At party place 💫
Akash : (hugging mahi) finally...tu aa gaya....waise...saab log aa gaye hai...🫂
Mahi : ohh matlab mera intezar kar raha tha yaha...bahar...
Akash : (breaking the hug) haa toh...
They go to the hotel....
The moment mahi stepped into the hall...everyone turned towards him...their faces lighting up with surprise and excitement...
One by one...mahi's old friends gathered around him....swati, richa, arun, jayesh (jay) and some others.....the initial awkwardness vanished as they began exchanging warm greetings and soon...the group dissolved into laughter and animated chatter...
Jay : mahi yaar.....tumne bohot aacha kam kiya hai...
Swati : yehhh mahi....the way you led India to win the World Cup - kya baat hai yaar..! I still remember us watching it on TV and screaming like crazy when you were batting....!!
Everyone nodded in agreement..their eyes shining with pride...
Richa : (teasing smile) yaad hai mahi...?! school mein tum kitne shant rehte the lekin who knew that one day you'd have the entire country cheering for you...
Mahi : (chuckle softly) It was all a team effort...
As the party went on, they relived old memories - talking about their school pranks...how mahi was the quiet one who surprised everyone with his cricket skills and how akash used to steal chalk from the teacher’s desk...
Jay : mahi...remember that time when you almost got suspended for playing cricket in the corridor..??
Everyone burst into laughter as mahi smiled sheepishly : yeah..and you guys didn’t help me at all...
Swati : (raising her hands in defense) hey...we were too scared...waise bhi... you got out of it with just a warning..thanks to your charm...(And wink at mahi)
They laughed and shared stories, teasing each other like old times. There was no pretense, no burden of fame or responsibility - just a group of friends reconnecting, sharing happiness and moments from the past.
Mahi excuses himself...he made his way towards the washroom..his mind still lingering on the laughter and memories they had shared...as he pushed open the door, lost in thought...he almost bumped into someone.
Mahi : (shock and surprise) Aap... yaha ??
Standing right in front of him were sakshi and pooja...both equally taken aback by his sudden appearance...
Sakshi : aap...? (With wide-eyed) (Clearly not expecting to see him again so soon)
Pooja : (just stared at mahi for a second before blurting out) Oh my god...it’s you !! Phir se...
Mahi : (blinked, trying to process the situation) Main...aap dono ko yaha dekh ke thoda shock ho gaya...
Sakshi : (regaining her composure, smiled awkwardly) woh... actually, hum yaha party mein aaye hain...
Pooja : (nodded quickly) haa aur mein tu isske saath aayi hu...humne socha nhi tha hum phir se milenge aur woh bhi... washroom ke bahar...!!
Mahi : (chuckled softly) small world...huh..?!
Pooja : Waise...aap itne bade cricketer ho aur yaha casually walk kar rahe ho like koi normal insaan..
Mahi : (shaking his head) Normal insaan he toh hoon...sab kuch cricket ya fame nahi hota...kabhi-kabhi aise moments bohot special lagte hain...
