You Belong With Me

Prologue

In the heart of Wankhede Stadium, Vanshika sauntered in with her partner-in-crime, Shreyas. Single for what felt like eons, Vanshika's mate decided it was high time to shake things up. So, he whisked her to the center of the action, where cricket players were sweating it out on the field.

"Vinni, take a gander. All these guys are flying solo," Shreyas prodded, sweeping his arm towards the players. "I'll do the talking, and they'll be begging for a date with you in no time."

Perusing the field, Vanshika's gaze landed on a chap fiddling with the bails-not the wicketkeeper, mind you, but someone adjacent. "That one," she declared without hesitation.

Following her line of sight, Shreyas couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, Sunny, the wicketkeeper?"

Vanshika shook her head. "Nah, not the keeper. The guy next to him, fiddling with the bail."

Shreyas tracked her vision and froze. Lo and behold, there stood their coach, Mr. Rahul Dravid, fine-tuning the bail with finesse. Taken aback, Shreyas muttered, "You like him?"

Unfazed, Vanshika met his gaze squarely. "Absolutely!"

Rahul, a paragon of fine masculinity, had once been hailed as the nation's heartthrob in his prime. Every woman of a certain vintage had harbored a crush on him at some point.

But Vanshika wasn't privy to these statistics; she was a newcomer to the cricketing scene. She had crossed paths with Shreyas just a month prior at Starbucks. Their initial chat had stemmed from Shreyas forgetting his wallet, leaving Vanshika to foot the bill. Since then, they had become fast friends, bonding over Shreyas's mental struggles, with Vanshika offering her expertise as a psychiatrist.

It had only been a week since she'd started watching cricket, barely knowing any players besides Shreyas and a few big names like Virat, Rohit, and Shubman. Yet, when tasked with picking a potential date, she found herself drawn to the 45-year-old mentor. Age didn't matter to her; if he was single and ready to mingle, why not?

But Shreyas wasn't sold on the idea. "You can't date him," he protested.

Vanshika shot him a defiant look. "Why not? You haven't even asked him. Let him speak for himself, at least."

Shreyas scrambled to explain, "Vinni, listen, he's our coach, not just a teammate. And he's 15 years older than you. It's not practical."

"Firstly, stop reminding me that I'm 30 and supposedly need to get hitched soon," Vanshika retorted. "And secondly, age is just a number. If he's willing and able, who cares?"

Shreyas sighed, "He's probably not even single. And even if he is, he's not into relationships."

"What if he's waiting for the right person?" Vanshika persisted.

Shreyas raised an eyebrow. "And you think that's you?"

Vanshika giggled, but before the debate could continue, they were interrupted by a voice: "Are you here for a stroll in the garden?"

Startled, Shreyas turned to find their coach standing behind him. Vanshika's lips curled into a smile.

"No, sir. I was just suggesting Vanshika take a seat to avoid getting hit by the ball," Shreyas explained hastily.

As Rahul glanced over at Vanshika, she extended her hand with a friendly smile, introducing herself as Shreyas' friend. "Hello, I'm Vanshika. Nice to meet you," she said cheerfully.

Returning the smile, Rahul shook her hand warmly. "Likewise, Vanshika. Take a seat over there," he gestured towards an empty bench nearby.

Sauntering over to the bench, Vanshika shot a wink at Shreyas, silently urging him to initiate the conversation about the date with Rahul. However, Shreyas seemed oblivious, engrossed in his team's activities.

After some intense net practice for about ten minutes, Rahul headed towards the same bench where Vanshika was seated, grabbing his water bottle. He took a refreshing sip and settled down, wiping away his sweat with a towel. Vanshika observed him intently, marveling at how effortlessly youthful and attractive he appeared. "Seriously, how does he manage to look this good?" she wondered to herself. Rahul seemed to be in top form - fit, handsome, and with an impressive set of skills. Yet, surprisingly, he was single, or at least that's what the public knew. Vanshika pondered over the possible reasons behind his solitary status. Was he secretly a villain behind closed doors? Or perhaps he simply hadn't encountered his perfect match among the many girls he'd met.

Lost in her musings, Vanshika was jolted back to reality when Rahul interrupted her thoughts with a teasing remark, "I hope I'm not too much of a sight."

She grinned, caught red-handed. "The handsome ones are always oblivious to their charm, unaware of the hearts they disarm."

Impressed, Rahul chuckled. "So, you're into poetry and all?"

Vanshika shrugged, smiling coyly. "Only when the occasion calls for it."

Rahul blushed, not accustomed to such flattery. Vanshika couldn't help but notice the pure innocence gleaming in Rahul's eyes. It was as clear as day - Rahul wasn't the villainous type. Maybe he just hadn't stumbled upon his soulmate yet, which seemed like the only plausible explanation for why this prime catch of a bachelor was still riding solo at the ripe old age of 45!

Their conversation kicked off with Rahul's curiosity piqued. "I don't recall seeing you around with Shreyas before," he quizzed, his eyebrows doing a little dance of intrigue.

Vanshika met his gaze head-on, her response dripping with nonchalance. "Oh, Shreyas and I hit it off about a month ago. It was only later that I discovered his status as an international cricket sensation, courtesy of an autograph-seeking fan. Just a newbie in the India scene, you know. Trending celebrities aren't exactly my forte."

Rahul, with his sharp eye for detail, couldn't help but point out, "But you look Indian, don't you?" And indeed, Vanshika fit the bill perfectly with her flowing mane and warm complexion.

A pause lingered before Vanshika divulged, "Native Indian, yes, but raised in Virginia."

"Virginia?" Rahul echoed, his tone carrying a hint of something deeper, like a chord struck in his soul. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted, a blend of wistfulness and hidden pain swirling in his voice, though he tried to mask it with a faint smile. "I've always wanted to visit Virginia, you know. Just never found the time or opportunity."

Vanshika couldn't help but notice the change in Rahul's aura. His longing for Virginia seemed palpable, almost like a lost connection reignited. "Well, when Shreyas is free, I'll be sure to drag him along. And you, of course," she offered with a smile, hoping to unravel the mystery behind Rahul's sudden vulnerability.

But alas, before they could delve further into the enigma of Rahul's Virginia dreams, a player called him for some batting wisdom, leaving Vanshika with unanswered questions and a promise of future adventures.