As Abhishek immersed himself in the virtual world of PlayStation, the familiar sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the air around him, transporting him to a realm where he could temporarily escape the pressures of reality.

"Abhay! Keep the volume down!" His sister, Dr. Komal Sharma yelled from her spot on the couch. She was scrolling on her phone screen reading medical stuff.

"Can't hear you!" Abhishek laughed "I couldn't hear you over the sound of victory!".

Komal rolled her eyes playfully, a fond smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Very funny, Abhay. But seriously, I have a patient consultation in the next room, and I need some peace and quiet."

"Alright, alright, I'll keep it down," Abhishek relented, lowering the volume of the game with a mock sigh. "But only because you're the best sister ever."

Komal chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "You're lucky I love you, Abhay. Now, if you'll excuse me, duty calls."

As Komal disappeared into the adjacent room, Abhishek returned his focus to the game, his competitive spirit reignited as he navigated through the virtual battlefield with renewed determination.

Abhishek decided he played enough because his eyes were straining. "I need to touch grass," he muttered to himself. As Abhishek stepped outside, the cool breeze of Chandigarh brushed against his face, a welcome relief from the confines of his gaming room. With a sense of liberation, he made his way to the mailbox, eager to break free from the digital realm and reconnect with the world outside.

He went outside, but first, he checked his mailbox. Rifling through the pile of mail, Abhishek's eyes skimmed over the various envelopes, most of them bearing his sister's name and filled with the mundane paperwork of her medical practice. But one envelope stood out among the rest, its bold letters spelling out "BCCI" in all caps.

With trembling hands, Abhishek tore open the envelope, his pulse racing with anticipation. His eyes scanned the contents of the letter, his breath catching in his throat as he absorbed the words written on the page.

"Abhay, what's taking you so long? Did you find something interesting in the mail?" Komal's voice floated from the doorway, curiosity evident in her tone.

Abhishek looked up, his face breaking into an incredulous grin as he held up the letter for his sister to see. "Komal, you won't believe this! It's from the BCCI-I've been selected as a travel reserve for the T20 World Cup!"

Komal's eyes widened in disbelief as she rushed over to Abhishek's side, her hands reaching for the letter to confirm its contents. "Oh my God, Abhay, that's incredible! I'm so proud of you!"

Abhishek's chest swelled with pride at his sister's words, his excitement bubbling over as he realized the magnitude of this opportunity. "I know, right? This is like a dream come true!"

As the reality of his selection sank in, Abhishek's mind raced with possibilities, his thoughts already turning to the journey that lay ahead. And as he eagerly searched through the mailbox once more, his heart skipped a beat when his fingers brushed against a familiar package.

With eager anticipation, Abhishek carefully tore open the package bearing the unmistakable insignia of the BCCI. His hands trembled with excitement as he pulled out the contents-a crisp, new jersey emblazoned with the number 4, his number.

"Wow, this is it," Abhishek murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the fabric of the jersey reverently. "I can't believe this is actually happening."

Komal watched from the doorway, her eyes shining with pride as she observed her brother's reaction. "It's real, Abhay. You're living your dream."

Abhishek nodded, a mixture of emotions swirling within him as he held the jersey close to his chest. "Yeah, it's surreal. But I'm ready for this. I'm ready to represent my country on the world stage."

Komal smiled, her voice filled with unwavering support. "You're going to make us all proud, Abhay. Just remember to stay true to yourself and enjoy every moment of this journey."

Abhishek nodded, a determined glint in his eyes as he draped the jersey over his shoulders, the weight of his dreams settling comfortably upon him. "I will, Komal. I promise."

With the jersey as a tangible reminder of the journey that lay ahead, Abhishek felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination coursing through his veins. And as he looked towards the future, he knew that he was ready to embrace whatever challenges and triumphs awaited him on the path to greatness.

Excited to share his news with his family, Abhishek bounded into the living room where his parents, elder sister Sania, brother Vikram, and Sania's adorable four-year-old daughter Amyra were gathered.

"Hey everyone, gather around!" Abhishek called out, his voice brimming with excitement.

His family turned towards him, their faces lighting up with anticipation as they sensed his excitement.

"What's up, champ?" his father asked, a proud smile gracing his face.

Abhishek beamed as he held up the BCCI envelope and the jersey. "Guess what? I've been selected as a travel reserve for the T20 World Cup!"

His mother gasped in delight, clasping her hands together in joy. "Oh Abhay, that's wonderful news!"

