Chapter 51 : Interrogation??

Rysa, now more comfortable, leaned forward slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Okay, I have another question."

Advay smirked. "Go on."

She tilted her head. "How do you feel when it's the last ball, and you need a six to win? Like, what's going through your head at that moment?"

Ananya, who had been silently watching the conversation, raised an eyebrow. "That's actually a good question."

Rysa nodded. "I also remember you were in the same situation in the final of the 2018 U-19 World Cup against Australia. You needed a six off the last ball."

At the mention of that match, Advay's smirk turned into a small, thoughtful smile.

"Ah, that game." He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms before continuing. "You really do your homework, don't you?"

"Of course," Rysa said proudly. "That match was crazy. You were batting on 96, and India needed five to win off the last ball. Everyone thought you'd go for a four and take it to a Super Over, but you went for the six instead. And you got it."

Ananya turned to Advay, now intrigued herself. "So? How does it feel? Knowing it's all on you, knowing you have one shot?"

Advay exhaled, thinking for a second before answering. "It's… strange. Everything slows down. The noise, the crowd, even your own thoughts—it all fades for a second. There's no panic, no fear. Just the ball, the bat, and the decision you have to make."

Rysa hung onto every word. "And in the final against Mumbai?"

His smirk faltered slightly, but he shrugged. "Same feeling. Except, this time, it didn't go over."

Rysa blinked, realizing she might have brought up a sore topic again, but Advay didn't look upset. Just reflective.

"That's cricket," he said simply. "Sometimes it clears the rope. Sometimes it doesn't."

Ananya watched him carefully, then smiled slightly. "And yet, you'd do it all over again, wouldn't you?"

Advay met her gaze, a hint of mischief in his emerald eyes. "Every single time."

Rysa pulled out her phone and tapped the screen a few times before turning it around to show him a photo.

It was from the 2018 U-19 World Cup final—the exact moment after he hit the last ball for a six.

Advay saw himself in the picture, his back facing the camera, his bat and helmet tossed aside as he sprinted toward the Indian dugout. His teammates were rushing toward him from the other side, their arms in the air, pure joy on their faces.

And in the background—the Indian fans in the stands, losing their minds in celebration.

Rysa held out the phone toward him, grinning. "This is my favorite cricket photo ever. You have no idea how many times I've watched that match. The way you just threw everything and ran—legendary."

Advay tilted his head slightly, staring at the image. It was strange looking at himself like that—a frozen moment in time where he had felt nothing but pure euphoria.

Rysa pulled out a printed copy of the photo from her pocket and handed him a marker. "Sign this for me?"

Advay smirked, taking the pen from her. "Didn't know I was meeting my biggest fan today."

Rysa rolled her eyes. "You should feel honored."

He chuckled before uncapping the marker and, with his usual effortless style, signed his name across the bottom of the photo.

Advay Rai

As he handed it back, she grinned like a kid on Christmas.

"I'm framing this."

Ananya, watching the whole exchange, shook her head with a small smile. "You've completely won her over now. There's no going back."

Advay glanced at Rysa and smirked. "Was there ever a doubt?"

As the conversation between Advay, Ananya, and Rysa continued, the doorbell suddenly rang, cutting through the lighthearted atmosphere.

Rysa immediately perked up. "That must be Mom and Dad." She gave Advay a mischievous look. "Ready for round one?"

Advay smirked, completely unfazed. "Always."

She walked over to the door and pulled it open.

Stepping inside were Chunky Panday and Bhavana Panday—Ananya's parents.

Chunky Panday, a man known for his lively personality and humor, had a more serious expression tonight, though there was still a hint of warmth in his eyes. His sharp gaze scanned the room before settling on Advay, assessing him in that way only a father could.

Bhavana Panday, on the other hand, carried an air of grace and warmth, her kind eyes flickering between her daughter and Advay with quiet curiosity. There was a sense of genuine kindness in her demeanor, but also a sharpness—like she could see right through people.

