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December 29, 2021. SuperSport Park, Centurion.Day 4. Morning Session.
Test cricket is a living organism. It breathes, it evolves, and eventually, it decays.
If Day 1 at Centurion was a batting paradise for those who applied themselves, Day 4 was purgatory. The sun had baked the pitch for three days. The cracks, which were hairline fractures on boxing day, had now widened into jagged scars. The grass was still there, but it was abrasive now, offering uneven bounce that terrified batsmen and delighted the fast bowlers.
We walked out to bat with a lead of 248 runs. The plan was simple: Bat normally, get the lead to 400, and declare.
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal marked their guards. Kagiso Rabada stood at the top of his mark. He looked angry. He had been outperformed by the Indian pacers in the first innings, and for a bowler of his caliber, that was an insult.
Over 1 to 5: The openers were watchful. The ball wasn't swinging as much as Day 1, but it was misbehaving off the pitch. One ball would fly off a length towards the throat; the next would scuttle along the ankle.
Over 6: Kagiso Rabada. Mayank Agarwal was on 4. He had faced 14 balls, struggling to time anything. Rabada ran in. 144 kmph. It was a good length ball outside off. A ball Mayank had left alone fifty times in the first innings. But this time, the ball hit a crack. It didn't bounce. It stayed shin-high. Mayank, expecting the bounce, was caught on the crease. He tried to jab his bat down late. Too late. The ball kissed the outside edge. It didn't carry to first slip; it died on its way to Quinton de Kock. The keeper had to dive forward to scoop it up inches from the grass.
Mayank Agarwal c de Kock b Rabada 4 (15)India: 16/1.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That is the danger. Look at that replay. It hit a crack and just didn't get up. As a batsman, you can do nothing about that. You can have the best technique in the world, but if the pitch plays tricks like that, your number is up."
I walked out to the middle. The applause was muted. The crowd knew that the game was slipping away from South Africa, but they also knew that this pitch was now a minefield.
I met KL Rahul in the middle. "It's two-paced," Rahul said, his eyes serious. "Some are stopping, some are flying. Don't push hard at the ball."
"Understood," I nodded. "Soft hands."
I took my guard. Marco Jansen, the giant left-armer, was bowling from the other end. Height + Variable Bounce = Nightmare.
Over 8: Jansen to Aarav.
Ball 1: Jansen banged it in short. I went back to defend. The ball exploded off the surface. It flew over my shoulder, comfortably clearing De Kock's head for four byes.
Shaun Pollock (Comms): "Goodness me. That took off like a helicopter. If Aarav had touched that, he would have been caught at third man. This pitch has woken up on the wrong side of the bed."
Ball 2: Jansen pitched it up. I leaned forward. I didn't drive. I just pushed. The ball stopped. It came to me slowly. I checked my shot. Dot ball.
For the next hour, KL and I fought. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't the flowing dominance of the first innings. It was ugly, gritty survival. We ran hard. We took singles where there were none. We nudged and deflected.
I moved to 15. KL moved to 20. The lead crossed 285.
Over 18: Lungi Ngidi. I was on strike. Ngidi bowled a wide half-volley. A trap. But I saw the width. I didn't hit it hard. I caressed it. Square Drive. The timing was so sweet that despite the slow outfield, the ball raced away. FOUR.
Hashim Amla (Comms): "That is the class of Aarav Pathak. On a pitch where everyone is struggling to put bat on ball, he finds the middle. He waits for the ball an extra split second. That late adjustment is crucial here."
I moved into the 20s. I was starting to feel comfortable. Or as comfortable as one can feel in a war zone.
Over 22: Lungi Ngidi.KL Rahul was on strike. He was on 23. He looked set to anchor the innings again.
Ball 22.3: Ngidi ran in. He hit the deck hard, back of a length, angling into the body. Rahul went back to defend or tuck it to leg. The ball hit the seam. It reared up viciously. It became a throat ball from a length ball. Rahul had no time to sway. He tried to drop his wrists. The ball smashed into the handle of the bat, popped up, and looped gently to Dean Elgar at gully.
KL Rahul c Elgar b Ngidi 23 (74)India: 54/2.
