If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change - Wayne Dyer

Photographer: and we are done shooting with this outfit. Go change into your next outfit.

Gauri nodded as she went away from the photo shoot area. She went into the makeup room, where her manager and best friend Anika Tridevi was waiting for her with the next outfit in one hand and her phone in the other.

Most people would end up getting a random person as a manager who knew nothing about them and was super strict. Gauri, however, got lucky and her childhood best friend of 20 years became her manager. Their mothers were best friends and they became besties through their mothers. Anika also got put into the drama school but Anika suffered a serious case of stage fright, so she decided to quit drama and focus her attention on other stuff. Anika was now Gauri's manager....mainly because she gave Gauri no choice but to hire her as a manager. She also was working on starting her own jewellery business. In just a couple of months, All That Glitters was going to be released into the jewellery market.

Gauri: pass me the dress Ani.

Anika: here.

She gave the outfit to Gauri, her eyes still on her phone.

Gauri: what's so important on the phone?

Anika: just giving up on another dating app.

Gauri: which creep tried asking you for pics again?

Anika: a 33 year old called Bhavesh Mehra.

Gauri: stop using dating apps Ani. You know they all end up with you drinking red wine and us watching Love Aaj Kal for the millionth time. Give me your phone. I'm deleting your apps so you don't ever put me through the torture of watching Love Aaj Kal again.

Anika rolled her eyes, giving Gauri her phone. Gauri went to change her outfit then sat down for Anika to style her hair. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that sometimes Anika was Gauri's stylist.

As Anika started to style Gauri's hair, Gauri typed in Anika's phone password then proceeded to delete Tinder, Bumble, Ok Cupid etc. As she deleted the apps....

Anika: what's on your mind?

Gauri: what makes you think that?

Anika: I have known you since we were 1. I know all your moods and I know when there is something on your mind.

Gauri: have we got anything else to do after this Arpita Mehta's photo shoot?

Anika: we got nothing except for red wine and Love Aaj Kal.

Gauri rolled her eyes as Anika finished brushing Gauri's hair and started to straighten Gauri's hair.

Anika: now Ri, what's on your mind?

Gauri sighed as she played with her diamond heart-shaped bracelet that her mother gave her when she was 11.

Anika: do you want to talk about it over hot chocolate and Netflix?

Gauri: you have hot chocolate, I'll have that carrot juice.

Anika: Gauri, we spoke about this. You don't need to diet.

Gauri: fine, let's have hot chocolate then but please no Love Aaj Kal! I beg you!

Anika: hmmm let me think.....no! Now time for that photographer to take some photos in this dress, so stop making that face and go.

Gauri rolled her eyes as she got up and left the makeup room to get clicked once again.

...

Gauri and Anika were at Gauri's place, and they were watching Love Aaj Kal in the comfort of Gauri's room. They did make hot chocolate and whilst Anika was happily relishing her drink, Gauri was taking very small sips from her mug.

Anika: whilst we get through this boring scene, tell me what's up.

Gauri sighed as she took another sip from her mug before speaking: it's been a month since I have won the Filmfare award. I thought that I would be working on a film by now, but I'm not. I'm grateful for all the photoshoots I have done, but...

Anika: you want to prove to those aunties and uncles that you are not a one hit wonder and that you can make it big in Bollywood despite not having a famous surname or a

famous relative.

Gauri: exactly. I started in films at 18 but I was a supporting role till Heer Ranjha. You know sometimes I wish I was like Sara Ali Khan.

She said as Sara Ali Khan on the screen was talking to Karthik Aaryan.

Anika: why though?

Gauri: her dad is no other than Saif Ali Khan, her mother is Amrita Singh, she is the stepdaughter of Kareena Kapoor....she got it so easy in Bollywood.

Anika: yeah I know but Gauri, was she nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Filmfare? No. I know at the moment, you feel upset because I was there when those aunties and uncles at events said you would not succeed in Bollywood and you were just going to end up being an item girl for an item song. But Gauri...good things are coming your way. I promise.

Gauri took another sip of her drink, remembering how after she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, some uncles told her dad not to get his hopes up because Gauri was only a one time wonder.

Anika: waise, did you film the videos of you acting off some of the script pieces I sent you?

Gauri: yeah. I just need my stupid cricket-obsessed brother to transfer the videos on the phone to the laptop so then you can have access to them.