As they stepped inside, Advay straightened slightly and walked forward.

He greeted them with a polite nod before speaking, his voice calm and composed. "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Panday."

Chunky nodded, his gaze lingering on him for a moment. "Advay, good to finally meet you."

Bhavana smiled softly. "We've heard a lot about you."

Advay smirked slightly. "Hopefully, only good things."

Chunky's expression didn't change much, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "We'll find out soon enough."

Ananya sighed, nudging her father. "Dad, don't scare him already."

Advay chuckled lightly. "It'll take more than that."

Bhavana laughed softly, shaking her head. "Come in, let's all sit down."

And just like that, the meeting had officially begun.

As they all sat down at the dinner table, the atmosphere was polite but filled with the unspoken weight of an important conversation. The table was set beautifully, with an array of dishes spread out, and everyone began eating.

Chunky Panday, after a few bites, casually leaned forward, looking at Advay with an assessing gaze.

"So, Advay," he started, his tone calm but inquisitive, "tell us about your family."

Advay, as composed as ever, set his fork down lightly before speaking.

"My father is Arjun Rai," he said simply, looking at Chunky. "He owns Rai Groups."

Bhavana raised her eyebrows slightly. "Rai Groups? As in, the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate?"

Advay gave a small nod. "Yes."

Chunky hummed in thought but didn't comment, waiting for him to continue.

"My mother, Alina Ivanov, is Russian. She was a model before she met my father."

Bhavana's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "That explains the striking features."

Ananya shot her mother a look. "Mom."

Bhavana just shrugged playfully before taking another bite of food.

"And your siblings?" Chunky asked, his expression unreadable.

Advay exhaled lightly. "I have an older sister, Aditi Rai. She's currently the CEO of Rai Groups."

Chunky nodded, absorbing the information. "So, business runs in the family."

"It does," Advay agreed. "Though my path has always been cricket."

For a few seconds, there was a brief silence, but it wasn't awkward—just a moment where the Pandays processed what they had learned.

Bhavana smiled warmly. "It's nice to see a family where everyone is so accomplished in their own way."

Chunky, still studying Advay, leaned back slightly. "Your father must be a tough man to impress."

Advay smirked faintly. "He has high expectations. But I'm used to that."

Ananya, watching the conversation unfold, felt a strange mix of pride and amusement. Advay, as expected, was handling it flawlessly.

Chunky Panday took a sip of water before resting his arms on the table, his gaze still fixed on Advay.

"Ananya tells us you're always calm and composed," he said, curiosity evident in his voice. "Why is that?"

Advay, completely unfazed by the question, set his fork down neatly before replying.

"I've been this way since I was a kid," he said simply. "By the time I was Seven, I was already in seventh grade. People had expectations from me very early on."

Bhavana's eyes widened slightly, while Chunky raised an eyebrow.

"Seventh grade at Seven?" Bhavana repeated, almost in disbelief.

Advay nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't a normal childhood, if that's what you're wondering."

Ananya, who already knew about this, just watched quietly, her lips curling into the faintest smile.

Chunky leaned forward slightly. "Go on."

Advay's expression remained calm, almost indifferent. "By the time I was eight, I came up with the idea for Swiggy. At nine, I started building it from the ground up with the help of one of my investors. And at eleven, I officially founded Swiggy."

For the first time that evening, Chunky actually looked surprised.

"Wait, wait." He held up a hand. "You're telling me that Swiggy—the Swiggy—is yours?"

Advay nodded. "It's my empire, yes. I built it from scratch."

Bhavana let out a slow breath, exchanging a quick glance with her husband.

"That's… impressive, to say the least," she admitted.

Chunky shook his head slightly, as if still processing what he just heard. "And you were handling business negotiations as a kid?"

Advay smirked faintly. "Had to. No one takes a child CEO seriously unless he acts like one."

Chunky exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "No wonder you're so composed. You've been dealing with pressure since most kids were learning multiplication tables."

Advay shrugged lightly. "Something like that."

