As Ishan walked off the field, the weight of his bat felt heavier than usual. Scoring just 23 runs in the IPL match between his team and KXIP felt bitter. He walked to the dugout, trying to shake off the disappointment.  The sound of cheers from the crowd faded as he entered the dressing room.

In the dressing room, he took off his damp jersey and tossed it aside. He then reached for his phone, hoping to find a distraction from the game that hadn't gone his way. As Ishan scrolled through his social media feed, his heart sank. Fans were quick to troll him for getting out too soon. Comments flooded in, mocking his performance and questioning him. He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him and he considered putting his phone down.

But then, a notification caught his eye. Miss Supranational was live. Curiosity piqued, Ishan clicked on the stream and suddenly the room was filled with the sound of cheers and applause. There she was, Aditi, confident and beaming under the spotlight, walking with grace. It was a moment of pure happiness and he felt a rush of pride wash over him.

As Ishan continued to watch the live stream, the energy of the event swept away the frustration from the match and the recent tiff with her. He found himself captivated by her personality and how she engaged with the audience.

But just then, he was getting lost in the moment, a thought crept his mind. He had promised himself that he would analyze the remaining match, to observe the players' skills. It weighed heavily on him, pulling him back from the moment of her finale.

Ishan sighed, glancing at the clock on his phone. Time was slipping away and the match was still ongoing. The thought of missing out crucial moments of the match made his heart race. He could hear the crack of the bat, the shouts of the crowd and encouragement from others.

He made a decision. He would have to leave the live stream at least for now. But he reminded himself that supporting her didn't mean neglecting his own responsibilities. He took a deep breath and put aside his personal feelings and focus on the game, analyze the players and learn from the experiences.

As he went outside to join the others, Ishan narrowly avoided the wrath of the coaches and his captain, Rohit. He could almost imagine the scoldings he would've gotten if he had missed out joining them in a dugout.

As the match progressed, the atmosphere grew electric with anticipation. The scorecard read 224/6 with just 15 runs needed off the last 8 balls. Fans were on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the field. The pressure was felt hanging in the air.

The batsmen at the crease exchanged glances, their mind racing. Each ball felt like a clock. As the first ball was bowled, the crack of the bat against the ball echoed like thunder. With each run scored, the partnership between the batsmen grew stronger.

Finally, as the last ball approached, the partnership had turned the table. With a swing, the ball soared through the boundary and the crowd cheered. This victory propelled them into 5th position on the point table. The joy and relief washed over everyone.

The match ended and Ishan rushed to the dressing room, eager to catch the remaining stream. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as he took his phone and watched the last moments of the stream.

When the moment finally arrived, Ishan focused, his eyes glued to the screen. The emcee's voice boomed as they began to announce the winners and he could feel the tension. His gaze fell upon her face which appeared on the screen and he noticed the nervousness etched across Aditi's face. In that instant, a wave of emotion washed over him. It didn't matter if she won or lost, she had shown incredible performance.

Just as th announcement started, Ishan crossed his fingers tightly, whispering to himself. "Please, her name, her name." His heart raced. The judges began to read the names and with each passing second, his hope surged but it was met with disappointment when her name wasn't called.

But he quickly pushed it aside, reminding himself of all the hard work she had put in. He felt a sense of pride for her, knowing this experience has made her more confident.

Just then, another announcement boomed through the speaker of his phone and his heart skipped a beat. The runner-up title was about to be revealed. Ishan leaned forward, a smile appearing on his face. "Maybe this is her moment." He thought. When the name was finally announced, his heart swelled, she had made it! Relief and joy washed over him as he saw her beaming with pride.

Ishan watched her wear the crown and kept smiling like a fool. He was completely captivated by her, even though they were far away from each other. His heart swelled with admiration as he took in every detail – her smile, the glint in her eyes and the confidence.

—

Aditi was surrounded by her friends after the finale ended, their laughter filling the air. Her phone kept buzzing as notifications and calls flooded in from family, friends and relatives. Everyone congratulating her with 'you did it!" Fans were also sending her DMs with best wishes for the future. She realised how many people were cheering her. She knew it was not just her moment, but for everyone who supported her.

Late night, after the celebration, Aditi made her way to her room. Her fellow contestant, Nehal gathered her for one last chat, sharing stories and experiences from the competition. As they talked, Aditi's curiosity piqued, she asked Nehal when would she be heading back to her hometown. "Day after tomorrow." Nehal replied with a smile. With few more good wishes, they both called it a night and Nehal headed to her own room, leaving Aditi alone in her space.

As she sat on the bed, the moment of the achievement settled in. It was a moment she had dreamed of, yet something felt missing. The cheers and support that surrounded her during the celebration, replaced by emptiness.

Just then, Aditi's phone rang, breaking the silence. Without looking at the caller ID, she picked it up and answered with a simple "hello." In that instant, a familiar deep voice filled her ears, sending shivers and warmth through her. It was Ishan.

Shock and joy surged within her as she realised Ishan had finally talked to her. For a moment, everything else faded away, the competition, celebration, loneliness. All that mattered was the sound of his voice, echoing in her ears like music. "Congratulations!" He said and she felt her heart swelled, a wave of old happiness washing over her again.

Tears filled her eyes but she held them back. She let herself get lost in the sound of his voice, a bandage that wrapped around her heart. Memories flooded her mind, each one reminded of what they shared. She felt warmth spreading through her chest.