Anika: what is the obsession with cricket in your house?

Gauri: what is the obsession with cricket in India? That's the question and I want an answer.

Anika and Gauri both wondered why people were obsessed with cricket when the TV stopped working.

Gauri: not another power outage....Gaurav bhaiya!

Gauri and Anika kept their mugs to a side before leaving Gauri's room. They had to leave to where Gaurav was, sorting out the electric things, with her father watching him annoyed.

Gauri: what are you guys doing?

Harsh: I got a new home theater system and it blew a fuse. What a cheap gadget! Now Gaurav, hurry up or we'll miss the match!

Gaurav: check it now dad.

Harsh went back inside to see if the TV was working. Gauri and Anika went near Gaurav to see the complicated electric stuff.

Anika: which is the switch for Gauri's room?

Gauri: ewww this electric thingy is so dirty.

Gaurav: why don't you dust it with this wild hair of yours?

He pulled a little of Gauri's hair lightly. Gauri punched his arm and said: go to hell Gaurav bhaiya!

Gaurav: oh hello! Show some respect. I am your older brother.

Gauri: sadly. Now use that stupid electrical engineering degree of yours to some good use!

Just then Harsh came back outside, complaining: yaar the TV in my bedroom isn't working either!

Gauri: We already have four TV sets in our house and you had to install a home theatre. I told you that there was no point in installing a home theatre, but did you listen? No!

Harsh: hey a family that watches TV together stays together. Now Gaurav, hurry up, I need to see Omkara Singh Oberoi make a century.

Gaurav: dad, he is not going to hit any century. Your Omkara Singh Oberoi is just an unworthy cricketer who uses his bat to put the ball on the pitch.

Harsh: he is not an unworthy cricketer. If you think he is, then move out from my house.

Anika: at least he's hot.

Gaurav: good looks don't matter. He is such a bad player.

Harsh: don't make me kick you out of my house.

Gauri looked at Anika, annoyed. Once again her good-for-nothing engineer brother and her father had started to bicker about cricket and the new captain. This was all her family cared about...cricket. Her dad and her two brothers can never stop talking about cricket once the topic has been brought up. Even as a kid, cricket was all those three ever talked about. At least during cricket matches, Sumitra and Anika's mother Anishka would take Gauri and Anika to kid fairs or Juhu Beach or she would take them up to the terrace and they'd play up there. Gauri started zoning out thinking about the good old days before her mother died, when Anika tapped her on the shoulder.

Anika: let's face it...the TV is not going to work anytime soon. Especially with their argument.

Gauri nodded as she heard her brother say to her dad: Amol is better! He is the only cricketer who knows what he is doing.

Harsh: Amol....arre your stupid Amol always gets caught out when trying to play a shot!

Gauri looked at Anika with a pout on her face: can we go to your place? It's just two houses away.

Anika: you have met my family right? Ever since my brother and dad converted my mum to cricketism, my life has never been the same.

Cricketism was a random religion Gauri and Anika made up because of all the cricket obsessed people in their lives.

Gauri: mall?

Anika: mall.

They both went inside to get their purses to go to the mall and spend some time there. Away from the followers of Cricketism.

...

Meanwhile in the West Indies:

It had been one month since Rahul Kapoor's retirement was announced globally and Omkara Singh Oberoi became captain of India's National Team. So how has India's National Team been doing since Om took over as captain? Well....

Reporter: counting today's match, you have lost five consecutive matches Omkara. The Asia's Cup is only two months away...

Om: I also have a calendar. I am sure everything will work out at the right time.

Another reporter: do you think replacing Rahul Kapoor as captain has put you under pressure? I mean you were always known as Centurion Singh Oberoi. But now you're finding it tough to even put your 90s to 100s. Is this some kind of performance anxiety?

Om: performance anxiety? That's below the belt.

Saying that, everyone who was watching him laughed. As Om was dealing with the reporters and their questions, the scene moved to the team's meeting room where one member was throwing a ball in the air and then catching it. Another member picked up a glass of water and looked at the other team members. That member was Amol Khua.

Amol: we lost another match today. We've been pretty consistent, haven't we Jacky?

Jacky stopped throwing the ball and looked at Amol.