Rahul stared at the pitch in disbelief before walking off.
Pommie Mbangwa (Comms): "Nasty. That is just nasty. It climbed on him like a cobra. Rahul could do nothing. South Africa is fighting, but the lead is already 300. Every run now is a nail in the coffin."
The Prince Falls
Virat Kohli walked out at 4.
I was on 28. I watched Virat struggle. He was beaten twice in his first over. The pitch was practically talking to the bowlers.
Over 28: Marco Jansen. I was on 32. I wanted to push the scoring. The lead was 310. We needed to get to 400 quickly.
Ball 28.4: Jansen came around the wicket. He angled it across me. It was full. I saw the drive. I went for the expansive cover drive, trying to impose myself. But the ball held up in the surface. It didn't come on. My bat went through the shot too early. The ball caught the outer half of the bat. It flew to Keegan Petersen at backward point. He dived to his right and took a sharp catch.
Aarav Pathak c Petersen b Jansen 32 (48)India: 79/3.
I walked off, annoyed with myself. I had done the hard work. I had survived the new ball. To get out driving on a slow pitch was a soft dismissal.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "Ah, he will be disappointed with that. He did all the hard work. 32 runs on this pitch is worth 60 on a flat deck. But he played a bit early. The pitch is sticky. You have to check your shots."
After I fell, the floodgates opened. The pitch became unplayable for the new batsmen.
Virat Kohli battled to 18 before chasing a wide one from Marco Jansen immediately after lunch. Ajinkya Rahane (20) looked good for a brief period, hitting three fours, but then got a shooter from Rabada that trapped him LBW.
Rishabh Pant came out and tried to hit his way out of trouble. He smashed a massive six off Maharaj but then tried to reverse sweep Rabada and was caught at slip for 17.
The tail didn't wag. Ashwin, Shardul, Shami.
Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen cleaned up the lower order with a barrage of short balls.
India All Out: 174.
Overs Batting: 55.3
Final Scorecard (2nd Innings):India: 174 All Out.
South Africa Bowling: Kagiso Rabada: 4 wickets. Marco Jansen: 4 wickets. Lungi Ngidi: 2 wickets.
The players walked off for Tea. The calculation was done.
First Innings Lead: 248. Second Innings Score: 174. Target for South Africa:422 Runs.
Time Remaining: Day 4: 35 Overs remaining (approx). Day 5: 90 Overs. Total: 125 Overs.
It was a monstrous target. The highest successful run chase in Test history is 418. On this pitch? With cracks opening up? It was impossible. But cricket is a funny game.
In the Dressing Room:
Rahul Dravid gathered the bowlers. "422," Dravid said calmly. "They can't chase it. They will try to survive. They will block. This pitch is difficult, but if they stop playing shots, the edges won't come. You have to make them play."
He looked at me. "Aarav. New ball?"
I nodded, strapping on my bowling boots. The System was humming. "Ready, Coach."
"Bumrah and Aarav to start," Virat interjected. "Shami first change. Let them settle, then shock them with pace."
We walked out. The sun was dipping, casting long shadows. 125 overs to get 10 wickets. The Final Frontier was within sight.
Shaun Pollock (Comms): "422 runs. 125 overs. It sounds impossible, and frankly, on this surface, it probably is. South Africa needs to bat out of their skins just to take this to Day 5 tea. But Dean Elgar is a fighter. If anyone can block for two days, it's him."
I stood at mid-off, watching Elgar mark his guard. Block all you want, I thought. The crack on good length has my name on it.
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December 29-30, 2021. SuperSport Park, Centurion.The Chase: South Africa needs 422 to win.
The target was mythical. 422 Runs. No team in the history of Test cricket had ever chased this many runs at Centurion. The pitch was cracking, the variable bounce was becoming a menace, and the Indian pace quartet—Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and myself—was fresh and hungry.
South Africa had 125 overs to survive. We needed 10 balls to land in the right areas.
Day 4. Late Afternoon Session.
The shadows were lengthening across the turf as Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram walked out. They looked determined. They were playing for pride, for survival, and perhaps, for a miracle.
