the last time we met, It was just Baby Advait). Zara and Zain are parents to two adorable baby girls(last we met, baby Zanyah was already born) – baby Kudrat came along a year ago as well. Our dearest Asher and Manizeh are parents to two boys as well now whom they gave named Fawad and Kabir. Fawad is a little over five years old now and Kabir is just a year younger to him(4 yrs old). Cap and Sachi maam also had another little girl whom they have named Ira, she is 5 years old as well now.

Ok so , now coming to the reason as to why I wanted to give in a little mention about everyone, first. It's because – literally everyone of us is Here right Now – at the Firoz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium, New Delhi.

Yes.

Yes.

You read that right.

Literally everyone of US.( My Hoodie guy and Ravi are technically playing the game on the Field and the rest of us are in the cricketing stands, along with all the children from our close knit circle )

Like Full on FamJam.

Any guesses why??

Cmon Ya....Guys.

Take at least One Guess.

Ok.

Let me tell you all.

Its because, we have all come together driven by the love in our hearts for Hoodie Guy, to watch him play a game off cricket for one Last Time(officially for India) on the field Live.

Yup.

Guys, you read that right. I am extremely overwhelmed as I say this to you all - that My Hoodie Guy is currently playing the last international game off his cricketing career. He had announced his retirement plans right before these Series began in an official public press conference stating that this international bilateral series with Bangladesh -was going to be his last outing on the field dressed in the Blue Jersey – for India. (He is now 39 years 10 months of age guys, and even though he is still very agile and fit physically for play, he made a conscious decision to step down, because he believe that was the call his heart was asking him to take. And we all know how important the hearts wishes are for my Hoodie guy – in every spectrum of his Life). My eyes are kind off filled with happy tears and my heart with immense contentment and Love as I look back at Hoodie Guy's Cricketing Career and his Captaincy Era, as he Captained the Men in Blue for 9 long years.( He had taken over the captaincy after his 30th Bday remember?? And he had stepped down as Captain on his 39th Bday, earlier this year, so that Yuvaan could take the lead on as the Captain of the team and get accustomed into the role of Skipper, while he was still going to play for a couple of months more, so that he could lend out any support as and when needed by the team.( He did exactly what Cap Dev had done when he had stepped down as Captain.Arnav had decided to play for about 6/7 months more so that the dynamic in the team and the unit got well adjusted to the new Captain and Vice Captain as well. As Hoodie guy always said, players, cricketer's will come, play and going – and the Game and the Show must go on as smoothly as it could for Indian Cricket.

You guys know what??

Like all of India – cheated a little ya. Like they literally copied one of the phrases that I use for My Hoodie Guy. Haha!! But not that I am complaining because it makes me very happy to hear all of India call him out as – The 'Magical' Skipper.

See I told you all before only, like Long time Ago – that this man was Sheer Magic. My Magicallllll Dumbledoreeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I am sure you all are wondering as to why Hoodie guy has been called out as the 'Magical' Skipper. Well its obviously because this man has conjured a magical Spell for Indian Cricket all throughout his Captaincy years. Like guys, literally just like how Indian Cricket had seen all the Highs in the times of our dearest Golden Captain Dev, Indian Cricket saw all the Highs in the Captaincy times of Hoodie guy as well.

As you all would remember – India had won the ICC Champions trophy in 2023 while Hoodie guy was Captain. Well I am delighted to report that India had also successfully won the ICC ODI World CUP in 2027 and then also gone on to win the ICC T20 World Cup in the year 2028 – both under Arnav's legendary Captaincy as well. And in between all these years – India had also successfully won Asia Cup as well, and also sustained the Top 2 ranking in Test Cricket as well – and all of these achievements led Hoodie guy to become one of those rare Captains to not just have all the Major ICC cricketing tournaments gold medals under his Captaincy, but he was one of those rare players who literally was the blessed one to have a double on these major ICC gold medals because he had been a part of the winning squads of all ICC cricketing tournaments in which India had won in Cap D's captaincy time as well. And when India went on to win these tournament's under his Captaincy as well, it obviously was a very joyous, monumental occasion for my hoodie guy in his heart as well.

And with Happiness ruling my heart I also have to tell you all that in the past 6 years 11 months since we last met, Arnav has also been bestowed with numerous National Awards, like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for Cricket(2024), CNN – IBN Indian of the year in Sports(2025), Padma Shri(2026), and the Padma Bhushan as well( which he was awarded in the year 2028 after leading India to two World Cup wins consecutively in the ODI world Cup and t20 world cup, respectively – as his individual cricketing records have always been amazing as well. And all of these moments being emotionally very significant for us all as well as him in his journey as a sportsperson.And today, as he plays his last international game of cricket, it was only obvious that all of us, his family and friends wanted to be there with him, in the stands watching him play.

