Bound by Love, Separated by Fame

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Fateful Encounter

The sun had begun to set over the Wankhede Stadium, casting a golden hue over the sea of cricket fans who had gathered to witness one of the most anticipated matches in recent times—India versus West Indies. The Indian team was in the middle of an exciting chase, needing 140 runs to secure victory. The atmosphere was electric, with every boundary, every single, and every run contributing to the growing excitement that filled the air. But among the thousands of fans present, one moment was about to shift the course of the game—and change two lives forever.

India had made a blazing start to the chase. Sidharth Shukla, playing his debut match, had taken the cricketing world by storm. He stood tall, calm, and composed, with his bat commanding the field. Alongside him was the seasoned Rohit Sharma, the duo having already put on an impressive partnership of 103 runs without losing a single wicket. The scoreboard showed Sidharth at 94, just six runs away from a historic century in his very first international match.

Shehnaaz, sitting comfortably in the stands with her brother Shehbaaz, had been enjoying the match immensely. The energy of the crowd, the thrill of each ball bowled, and the sheer spectacle of it all had her grinning from ear to ear. She had taken a short break from her busy YouTube schedule to watch this game, and the experience had been nothing short of exhilarating.

As the game approached its most intense moment, the entire stadium held its breath. The West Indies bowler charged in, delivering a swift, swinging ball that seemed destined to cause trouble. But Sidharth, in full control, stepped forward confidently and timed the shot to perfection. The ball soared high into the sky, flying over the boundary and straight towards the pavilion—a massive sixer!

The crowd erupted in cheers. But little did anyone know, the ball had found an unlikely recipient.

Up in the stands, Shehnaaz had been sipping on her soda, fully immersed in the game when suddenly, she noticed the ball hurtling toward her. With a quick reflex, she reached out and caught it cleanly with one hand. A surge of adrenaline rushed through her as she realized what had just happened.

Shehbaaz, sitting beside her, burst into laughter. “Choti, you caught it! You caught a sixer in your first live match!”

The cameras, quick to capture any moment of significance, zoomed in on Shehnaaz. Her face appeared on the giant screens across the stadium. With a mischievous grin, Shehnaaz raised the ball, pretending to give the signal for an ‘out’ like an umpire. She then kissed the ball dramatically and tossed it back toward the field. Her laughter echoed as Shehbaaz continued teasing her, “Look at you! Already trying to take over as umpire, are we?”

The crowd roared with amusement, and soon, Shehnaaz’s playful antics were being replayed across social media and WhatsApp groups all over India. People recognized her instantly. After all, she was one of the biggest YouTubers in the country. It wasn’t long before hashtags like #ShehnaazAtWankhede and #SixerCatchQueen started trending online. The stadium was buzzing with excitement as fans pointed and smiled in her direction.

Meanwhile, down on the pitch, Sidharth had seen it all unfold. His eyes had followed the ball as it flew into the stands, only to be caught by a girl with the brightest smile he had ever seen. Something about her caught his attention—her joy, her confidence, the way she tossed the ball back as if she owned the moment. It was as if, in that split second, time stood still for him.

Rohit Sharma, who had been at the other end of the crease, noticed the change in Sidharth’s demeanor and chuckled. “Looks like someone’s got their eyes off the ball,” Rohit teased.

Sidharth tried to shake off the sudden distraction, but it was too late. The next ball came in fast, and before he could fully focus, he misread the delivery. The ball clipped the edge of his bat and crashed into the stumps. The stadium fell silent for a moment, and then erupted in applause for what had been an extraordinary innings. Sidharth had fallen at 94, just six runs short of his century.

As he walked back to the pavilion, Rohit couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks like someone bowled more than just a cricket ball today.”

Sidharth grinned sheepishly but couldn’t deny that his mind had wandered for a moment. And it wasn’t because of the game—it was because of her. The girl with the infectious laugh. He glanced back toward the stands, where Shehnaaz was still laughing with her brother, completely unaware of the effect she had just had on him.

Back in the dressing room, the teasing began almost immediately. The Indian cricket team was known not just for their skill but for their camaraderie. As soon as Sidharth walked in, he was greeted with whistles and playful jabs.

“Ah, there he is! The man of the moment!” Yuvraj Singh smirked, patting Sidharth on the back. “Almost got that century, eh? But I guess someone else bowled you over first.”

“Who was she, man?” Virat Kohli chimed in, grinning widely. “We saw the whole thing on the big screen. Don’t tell me you got out because of a girl.”

Sidharth, still flushed from both the innings and the teasing, tried to play it cool. “Come on, guys, it was just a momentary distraction.”

But there was no stopping them. Raina, Ashwin, Jadeja, and even the ever-composed MS Dhoni joined in on the fun. “You’ve been here one match and you’ve already found yourself a fan,” Dhoni said with a wink. “But I have to say, she’s got a good arm. That throw back to the field was solid.”

The WhatsApp group for the Indian cricket team was buzzing too. Memes, jokes, and GIFs of Shehnaaz’s catch and Sidharth’s reaction were being shared back and forth. Yuvraj sent a message that had the entire room in fits of laughter: “New title for the match report: Sidharth Shukla bowled by beauty!”

Sidharth laughed along with them, but deep down, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. There was something about that moment, about her. He hadn’t even spoken to her, didn’t even know her name, but it felt like the beginning of something. Something he couldn’t quite explain.

Meanwhile, up in the stands, Shehnaaz and Shehbaaz were completely oblivious to the chaos they had caused in the Indian dressing room. They were too busy enjoying the game, laughing about the catch, and making memories they would cherish forever.

As the match continued, Sidharth found himself sneaking glances toward the stands, where Shehnaaz was still seated. She was cheering, laughing, completely immersed in the game. But for him, everything else had faded away.

Little did either of them know, this wasn’t just a fleeting moment. This was the start of something far more significant—something that would change both their lives in ways they couldn’t yet imagine.

For now, all Sidharth knew was that he needed to find out who she was. And with the entire country watching, fate had already begun to weave its magic.

Please vote
Do comments
Follow me Share the story

Please subscribe my channel link in bio

Will end this story in 3 to 4 parts.
And this'll be my last #sidnaaz story that I'm writing.
I love them no offense but it feels not to write when people don't take you seriously.
You all read story what takes to press a vote Icon if people are not liking my stories please tell I will delete all of them at least do comments and tell what I need to improve