RAGHVANSH'S POV :

"This evening we have with us the one who doesn't only lead Delhi Warriors but has built this team from scratch and is probably the biggest reason it is where it is today."

"So Raghvansh Birla or may I say the Ice Man, you seem to be really happy today. Would you like to say a few words on this historic win? How does it feel to win a match by 43 points, biggest win margin in IKL history?" One of the hosts says.

Despite my best efforts of pressing my lips into a thin line, I end up chuckling, "first of all, thank you Simran for that lovely introduction. I'll take the compliments. And obviously today's win means a lot to me, not just as a team but also on a personal level since this is my second highest score in IKL. Even the atmosphere in the whole team is so lively right now, everyone's enjoying themselves and planning on having a great season ahead. What else would I need as a captain, right?"

The star sport's host and I share a short laugh to which she further adds, "Is there anyone Raghvansh Birla wants to dedicate this win to?"

Say it Raghvan, we all know who you win everything in life for.

My internals smirk at me. Well it's pretty obvious that they aren't wrong.

Hiding the giggle that escapes my lips with my palm, I reply after searching for the right words, "someone who I can't exactly call a friend because she means a lot more than that to me. The person who lights up my life and makes me happy in every way possible."

"Thank you for being there. This one is for you."

As if expected, I see the host and many crew members surprised at my words.

Okay.

Was it out of nowhere? Maybe.

But it had to be done today or tomorrow. It's still better than announcing relationships, worse—marriages out of nowhere.

You're overthinking again Raghvan. You don't even know whether she likes you yet.

I groan. That's correct but like I'm sure she does, right? Especially after what happened last time we met.

As the conflict between my heart and mind continues, I take a leave from the post-match presentation moving towards the changing and locker room.

Picking out the towel from my designated locker, I turn on the shower and the heat hits me immediately.

Perfect, as always.

The temperature is enough to wash out any signs of pain from my body as the thoughts engulf me.

How would she feel about me mentioning her during the post-match presentation? Did she freak out over it? Does she even know it was about her? Did she send me a congratulations text just like she always does? More importantly, is she happy about us winning?

It just feels like she's a part of the win. It wouldn't have been the same otherwise.

She really does mean so much to me.

My life.

More importantly, the love of my life.

Spinning the knob in the other direction, I get out of the shower space wiping the wet strands that are the reason for the water dripping down my forehead.

Nervously I take out my phone from the kit which seems to be bombarded with texts.

9 unread messages from Pihu.

So she did watch the match despite being on rounds.

PIHAS POV :
[15 minutes later]

"How was your day, Venus?"

This guy.

This annoying guy!!! He just played a double super 10 match and this is the first thing he has to say?

"Raghvansh Birla! You just had one of the best matches of your life. How can the first thing you say be about me? Yes, I did see that coming but today is your day." Words leave my mouth as if whining, which I am.

"Pihu you know how simple it is. If you're the first and topmost person in my life, of course you're the first thing I'm going to talk about. It's like you have a priority pass."

OH GOD, PIHA WHAT IS HE SAYING. There's no filter to this man. All his talks make me feel as if I've been on ten roller coasters back to back.

His blue eyes looking back at me with the same lovingly look as ever as I try to take a little sneak peak of him through the gaps between my fingers that try to cover the deep pink blush.

How am I not supposed to fall for him while he keeps on saying these silly things???

Slowly getting out of the frame and bed to get my bottle, I try to gather my speech. "Ansh, do you know what you do to me."

As far as I can tell, he takes the card then opening the door to his room. "Tell me if I'm unaware Dr Piha."

That's it.

Ugh.

He's flirting, isn't he? There's actually no denying at this point.

My doubts of whether he likes me back keep getting confirmed every time he makes a statement.

"Are you in your room, Ansh?" I question trying to ignore whatever he has been saying.

The said man throws something he had previously been holding on the bed and  takes a seat on what seems like the couch, "yeah! Just got in."

"Give me a minute Pihu. I'll get changed into something comfortable and lay down."

Okay. He just got done with a very tiring match. I want nothing more than to lay in bed and talk to him for hours right now, but that obviously isn't possible for him. "Ansh, I know you're tired, okay? You should go to sleep given the moment. I can't imagine how physically draining that match must be. Maybe we can talk for a while, but please get enough rest. You have back to back matches for two months, and your injury isn't even fully healed. You aren't pushing yourself... right?"

He's out of the frame, probably changing, but the soft ruffles of his clothes assure me that I'm being heard

He giggles a second later, "I'm not tired Piha. You know, we were supposed to stay back today since there's a post-match celebration. I somehow escaped it though. The night was going to be tremendously long but now I can just lay down and also I get to talk to you. Is there anything else I would ask for?"

