Emperor Of Cricket

Advay arrived at Ananya's house exactly at 6 , he waited till its 6:40 . Then decided to see for himself why she took so long.

As soon as Advay rang the doorbell, he heard quick footsteps rushing toward the door. The lock clicked, and the door swung open almost instantly—but instead of Ananya, he was met with a younger girl, around 14 years old, with an expression of pure shock.

For a second, she just stared at him, her eyes wide as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Then, all at once, she gasped dramatically.

"NO. WAY."

Advay raised an eyebrow, caught slightly off guard. "...Uh?"

Before he could say another word, she suddenly grabbed his wrist and yanked him inside with surprising strength.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!" she practically yelled, dragging him toward the living room.

"Wait, hold on—who are you?" Advay asked, confused as she shoved him onto the sofa.

She ignored his question completely, plopping down on the opposite couch, her eyes still gleaming with excitement.

"You don't understand! I watch all your matches! You're literally my favorite RCB player!"

Advay, still processing the situation, leaned back slightly, his confusion turning into amusement. "Big fan, huh?"

"Big?! I literally argued with my friends for an hour about how you were going to win the Orange Cap this season!"

Advay chuckled, resting his elbow on the armrest. "Smart kid."

Before he could ask anything else, he heard approaching footsteps, and then Ananya's voice echoed from the hallway.

"Rysa, why are you yelling—"

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes landing on Advay sitting comfortably on the sofa, looking way too amused for her liking.

For a moment, she just stared at the scene in front of her.

Advay raised a hand slightly in a casual wave. "So… you have a sister."

Ananya crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway, her expression unreadable. "Rysa… why is he inside our house?"

Rysa blinked innocently, looking between her sister and Advay before suddenly realizing something. "Wait, wait, wait—hold on."

She turned fully to Advay, pointing at him. "Are you… are you the one she's going on a date with?!"

Ananya closed her eyes briefly, exhaling as if preparing for the chaos. "Rysa—"

Rysa gasped dramatically, gripping the armrest of the couch. "OH MY GOD. You?! Advay Rai?! The guy who just smashed the fastest IPL hundred?! THE Advay Rai?!"

Advay, still leaning comfortably on the sofa, smirked slightly. "Didn't we just establish that you're my fan?"

"Yes, but that was before I knew you were the guy she was going out with!" Rysa turned to Ananya, her eyes wide with betrayal. "You told me you had a date, and you didn't think to mention it was with Advay freaking Rai?!"

Ananya pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath. "This is why I didn't tell you."

Rysa ignored her, still looking at Advay in complete disbelief. "How did this even happen?! When did you guys even meet?!"

Advay, clearly enjoying the situation, glanced at Ananya with a teasing smirk. "You want to explain, or should I?"

Ananya narrowed her eyes at him, but before she could say anything, Rysa jumped in. "WAIT. Did you two meet at some secret celebrity event? Or did Ananya DM you first? Oh my god, did YOU DM HER FIRST?!"

Advay chuckled, shaking his head. "None of the above."

Rysa squinted suspiciously, then turned to her sister, who was glaring at Advay as if mentally willing him to shut up.

Rysa's eyes lit up in realization. "Ohhh. This is one of those stories, isn't it? The ones where you pretend you don't like each other at first, but then there's undeniable chemistry—"

Ananya held up a hand. "That's enough, Rysa."

Rysa ignored her again, clasping her hands together. "Oh my god, this is actually the best day ever."

Then, just as Ananya was about to grab Advay and drag him out of the house, Rysa's eyes flickered between the two of them again, and she suddenly froze, her mouth slightly open as if something just clicked.

She pointed at them, her eyes narrowing. "Wait a second…"

Ananya stiffened slightly, already dreading whatever was about to come next. "What now?"

Rysa tilted her head, studying them both for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You guys MATCHED. Oh my god, you're literally wearing the same colors!"

