A tale of love ,
A tale of healing ,
A tale of trust ,
A tale of discoveries ,
Nothing changed, yet she felt the loss,
But you can't lose something that never was yours
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Started - 11th April 2024
1K reads- 3rd...
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It was break time.
Shri sat alone, lost in thought.
It had taken her barely a few minutes to blend in with the team—everyone had been so warm, so welcoming, it almost felt like she belonged there.
And yet, there was a part of her that always retreated into solitude when left alone.
Her mind drifted until a voice snapped her out of it.
Soft. Curious.
"Hey, Shri."
She turned around to find Riyan Parag standing there.
He was the youngest of the squad, yet someone who had already seen the brutal side of the sport. Trolled. Criticized. Mocked. Over the years, she had watched the internet tear him apart—every bad season, every off moment, turned into a meme, a joke.
It was unfair.
He was young. Still learning. Still growing. Fans seemed to forget that players were human too. There was a thin line between constructive criticism and outright cruelty, and people had long since crossed it when it came to him.
But Shri had always believed in one thing—after a recession, there is always a recovery.
And when that recovery phase comes, people forget the downfall ever existed.
She had a feeling Riyan’s time was coming.
"Hey, Shri, you okay?" he asked, voice laced with slight concern.
"Yeah, I’m good. Just lost in thought," she admitted.
Riyan nodded. "Oh, by the way, I’m Riyan. Nice to meet you."
She smiled. "Nice to meet you too. I loved your performance in domestic cricket, by the way."
A grin stretched across his face. "Thank you so much. Actually, I saw you sitting alone and thought I’d give you some company."
"Aw, that’s really sweet of you, Riyan."
"So, are you enjoying your time here with the Royals?"
"Absolutely. And between you and me—not that it’s a secret—I’ve been a huge RR fan for years. I literally used to dance to Halla Bol—the original 2008 version—when I was a kid."
Riyan watched her animatedly talk about the team, excitement lighting up her face. He found himself smiling, staring without even realizing it.
Shri noticed. "What?" she asked shyly.
He blinked, snapping out of it. "Nothing. Just… love how excited you get talking about RR. That kind of love from fans is what keeps us going, you know. It means a lot."
"Arey, why are you thanking me?" she chuckled. "You guys play your hearts out on that field. You earn this love. And after so many years, it’s almost like… we have a special connection with the franchise."
