Abhishek stared at his phone for a few seconds before finally gathering the courage to call her. His thumb hovered over the number, his heart beating slightly faster than usual. He didn't even know why he was this nervous. It was just a call... right?

Taking a quiet breath, he pressed call.

The phone started ringing.

Meanwhile, at her home, Sayali's phone suddenly vibrated beside her. She casually picked it up without even looking at the screen properly. In her head, it could only be one person.

"Meher," she thought confidently.

Who else would randomly call her at this hour?

Without checking the number, without waiting for  the other person to speak, she instantly answered and started talking at full speed, her excitement spilling out.

"Meherrrrrr, tune kya sahi time pe call lagaya hai, main bhi tujhe lagane hi wali thi!"

(Meher, you called at the perfect time! I was just about to call you too!)

On the other side, Abhishek froze mid-breath.

He had just opened his mouth to say "Hello," but her nonstop chatter hit him before he could even speak.

For a second, he simply stared at his phone in shock.

Again?

She thought he was Meher... again?

Poor guy didn't even get a chance to introduce himself.

But instead of interrupting her, he stayed quiet.

Because somehow...

listening to her excited voice felt nicer than correcting her.

And so, without saying a single word, Abhishek just let her continue talking — completely unaware that the girl rambling happily had no idea who was actually on the call.

"Meherrrrrr, tune kya sahi time pe call lagaya hai, main bhi tujhe lagane hi wali thi!"

(Meher, you called at the perfect time! I was just about to call you too!)

On the other side, Abhishek froze.

He had just lifted the phone to say "Hello," but her nonstop chatter hit him before he could even breathe.

Again.

She thought he was Meher.

Poor guy.

For a second, he considered correcting her... but then he stopped. Something about her excitement made him stay quiet. He simply listened, a small smile forming on his face.

"Tujhe pata hai," she continued breathlessly, "Abhishek ne aaj kamaal hi kar diya. Bhai kya khela hai, uff!"

(Do you know? Abhishek was absolutely amazing today. God, the way he played — uff!)

Abhishek's tired face instantly lit up.

All the exhaustion from the match suddenly felt lighter.

Hearing someone praise him like that — so genuinely, so emotionally — hit different.

Sayali didn't stop for even a second.

She was lying on her bed, phone pressed to her ear, talking so fast that it felt like all the words she had stored during the entire match were bursting out at once.

"Literally, main uski first ball se uske out hone tak smile hi karti jaa rahi hoon," she said dramatically, almost breathless. "Itni khushi, itni khushi ki kya bataun... hayee, main vaari jaaun!"

(Literally, from his very first ball till the moment he got out, I haven't stopped smiling. I'm so, so happy I can't even explain it... gosh, I absolutely adore him!)

Abhishek blinked.

Then blinked again.

"...Main vaari jaaun?"

His heart did the strangest little flip.

He stared at his phone like it had personally attacked him.

Hayeee...

What was happening to him?

Why did that one line, said in her soft Marathi-tinted accent, make him feel shy all of a sudden?

Why was he smiling like an idiot alone in the dressing room?

And most importantly...

Was he actually starting to like this unknown girl?

The same girl whose name he didn't even know?

The same girl who kept mistaking him for Meher?

Abhishek quietly covered his mouth, trying to hide his smile.

"Yeh kya ho raha hai bhai..." he muttered under his breath.

(What is happening to me, man...)

But still...

He didn't interrupt her.

Didn't stop her.

He simply kept listening.

Because honestly?

He didn't want her to stop talking.

And right then—

The author peeked in mischievously like an uninvited commentator.

"Ye kya ho raha hai bhai... Abhishek ko uski unknown girl pasand aa gayi kyaa?" 😏

(What's going on... has Abhishek started liking his unknown girl or what?)

Abhishek immediately frowned, looking up as if he could actually see the author.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, huh! Bas woh... woh jab 'vaari jaau' bolti hai na... toh thoda cute lagta hai. Marathi accent hai uska... bas."

(It's nothing like that! It's just... when she says 'vaari jaau,' it sounds kind of cute. She has a Marathi accent... that's all.)

The author crossed her arms with a knowing smirk.

"Haan haan, sab pata hai mujhe." 😏

(Yeah yeah, I know everything.)

Abhishek rolled his eyes, embarrassed.

"Hattoo yaar, side ho tum. Mujhe baat karne do."

(Move aside, please. Let me talk to her.)

The author laughed teasingly.

"Haan haan, zaroor zaroor. Continue, Mr. Sharma."

(Yes yes, of course. Please continue, Mr. Sharma.)

And just like that, the author stepped away... still smirking.

Because clearly...

someone was smiling way too much for "aisa kuch nahi hai."

Back on the call, Sayali was still completely unaware of who was listening.

Her excitement hadn't reduced even one percent.

Her happiness was raw. Pure. Unfiltered.

And somehow...

every single word was for him.

She spoke again, her voice softer now, almost emotional.

"Yrr maine bhagwan ko prarthna ki thi aur cross finger karke baithi thi ki bas kuch bhi ho, Abhishek out nahi hona chahiye."

(Yaar, I actually prayed to God and sat with my fingers crossed, just hoping that no matter what happens, Abhishek shouldn't get out.)

Abhishek froze.

She had... prayed for him?

Someone he didn't even know had actually prayed for him?

For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

Sayali continued, excitement returning.

"Pehla Indian player hai jisne itne run maare hai IPL mein. Acche se dho diya tha usne un logon ko. Kaash main usse bol paati ki usne kitna accha kiya hai... aur I am proud of him."

(He's the first Indian player to score this many runs in the IPL. He completely smashed them. I wish I could tell him how well he played... and that I'm proud of him.)

Those words hit him harder than the stadium applause ever could.

I am proud of him.

The sentence echoed in his mind again and again.

A slow, warm smile spread across his face.

Not the smile he gave to cameras.
Not the confident cricketer smile he wore during interviews.

But a soft, genuine one.

The kind that quietly reached his eyes.

The kind that came straight from the heart.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the call, Miss Drama Queen was still busy complaining without a single pause.

"Wapas tu kuch bol nahi rahi hai. Main itni khushi se tujhe bata rahi hoon aur tu aisa kar rahi hai mere saath." 🥺
(Why aren't you saying anything again? I'm telling you all this so happily and you're behaving like this with me.)

She even made a fake hurt face, pouting dramatically, her voice full of exaggerated emotion, completely convinced she was scolding Meher.

She sighed loudly, as if she had been deeply betrayed.

And Abhishek just sat there...

Speechless.

Smiling like an absolute fool.

Because the girl praising him so passionately...

Talking about how proud she was...

Praying for him...

Cheering for him...

Had absolutely no idea—

That she wasn't talking about him.

She was talking to him.

Poor Abhishek didn't even know how to react.

How exactly was he supposed to tell her that the person she was fangirling over so openly...

Was literally sitting here, listening live?

His fingers tightened slightly around the phone.

His heart beat faster for no reason.

Now the real question is...

When he finally speaks...

what will Sayali do? 😄

to be continued.....

___________________________________________________________

Author's Note 🤍

If you guys liked this chapter, please don't forget to like and comment. I would truly love to hear your thoughts about the story — what you liked, what you felt, and how you're enjoying it so far.

Your feedback honestly means a lot to me and motivates me to keep writing and bring new chapters faster.

So please show some love and let me know your opinions 💛✨

With love,
Your author 💌