Sania's eyes widened with excitement as she rushed over to hug her brother tightly. "I knew you could do it, Abhay! We're all so proud of you!"

Vikram clapped Abhishek on the back, his expression filled with pride. "Congratulations, little bro. You've worked hard for this moment."

And as Amyra toddled over, her eyes wide with curiosity, Abhishek scooped her up into his arms, her giggles filling the room with infectious joy.

"Look, Amyra, Uncle Abhay's going to play cricket for India!" Sania exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Amyra's eyes lit up with wonder as she gazed at her uncle, her tiny hands reaching out to touch the jersey. "Uncle Abhay play cricket?"

Abhishek chuckled, his heart swelling with love for his family. "That's right, Amyra. Uncle Abhay's going to play cricket for India."

In that moment, surrounded by the love and support of his family, Abhishek felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and happiness. And as they celebrated together, he knew that no matter where his cricketing journey took him, he would always carry the unwavering love and support of his family with him every step of the way.

Excited to share his news with his friends, Abhishek dialed Shubman and Ishan's numbers, his heart pounding with anticipation as he waited for them to pick up.

"Hey, Abhay! What's up?" Shubman's voice came through the phone, filled with warmth and excitement.

"Shubman, you won't believe it-I've been selected as a travel reserve for the T20 World Cup!" Abhishek exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Shubman's voice erupted with excitement. "No way, that's amazing, Abhay! Congratulations! Guess what? I've been selected too!"

Abhishek's heart swelled with pride for his friend. "That's incredible, Shubman! We're going to represent our country together!"

As they shared their excitement over the phone, Abhishek's thoughts turned to Ishan. He hesitated for a moment before mustering up the courage to broach the subject.

"Hey, Ishan, are you there?" Abhishek asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"Yeah, I'm here," Ishan replied quietly, his tone subdued.

Abhishek's heart sank as he realized the implications of Ishan's somber tone. "Ishan, what's wrong? Why so quiet?"

There was a heavy sigh on the other end of the line before Ishan spoke again. "I didn't make the cut, Abhay. I wasn't selected for the T20 World Cup."

Abhishek felt a pang of guilt wash over him as he realized that while he and Shubman were celebrating their success, Ishan was grappling with disappointment. "I'm so sorry, Ishan. I wish things had turned out differently."

Ishan shrugged, trying to mask his disappointment with forced nonchalance. "It's okay, Abhay. It's just how it goes sometimes."

But Abhishek could hear the strain in Ishan's voice, the underlying disappointment that he couldn't quite conceal. "Ishan, I know it's tough, but remember, you're still an incredible cricketer. This doesn't define you."

There was a brief silence on the line before Ishan spoke again, his voice filled with a hint of gratitude. "Thanks, Abhay. I appreciate that."

Abhishek smiled, determined to lift his friend's spirits. "Hey, cheer up, buddy. We'll make sure to bring back the trophy for you, okay?"

Ishan chuckled softly, the sound a balm to Abhishek's ears. "Deal. I'll be cheering you guys on from the sidelines."

And as they bid each other goodbye, Abhishek couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination to make his friend proud. Whether on the field or off, their bond remained unbreakable, a testament to the true meaning of friendship.

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As Ishika lounged in her room, her mind consumed with thoughts of her brother Virat's upcoming journey to the T20 World Cup, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from her friend Vikram Sharma.

"Hey Vikram, what's up?" Ishika greeted him warmly, a smile playing on her lips as she answered the call.

"Hey Ishika, not much, just catching up on some work. How about you?" Vikram replied, his voice filled with genuine affection.

"Oh, you know, just relaxing at home. Excited to see Virat off for the World Cup," Ishika said, her excitement palpable.

Vikram chuckled, the sound echoing through the phone. "Ah, the big brother is off to conquer the world again, huh? He's lucky to have such a supportive sister like you."

Ishika smiled at the compliment, feeling a swell of pride for her brother. "Thanks, Vikram. Yeah, he's worked hard for this opportunity."

The conversation flowed effortlessly between them, weaving through topics of life, work, and family. But amidst the laughter and camaraderie, Vikram couldn't help but mention his younger brother.

"You know, Ishika, I've been meaning to introduce you to my brother, Abhishek. He's a cricketer too, just like Virat," Vikram said, his tone laced with enthusiasm.

Ishika's ears perked up at the mention of Abhishek's name, a flicker of recognition sparking in her mind. "Abhishek? I feel like I've heard that name before..."

Vikram laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Yeah, he's quite the rising star in the cricketing world. I keep telling him he should meet you sometime. I think you two would get along really well."