Virat tossed the new ball to Jasprit Bumrah. "Make them play," Virat said. "Don't give them easy leaves."
Bumrah started with a maiden. The ball flew off a length, hitting the splice of Elgar's bat. The surface was spitting venom.
Over 2: Aarav Pathak.
I marked my run-up. The 'Steyn Template' was still humming in my veins, but now, I had the added layer of the 'Captain's Mind'. I could see the footwork of the batsmen before they even moved.
Aiden Markram was on strike. He looked nervous. He knew I had his number in the first innings.
Ball 2.1: I ran in. 148 kmph. I didn't bowl the outswinger. I bowled the nip-backer. Markram left it on length. The ball jagged back and missed the off-stump by an inch. Markram exhaled, tapping the pitch.
Ball 2.2: I went wider on the crease. I angled it in. Markram tried to push it to mid-on. The ball stopped on him. The sticky surface held it back for a fraction of a second. He chipped it in the air, but it fell short of mid-wicket.
Ball 2.3: I decided to end the games. 152.4 kmph. Full. Swinging away late. Markram was stuck on the crease. He had to play at it because of the angle. He pushed hard. Edge. It flew low and fast to the right of the third slip. Rishabh Pant dived in front of first slip. He plucked it one-handed.
Aiden Markram c Pant b Aarav 1 (7)South Africa: 1/1
I raised my finger. One down. Nine to go.
Keegan Petersen walked out. The Number 3. He looked solid. He left well. He defended with a straight bat. He survived the over.
Over 8: I was back for second spell. Keegan Petersen was on 17. He was playing well. I came around the wicket. I wanted to use the angle to cramp him.
Ball 8.4: I bowled a bouncer. It wasn't a standard bouncer. It was a heavy ball, directed at the left shoulder. Petersen tried to sway. He was late. The ball brushed his glove as he tried to drop his hands. It looped gently to Rahul at leg slip.
Keegan Petersen c Rahul b Aarav 17 (36)South Africa: 34/2
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That is a plan executed to perfection! Virat put the leg slip in just two balls ago. Aarav comes around the wicket, bangs it in, and gets the glove. The young man is not just bowling fast; he is thinking fast."
Over 10:Dean Elgar was still there. The Captain. The Rock. He was batting on 15. He was leaving everything outside off. I knew I had to make him play.
Ball 10.5: I went wide of the crease again. I angled it in sharply. Elgar played for the angle. He tried to tuck it to the leg side. But the ball straightened off a crack. It squared him up completely. It took the outside edge. The ball flew to Virat Kohli at first slip. A regulation catch.
Dean Elgar c Kohli b Aarav 22 (45)South Africa: 52/3
I had ripped out the top three. The spine of the batting order was broken before the sun had even set on Day 4.
Pommie Mbangwa (Comms): "Disaster for South Africa! Their captain goes! Aarav Pathak has three wickets in the spell! He has removed Markram, Petersen, and now Elgar. He is single-handedly dismantling the top order. India is all over them like a rash!"
The rest of the day was a struggle for survival. Rassie van der Dussen and Keshav Maharaj (Nightwatchman) batted out the remaining overs.
Stumps Day 4.South Africa: 94/4. (Bumrah had removed van der Dussen with a beauty just before close). Target: 422. Need: 328 runs.
December 30, 2021.
We arrived at the ground knowing history was waiting. We needed 6 wickets. South Africa needed a miracle. The weather was clear. The pitch was a minefield.
Morning Session.
Jasprit Bumrah started the day with fire. He removed the nightwatchman, Keshav Maharaj, with a yorker that crashed into the base of the leg stump. South Africa: 94/5.
Then, Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma joined forces. This was the last stand. De Kock decided to counter-attack. He hit Shami for two boundaries. He pulled Bumrah for six. Bavuma was solid, defending everything.
They added 30 runs quickly. The Indian shoulders drooped slightly. Virat called me. "Break this," he said.
Over 48: I came in. De Kock was on strike. I knew he loved to drive. I bowled a wide half-volley. 148 kmph. De Kock's eyes lit up. He threw his hands at it. Inside edge. It missed the stumps by a millimeter and went for four. He survived.
