Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 132

4 needed to win.

Rahul, standing at 32 on the non-striker's end, barely felt the weight of his bat anymore. Everything had faded into the background—the roaring crowd, the tense dugout, even the sweat dripping down his back. His focus was razor-sharp. Jadeja was at the striker's end, crouched slightly, waiting.

Then, the delivery.

Jadeja flicked—effortless, precise.

The ball raced past square leg, untouched.Boundary.

For a fraction of a second, everything stilled. Then the roar of the stadium exploded, a tidal wave of cheers crashing over the field.

The dugout erupted.

Rahul threw his arms up before sprinting toward Jadeja, who turned just in time to catch him in a tight hug. They held on for a moment, both grinning wide, breathless. They had done it.

Champions.

Then, all at once, chaos.

The team poured onto the field like a storm.

Shreyas sprinted ahead of everyone, nearly tackling Rahul from the side. "BROOOO," he yelled, shaking him by the shoulders like an excited child.

Hardik jumped onto Jadeja's back, yelling something incoherent before sliding off, immediately pulling Rahul into a crushing hug. "RA! CHAMPIONS! YOU HEAR ME?!"

Axar came barreling in, dragging Harshit with him. "Rahul bhai, speech ready?" Axar teased, half-laughing, half-winded.

Virat, who had been running full-speed, skidded to a stop right in front of Rahul. His first instinct? Not a handshake, not a pat on the back—no, he ruffled Rahul's already disaster-level hair, laughing loudly. "What is this? Your hair has retired mid-match?"

Rahul groaned, attempting (and failing) to fix the mess. "Virat bhai—seriously?"

Virat just grinned. "Couldn't resist."

Somewhere behind them, Arshdeep was yelling at the top of his lungs, "YE CHAMPIONS HAIN BHAI, CHAMPIONS!" while running in circles with Kuldeep.

Rahul barely had time to breathe before Rohit pulled him into a tight side hug, grinning ear to ear. "Champions, Rahul. Bloody Champions."

Rahul, overwhelmed, breathless, and laughing, nodded. "Champions, skip."

In the stands, Meera and Arjun watched it all unfold. Arjun nudged Meera. "Crying, Noor?"

Meera sniffled, shaking her head violently. "Nai na. Don't ask, you'll make me cry more."

Back on the field, Rahul finally broke away, setting his bat down near the boundary line—only to look up and see something ridiculous.

Rohit and Virat, each holding a stump, playing dandiya.

Rahul facepalmed. "You two are unbelievable."

Rohit just cackled. "Ritual hai, bhai!"

Virat, grinning like a kid, twirled his stump before meeting Rohit's mid-air with a solid 'thak!'

The rest of the team burst into laughter, watching the two seniors have the time of their lives.

And then, Rahul looked up.

Through the sea of people, through the chaos, he found her. Meera, standing there, watching him, her eyes shining. She didn't scream, didn't wave, just jumped on the spot, mouthing—"Congratulations."

Rahul laughed, shaking his head, mouthing back a thank you before mock-glaring at her, warning her silently—"Cameras, Meera."

Meera grinned, then, with zero hesitation, pulled down her mask, stuck her tongue out at him, and laughed as Arjun swatted at her lightly.