Advay glanced down at himself, taking in his black cashmere sweater, black denim, and leather jacket, then looked over at Ananya, who was standing next to him in a fitted black ribbed crop top, black high-waisted jeans, and a cropped leather jacket.

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening slightly. "Huh. Didn't notice that."

Ananya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Rysa, it's just black. It's not that deep."

Rysa gasped dramatically. "NOT THAT DEEP?! You're telling me that on the ONE day you finally go on a date, you and your date just HAPPEN to wear almost the exact same thing?"

Ananya rolled her eyes. "It's a coincidence."

Rysa smirked knowingly, leaning back into the couch. "Suuuuure it is."

Advay, amused by the whole thing, glanced at Ananya with a teasing look. "I mean, it is a little suspicious, Pandey. You sure you didn't coordinate this?"

Ananya shot him a murderous glare. "You are not helping."

Rysa snickered, wiggling her eyebrows. "This is actually adorable. You guys look like one of those unintentionally perfect couples in a K-drama."

Ananya groaned, grabbing Advay's wrist again and pulling him toward the door. "We are leaving. Right now."

Rysa grinned, calling after them. "Fine, fine! Have fun on your MATCHING date!"

Advay chuckled, allowing Ananya to drag him outside, still smirking. "Matching date, huh? Has a nice ring to it."

Ananya shot him a look as she shut the door behind them, but even she couldn't hide the smallest twitch of a smile forming at the corner of her lips.

As Advay and Ananya walked down the driveway toward his car, the evening breeze ruffled her hair slightly, and she tucked a few loose strands behind her ear.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable. "You know, you really didn't have to entertain her."

Advay smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as they strolled at a relaxed pace. "Oh, but it was fun. Your sister has a lot of energy."

Ananya let out a small huff, shaking her head. "Tell me about it. She was already excited about me going on a date. Now that she knows it's you? She's never going to let this go."

Advay chuckled. "I can see that."

She glanced up at him again, her eyes flicking over his outfit before narrowing slightly. "And for the record, I did not 'coordinate' our outfits."

Advay, still smirking, tilted his head slightly. "Sure, Ananya. Just a coincidence, huh?"

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Yes, genius. It's called having good fashion sense."

He hummed thoughtfully. "Or it's called being subconsciously in sync."

She shot him a look. "Don't push it."

Advay chuckled again, reaching the car and unlocking it with a soft beep.

Just as she was about to open the passenger door, she paused and raised an eyebrow. "Wait. This is your car?"

Advay smirked, running a hand along the roof of his red Porsche 911 Turbo S. "Something wrong with it?"

Ananya let out a small laugh, shaking her head as she opened the door. "No, it just… suits you. Classy, but still unnecessarily fast."

Advay chuckled as he slid into the driver's seat. "And here I thought you'd say something nice."

As soon as they settled into the car, Advay started the engine, the soft purr of the Porsche filling the silence. He casually turned to look at Ananya, his green eyes scanning her for a moment before he spoke—his voice smooth, but sincere.

"You look beautiful, Ananya."

Ananya, who had just reached for her seatbelt, froze completely. For a second, it was as if her brain refused to process what he had just said.

Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and before she could stop herself, she turned to him with wide eyes. "W-what?"

Advay tilted his head slightly, amused at her reaction. "What? I can't compliment you?"

Her hands tightened into small fists as she turned away, looking out the window. "You—You're not supposed to say things like that randomly!"

Advay smirked, resting his wrist against the steering wheel. "Why not?"

Instead of answering, Ananya turned back and started hitting his arm repeatedly, flustered.

"Because! You just—ugh! Stop smiling like that!" she huffed, her punches light but persistent.

Advay chuckled, effortlessly dodging a few of her hits. "I don't see the problem. I was just being honest."

Ananya let out a frustrated groan, crossing her arms and looking away—but the deep blush on her face completely betrayed her.

As Advay navigated through the Bengaluru streets, the golden hues of the city lights flickered against the windshield. The atmosphere in the car was comfortable, with the soft hum of the engine filling the space between their words.

