Bound by Love, Separated by Fame

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Celebrations and Teasing

After an exhilarating match at Wankhede Stadium, Sidharth's remarkable debut performance had become the talk of the town. Not only had he scored 94 runs, but he had also taken 3 crucial wickets, helping India secure a thrilling victory over the West Indies. Despite narrowly missing his century, Sidharth was awarded the Man of the Match, and the stadium reverberated with cheers of celebration. However, his mind kept wandering to a single moment—the girl in the stands, the one with the radiant smile who had caught his eye.

At the Shukla Residence

Back at the Shukla residence, the atmosphere was equally joyous. Sidharth’s parents, Ashok and Rita Shukla, couldn’t contain their pride, and his two elder sisters, Neetu and Preeti, were beaming with excitement. Neetu, who was married to Naman and had an 8-year-old daughter named Anyra, and Preeti, married to Rahul and the mother of 18-year-old twins, Ria and Ansh, had gathered their families to watch the match. Everyone was eagerly awaiting Sidharth’s return from the stadium.

As the final interview played on the TV, Preeti teased, "Our Sidharth has not only impressed on the field but also caught someone’s eye in the stands. Did you all see that girl catch his sixer?"

Neetu chuckled, "How could anyone miss it? She even made it to social media! The way she caught the ball and tossed it back with such confidence, it was clear she knew how to make an impression."

Ashok laughed heartily, "I don't care about all that. What matters is how my son played! 94 runs and three wickets! That’s our Sidharth!"

Anyra, Neetu’s young daughter, tugged at her mother's sleeve, "Mom, did Uncle Sidharth really get bowled out because of the pretty lady?"

The room erupted in laughter as Preeti's twins, Ria and Ansh, grinned mischievously. Ansh added, “Looks like our ‘super cricketer’ might have gotten distracted by more than just the game!”

Rita Shukla smiled proudly but also joined in on the fun. “Let’s ask him when he gets home. I’m sure he’ll have a story to tell.”

On the Team Bus

Meanwhile, on the team bus, Sidharth was facing a different kind of match—one against his teammates' relentless teasing.

Yuvraj Singh, sitting at the front of the bus, smirked and called out, "Hey, lover boy! You got out for 94, but you sure scored a hundred with that girl in the stands."

The whole team burst into laughter as Virat Kohli added, "Yeah, Sid! Forget the century, we all saw you looking back at her! Come on, tell us—who is she?"

Sidharth shook his head, trying to brush off the teasing, but a grin crept onto his face. "Come on, guys, I was just focused on the match… mostly!"

Rohit Sharma, sitting beside Sidharth, wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily. "Focused on the match? Sure, right until you spotted that girl. I saw the way you glanced back after you got out!"

Suresh Raina, known for his playful nature, chimed in. "That wasn’t a glance, Rohit! That was full-on starry-eyed hero mode. You should’ve seen his face!"

MS Dhoni, who was sitting quietly until now, smiled and decided to join in. "It’s okay, Sidharth. Happens to the best of us. But if you ever need advice on how to balance cricket and distractions, you know where to find me."

The entire bus erupted with laughter, and Sidharth, blushing slightly, threw his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright! But for the record, I don’t even know who she is. I just… saw her during the match."

Harbhajan Singh, sitting in the back, added with a smirk, "Well, you better find out fast because I’m telling you, half the internet already has her tagged as ‘Mrs. Shukla.’"

Sidharth laughed, shaking his head. "You guys are impossible!"

As the bus continued its journey, the team’s WhatsApp group buzzed with memes, jokes, and clips of the moment when Shehnaaz caught the six. Yuvraj sent a message that read: "Sixer ka asar—Sidharth gets bowled by beauty!"

Rohit added a GIF of Sidharth’s reaction, and the entire team kept the jokes rolling. Even their wives and girlfriends, like Ritika Sajdeh (Rohit’s wife) and Ayesha Dhawan (Shikhar Dhawan’s wife), chimed in with playful comments in the group chat.

Post-Series and First Earnings

The series concluded after two more matches—one tied and another victory for India. Sidharth’s performance had been consistent throughout, and India won the series 2-0. As the celebrations continued, Sidharth received his first major earnings as an international cricketer. It was a moment of pride for him, and he wanted to do something special for his family.

On his way home, Sidharth stopped by a store and purchased gifts for everyone. For his parents, he bought a beautiful traditional vase they had been eyeing for their living room. For Neetu, Preeti, and their families, he selected thoughtful presents—chocolates and games for the kids, and elegant scarves for his sisters.

However, there was something else on his mind too. That clip of Shehnaaz had left a lasting impression on him, and he couldn’t shake off the curiosity. He contacted the channel that had broadcast the match, requesting the footage of her catching the ball. When they asked why he wanted it, he gave a vague answer about improving his game and analyzing his shot. But in reality, he just wanted to see that moment again.

He even tried searching for her on social media, but without knowing her name, it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Every time he watched the clip, his mind wandered back to that moment—how carefree and joyful she seemed. There was something about her that intrigued him.

The IPL and More Teasing

The 2014 IPL season was approaching, but due to the upcoming elections, it had been postponed until July. Sidharth was thrilled when he was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Playing alongside legends like Dhoni, Suresh Raina, and Ravichandran Ashwin was a dream come true.

One evening during practice, Sidharth was sitting with Dhoni and Raina, going over some strategies for the upcoming tournament. As they chatted, Sidharth absentmindedly played the Shehnaaz clip on his phone, lost in thought.

Dhoni, ever observant, raised an eyebrow. "Still watching that clip, are we? You sure this is for 'game improvement'?"

Suresh Raina leaned over, catching a glimpse of the screen. "Wait a minute—is that the same girl from the match? The one who caught your sixer?"

Sidharth quickly locked his phone, but it was too late. Raina grinned mischievously and said, "Looks like we’ve found Sidharth’s motivation!"

Dhoni chuckled, "Careful, Sid. If you keep watching that clip, you might get distracted during the next match too."

Before Sidharth could respond, their WhatsApp group exploded with comments. Shikhar Dhawan sent a message that read: "Sidharth’s new pre-match ritual—watching his ‘lucky charm’ on repeat!"

Gautam Gambhir, never one to miss out on teasing, replied: "Better be careful, Sid. We don’t want another ‘94’ situation because of that smile!"

Harbhajan Singh followed with: "Maybe we should invite her to the next match. Could be good luck for the team!"

Sidharth laughed, shaking his head. "You guys are too much. But, who knows, maybe fate will bring her back into my life."

Dhoni patted him on the back. "Fate, or not, just make sure you keep your eye on the ball this time."

As the banter continued, Sidharth couldn’t help but think about what Dhoni had said. Maybe fate did have something in store for him, and maybe, just maybe, he’d get another chance to meet the girl who had unknowingly bowled him over.

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