But Mohammed Siraj was waiting at the other end. Siraj replaced Bumrah. He bowled a wobble-seam delivery to De Kock. De Kock tried to cut. It was too close to the body. He chopped it onto his stumps.
Quinton de Kock b Siraj 21 (28)South Africa: 130/6.
With De Kock gone, the resistance crumbled.
Wiaan Mulder edged Mohammed Shami to Pant. Marco Jansen tried to drive Bumrah and was caught at cover.
South Africa: 161/8.
Temba Bavuma was the only one standing. He fought a lonely battle, reaching a gritty 35 not out. But he was running out of partners.
Kagiso Rabada came out and hit a few lusty blows, entertaining the crowd. But Mohammed Siraj was in the mood to finish it.
Over 65: Siraj to Rabada. Short ball. Rabada pulled. Top edge. Ravichandran Ashwin ran back from mid-on and took a skier.
Kagiso Rabada c Ashwin b Siraj 15South Africa: 180/9.
One wicket left. Lungi Ngidi walked out. Virat brought the field in. Slips, gully, short leg, silky point. The vultures were circling.
Over 68: Mohammed Siraj.
Bavuma took a single on the first ball, exposing Ngidi. Siraj steamed in. He bowled a length ball just outside off. Ngidi prodded at it nervously. The ball took the outside edge. It flew to KL Rahul at first slip. He cupped it.
Lungi Ngidi c Rahul b Siraj 0 (3)
SOUTH AFRICA ALL OUT: 191.
INDIA WINS BY 231 Runs
Match Summary:India won by 231 Runs.South Africa: 191/10 (68 Overs).
As Rahul held the catch, Mohammed Siraj turned and sprinted towards the boundary, screaming in joy. I ran from mid-off. Virat Kohli ran from cover. We converged on Siraj.
We had done it. We had breached the fortress of Centurion. South Africa had only lost twice here since 2000. Now, make it three.
I hugged Siraj. "Miyan! What a spell!" "We did it, bhai!" Siraj yelled, tears in his eyes.
Virat gathered the team in a huddle on the pitch. "This is just the start," Virat said, his voice hoarse. "1-0. We are here for the series. We don't stop."
Shaun Pollock (Comms): "History at Centurion! India has become the first Asian team to win a Test match at this venue! It was a dominant performance from start to finish. KL Rahul and Aarav's century set it up, the bowlers finished it off. This Indian team is relentless."
Hashim Amla (Comms): "The bowling attack is the difference. Shami with 5 in the first innings. Aarav Pathak with the top order destruction in the second. Bumrah and Siraj chipping in. They hunt in a pack. South Africa has a lot of thinking to do before Johannesburg."
Post-Match Presentation:
Aarav Pathak was named Player of the Match for his sublime 122 in the first innings and 2 wickets and 32 in second innings and 3 wickets.
But as we stood on the podium, holding the winner's check, Virat handed the stump to the bowlers. I stood with Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj. The cartel.
I looked at the scoreboard. Aarav Pathak (Match Figures): 6 Wickets. 154 Runs (122 + 32). A dream Test debut in South Africa.
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December 31, 2021. Team Resort, Pretoria.Time: 10:00 PM.
The year 2021 had been a rollercoaster. From the lows of the pandemic to the highs of the Gabba, the WTC Final win, the T20 World Cup, and finally, the breaching of the Centurion fortress. It was arguably the greatest year in the history of Indian cricket.
And we were ending it in style.
The team management had organized a private New Year's Eve dinner in the outdoor garden of the resort. There were no outsiders. Just the squad, the support staff, and the families who had traveled.
The garden was lit up with fairy lights wrapped around the acacia trees. A bonfire crackled in the center, fighting off the chill of the South African night. A long table was set up, groaning under the weight of grilled meats, biryani, and salads.
The vibe wasn't raucous like the T20 World Cup after-party. It was warmer, more intimate. It was the vibe of a family reunion.
Virat Kohli was the host, naturally. He was wearing a crisp white shirt and beige chinos, a glass of mocktail in his hand, moving from group to group like a butterfly.