As they continued to chat, Ishika couldn't shake the feeling that she had crossed paths with Abhishek before, though she couldn't quite place where or when. But one thing was certain-she was intrigued by the prospect of meeting him, and perhaps uncovering the mystery behind their connection.

ishika.kohli just posted!

liked by virat.kohli, vikramsharma, anushkasharma, athiyashetty, klrahul, and 309,432 others

i can buy myself flowers 💐

453 comments

virat.kohli huh

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username r u single?

➥ virat.kohli yo. dont touch her

vikramsharma it's giving slay baddie (she taught me this)

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➥ unicornsandcats hey isn't this @abhisheksharma4's brother?

Ishika's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as she clicked on the tag that led her to Abhishek Sharma's Instagram page. Her eyes widened in shock as she scrolled through his posts, recognizing the familiar face that had captured her attention at the café.

"Wow, it's really him," Ishika muttered to herself, her mind reeling with disbelief. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the prospect of finally unraveling the mystery behind their chance encounter.

But as she hesitated over the follow button, a voice of doubt crept into her mind. "Shut up, Ishika, it's just a boy," she chided herself, her fingers hovering uncertainly over the screen. "And if Virat is involved, then it will only get crazier."

Taking a deep breath, Ishika closed the app and set her phone aside, her thoughts swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. Whether it was fate or mere coincidence that had brought Abhishek into her life, one thing was certain-this unexpected connection had the potential to change everything. And as she contemplated the possibilities that lay ahead, Ishika couldn't help but wonder if she was ready to take the leap into the unknown, or if she would let fear hold her back from discovering what could be the greatest adventure of her life.

Ishika's curiosity got the better of her as she found herself reaching for her phone once again, her fingers trembling slightly as she reopened Instagram. With a quick tap, she navigated to Abhishek's profile and scrolled through his recent posts, her heart racing with anticipation.

As she landed on his most recent post, her breath caught in her throat. The image before her was captivating, showcasing Abhishek's infectious smile and the unmistakable glint of determination in his eyes. The caption beneath the photo hinted at the excitement of his upcoming journey to the T20 World Cup, filling Ishika with a sense of awe and admiration.

"He's really going to represent India on the world stage," Ishika whispered to herself, her eyes glued to the screen.

But amidst the flurry of emotions swirling within her, a small voice of doubt nagged at the back of her mind. "What are you doing, Ishika? You barely know him," she admonished herself, her fingers hesitating over the like button.

Yet, despite her reservations, Ishika couldn't deny the pull she felt towards Abhishek-a magnetic attraction that seemed to transcend logic and reason. And as she stared at the screen, captivated by his image, she couldn't help but wonder if this chance encounter was the beginning of something extraordinary-or if it was simply a fleeting moment in the vast tapestry of life.

Lost in her thoughts, Ishika closed her eyes briefly, taking a moment to steel herself for what lay ahead. Whether she chose to follow him or not, one thing was certain-Abhishek Sharma had captured her attention in a way she never expected, and she was eager to discover where this newfound connection might lead.

Ishika repeated the familiar words to herself, a mantra instilled by her brother Virat echoing in her mind. "If a boy enters your life, push him away," she murmured, the advice serving as a protective shield against the vulnerability of opening her heart to someone new.

It was a lesson Virat had imparted to her countless times, his overprotective nature fueling his desire to shield her from heartache and disappointment. And though Ishika understood his intentions were rooted in love and concern, she couldn't help but wonder if perhaps she was missing out on the possibility of something beautiful by adhering so strictly to his words.

But as she glanced at Abhishek's Instagram profile once more, her resolve wavered, torn between the safety of her brother's advice and the undeniable pull she felt towards the enigmatic cricketer. With a sigh, Ishika closed the app and set her phone aside, the weight of uncertainty settling in her chest.

For now, she would heed Virat's words and keep her distance, guarding her heart against the potential for pain. But deep down, Ishika couldn't shake the feeling that Abhishek Sharma had already managed to slip past her defenses, leaving an indelible mark on her soul-a reminder that sometimes, the greatest risks were worth taking, even if they led to the unknown.

tea time with Tia!

Hey guyss! So that was the second chapter

Anyways Vikram is fictional in this book, he isn't real.

- Abhishek got selected!!! If this happened in real life tho omg I would go to his match (cus i live in america)

- Ishika acting like a stalker stalking Abhi on insta

- Sometimes Virat is being a little too overprotective... not in real life tho

Anyways thanks for reading this chapter!

- Yours truly, Tia