Jacky: you know, I feel like I am jinxed. I got out on zero once again. In fact, I blew my lid today and just lost control over myself.

Another man, Harry, spoke: Jacky, my uncle told me that our entire team is jinxed. The only way we can get rid of this evil eye is to feed a hen some fish.

Dev: arre what nonsense are you on about?

He said, making some members laugh.

Harry: it's the truth.

Amol: here's the problem...strategy. You guys treat one day matches like T-20. Jacky, why don't you give Bhavin the strike?

Jacky: Amol, I gave him the strike today.

Bhavin: when? After you played the first 2 overs? I didn't get my rhythm after waiting for so long.

Jacky: what nonsense!

Bhavin: partnership is...

Jacky losing his temper and about to throw the ball at Bhavin: you....

Voice: guys!

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Om, who was done with the interview.

Om: what are we playing? Blame game? Can I also play?

Everyone kept quiet and Om took their silence as a yes.

Om: you know what's wrong with our team? Runs are no longer our priority. All we do now is make excuses. Jacky....he is the Justin Bieber of our team. Every bowler knows that you need to sledge to make Jacky lose his cool then their wicket. And, our Panditji Harry who breaks a coconut before every match.

Harry: it's belief Om. If a coconut breaks in one stroke then it's lucky.

Om: guys, the more you all practice, the luckier you get.

Manas: well said Om.

Om: now everybody, listen....tomorrow we head back to India and we stay there for two months until the Asia Cup to train. No junk food. No lazing about. No curd with sugar. Okay?

Everyone nodded.

Om: great, now hit the showers guys.

The men got up to do as Om told them to do. Amol passed a look at Om before leaving the meeting place. Om sighed and sat on a bench to start thinking. One member of the team, Kartik, noticed Om and came towards him.

Kartik: Om?

Om: bolo Kartik.

Kartik: you're going to be the best Indian captain. Just relax.

Om: that's the one thing I can't do.

Kartik: the breakthrough is coming. Trust me. It's just round the corner.

All Om could do was smile.

Om: thanks yaar. Now go hit the showers.

Kartik nodded and left. Om looked out of the window and started to remember some stuff from his past...

Little Om: one day I will be the captain of India's cricket team.

Random kid: hah! In your dreams! You are terrible at cricket.

...

Tej: what's this Omkara?

Little Om: my essay on what I want to be.

Tej: why did you write that you want to be a cricketer?

Little Om: because I do.

Tej: look Omkara...being a cricketer is not a real job. You are not going to be a cricketer. Do you hear me?

...

Little Om: bhaiya, one day I will be like Kapil Dev.

Little Dhruv: hah you wish! Keep dreaming. Only skilled people can be like Kapil Dev.

...

Tej: you are not going to accept that scholarship.

Om: but dad, this scholarship is going to change my life and make my dream come true.

Tej: why are you still holding on to that little boy dream? No son of mine is becoming a cricketer! It was a mistake letting you play cricket when you was little because all you have now is that stupid fantasy of becoming a cricketer!

...

Jhanvi: Om, please give up that scholarship. You can't be a cricketer. What will people say?

Om snapped out of his past memories. He hated thinking about moments in his past when people would go ahead and discourage his dream of becoming a cricketer. He worked hard to make it to India's National Team and now he was captain, but things haven't been going smoothly.....maybe Kartik was right, maybe the breakthrough was just round the corner. He just had to wait for it to come.

But who knew that all he had to do was wait for the right person to come along...

...

Four days later, Om and the team were back in India. Om was generous to give his team a three days rest break with the condition to control their diets, now the team was at the gym, starting their strict fitness regime. Om was running on the treadmill at high speed, when he heard two of the boys talking as they lifted weights.

Paras: you know my sister made me watch Heer Ranjha yesterday and the main actress Gauri Kumari Sharma....she is so gorgeous.

Vijay: you just noticed? Have you not seen her in Phir Jeena Hai as the therapist? She was gorgeous. I wonder what movie she'll do next.

Paras: yeah well whatever movie she does next, we're booking tickets to it.

Om smacked his forehead as he slowed down on the treadmill to say: Vijay, Paras, stop talking about some actress and focus on the weights.

Paras and Vijay: yes captain.

Om: good.

With that said, he increased the speed on the treadmill.

...

Anika: Gauri?

Gauri: bolo.

