MAHIRA'S POV:
The next one week was spent in shopping for appropriate outfits and winding up my work at my previous office, which I am still associated with by the way. They all knew about my most recent association with BCCI and I got the whole celebrity treatment by my friends.
Last night it was MI vs RCB at Chepauk which RCB won so easily. Typical MI, start of the tournament by a defeat. I was there in the office last night, saw the match from there only. But tonight gotta wind up every broadcast and promotional activities at the office and them I'll be attending the match at Wankhede. Internally I'm screaming. Outside, I have to keep calm. I'm gonna be seeing The Mahendra Singh Dhoni tonight. Can't emphasize that enough for more weightage but it means the world to me. And I also need a certain permission from Saurav Sir for tonight. And that's what I am anticipating for in my cabin right now. I have sent someone to check whether he can meet me rn or not.
"Ma'am, you can go and meet him.", That man said to me breaking my chain of thoughts.
"Thankyou!", I said and left immediately.
I looked at myself up to down when standing infront of his cabin. And took a few deep breaths. Still gets me nervous. Talking to him. And I knocked.
"Come in!"
"Good afternoon sir.", I said walking in.
"Good morning Miss Singhania, what brought you here!", He said pointing to the chair infront and with a generous smile.
"Sir actually I need to ask you something.", I said rubbing the back of my neck with a sly smile.
"By all means.", He said, encouraging me to continue.
"I know its very early and it's gonna be the first game that I'll attend as your team but can I ask for a favour?", Still hesitating.
"Ofcourse. What is it?", He said looking down at the papers.
"Sir can I attend the match from CSK's side. I want to cheer for my favourite team.", I said looking down. And he was looking at me with a smile that was difficult to read.
"Ofcourse you can Mahira. You can see the match from whatever stand you want , with whosoever you want and from which ever team's side you want.", He said with the most genuine smile ever making my heart swell in happiness.
"You don't know how much that means to me sir. Thankyou So Much.", I said in a little more excited tone than usual. He chuckled.
"You're a CSK fan then. Good choice.", He said.
"I know. I love CSK and MSD, we're neighbours you know. He from Ranchi me from Jamshedpur.", I said jumping a little which I know I'll regret later and he was smiling at my antics.
"Good luck seeing your neighbour tonight. Go and meet him definitely before or after the match. He'll be happy to meet you.", He added making me more happy.
"Sure sir. Thanks. You just made my day.", I said and left the room.
My excitement knew no bounds, I packed my backpack and dressed up in the best clothes. I put on my mask and sat in the car which was standing outside the office, 2 more people were there. It was 7:15, the toss had already happened, won by DC who decided to bowl first. We drove to Wankhede and I went straight to Saurav Ganguly sir. He told me where I can find the people who are there for CSK.
I composed myself, and ready to introduce myself as maybe a lot of them won't know me, it's only been a week since I've started working forn BCCI.
I went from inside, and saw a lot of people from CSK's team management sitting in the upper seats they all greeted me with smiles, very sweetly. And told me to go and sit in the lower front seats with the ladies i.e, the families of the players. I was so surprised and so happy by how kindly they treated me. South Indian people would always amaze you by their kind gestures. I've experienced this generosity everytime I went to South.
As I walked further, I couldn't see a lot of families sitting there due to covid Ofcourse. Rivaba Jadeja was there, and Archana Gautham (Krishnappa Gowtham's wife), with sheetal ma'am (Robin Uthappa's wife). Sakshi and Priyanka weren't there. Poor luck.
"Hey", I greeted them slowly.
"Hello!", Riva turned back and looked at me with a smile. They didn't know me ofc.
"Sit sit!", Sheetal touched my hand and gestured me to sit. I sat between her and Riva. Time to use my communication skills.
"So I know you three must be thinking who I am'", I said with a chuckle and they looked at me with smiling eyes.
"I'm Mahira, and I'm a part of BCCI's management team. I have come to the match as their team member. But since I'm like the biggest CSK fan, in requested saurav ganguly sir to let me watch the match from CSK's side as a part of CSK, and he agreed.", I said, or maybe squealed a bit in the last part.
"Welcome to the family Mahira, it's quite lonely here, nice to see a female face.", Riva said patting my hands with the most genuine smile.
"Thanks so much.... What should I call you?", I asked the three of them.
"Ummm...... You can call us by our names", Archana spoke for the first time.
"Uh", I was hesitating a bit.
"Call us Di, or Bhabhi", Sheetal said.
"Nice!", Riva added.
"Okay, I'll call you all bhabhi because, then if I'm gonna call your husbands bhai,and you di, it's gonna be weird.", I said chuckling and we all started laughing.
A boy came and handed me the flag of CSK. And Riva bhabhi put a yellow CSK band around my wrist. I was a part of their CSK family now. As they said.
The match started, Csk lost two early wickets of both the openers. And I could feel the heaviness around me.
Then Suresh Raina came to bat, we all swaying our flags for his comeback and indeed he played .He was playing brilliantly along side moeen ali. They were smashing sixes and fours all over. Then came Ravi Ashwin, Moeen ali hit two sixes in his over but he went for a third one and the ball was caught by Shikhar Dhawan.
"What do you think Bhabhi?", I said holding Riva bhabhi's hand.
"Why is my husband not coming?", She said making both of us laugh.
Ambati Rayudu came to bat and he was doing a decent job as well. And in the mean time Raina was no less, he completed his half century with a Six in Stoinis's over and we were jumping and laughing and clapping from the stand, the stadium would have roared if fans would have been here.
In the next over Tom Currans csk lost rayudu, then came Ravindra Jadeja and started smashing fours. Riva Bhabhi was very happy and she was cheering for him so much. It was such a beautiful site to see. And I was also jumping with her.
In the next over we lost Suresh Raina, MSD came in and went out on 0. I was crying internally, I wanted to see him on the field batting more. Sam Curran came in and boundaries started again, both Jadeja and him were killing it. Sam was hitting sixes and managed 23, runs in an over of his brother Tom Curran. And we scored a 188 after 20 overs which DC had to chase now.
To everyone reading this, guys please don't be such silent readers. If y'all don't vote or comment I start feeling like I'm not good enough and this and then eventually I stop writing. Please if you are reading this, try to appreciate my work and if you don't like it or if you want improvements you can say that as well. Just don't keep me in the blue.
I genuinely want to know how you people feel about this story. Please let me know guys🥺🥺. Please. Stay safe❤️
