Chapter 68 :

With a packed international schedule ahead, the selectors decided to rest several key players, including Advay, for the West Indies series. After months of continuous cricket, including the IPL, World Cup, and Test matches, the management wanted to manage workloads.

While the Indian team prepared to take on the West Indies, Advay had a rare break—one of the few times he wasn't in the thick of the action.

As Advay lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he wondered what to do with the rare time off. For the first time in months, there were no practice sessions, no travel, no meetings—just an empty schedule.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. He glanced at the screen.

Ananya.

He answered, his voice calm as ever. "Hey."

"Hey..." Ananya's voice came through, but there was a slight hesitation in it.

Advay raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Umm… so I was thinking…" she started, pausing for a second. "I just wrapped up my shoot, and I have a break now."

"Okay," he said, waiting for her to continue.

"And… you also have a break," she added quickly.

Advay smirked slightly, already catching on. "So?"

Ananya took a breath. "So… do you want to go on a trip?"

There was a brief silence.

"You're hesitating," Advay pointed out. "Why?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I just wasn't sure if you'd be up for it."

Advay chuckled. "Where are we going?"

Ananya perked up instantly. "Wait, is that a yes?"

"I just asked where we're going, didn't I?" he replied.

She laughed. "Alright, give me a little time. I'll plan something."

Advay leaned back, shaking his head slightly. "Fine. Let me know when we leave."

As he hung up, a small smile played on his lips.

This break might not be so boring after all.

The next morning, as Advay sat on the couch, casually flipping through TV channels, his phone rang again.

Ananya.

He picked up, his voice as calm as ever. "Morning."

"Morning!" she said, sounding much more excited than yesterday. "Okay, so I have a plan."

Advay raised an eyebrow. "That was fast."

"Obviously," she said. "We're going to the United Kingdom for a few days. London, maybe a few other places nearby. I found this amazing place, quiet, beautiful views, no crowds—just us relaxing."

Advay leaned back, considering. "Interesting."

"That's it? Just 'interesting'?" she asked, clearly unimpressed.

He smirked. "Sounds good."

There was a pause. "Wait… seriously?" she asked. "You're actually agreeing this easily?"

"Yeah, why not?" he replied casually. "I've got nothing else to do."

She huffed. "Wow, thanks for making it sound so exciting."

Advay chuckled. "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning," she answered immediately. "I already booked everything."

He raised an eyebrow. "You were pretty confident I'd say yes, huh?"

"Call it intuition," she said, sounding pleased with herself. "So, pack your bags. We're going to London!"

As she hung up, Advay shook his head with a small smile.

This trip was going to be interesting.

The next morning, Advay packed his things, zipped up his suitcase, and grabbed his essentials. With everything set, he picked up his car—the same sleek machine he always drove—and headed toward Ananya's house.

When he arrived, she was already waiting outside, her luggage beside her. She looked elegant yet effortless in a white floral dress, her hair falling perfectly into place.

Advay, dressed in a white cashmere shirt and denim, stepped out and walked over. Without saying a word, he grabbed one of her suitcases and lifted it into the trunk.

Ananya raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so chivalry isn't dead?"

Advay smirked slightly. "I just don't want to waste time watching you struggle."

She narrowed her eyes. "Unbelievable."

He chuckled, shutting the trunk. "Get in."

As they both settled into the car, he started the engine, the low hum filling the air.

Ananya sighed dramatically. "Well, London, here we come!"

Advay glanced at her, amused. "Try not to get too excited."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. I fully plan on making this trip fun, even if I have to drag you into it."

He smirked as he pulled out onto the road.

After going through security, Advay and Ananya found themselves seated in the airport lounge, waiting for their flight. The atmosphere was calm, with a few travelers scattered around, sipping coffee or scrolling through their phones.

As Advay sat back, his fingers idly tapping against the armrest, he noticed a small figure approaching hesitantly.

A boy, around 10 years old, stood a few feet away, clutching the strap of his backpack. His eyes were wide, filled with awe and nervous excitement.

"Umm… are you Advay?" the kid finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Advay raised an eyebrow, then gave a small nod. "Yeah."

The boy's face lit up instantly. "Oh my god! I knew it! I'm a HUGE fan! I support RCB because of you!"

Ananya, sitting beside Advay, smiled at the kid's enthusiasm.

"Is that so?" Advay asked, his tone calm but amused.

The boy nodded eagerly. "I watched all your matches this season! You and Virat bhaiya were amazing! I still can't believe we lost the final, but your innings was unreal!"