Ananya, watching her father's reaction, hid a knowing smile behind her glass. She had told them Advay was different, but now? They were seeing it for themselves.

Chunky Panday, still intrigued by everything he had just learned, leaned forward slightly. "If you were already a self-made billionaire by 12, why get into cricket at all?"

Advay didn't hesitate. "When I was seven, I watched one of Sunil Gavaskar's old highlights with my father. That was the first time I truly fell in love with the game."

Bhavana listened intently, while Chunky nodded, signaling for him to continue.

"When I was eight, my father introduced me to Gavaskar himself. He saw something in me, told me I had potential, and agreed to train me. From age eight to thirteen, he coached me personally."

Chunky's eyebrows raised slightly. "Gavaskar himself trained you?"

Advay nodded. "Yeah. But talent means nothing without work. So I worked harder than anyone else."

He took a sip of water before continuing, his voice as steady as ever.

"Every morning, I trained from four to seven. After that, I worked on Swiggy. In the evening, from six to nine, I trained again. Every single day."

Ananya's parents exchanged a look, both visibly impressed now.

Chunky tilted his head. "And yet, people probably assume it was easy for you because of who your father is."

Advay smirked, but there was something sharper in his eyes. "That's the first thing they assume."

He leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping the side of his glass.

"But the truth is, no one cares about your background once you step onto the field. No amount of money or family name can score runs for you. It's just you, the bat, and the bowler in front of you. If you don't perform, you don't make it."

There was a brief silence, filled only by the faint clinking of cutlery against plates.

Then Bhavana smiled softly. "And you didn't just make it. You became one of the best."

Advay smirked faintly. "Still a long way to go."

Chunky exhaled, shaking his head slightly, a small, reluctant smile appearing on his face for the first time that night. "You're different, I'll give you that."

Rysa, still brimming with excitement, suddenly perked up. "Oh, before I forget! Can we talk about your fastest IPL hundred?"

Advay raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You've really done your research, haven't you?"

Rysa grinned proudly. "Obviously. That innings was insane! Hundred in just 29 balls? You completely destroyed SRH! And that celebration? The whole stadium was going crazy!"

Ananya's parents, who had been quietly listening, looked slightly surprised by Rysa's excitement.

Chunky tilted his head. "29-ball hundred? That's the fastest IPL century?"

Advay nodded, but before he could respond, Rysa jumped in again.

"And the best part?" She glanced at Ananya, then back at Advay. "I know you made a bet that night."

Bhavana and Chunky both raised their eyebrows slightly, clearly intrigued.

"A bet?" Bhavana repeated, leaning in slightly. "What kind of bet?"

Advay smirked, crossing his arms casually. "Oh, just a simple one."

Ananya, knowing exactly what he was talking about, groaned and covered her face. "Oh god, not this again."

Bhavana and Chunky exchanged an amused glance, clearly intrigued. "Now we have to hear this," Chunky said, leaning forward.

Advay turned back to them, completely unfazed. "So, when I first asked Ananya for her number, she wasn't exactly cooperative."

Ananya peeked at him through her fingers. "I had my reasons."

Rysa, who was loving every second of this, grinned. "Oh, I bet you did."

Advay smirked before continuing. "So, to make things interesting, we made a bet. If I scored a century in the match that night, she'd give me her number."

Bhavana chuckled, shaking her head. "Really, Ananya?"

Ananya huffed, crossing her arms. "In my defense, I didn't think he'd actually do it!"

Chunky, trying to suppress a smile, nodded. "Fair enough. But I'm guessing there's more?"

Advay's smirk deepened. "Oh, there is."

He pointed at Ananya. "She suggested the bet, but I added a small clause—if I broke the record for the fastest IPL hundred, I'd get a dinner with her."

Rysa's jaw dropped. "No way! You actually put that in?"

Advay nodded. "I did."

Ananya, shaking her head in defeat, muttered, "And then, like a complete show-off, he went ahead and did both."

