Ziva returned from her school and got busy with the kids taking them around their farmhouse and Rithika bhabhi had a tough time running behind them as Sam was too much excited to be left out. This is the first time that she was surrounded and pampered by so many.

In the evening, the birthday girl's desired cake is bought and placed in the middle of the hall where everyone is waiting for her. In minutes, she came down in a floral yellow off-shoulder frock looking nothing less than a princess.

(AN: I know its old picture but one of my favorite's)

At that moment, Rohit's mobile beeped giving out the incoming video call from Virat hearing which Ziva's face shined while Rohit and Hardik made faces.

"Virat Chachu", shouted the little girl.

"Many many happy returns of the day my little angel", said Virat matching her excitement.

"Chachu I am angry with you...why didn't you come here. You know right today is my birthday", asked Ziva with a cute pout.

"Aww don't spoil your mood baby. Only I know how badly I want to be there, but what to do, the nation comes first right. Don't worry, I will finish this tournament soon and come to you. We will have lots and lots of fun leaving everyone else. I will get you loads of chocolates, and will take you out to the zoo, waterfall and...", said Virat pampering Ziva.

Before Ziva could say something Mahi interrupted "Stop spoiling my daughter with your extra pampering Cheeku. Now move aside, everyone behind you wants to wish her".

All others started wishing her not giving her chance to reply and finally, Ziva being tired shouted "I love you all chachu's. Now shall I cut the cake?"

She went and stood in front of the table while Sonu bhai is capturing all the moments in DSLR. As the kids surrounded her she cut the cake and first fed the cake to Mahi bhai and then Sakshi bhabhi. She placed a small cake piece in Sam's mouth for which she licked her fingers and clapped her hands followed by she gave the cake to Gracia and Zoraver while they gave the gifts brought for her. Now its turn of the elders and Rohit and Hardik were excited as now it will be decided whom she loves the most. Ziva takes the cake and went near Rohit making him happy "Virat chachu, this is for you", she said pointing it to the mobile screen. 

"Not fair", shouted both Rohit and Hardik turning their faces away from her for which Virat and Ziva gave virtual hi-fi and she pulled both Rohit and Hardik down, placing the pieces of cake in their mouths at the same time making all of them laugh.

After having cake and snacks, all the kids were playing on the lawn and Ananya was with them jumping along with them like a little girl herself. Looking at all of them,

"Bhai, do you remember how she came into our little world?", asked Virat pointing towards Ananya.

"All that credit goes to me", said Sonu bhai raising his collar.

Flashback:

In 2018, During IPL in Chennai, in front of the hotel where the CSK team is staying, 

"Raina beta...", called the security guard as Sonu Bhai was returning from his evening session in the gym.

"Ha Kaka", said Sonu going near to the man.

"Can you see a girl who is standing near that tree? She has been coming here since five years during every IPL season when you all will be here. Every day, I find her requesting the manager to let her meet you guys for once, but he always denied her giving some lame excuses. Don't you think she deserves one chance?", said the old man, with little tension evident in his voice.

Raina with a smile gestured to the girl to come near them. Though for once she saw behind her to confirm that he is calling her, she rushed towards him without any delay.

Raina gave a shake-hand greeting "Hi...how are you?"

"I am fine bhai...I mean sir...sorry...", she was stuttering looking here and there.

"You can call me bhai", said Sonu bhai hearing which Ananya's face glowed.

"Bhai, can I ask you a small favor?", asked Ananya hesitantly.

"You can take a selfie with everyone in the team...Is it what you wanted to ask", said Raina with a smile for which Ananya slightly shook her head in a no.

"Then?", asked Raina. 

"I...I adore Mahi bhai a lot. To meet him is my only dream. I always admired him as an elder brother and atleast once in my lifetime...I...I...want to tie a Rakhi to him...", she says looking down crossing her fingers.

"Hmm, I can't assure you that", said Raina making a stern face but looking at her teary eyes, he hastily continued "But you can ask him that yourself", hearing which a smile flashed on her face.

"Thank you bhai, thank you so much", said Ananya overwhelmed with the excitement as her lifetime dream is going to be true.

"Thank him, he is the one who told me about you", said Raina pointing the security guard. She immediately touched his feet showing her gratitude "Thank you Kaka, I could not forget this favor anytime in my life".

"God bless you beta...it's your persistence and stubbornness that forced me to gain the courage to speak with Raina sir", replied the man with a contented smile.

"Come with me", saying which Raina took her inside the hotel where all the teammates are given accommodation. 

"You have to go through a serious security check, dear. It is a protocol and we have to follow it", said Raina for which Ananya readily agreed "Not at all a problem Bhai. I am ready to cross any hurdle if the end result is meeting Mahi Bhai"

He just smiled at her excitement and waited patiently for about 30 minutes as Ananya and her contents of the handbag were thoroughly checked. Finding no harm, the surveillance team allowed her in.

All the CSK players were sitting in the common lounge some playing with the kids, some listening to music and some having a chit chat.

"Guys, she is Ananya and is here to meet Mahi bhai", announced Sonu scanning the place to find his captain.

"Well, looks like he is not here. You just stay here and I will go get him. Please be comfortable", said Raina before going in search of Mahi Bhai.

Few of them waved a hi at her and few greeted with a smile but the only people who took more interest in her are the kids. They surrounded her and Gracia pulled her trouser indicating her to bend down. As she bent to their height with a smile,

"So, you are here only to meet papa?", asked Ziva.

"Hmmm, should I tell you a secret?", hearing the word secret they all came near her "I am here to meet you kids", she whispered.