It's a Monumental moment for all of us emotionally as well, just like it is for Him.

I pause on my chain of thoughts now as I spot my 6 year 11 months old twins running upto me now, pacing upto me with a happy grin up their faces and I hear Krish state excited , pulling on hand, dragging me back into the family stand – " Mommy, you took so long in freshening up, daddy just hit three sixes back to back...like massive ones...."

I grin back at my son as I ask – " really did he now??"

Aarna beams up at me as she catches onto my other hand and leads me alongside Krish – " yes mommy, like the ball just vanished into the Skies...I am so sure that he must have injured his bat-wand in the process....you know since daddy is magic..."

I bite back my laugh at that as I say to my kids, by holding onto there hands lovingly – " well you are right about that indeed Aarna, your daddy is Magic indeed..."

Krish grins at me happily as he says – " I am telling you mommy, now that daddy is going to be at home everyday, I am going to ask him to get onto training me as well...you know its already my dream to play cricket for India, just like him...dadu is jumping in happiness like anything, I was afraid all his jumping would wake Shivaay up...but no he is still sleeping..so is Arha in dadi's lap...and badi dadi is trying to dance up in happiness as well..."

Aarna chuckles at that as she says – " until I reminded her, that she must not dance, you know since she has that back and knee problem mommy...it was a good thing that I reminded her no Mommy?"

I nod at them happily as I say – " well yes it was aarna...aren't the two of you wonderful and yes you can surely ask daddy to train you all that you want Krishy..cmon lets join back everyone...."and I hug onto both of them happily to my sides and walk back with them to join back everyone.

Guys.

This Hoodie Guy is on a roll today. India has anyway already clinched this ODI series by 3-1. 3 wins to India and 1 to Bangladesh, and everyone on both the sides of his teams know that this was Captain ASR's last game, he was surely going to play like he would be giving it his all, for one last time. India had won the toss and were batting first.And while I had walked in to freshen up – India was at 280 – 3 in 30 overs. Shiv had gone out at a 50. Veer at 30 and Karan got out a little early though after just 20 runs and now Hoodie Guy and Yuvaan were batting in solid partnership.(yuvaan was batting at 60 and my Hoodie guy at 120*)

Well look at this Hoodie guy ya, I go into the freshen up for just a bit and he goes about unleashing some Major Cricketing Carnage...that I missed seeing live. I mentally make a note to not get up from my seat like Mom now, until the rest of the innings is over. Seems like this Hoodie guy is going to end his cricketing spell with some massive cricketing magic at the Firoz Shah Kotla.

Right then as we near everyone, I see my younger twins Shivaay and Arha all huddled up in Dad's and Mom's lap and Dad grins at me happily as he says with pride beaming in his voice – " and I cannot even begin to state how happy I am today Khushi...a proud father indeed, I am so glad that Arnav continued to play cricket...this is exactly the way his retirement should have come...", he finished happily and wipes a happy tear out of his eye.

Mom wipes one happy tear from her eye as well as she holds onto Dad's arm lovingly – " Arun...I would not have forgiven myself, if Arnav had given up cricket at 30...look at what his destiny had planned for him...I am so glad he went on...",and she hugs me lovingly as she states – " and it was all possible because of you khushi beta, you were his light throughout, positively inspiring him always, whenever there were lows...."

I hug her back happily as I state with a heartfelt smile – " Mom, please it was all of us..."

Dadi is grinning happily now in her seat as well , and she gestures me to get into her hug as she says – " Khushi beta...I cannot belive how lucky I am to witness Arnav's captaincy years, god has been so kind to me...I am sure his grandfather is all jealous up in the heavens..that I got witness it all..."

Dad chuckles to that as he states – " but he is watching nonetheless too Maa...along with Khushis family..."

I beam at them Happily.

I kiss on a sleeping Shivaay and Arha's head now as I say – " Mom, dad, I still don't know how these two are sleeping amongst all this noise ya....but its ok this nap time will do them good..."

Mom nods happily now and she rolls her eyes at me mischeviously as she states – " cmon now...go on...join everyone in the group dance...we will join in too once Shivaay and Arha wake up...see krish and aarna are already waving the india flags and hooting and cheering along side all the kids...and well maybe you all conitune dancing but ask raima and your uncle to relax on the dancing...what if they get all tired..we have a celebration at home, later tonight..."

I chuckle.