I've always heard how glamorous these after-parties are, especially given that this one was in Jaipur. However, nothing about this guy surprises me in this context. He's such an introvert.

Yes, the same case goes on with me, but I think I've changed a little since post-graduation started, maybe just a little.

I watch him pick up his phone as he hits the bed and a sigh of contentment fills my ears. The Han Purple t-shirt almost makes him glow under the lamplight.

How can he not be the most gorgeous man I've ever seen? I could spend hours just admiring him.

But he doesn't have to know that. He cannot know that. 

Sometimes I get why people hate this feeling of having feelings for someone. You want to do nothing more than to get into their brain and know exactly what they're thinking.

I need to know how Ansh feels about me, how he feels about us. 

And also why he keeps looking at you as if he would give you the world, if you asked for it. My brain instructs. That's an over exaggeration obviously.

But I know the minute I look at him, I'll agree with my brain.

Something tells me that there's no way he thinks of us as something more than close friends, but on the other hand he calls me 'someone who I can't exactly call a friend because she means a lot more than that' in a whole goddamn post-match interview? Fuck it, I'm not even sure whether that was about me.

What if I ask him about it, and he says it's about some other woman and I'm just a friend. I'm not right?

RIGHT??

I'll probably have to block him and erase every proof of my existence.

"Are you alright, Venus? Is there anything bothering you again?" He seems to have guessed from my horrified look.

Yes. You Raghvansh Birla.

Nonetheless, since I don't want him to make assumptions, I quickly cover it up, "No, nothing at all. Haha, how about you though? I've heard those parties are fun, you don't like them, Ansh?"

Let's hope he doesn't figure out my mid-life crisis right now.

Surprisingly, I see him force a smile as he sighs, "I do like it. It's just that... at least for our team they're more of 'bring your family to work' days, and everyone's there with their wives, parents or partners. It's nice to have everyone around and reconnect with people but something about it doesn't feel right at all. I just...can I be honest with you, Pihu?"

I can't help but frown, I think I know the reason why he doesn't enjoy it. "Yes, don't worry about it."

His gloomy blue eyes never seem to leave mine as he turns to his side, "I can't help but always feel so... out of the picture, Piha. When you see your teammate being comforted and hugged by his family after a loss, while all you've done is cry to yourself in the locker room for 14 years, and then come out with a confident look, like they expect 'the greatest IKL captain' to have." 

His eyes dwell up as he pauses. 

I wish I could just fly to Jaipur and hold him right now, also never let him go.

"I know I sound like a shitty person right now, but pretending like I never feel disappointed, frustrated, or sad is... so incredibly hard, even after all these years. It's as if I can't get used to it."

"Sometimes I just wished to have somebody that'll be my person. Who would tell me that I didn't disappoint them or that I did my best and when I finally win, that person is the first one I think of, who I know would be proud of me. But all I got was criticism from coach and people cursing at me online."

I try to form a sentence, but nothing that can comfort him comes out, "It must have been so hard for 18 year old Raghvansh to deal with it. Even you Ansh, I'm so sorry."

He wipes his tears and tries to smile through it, which I can't tell is fake or not.

"No Pihu, don't. I just want to thank you for coming into my life, and staying. The little things you do like spamming me after or even during a match regardless of how busy you are, wishing me luck for goddamn mat practices and cheering me up during shoots. I've developed a habit of calling you before going to sleep and waking up to your good morning message. I wish I could put into words how much any of that means to mean. I've gotten used to you being in my life, being a part of life and I love it so much."

"I love you so much."

There's nothing I can do other than look into his dark eyes as he stares back with vulnerability. 

I'll give him my entire world if that means I can see him smile. 

These six months after graduation when I felt like the world was crashing for me, I magically found him.

Without him, I don't think life would ever be as euphoric or blissful as it is today.

I wish I would've met him earlier. I wish I would've been there too when he didn't have anyone, when he couldn't call anyone his family.

Living his entire childhood as an orphan knowing his parents were alive, growing up watching people constantly doubt his skills and then emerging as the greatest player to have ever touched the mat—all alone.

Raghvansh is too humble for everything that he's been through. He's too kind. He's too strong. Proves why he was my idol all my life.

Doesn't matter if he doesn't think of me as anything more than friends.

"I'm never going to leave you, like ever. For my selfishness, let me be in your life forever, Ansh?"

And don't blame me for being in love with the greatest man in the world.

√

AUTHOR'S NOTE :

Been out of writing practice for pretty long so I'm not really satisfied with this chapter, though it'll get better. I'll try to complete the next chapter soon, but I've been going through a lot of health issues lately so it might take a while!
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to vote!