~ARJUN~

I am standing in front of the cricket board building at 11 in the morning and praying my stars to favor me today .

Dear lord ,

I know we don't hang out much nor we see other but I am your fan . You see you are the God up stairs but here they call me cricket God back on earth so we are just the same , homies . If you make this day smooth I will visit you personally.

With a sigh I enter into the building and ride to elevator for top floor .

Arjun, knock this time . I don't want to be insulted like the last time . Here I go for nothing .

I knock the door and open it after hearing her call me in . How does she do that ? Basic pants and blazer yet so sexy . Her hair have become my fantasy . Long and shiny , spread out on my pillow. Gear to reverse !

" 10 minutes late " Here's the snapping queen .

" I call it fashionably late " I walk towards the chair beside her . She is sitting at the head of the table , I turn my chair to face her .

" I am not going to respect that sentence by asking what it means . Do you have any idea about how you are stuck in a deep dug hole and including today we have 18 days to prove your innocence or say tata to your England tour or cricket as a matter of fact " she says giving me a sly , mocking smile .

" I am innocent until proven guilty. "

I state with a sharp tone .

" Saw a movie and learned that . " He rests her face on her fist as she looks at me .

" I want to know about the questionable party where this good for nothing tongue spoke too much " She opens the file and goes through it .

" That one was amazing"

" You remember what did you talk about that night " still looking at the papers.

" Let me guess . Cricket, cars . Yup. That's about it "

" What were your exact lines when you discussed cricket "

" I guess I missed one part . I had a few glasses of wine soo " I tap my hands on the thighs .

" Anything just give me something " She finally looks up and there is a frustrating look on her face .

" Ok . I do remember playing cricket there and breaking a hanging light . You know I love long shots . I remember boasting myself and I guess between the boasting and me breaking some more glasses , bottles and lights that uncontroversial conversation must have happened "

" This mouth of your's can't help me with anything "

I BEG TO DIFFER

" What was the venue? I forgot where was it ? " she again starts going through the papers .

" Its was a new place my brother opened . Can't remember what was its name " Karn has a hell lot of places, I am sure he has no idea what are half of those places called .

" You wrecked your brother's new place on the day of opening. Why am I not shocked? " she says feigning innocence.

" Don't worry about it . He took money to compensate the damage which could get him an apartment in south Delhi "

" Rich people . Now , let's go there to pickup your memory. The man who reported it wants to keep his identity hidden so after you give me something I'll see how it is any different or similar it is to his story " She stands to pick up the files .

I am still seated .

She raises an eyebrow and looks down at me .

" I'll take care of the tickets " I take out my phone and message my manager to arrange two tickets for Mumbai.

" Tickets ? Does that place have an entry system? " She looks cute with her scrunched nose and creased forehead.

" You are with me so from the entry to everything you have there is on the house . I guess the board will take care of the travelling expenses"

" 500 hundred worth of car oil , no thanks "

" Why not make it 5000 or maybe more given that it is last moment "

" Where is that place ?"

" Mumbai "

" This gets worse every passing day "

" Don't worry . We can take my jet and we will be back before you know it. Let me message my manager" I start typing and my fingers stop when I hear her deafening voice .

" YOU HAVE A JETTT . AN AIRPLANE "

Her eyes look like they might pop out any minute. I wonder how she will react when she finds out our real estate , well me and karn do equally but it would have not made an diffrence if karn solely owned it . That ass hoards my money and expensive things which would be equivalent to economy of a small country .

" I am pretty sure your fist can fit into your mouth " I am trying to supress my smile .

She closes it and composes herself again .

" I am sorry for such a childlike behaviour. I am not habitual of hearing things like that on a regular basis "

" Make it a habit " I say with a smile and I sure as hell mean it .

" Why " I can see the confusion on her face .

" You forget 18 days more "

"You plan on keeping me in air for the whole time "

" I got no problem if you want to " I say shrugging off

I get my manager's clearance. I jet will be ready in 2 hours .

