Unexpectly Yours:The Journey Of An Arranged Marriage

PART 57

It was one of those rare, beautiful off-days when the entire team and their families gathered at Rohit's farmhouse for a day of fun, food, and laughter. The lush green lawn was decorated with colorful balloons, picnic blankets scattered all around, and the kids running wild with excitement.

The sound of laughter echoed as the players and their wives mingled, everyone enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. Rohit and Ritika were at the center, organizing games for the kids, while Virat was chasing Vamika around, pretending to be a lion, growling playfully as she shrieked and ran in circles.

Virat: "You can't escape the lion, Vamikaaa!"

Vamika: (giggling) "Help, RO Chachu!"

Samaira, laughing just as hard, joined in, trying to "save" Vamika from Virat's playful growls. Meanwhile, Surya was spinning Anushka's little one in the air as he giggled, his tiny hands reaching out for more.

Abhay and Kavya stood to the side, watching the chaos unfold with smiles. Abhay had always been great with kids, and today was no different. He spotted Agastya struggling with a football, so he grabbed the ball and kicked it over to him.

Abhay: (laughing) "C'mon, Aggu! Show me those skills!"

Aggu: (mocking) "Watch out, Abhay chachu, I'm about to score a goal!"

As the playful banter continued, Kavya felt a tug on her dress. She looked down to see Sammy grinning up at her, holding a small cricket bat.

Sammy: "Kavya Chachi, will you play with me?"

Kavya's heart melted as she took the bat from Sammy's tiny hands.

Kavya: "Of course, sweetheart. Let's show these boys how it's done!"

Soon enough, a friendly match was underway. Rohit divided the teams, with a mix of the players and their wives joining in. It wasn't long before Abhay and Kavya found themselves on opposite sides, Kavya with the wives and Abhay with the guys. Abhay couldn't resist teasing her as he came up to bowl.

Abhay: (grinning) "I'll go easy on you, Mrs. Sharma, but not too easy."

Kavya: (laughing) "Oh, you better! I don't want to embarrass you in front of the team."

The others burst into laughter as Abhay sent the ball flying towards her. Kavya, despite her nerves, managed a solid hit, sending the ball past Abhay, much to the delight of the wives.

Ritika: "Nice one, Kavya! You've got this!"

After the match, the group settled down for a lazy afternoon picnic. The kids gathered around Abhay and Kavya, demanding stories and games. Abhay, ever the entertainer, picked up little Vamika and swung her in the air, her laughter filling the space around them. Sammy and the other kids ran around them, joining in on the fun.

Sammy: "Faster, Abhay Chachu!"

Abhay: (laughing) "Okay, okay! One more round!"

Kavya watched the scene unfold, her heart warming as she saw how natural Abhay was with the kids.

Later in the evening, as the sun began to set and the kids grew tired, the families gathered around a small bonfire. The group fell into easy conversation, with the players reminiscing about old matches and teasing each other about silly mistakes on the field. Their wives, including Kavya, listened, laughing along as they shared stories about life, marriage, and parenthood.

Ritika: (playfully nudging Rohit) "Remember when Sammy was a baby, and you freaked out about changing her diaper?"

Rohit: (grinning) "Hey, it was my first time! That stuff is complicated!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and even Virat, usually so intense, couldn't help but chuckle.

Virat: "And now you're the pro. I still can't believe how fast they grow up."

As the fire crackled and the night breeze grew cooler, everyone began packing up. The kids were all fast asleep, tucked in their parents' arms, and the group slowly made their way to the cars. Before leaving, everyone gathered for one last round of photos, capturing the fun-filled day.

Ritika: "Alright, everyone, say cheese!"

Virat: (laughing) "Or say 'we won the match!' That's even better!"

The group posed, wide smiles on their faces, knowing that these moments together were rare but precious. And as they all headed home, Abhay held Kavya's hand, feeling content and grateful for the family they had, and excited for the future they were about to build.

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It had been a long day at the stadium, but the real weight of the day came when the team management announced that Aparna would be joining the team as part of the media entourage. For everyone else, it was just another name, another media personality. But for Abhay, it was much more. Aparna had crossed a line years ago, a violation that left Abhay shaken for a long time, but he had buried it deep, not even discussing it openly with anyone except his closest friends.

Abhay sat in the dressing room, nervously running his fingers through his hair. His mind flashed back to the unwanted touch, the inappropriate comments, the manipulation she had tried to exert over him. He clenched his fists, trying to push the memories away. Kavya, unaware of the full depth of his discomfort with Aparna, felt the tension but didn't understand its source.

Abhay (muttering to himself, his voice strained):
"Why is she here again? After all this time... I thought I was done with this."

Jassi (noticing Abhay's unease):
"Abhay, bro, you good? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Abhay snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a weak smile.

Abhay (shaking his head):
"Yeah... yeah, just tired. That's all."

Later that evening, Kavya was mingling with the other wives at a team dinner, unaware of the storm brewing within Abhay. He had been avoiding Aparna all night, trying his best to stay away from her. But she was relentless, making sure to find a moment alone with him.

Aparna (cornering Abhay near the bar, her voice smooth but loaded with implication):
"Abhay, I'm surprised you've been avoiding me all night. Still holding a grudge after all these years? Come on, it was just harmless fun back then, wasn't it?"

Abhay's jaw clenched, his mind racing back to the unwanted advances from years ago. He felt cornered, suffocated, but the weight of the past kept him from lashing out. Instead, he took a step back, trying to put some distance between them.

Abhay (coldly, trying to control his anger):
"Aparna, let's just keep things professional. We have nothing to talk about."

Aparna smirked, clearly enjoying his discomfort. She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper.

Aparna (taunting, her tone dark):
"You can't run forever, Abhay. We both know that."

Abhay's hands trembled as he turned and walked away, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt like he was suffocating again, the old trauma resurfacing with a vengeance.

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