Ishan then started. "Congratulations! How are you feeling, Aditi?" His voice held geniune happiness for her, as if he had forgotten about the earlier tiff between them.

"Thanks! I'm happy." Aditi replied, her voice shaking as a rush of emotions swirled inside her. The warmth in his eased the tension between them. She could feel her heart racing.

In that moment, they both realised how much they had missed each other. It was as if the slight argument faded away and they were willing to reconnect.

"You were watching me?" Aditi asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Ishan smiled widely, even though Aditi couldn't see him. "Wait a minute." He said, excitement evident in his voice as he switched to video call. The screen lit up and there he was, his face filling Aditi's screen and heart.

Her heart raced at the sight of him, warmth in his eyes making her emotional all over again. "You look amazing!" Ishan exclaimed, his genuine admiration evident. Aditi felt a blush creeping on her face, a mix of embarrassment and joy.

For a moment, they both just stared at each other, the silence filled with unspoken emotions. It was as if the world outside had gone away, leaving only the two of them. "I can't believe this is really you." He said, his voice soft.

Aditi then asked him about his match, to which Ishan smiled warmly and said. "It was great! And guess what? We are currently in 5th position."

Aditi could see the excitement in his voice. "Awesome!" She replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Ishan said. "Well, I knew you would win the title, even if it is not the main one. You worked hard and I know that."

There was  a moment of silence as he paused, letting his words hang in the air. Aditi took in his sincere voice, feeling warmth and grateful.

Ishan continued. "You are looking so beautiful and confident that you were meant to win. I am so proud of you."

As soon as he finished, Aditi's heart was pounding. The sincerity in his voice had her and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. A rush of emotions washed over her. Joy, gratitude and a hint of disbelief.

"Thank you." Aditi managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. She felt overwhelmed by how his words made her feel seen and valued.

Ishan then noticed her eyes glistening with tears, as if it were just about to rolled down her cheeks. Trying to lighten her mood, he playfully said. "Save those tears for something else. Probably for my debut match internationally."

Aditi laughed a bit, the sound lighting up the atmosphere like a tune. Ishan felt a surge of happiness listening to her laugh which was like music to his ears. He then remembered to finally apologize for the argument they had a day before.

Aditi wiped her tears and noticed the look on Ishan's face. It was obvious he wanted to say something important, so she encouraged him gently. "Talk to me, Ishan."

With a deep breath, he began. "I am sorry about what happened that day. I can't help but keep thinking about this a lot."

Aditi could feel the guilt in his voice. It pained her to see him like this. "You don't have to carry this alone," She said. "I get it. I know you were upset about not being able to continue with the match because of the injury."

Ishan nodded, the frustration of that situation still evident on his face. "It was hard for me to sit on the sidelines, when I felt I could have done it."

"I understand," Aditi said, her tone soothing. "But you have to know that I was worried for you. I didn't wanted to see you get hurt again."

Ishan sighed, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. "I know," he said, voice tinged with guilt. "I just felt like I let everyone down."

Aditi nodded as he continued. "Then I realised that it's okay to take a step behind sometimes." Ishan said with vulnerability in his voice.

"Exactly." Aditi encouraged, her smile gentle. Ishan felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, knowing he had someone who truly cared about him.

Aditi's voice filled with emotion as she slightly lowered her head. "And yes, I am sorry for lashing out on Hardik bhaiya."

Ishan's expression softened. "No need."

"But that's no excuse," she insisted. "Well.. forgive me and my apologies to Hardik sir as well."

"Already done. One moment don't define you." Ishan smiled, his eyes and tone warm.

Aditi's voice filled with emotions as she spoke. "I couldn't focus on my practice, Ishan. I kept thinking about you."

"I couldn't concentrate either. I wanted to talk to you but I was caught up." Ishan's tone turned tender, his words infused with warmth.

His voice then dropped to a whisper, sending shivers down Aditi's spine. "I missed you."

Aditi's heart swelled, her pulse racing as his words hung in the air.

"I missed you too." She quickly replied.

Their conversation shifted to a playful tone, laughter and teasing filling the line.

"You know, I heard that you are going to start a fashion revolution." Ishan chuckled.

Aditi rolled her eyes and said, her voice filled with amusement. "Only if you join me as my stylist."

Ishan chuckled. "Stylist? My fashion sense. Zero. I know my way around the pitches, so thanks.

"Okay. I'll handle fashioning. You keep hitting sixes." Aditi laughed.

Their playful banter turned into a comfortable silence.

Ishan's voice turned serious. "What are your plans now? You have achieved so much."

Aditi's thoughts shifted to her future. "For now, I'll just attend fashion shows. No rush."

Ishan's curiosity was piqued. "You can do so much more. You have that potential."

"I appreciate that. But I'll take one step at a time." Aditi said, her smile was audible.

They both then talked about their respective preparation routines and there was mutual respect for each other. As their conversation flowed, Ishan glanced at the time.

"It's 2:30 am. Let's talk again tomorrow." Ishan said.

Aditi yawned, her expression then turned embarrassed. "You're right. I have a shoot tomorrow."

"Get some rest." Ishan said softly.

"Yes. Good night." Aditi's soothing voice filled the line.

As they hung up, a sense of togetherness washed over them, reminding them that never having met in person, understanding and support can be just meaningful.