Chunky and Bhavana burst into laughter, clearly entertained by the story.

"So let me get this straight," Chunky said, shaking his head in amusement. "You hit a hundred in 29 balls, set a record, won the game for RCB… and all of that was just to get my daughter's number and a dinner date?"

Advay grinned. "Pretty much."

Bhavana laughed softly, turning to Ananya. "Well, I have to admit, that's quite the story."

Ananya sighed, but there was a small smile on her lips. "Yeah, yeah. He played me, I admit it."

Rysa, still buzzing with excitement, held up her hand. "Respect. That's next-level confidence."

Chunky smirked. "I like this guy."

Chunky, still smiling from the previous conversation, leaned forward slightly, his tone turning a bit more serious. "Alright, since we're talking about all this… why Ananya?"

Ananya, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked. "Dad!"

Bhavana, amused, glanced at her husband. "What? It's a valid question."

Rysa, enjoying the whole thing, leaned in. "Yeah, Advay, why my sister?"

Advay, as always, remained composed. He glanced at Ananya for a second before turning back to them. "Because she's the only one I ever felt something for."

The room fell into a momentary silence, his words carrying a weight that no one expected.

"With her, I don't have to think. I can just talk. Just… be."

Ananya's breath hitched slightly, but she said nothing.

Advay continued, his voice steady. "She's the only person I've ever felt completely comfortable with. I don't know how else to explain it."

Chunky and Bhavana exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable.

"And after the IPL final…" Advay hesitated for the first time that evening, his fingers lightly tapping against the edge of his glass. "After I broke down, she was there."

Bhavana tilted her head slightly. "She was there?"

Advay nodded. "She came to the dressing room to comfort me when I thought no one would." He exhaled lightly. "At that moment, she didn't say anything complicated, didn't try to fix anything. She just… held me. And I don't think I'll ever be able to thank her enough for that."

Ananya looked down at her plate, suddenly feeling incredibly warm.

Rysa muttered under her breath, "Okay, that's actually really sweet."

Chunky, who had been watching Advay carefully, leaned back in his chair. For the first time that night, his serious expression softened slightly.

Bhavana smiled knowingly. "Well, I suppose that answers the question."

Advay smirked, glancing at Ananya. "Satisfied?"

She didn't look at him, just quietly picked up her glass and took another sip of water.

But the small, barely-there smile on her lips said everything.

After dinner, as the plates were cleared and the evening came to a close, Bhavana suggested taking a family photo—with Advay included.

"Come on, let's get a picture. This might be historic," she teased, earning a chuckle from Chunky.

Advay, ever the gentleman, stood beside Ananya as Rysa eagerly set up the camera.

"Alright, everyone, look good!" Rysa called out before taking the shot.

The picture captured Chunky standing with his usual playful smirk, Bhavana smiling warmly, Ananya beside Advay, and Rysa grinning ear to ear.

As the camera clicked, Advay nodded slightly. "Perfect."

With that, he thanked them all. "It was great meeting you. Thank you for the dinner."

"Likewise," Chunky replied, shaking his hand firmly. "You're welcome anytime, Advay."

Bhavana smiled. "Take care, dear."

As he stepped outside, Ananya followed him to send him off. The night was quiet, the city lights reflecting in the distance.

He turned to her, hands in his pockets, a small smirk playing on his lips. "So? How did I do?"

Ananya folded her arms, tilting her head as if considering.

"Hmm… not bad. They didn't kick you out, so that's a good start."

Advay chuckled. "High praise."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You were great. Even my dad seemed to like you, which is saying something."

Advay smirked, stepping closer. "So I passed the first test?"

Ananya arched an eyebrow. "First? There are more?"

He leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing. "Guess you'll have to stick around and find out."

She shook her head, biting back a smile. "Good night, Advay."

He smirked, stepping back toward his red Porsche 911 Turbo S. "Good night, Ananya."

With that, he got into his car, the engine purring to life. As he drove off, Ananya stood by the gate, watching until his car disappeared down the road.