"Us? why? do you want our autograph?", asked William Watson hearing which Ananya smiled.

"I don't have any friends...so I came here to ask you whether you would let me play with you?", asked Ananya with puppy eyes.

"Sure", replied the kids jumping in excitement to have found a new friend. At that moment, Raina came into the hall along with Mahi bhai.

"Ananya", hearing her name and sensing the presence of Mahi, she slowly hovered her eyes up to his face and at that moment, she couldn't hear or feel anything else other than the fact that she is standing right in front of the man of her dreams.

"Mahi bhai", came out as a whisper hardly audible to anyone and when he forwarded his hand, she just touched it and took her hand back making a fist as if holding something valuable in it and placed it near her heart. Tears started rolling down her eyes uncontrollably and she started sobbing panicking everyone in the room.

"Hey get her some water", said Mahi bhai and he made her sit on the couch. After composing her self, she looked around and found everyone looking at her with worry written on their faces.

"I am sorry", she said in between her hiccups.

"You scared everyone...look at the kids", said Sakshi bhabhi and Ananya immediately held her ears apologizing for all the trouble. The kids hugged her not understanding what happened to her suddenly.

"Why did you cry Ananya?", asked Ziva looking into her eyes.

"Those were happy tears baby, nothing to worry", replied Ananya patting her head.

Before anyone could speak, Raina concluded about why Ananya is here and Mahi Bhai readily agreed for that. After she happily tied the rakhi and took blessing from Mahi, he offered her a gift but she softly refused it.

"Sorry, Mahi bhai, I can't accept it...I have been given the privilege to be here, to see you, to talk to you and there cannot be any better gift than this", replied Ananya disappointing Mahi bhai and Sakshi bhabhi came to his rescue.

"In that case, you must have dinner with us today".

"That would be my pleasure bhabhi", readily agreed Ananya.

"Great, kids come on it's dinner time", Priyanka bhabhi called and the kids reluctantly came to the dining table as they were not interested in leaving their game.

The mothers had a tough time making their kids finish their meal and all the while the others had dinner knowing about Ananya. 

"Ananya it's getting late, don't you have to inform someone about your whereabouts?", asked Priyanka bhabhi looking at the watch.

"There is no one to worry about me Bhabhi. I am an orphan", said Ananya with a half-smile.

"I am...", before bhabhi could continue, she interrupted "That's okay bhabhi. I am used to it"

"Now you have us right?", said Sakshi bhabhi coming from behind and patting Ananya's head for which she happily hugged her.

"I don't know how can I show my gratitude for all this bhabhi. You all have been so kind to me. It's nothing but a dream come true for a girl like me", said Ananya with tears in her eyes.

"Now, you don't open your tap again...now as you are welcomed into our family...you will get many opportunities to show your gratitude", came in Jaddu.

Everyone smiled and accepted Ananya with open arms. Ananya too never forgot the help of the security guard. She always visited him whenever in Chennai and has taken responsibility for his daughter's education as he was finding it difficult to afford all the necessities for both his kids. Though he didn't accept it after a lot of insistence, he got convinced.

Flashback ends

"But in all this, how did Shreyas and Ananya meet?", asked Rithika bhabhi being curious.

"During that time, Delhi team was there in the same hotel as the next match was between CSK and DC. So, that is for the first time he saw her and...", Mahi bhai was interrupted by Sakshi bhabhi.

"Then they had their first kiss right?", she chuckled looking at Shreyas through the mobile screen.

"Ooooo", everyone chorused saying that "we didn't know this"

"Bhabhi, it was just a kiss on her cheek and it is not my first, I mean on the cheek...", said Shreyas feeling embarrassed.

"Bhai, I think we should reconsider the idea of getting Anu married to him", said Virat acting to be stern.

"Mahi bhai, I am loyal to her...please have some faith in me as well", said Shreyas looking at Mahi and Virat simultaneously.

And everyone burst into laughter.

"Guys enough, for now, it's too late...get some hours of sleep. It's almost morning there right", said Mahi reminding them as he knows that their talks would never end like their love for each other.

"Ha Bhai, we are missing you all a lot", saying which he was about to cut the call when Shreyas shouted "Virat bhai, tell Anu to answer my calls"

"What happened did you both fight again?", asked Rohit.

"No bhai, she might have left her phone somewhere", replied Shreyas searching through the phone to have a glimpse of his only love Ananya. Understanding that, Sonu Bhai called Ananya.

"Ha bhai", said Ananya coming near them. Looking at her, Shreyas smiled.

"Anu, want to talk with him?", asked Mahi bhai giving the mobile to her for which she hurriedly denied while her cheeks turned pink.

"No no Mahi bhai, I will talk to him later", said Ananya looking down in shy.

"Maybe they have something in private to talk", teased Hardik.

"Stop teasing my sister. That's only my right", scolded Virat while Ananya rushed from there as Virat shouted behind her "Keep your phone with you Anu, your fiance wants to talk to you".

"Take care all of you. I miss you", is all they got in reply and they called off the day with a smile. 

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(Readers: Writer ji, who wants to know Ananya and Shreyas ka love story...let's concentrate on our brothers, okay?

Writer: Sorry sorry, I went off the track *holding ears")

So, ya that's how they met Ananya for the first time and I know I dragged it a lot.

So, if you want to know Shreyas and Ananya's love story (fictional), I will continue the story with that followed by their wedding and IPL. 

If you say no we want something else, then please fill my comment box with your thoughts. I would be glad to know how you want the story to be.

Love you guys...comment more as that is the only fuel for me to write more.

Take care...bye-bye