" Jet will be ready in 2 hours . Which means we have some time to kill . Let's grab some lunch "

" uhh I don't think it should be good . Why don't I head back to my place and meet you at the airport "

" Why not ? Save environment my lord . Travelling and buring non-renewable resource , car pool . Is that enough? Should I keep going " I say and move my hand making a forward gesture .

" I am not a child who is yet to study environmental science. I know what that means and I get you " She says all annoyed.

" Okk . Shall we ? " I bow down .

" I like you better this way " And with that she walks like someone who who owns evevthing and I'm just a slave.

I am at rock bottom again .

We reach the bottom floor , I guide her towards my car .

" I know just the place. Though I make sure I go there once in 3 months but I can make an exception for you "

" I am flattered. Also , would you sign the Jersey I own? "

Fake sweetness.

" Only of your wear it " . Two can play this game .

"Just drive ok "

I am a typical delhi guy . I would prefer chandni choks chole tikki over anything . I park my car somewhat away from the main area . I can't butcher my car . This car will come our of a different color if I take it in .

" Chandini chowk ? "

I give her an obvious expression and turn around to take out a hoodie from the back seat and put on my glasses . Once I wear it I turn to her .

" Do I look like a handsome cricket like I always do " I ask her grinning like a Cheshire cat .

" You think you look handsome? That too all the time . Aren't you arrogant?"

" We can have this argument when we board the jet but for now , do I look normal? "

" Wait " She starts digging into her bag . Man, no wonder if she has her whole dressing it that thing .

" Here let me "

She dabs her hand all over my hoodie leaving weird marks .

" Some powder . Now even if someone is trying to figure out your face this won't give it away . They would think you are some weird person with a dirty hoodie on in summer "

She got brains .

We walk into the congested market.

Kiara refused to hold my hand but when the crowd got too much she grabbed my upper arm with both her hands .

I spot the small shop in an alley and point it out to Kiara. We move towards it and get seated . I take a seat on the long table with my legs on both the sides .

" You come here " I can see she's shocked. Why would someone like me come here at a stop which ends in two steps.

" Me and my brother have been coming here since forever "

Two bowls of chole tikkis are placed in front of us . We don't wait any further and dig in .

" This is so good " . Don't moan kiaraaaaaaaaaaa .

" I told you "

" don't people recognise you "

" When I was new in the team then It was ok . I would come here often and few people would recognise me as the new number 5 . I got better at it and took the prominent spot 3 . I can't eat this stuff and it got hard to enjoy it as freely as I could before "

"Doesn't it get hard . I mean this overwhelming attention. You can't breathe without worrying that people would know its you and haunt you for pictures and autographs "

" It felt amazing at first . People know you , they cheer for you but slowly they start crawling into your personal life and that is where I draw the line . I don't want newspapers to report which girl I was with last night or my family which is just one person ,still the reporters hound me " . I say chuckling.

" What do you mean by one person ? "

She looks at me all confused .

" My parents died when I was young . I only have karn who is not my real brother but someone better than that and the centre of my universe . Did that come out as gayish ? " I try to lighten the mood because I can see her face falling .

" I am sorry . I was being nosy . "

" It was a long time ago . I am not alone, karn is my family. "

" Well, just so you know you do sound like you have a not so platonic relation with karn " . She says with a smile .

" You are not the first to think that "

We finish our food and walk back to our car . We were walking and kiara abruptly stops and touches my arm .

She points out at something above and says , "Is that you? "

OH NO THE SPICEES AD .

I scratch my neck and make a hmm sound .

She steps in front of me . I can say she's trying hard not to laugh.

" Why are you shirtless in an apron which you have wore like a cape "

" Nice pay . Ohh look at that we have only an hour left we better hurry "

I turn her around and start walking fast .

" Hey ! Don't be embarrassed. I am sure that's the new way of wearing an apron "

We reach my car and I open the door for her . I get into my seat and start driving .

" I have too look at the hoardings with much attention now "

She was telling herself that .

I just smile .