"Music! Where is the music?" Virat shouted.
Rishabh Pant ran over to the DJ console (which was just a laptop hooked up to massive speakers). "DJ Spidey is in the house!"
He dropped the beat. 'Bijlee Bijlee' started blasting.
Within seconds, the dance floor was occupied. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were the first ones up, doing a synchronized step that looked like a mix of Bhangra and salsa. Shreyas Iyer, the best dancer in the team, joined them, putting everyone to shame with his smooth moves.
I stood by the bonfire, a plate of kebabs in my hand, laughing as Ishant Sharma tried to teach Umesh Yadav how to shuffle.
"Enjoying the view?" a calm voice asked.
I turned. Rahul Dravid stood there. He was holding a plate of fruit, looking relaxed in a polo t-shirt. This was the first time I had seen him truly off-duty since the tour began.
"It's a good view, Coach," I smiled. "Winning makes everything look better."
Dravid chuckled. "It does. You boys earned this. Centurion isn't easy. To win so comfortably... that's a statement."
He looked at the dance floor where Rahane was actually clapping along to the beat a rare sight.
"They are a good bunch," Dravid said softly. "Different from my time. More expressive. Less fearful."
"We play like we own the place," I said, repeating the mantra.
"You certainly do," Dravid nodded. "Just... don't break anything tonight. We have a Test in Johannesburg in three days."
"No promises, Rahul bhai," Mayank Aggarwal interjected, walking up with Ravichandran Ashwin. "But we'll try to keep Pant off the chandeliers."
As midnight approached, the energy spiked. Virat grabbed the microphone.
"Alright, boys! Five minutes to 2022!"
The team gathered around the bonfire. We formed a large, messy circle. Arms draped over shoulders. KL Rahul stood next to Mayank Agarwal. Bumrah next to Shami. I found myself sandwiched between Virat and Siraj.
"This year," Virat said, his voice emotional. "We did things people said couldn't be done. We conquered England. We conquered the World. And now, we conquered Centurion. But 2022... we go for the kill. We want the series."
"Series!" the team roared.
"One minute!" Pant screamed, looking at his watch.
The music stopped. The only sound was the crackling fire and the excited murmurs of the squad.
"10!" Virat started the count. "9!" "8!"
I looked around the circle. These were my brothers. We had bled together, sweated together, and won together. I thought about my parents back in India. I thought about the Gujarat Titans logo I had approved yesterday on email.
"5!" "4!"
But mostly, I thought about the girl in Mumbai who was probably sleeping right now, dreaming of me.
"3!" "2!" "1!"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
The shout echoed into the African night. We hugged. It was a scrum of embraces. Siraj hugged me so hard he lifted me off the ground. "Happy New Year, Miyan! Wickets hi wickets lenge iss saal!" (We will take wickets upon wickets this year!)
"Happy New Year, brother!" I laughed.
I hugged Virat. "To new beginnings, Skip." "To domination, Aarav," Virat grinned.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya (who was on video call) started chanting. "Rahul Bhai! Rahul Bhai! Dance! Dance!"
The team joined in. "Dravid! Dravid!"
Rahul Dravid, the Wall, the gentleman, turned pink. He shook his head, waving his hands. "No, no. Not me."
"You have to!" Virat insisted, grabbing his arm.
Dravid sighed, looked at the expectant faces of his 'boys', and gave in. He did a little shimmy. A very awkward, dad-dance shimmy. The team went berserk. We cheered louder than we did for the wickets.
It was the perfect start to the year.
At 12:15 AM, I stepped away from the madness. I walked to the edge of the garden, where the signal was better.
I dialed the number. It rang once.
"Happy New Year, Champion," Shradha's sleepy voice answered. It was 3:45 AM in India.
"Did I wake you?" I whispered.
"I was waiting," she murmured. "I set an alarm."
"Happy New Year, Shradha. I wish you were here."
"I am there," she said. "In your pocket. In your heart. All that cheesy stuff."
I laughed, looking up at the Southern Hemisphere stars. They looked different here, but the feeling was the same.
"2022," I said. "It's going to be a big year. The IPL captaincy. The tours."
