Utkarsha sat down with her friends, trying to unwind after a long, exhausting day of training. Cricket ki duniya mein relaxation ek luxury hoti hai, and she rarely took breaks. But tonight, the chatter, the laughter-it all felt right.
Ruturaj was sitting just a few tables away, engrossed in a conversation with Rahul about the upcoming Ranji Trophy match.
"Bhai, pitch slow hai, par powerplay mein maine plan banaya hai," he said, sipping his coffee. He had a sharp cricketing mind-always strategizing, even off the field.
Suddenly, something-or rather, someone-caught his eye. He saw her walk in-Utkarsha, with her relaxed yet determined vibe, just like the athletes he admired.
She was talking animatedly with her friends, her cricket bag lying on the chair beside her. Ruturaj's attention shifted for a moment, and he noticed the logo on her bag. "Maharashtra women's cricket team..." he whispered to himself, impressed.
"Uska naam kya hai?" he asked Rahul, casually pointing towards Utkarsha's table.
Rahul raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's Utkarsha Pawar. Maharashtra team mein bowler hai, acchi player hai, bhai. Fast bowler, aur full-on dedicated to her game."
Ruturaj nodded, intrigued. A female cricketer, dedicated and determined-it wasn't something he encountered every day. Cricket, after all, was mostly a male-dominated space. But something about Utkarsha's aura grabbed his attention, and he found himself glancing over every now and then.
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Meanwhile, Utkarsha was deep in conversation with her friends. One of them nudged her and said, "Woh Ruturaj Gaikwad hai, dekha tune? He's sitting right there."
Utkarsha barely blinked. "Haan, I know who he is. Bahut accha khelta hai IPL mein, but what about it?"
Her friends stared at her in disbelief. "Matlab kuch nahi? He's one of the best batsmen around, and tu itni casual hai?"
Utkarsha shrugged, "Dekho, main bhi cricketer hoon. Mujhe pata hai cricket ki duniya mein kya hota hai. Uska talent hai, mera bhi hai. Koi farak nahi hai." Her voice was calm, confident, and she wasn't one to be intimidated by fame.
But deep down, she had a small curiosity. Yeh Ruturaj, jo itna popular hai, kya sach mein waise hai jaise log kehte hain?
She had never cared for the celebrity side of cricket, but she respected skill and discipline, and Ruturaj Gaikwad undoubtedly had both.
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A few moments later, as fate would have it, Rahul excused himself to greet someone he knew at another table, leaving Ruturaj alone.
And in that moment, Utkarsha got up to get herself a drink from the counter. She walked past Ruturaj's table, and he couldn't help but take the opportunity.
"Kaisi chal rahi hai training?" Ruturaj asked, looking up with a smile, his voice casual yet curious.
Utkarsha stopped, slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected him to start a conversation. But being the straightforward person she was, she responded, "Training is good. Tumhara kya scene hai? I hear you have a Ranji match soon."
Ruturaj smiled, impressed by her nonchalance. "Haan, match ki preparation chal rahi hai. Cricket ka life aisa hi hota hai, kabhi rest nahi."
Utkarsha chuckled, "Wohi toh. We're always running from one match to another, ek format se doosre format tak."
A moment of shared understanding passed between them. Two cricketers, living parallel lives, both juggling the pressures of the game, yet managing to maintain their love for it.
"Fast bowler, right? That's no easy job," Ruturaj said, genuinely curious.
Utkarsha nodded, "Haan, tough toh hai, but I love it. Speed, accuracy, aur batter ko confuse karne ka mazaa hi kuch aur hai." She paused, then added with a smirk, "Tum toh bas ball ko maarte ho, we bowlers have to work a bit harder."
Ruturaj laughed, appreciating the friendly jab. "Fair enough. Lekin hum batsmen ka bhi kaafi pressure hota hai. Sabko runs chahiye hote hain."
"Kya tumhe kabhi lagta hai ke yeh pressure kabhi khatam hoga?" Utkarsha asked, her voice softer, but thoughtful.
Ruturaj paused for a moment, his smile fading slightly. "Nahi, pressure kabhi khatam nahi hota. But that's part of the game, right? We play because we love it, chahe kitna bhi stress ho."
Utkarsha nodded, understanding him perfectly. "Bilkul. Game ke bina life sochna mushkil hai."
They stood there for a few moments, the background noise of the café fading into insignificance. It was a rare moment of connection between two athletes who understood the high stakes, the sacrifices, and the undying love for cricket.
Before she could respond further, Utkarsha's friends called her back to the table. "Well, good luck for your match," she said, turning to leave.
"You too," Ruturaj replied, watching her walk away.
As she rejoined her friends, Utkarsha felt a flicker of something unfamiliar. It wasn't attraction, but respect. She had seen many cricketers, but Ruturaj's grounded nature and genuine love for the game stood out.
Ruturaj, on the other hand, couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting was just the beginning of something unexpected.
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💖Bound by Runs and Dreams💖
FanfictionRuturaj Gaikwad is at the peak of his career, a rising cricket star with unmatched talent. With the weight of expectations from fans, teammates, and family, he's constantly navigating the pressure of performing on the world stage. On the other side...