Mom was obviously referring to all of my near and dear ones from Cape Town along side Anjali and Cap, Sachi Maam, their kids who were going all beserk in celebrations as my Hoodie Guy continued to unleash his cricketing Carnage.

First thing out as I walk up to join everyone, I whisper into aunty's ears to get uncle to relax a little and they wink back at me in happiness as they walk back to join Mom, dad, and Dadi, and I am now instantly pulled into a hug by Diya as she states happily – " look at that Khushi...your hoodie guy is on some crazy run spree today...we could not be happier...this is amazing way to say goodbye to cricket..."

Anjali hugs me tight as well as she says grinning – " my happy tears wont just stop rolling down khushi, bhai is retiring today and Ravi plans to retire within two months as well...what an amazing journey has it been for them both..". I hug her happily as I state – " well yes to that, Ravi is anyway one of those rare bowlers who's going to be continuing playing until 40 ya Anjali..."

Anjali grins – " and all those various injuries and the little surgeries he had along the way now seem to be worth it no..."

I nod at her happily.

Rahul hugs me happily as well as he states – " well we all know that its hoodie guy's last game and that he would surely fire insanely, but khushi I reckon he is headed towards a double century today as well...look at that..hes already 160 not out now...and there are still 15 overs to go...he does this and he will become the only player to hit a double century on his last game and be the only international cricketer to also have four double centuries to his name..."

I nod back at him happily as I say – " I know...."

Zain, Zara, Asher, Manizeh all pull me into a happy group hug as well as they say in unison – " well ofcourse...the magical skipper is surely going to weave up some magic in his last game now isn't he????"

We all laugh at that happily as Zain says ruffling my hair happily – " god khushi, I can't believe the journey we have witnessed alongside Arnav...its been so amazing...feels like it was just yesterday that we got to know in the stands of Wander's in johannesuburg that ASR was your hoodie guy..."

Zara grins as beams – " god...I still goosebumps at the memory..."

Asher chuckles to that as he says – " well reminder...you all got to know in the stands, I got to know in the dressing room of the Indian cricket team...",and he hugs onto Manizeh lovingly

We all chuckle to that and Manizeh grins as she hugs Asher – " yes yes...ofcourse...we all knew that and I can't believe what a journey I have witnessed...I used to be associated with the men in blue at some point no, and out of all the players I had known, only ASR, Shiv, Yuvaan and Ravi are still a prt of the squad, it brings me immense happiness to see this day in front of my eyes, ASR is retiring and how magically.YUvaan is captain...shiv and ravi plan to retire soon too..."

I beam at them all happily.

And right then Cap and Sachi maam join us all( they had been talking to Yuvaan's parents for a bit) and Cap says happily – " and I knew it in my heart and gut long ago, that if anyone could take on Captaincy after me, it was ASR..and look at how right my intuition was..may the flag of Indian cricket rise and shine forever..."

Sachi maam chuckles to that – " well...I am sure now Khushi and me are going to go crazy with all the get togethers as the two of you go on celebrating your second innings...well you have been at it for years already Dev...now Arnav will join you as well..."

Cap chuckles – " well its going to be good times , nonetheless...as always..."

I look at everyone with happy tears in my eyes as I state – " guys, I am so happy that you all could make it here today, it means so very much to Arnav to have you all here in his support today..."

Diya – " oh shut up khushi...please no thank you and all..how could we not be here on this monumental day.."

Rahul nods happily – " copy that..."

Zara winks at me as she states – " look at how time flies ya khushi..just look at how all our kids are laughing and celebrating amongst themselves...watching a game of cricket...there was a time it was just us..and now its our children as well..."

Zain is holding onto a sleeping Kudrat in his arms as he states – " yes and I cant believe how the youngest lot are napping in all this noise..."

We all share a hearty laugh now and I get alongside the group of all my near and dear ones with overwhelming happiness and peace consuming my heart as we watch My Hoodie Guy – play his last game of international Cricket, along with all our children in front of us.

I can never thank God enough, for blessing us all and Hoodie guy with this day. I love you my Hoodie Guy.

So very much. I can never thank god enough for blessing me with you and our family and friends – indeed.

I just can't.

Words have never been enough.

Words will never be Enough.

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

Hours Later - @ Firoz Shah Kotla

10 : 00 PM

Arnav's POV

Ok.

Guys.

I can't stop Smiling.

My heart is consumed with so many emotions right now.

I don't think I have the right words to express what I am feeling.

God has been so very kind.

Now I know why the story of my cricketing career shaped up the way it did. I was Destined to Retire from International Cricket, only after pouring in everything that I could have from my bat, and I had really thought to myself today – that since it was my last game of my career internationally, I