"And us?" she asked.
"And us," I promised. "Especially us."
"Go enjoy the party," she said, yawning. "Don't let Pant throw you in the pool."
"Too late," I said, seeing Pant sprinting towards me with a mischievous look in his eye. "I think I'm about to get wet. Love you!"
"Love you too!"
I hung up just as Pant tackled me. We rolled onto the grass, laughing.
The year had changed. The mission remained the same. Dominate.
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January 1, 2022. Johannesburg.Virat Kohli's Suite.Time: 8:00 PM.
The bio-bubble life can be suffocating, but it also creates unique little pockets of domesticity. Since we couldn't go out to the famous restaurants of Joburg, Virat had decided to host a private dinner in his suite.
When I walked in, the room smelled of Italian food (Virat's cheat meal) and expensive perfume.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (Bhabhi). The power couple. Virat was wearing a plain black t-shirt, looking relaxed. Anushka Bhabhi was radiant in a floral dress, holding a glass of juice.
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty. They were officially dating now, though they tried to be low-key about it. Athiya was laughing at something KL had said, which was rare because KL usually saved his expressions for centuries.
Jasprit Bumrah and Sanjana Ganesan. The newlyweds. Still in the honeymoon phase where they looked at each other every five seconds.
And then, there was me. Aarav Pathak. The 21-year-old billionaire. The World Cup winner. And tonight, the designated Seventh Wheel.
"Welcome, Aarav!" Anushka Bhabhi beamed, walking over to hug me. "We were just betting on whether you'd wear the training kit to dinner."
"I have other clothes, Bhabhi," I laughed, pointing to my jeans and polo shirt. "See? Buttons."
"Impressive," Virat grinned, handing me a mocktail. "You look like a human being for once."
I walked further into the room. "Hi Sanjana Bhabhi, Hi Athiya Bhabhi," I waved. "Hello, superstar," Sanjana smiled. "Jassi was telling me you bowled faster than him in the last Test. Is that true?"
Bumrah choked on his water. "Lies! Pure lies! The speed gun was broken!"
"It was 155, Jassi bhai," I smirked, sitting down on the single armchair the throne of the single man. "Accept it."
We sat down to eat. The food was fantastic pastas, grilled chicken, salads. But the main course was roasting me.
It started innocently enough.
"So, Aarav," Athiya asked, twirling spaghetti on her fork. "How does it feel to be the most eligible bachelor in India? 100 million followers. Cricket Genius, and richest man of Asia. That's a lot of DMs."
"It's noisy," I shrugged, taking a bite of garlic bread. "Mostly just people asking me for money or asking me to marry their daughters."
"And?" Anushka Bhabhi leaned forward, her eyes twinkling. "Any interesting offers?"
"A few princesses from obscure countries," I joked. "And one guy who offered me a camel."
The table erupted in laughter.
"Take the camel, bro," KL Rahul deadpanned. "Good investment."
"But seriously," Virat said, wiping his mouth. "You're 21. You're rich. You're famous. And you're always hanging out with us old married couples. Don't you have... you know... someone?"
I froze mid-chew. The secret weighed heavy in my pocket (where my phone was, with Shradha's photo as the wallpaper). But I had promised Shradha we would keep it quiet until the engagement was official.
"Me?" I swallowed the pasta. "No. No time. Cricket is my girlfriend."
"Booo!" Sanjana threw a napkin at me. "That is such a cricketer answer. 'Cricket is my life'. Boring!"
"It's true!" I protested. "Look at my schedule. IPL, World Cup, South Africa. When would I date?"
"You make time," Virat said wisely, looking at Anushka. "If you want to, you make time. Look at KL. He flies to London just for a coffee."
Athiya blushed. "He flies for cricket, Virat."
"Sure," Virat winked. "Cricket."
"Aarav is just shy," Anushka Bhabhi decided, patting my hand maternally. "He needs help. Maybe I should set him up? I know some lovely girls in Bollywood."
"NO!" I said, a little too loudly.
Everyone stared at me.
"I mean," I lowered my voice. "No thanks, Bhabhi. Bollywood is... too much drama. I like simple."