Ananya leaned back in her seat, glancing at him. "So… I'm assuming you don't watch Bollywood movies much?"

Advay, still focused on the road, smirked slightly. "Is it that obvious?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, considering you didn't even know who I was when we met."

He chuckled. "Fair point."

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Okay then, since we're on our way to dinner, let's test your knowledge. Do you even know what movies I've acted in?"

Advay hummed thoughtfully, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. "Well… considering it's 2019, your debut was Student of the Year 2, right?"

Ananya raised an eyebrow, impressed but also suspicious. "Look at you, actually knowing things. Did you Google me before the date?"

Advay smirked but kept his eyes on the road. "Maybe."

She laughed. "Wow. Researching your date beforehand? How thorough of you."

He shrugged. "Hey, I just wanted to be prepared. So, that's one. What else?"

Ananya thought for a second. "Hmm… well, technically, Pati Patni Aur Woh is still in production, so you wouldn't have seen it yet."

Advay raised an eyebrow. "That's the one with Kartik Aaryan, right?"

Ananya looked at him in shock. "Okay, what?! How do you know that?"

Advay chuckled. "I may not watch Bollywood movies, but I listen when people talk."

Ananya shook her head, laughing. "Unbelievable. You really are full of surprises, aren't you?"

Advay glanced at her with a smirk. "Gotta keep things interesting."

As they pulled up to Skyye Lounge, the rooftop restaurant's entrance was illuminated by soft golden lights, the modern architecture adding to its chic yet relaxed vibe. The moment Advay parked the car, he turned off the engine and glanced at Ananya.

"Ready?" he asked, smirking slightly.

Ananya rolled her eyes playfully, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

He chuckled, stepping out and walking around to her side, where she was already getting out. Together, they made their way toward the entrance, the cool evening breeze gently brushing against them as they stepped inside.

The interior was stylish yet inviting, with dim lighting, an open-air setting, and a breathtaking view of the Bengaluru skyline stretching out in the distance. The soft hum of light music played in the background, blending seamlessly with the low chatter of diners.

As they approached the front desk, a neatly dressed hostess greeted them with a polite smile.

"Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?"

Advay nodded. "Yes, under the name Advay Rai."

The hostess checked the list before nodding in confirmation. "Of course, Mr. Rai. Right this way."

She gestured toward a waiter, who promptly stepped forward. "Please follow me."

Ananya glanced around, taking in the elegant but laid-back ambiance, the open sky above adding an almost cinematic touch to the setting.

As they followed the waiter, she smirked slightly, tilting her head toward Advay. "Not bad. You actually know how to pick a good place."

Advay smirked back. "Did you doubt me?"

She hummed thoughtfully, pretending to consider. "Mmm… a little."

He shook his head, chuckling softly as they reached their reserved table, positioned near the edge of the rooftop, offering a stunning view of the city lights. The waiter pulled out their chairs.w

As they settled into their seats, the soft city lights flickered in the distance, casting a warm glow over the rooftop. The cool evening breeze swept past them gently, making the moment feel almost effortless.

Just as they were glancing through the menu, the waiter stepped forward, a polite smile on his face. "Have you both decided what you'd like to order?"

Advay closed the menu first, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, I'll have the—"

"Pasta Alfredo," Ananya said at the exact same time.

They both paused for a second, turning to look at each other, realizing what just happened.

Ananya narrowed her eyes slightly. "Wait, what?"

Advay tilted his head, smirking. "You're copying me."

She scoffed, placing her menu down. "Excuse me? This is my order. Maybe you're copying me."

The waiter, who had been watching their interaction unfold, chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "I guess that makes my job easier."

Ananya rolled her eyes playfully, while Advay simply smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "See? We're already on the same page."

Ananya clicked her tongue, pretending to be unimpressed. "Or maybe we both just have basic taste."

Advay let out a soft chuckle. "Either way, seems like we're unintentionally in sync again, Ananya."

She huffed, looking away, but the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips betrayed her.