Anika: when my jewellery business starts, mind doing a photoshoot wearing my jewellery?

Gauri: of course Anu, as long as you pay me with these gorgeous jhumkas.

She said, lifting up a pair of diamond and emerald jhumkas.

Anika: of course. Now put it down.

Gauri made a pout as she kept the jumkas down. What were these two doing? Well they were just working on more of Anika's jewellery collection. Gauri gave Anika no other choice but to let her help with the jewellery. Besides, Gauri was done with a photoshoot, so she needed something to do.

Gauri: which song should I put on?

Anika: Sooraj Dooba Hain.

Gauri: good choice and....

The voice of Arjit Singh started to fill the room the girls were in. As the song played, Gauri and Anika started keeping some of the jewellery in the lilac purple gift boxes that Anika purchased the other day. As she did so, Anika got an email notification on her professional account that she uses for offers for her bestie. She stopped keeping the jewellery in the boxes, and checked the email that she got.

Anika: Gauri, you continue doing as I told you to do. I just got to call someone.

Gauri nodded and Anika stood up to go to a little bit of a quieter place.

Anika: hi Mr Parvathy Nair. Yes I am Anika Tridevi, Gauri Kumari Sharma's manager. Okay. Okay. Really? I'll let her know. Thank you. Yes I will call you back to let you know her decision. OKay. You also have a good day. Bye.

She cut her phone and went back to the room where the song had changed to Titliyan. Anika went towards the table and picked up Gauri's phone, pausing the song.

Gauri: hey I was enjoying that song!

Anika: good to know. Now I am acting like your manager, and as your manager...I got something important to tell you.

Gauri: go on.

...

After a long, exhausting gym session; Om was driving back to his apartment. As he drove, his phone started ringing. His manager Armaan Khurana was calling him. Knowing that he couldn't ignore his call, Om set the phone to hand-free bluetooth call mode.

Om: yes Armaan?

Armaan: I have something for you to do and since I am your manager, you have no choice but to do it.

Om: I honestly love how you use your power as my manager to make me do whatever.

Armaan: I love having power.

Om: of course you do, now what do I have to do?

Armaan: being your amazing manager, I signed you up for an ad shoot.

Om: okay, what's the brand?

Armaan: Cadbury Silk and oh you will have a co-star.

Om: who's gonna be my co-star?

...

Anika: I got you an ad shoot with Cadbury Silk!

Gauri: omg I love their ads.

Anika: and now you will be starring in one with the one and only, the ever so handsome, India's heart throb....

Gauri interrupting: get to the point.

Anika opened her mouth to say the name of the co-star, and what she said made Gauri roll her eyes.

Gauri: I am starring with the man that my dad and two brothers won't shut up about.

Anika: hey, girls would give up their two arms just to stand next to Omkara Singh Oberoi.

Gauri: I really don't get why girls are obsessed with cricketers' looks.

Anika: because even if cricket is a stupid sport, the players are actually hot. Now you are going to do the ad shoot and maybe don't tell your dad who your co-star is else....

Gauri knew what would happen if she did tell her dad she would be staring in an ad with his favourite cricket player. Her dad would go even more cricket crazy than he already was.

Gauri: at least I get to do an ad with my favourite chocolate brand.

Anika: yup. Now I am just going to call Mr Nair and confirm that you are doing the ad.

Gauri nodded as she unpaused the song.

...

Om: so I'm doing the ad with Gauri Kumari Sharma?

Armaan: yeah, so I am sending you an address. Come to that address tomorrow.

Om: okay. Anything else?

Armaan: I got a new diet plan for you. I am emailing you your diet plan which you are going to follow from tomorrow. Okay?

Om: yes Armaan, I will.

Armaan: and that's all I have to tell you for now. Bye. Have a good day.

Om: you too. Bye.

Armaan cut the phone and Om reached his apartment building.

Om in mind: Gauri Kumari Sharma....isn't that the actress Paras and Vijay were on about? Oh yeah it was. Hopefully she's not like the other actresses I've shot with who are uptight and think they are better than everyone else.

How was this guys???

Sorry for not updating but like I said, updates are on the way. I hope you all liked this and yes a lot of the cricketers' names were made up. But I hope you all will like Rikara's first meet in the next chapter :)

Target: 20+ votes and 10+ comments