"Simple?" Virat raised an eyebrow. "You drive a car that costs more than few my house. You bought an IPL team. You are not 'simple', Aarav."
"I am simple at heart," I insisted. "I just want... someone who understands the game. Someone who understands the pressure."
"Like a cricketer's daughter?" KL Rahul muttered into his glass.
I choked on my water. Did he know? I looked at KL. He was busy cutting his chicken, looking innocent.
"Exactly," Anushka nodded, missing the subtext. "Someone from a sports family would be good. Maybe P.V. Sindhu? Or... hmm."
I tried to change the subject desperately. "So, Jassi bhai! How is the back? Ready for the Wanderers?"
"Don't change the topic, kid," Bumrah laughed. "We are worried about you. You're going to end up like Salman Khan. rich, famous, and eternally single."
"There are worse fates," I mumbled.
Just as the teasing was reaching its peak, my phone buzzed on the table. The screen lit up. Incoming Video Call: Dad (Sachin Sir)
It was sitting face up. Virat was sitting right next to me. He looked down. He saw the name.
"Dad?" Virat frowned. "Why is your Dad calling you at... wait. That profile picture."
He squinted. The profile picture was Sachin Tendulkar wearing a hat.
Virat looked at me. His eyes went wide. "Why is Sachin Paaji saved as 'Dad' in your phone?"
The table went silent. Even the cutlery stopped clinking. Athiya stopped chewing. Anushka Bhabhi looked confused.
My brain went into overdrive. Think, Aarav. Think fast.
"Uh," I grabbed the phone. "It's a... it's a nickname! You know. He's the Father of Cricket. So... Dad. We all call him that, right?"
"I call him Paaji," Virat said slowly. "I call him Sir," KL said. "I call him Legend," Bumrah added.
"Well, I call him Dad," I said, my voice rising an octave. "Because he's... paternal! He gives me advice! Like a father!"
I declined the call quickly. Sorry, Sasur ji. Can't talk right now.
"It's a Gen Z thing," I lied. "You millennials wouldn't understand."
Anushka Bhabhi narrowed her eyes. She was an actor; she knew a bad performance when she saw one. "Aarav Pathak," she said slowly. "Are you hiding something?"
"Me? Never." I stood up. "Who wants dessert? I saw Tiramisu on the menu. I'm getting Tiramisu."
I practically ran to the room service phone.
Behind me, I heard Virat whisper to Anushka. "He's definitely hiding something. 'Dad'? That's suspicious."
"Maybe he's dating Sara?" Anushka whispered back.
"Sara is dating Shubman, isn't she?" Virat whispered. "Or was. I can't keep up."
"Maybe the other daughter?"
"He have another daughter? He has Arjun!"
"Maybe he's dating Arjun?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Nush."
I ordered five Tiramisus, my heart pounding. They were getting close. Too close.
We finished dessert. The conversation moved to the upcoming Test match. The tension dissipated, replaced by cricket strategy.
At 10:30 PM, I stood up to leave. "Thanks for dinner, Bhabhi. Thanks, Skip. Great food."
"Anytime, Aarav," Virat hugged me. "But seriously. If you're lonely... tell us. We are family."
"I'm not lonely, Bhaiya," I smiled. "I promise. I'm very happy."
"Okay," Virat patted my cheek. "Sleep well."
I walked out of the suite. I exhaled. That was close.
I walked down the hall to my room. I pulled out my phone and called 'Dad' back.
"Hello?" Sachin's voice came through. "Dad! Sorry I cut the call. I was having dinner with Virat bhaiya and other."
"Ah," Sachin chuckled. "Did they grill you?"
" They almost caught me. Virat bhaiya saw your name on my phone." "And?" "I told him it's a Gen Z thing." Sachin laughed loud and hard. "Gen Z thing? You are going to get caught, son."
"Not yet," I whispered, opening my room door. "Not until I have the ring on her finger."
I walked into my room, alone but not lonely. Being the 'Seventh Wheel' wasn't so bad when you knew you had the best co-pilot in the world waiting for you at the finish line.
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Author's Note: - 5300+ Words
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