Advay smirked slightly. "You sure you're not just a Virat fan?"

The kid shook his head furiously. "No way! You're my favorite! You and RCB will win next time, I know it!"

Ananya glanced at Advay, nudging him playfully. "Look at that, your own fan club."

The boy hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Umm… can I take a picture with you?"

Advay gave a small nod, then effortlessly lifted the boy up, holding him securely in his arms. The boy grinned from ear to ear as his parents, who had been watching from a distance, quickly took out their phone and snapped a few pictures.

"Thank you so much!" the mother said, smiling warmly. "He's been talking about meeting you all year."

Advay gave a small nod. "No problem."

The boy, still in disbelief, clasped his hands together. "I'll tell all my friends! Thank you, Advay bhaiya!"

As the family walked away, the kid still bouncing with excitement, Ananya turned to Advay, smirking.

"That was cute."

Advay exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "RCB fans are something else."

She laughed. "Well, you kind of give them a reason to be."

He said nothing, just leaned back in his seat.

After some time, their flight was announced, and they made their way to board. Since it was a long journey, they had booked first-class seats, ensuring they could travel comfortably.

Once they settled in, Ananya stretched her legs, glancing around the luxurious cabin. "Not bad," she said, approving of their choice.

Advay simply nodded, adjusting his seat. "It'll do."

As the flight took off, they scrolled through the in-flight entertainment, deciding to watch a movie.

"Action or comedy?" Ananya asked, holding the remote.

"Whichever keeps you quiet," Advay smirked.

She narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Comedy it is."

They both watched the movie in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging amused glances. As the film ended, the long journey started catching up to them.

Ananya yawned, adjusting her seat into a recliner. "I'm sleeping. Wake me up when we land."

Advay glanced at her, then casually leaned back, closing his eyes. "Don't snore."

She kicked his foot lightly. "Shut up."

With that, both of them drifted off into a deep sleep.

Hours later, as the pilot's voice echoed through the cabin, announcing their descent into London, Ananya stirred awake. She blinked at Advay, who was already up, looking out the window.

"We're here?" she asked groggily.

"Yeah," he replied. "Welcome to London."

The plane touched down smoothly, marking the start of their trip.

As they stepped out of the airport, the cool London breeze greeted them. The arrivals area was busy, with travelers hurrying about, but Advay's focus was elsewhere.

A man stood near the exit, holding a sign with Advay's name on it. Without hesitation, Advay walked up to him.

"Mr. Advay," the driver greeted with a polite nod, before handing over a set of sleek car keys. "Your car is ready, sir."

Ananya looked between the two, confused. "Wait—car?"

The driver gestured toward the parking area, and as they walked over, her eyes widened.

Parked under the soft glow of the terminal lights was a Ferrari Portofino, gleaming in black, its elegant curves and aggressive stance making it impossible to ignore. The retractable roof was closed for now, but the power beneath the hood was unmistakable.

Ananya turned to Advay, her mouth slightly open. "You rented a Ferrari?!"

Advay gave a small smirk, twirling the keys in his hand. "What, you thought we were going to take cabs?"

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "I didn't even know you rented a car at all!"

He opened the driver's side door, the soft leather interior complementing the sleek design. "I like to plan ahead."

Ananya shook her head, still in disbelief. "You're unreal."

"Get in," he said, already settling into the driver's seat.

She hesitated for a second before finally slipping into the passenger seat. As soon as she did, he pressed the ignition, and the car came to life with a deep, powerful roar.

Ananya glanced at him, shaking her head with a smile. "Of course, you'd do something like this."

Advay shifted into gear, pulling out smoothly.

Their trip had officially begun

After they checked in to the room , they decided to sleep for the night

As Ananya shifted under the covers, she turned slightly to the side, her eyelids heavy with sleep. The warmth of the blankets was comforting, but it wasn't quite enough.

Without a word, Advay reached out, pulling her closer. His arm wrapped securely around her waist, holding her against him.

Ananya stiffened for a moment, surprised, before relaxing into his warmth. "You're getting comfortable," she murmured sleepily.

Advay didn't respond—just tightened his hold slightly.

She smiled softly, closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Advay."

His voice was barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, Ananya."

And just like that, they drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth.

As the morning light streamed through the hotel window, both Advay and Ananya stirred awake. The previous day's travel had been long, but today was a fresh start.

They both washed up and got ready.

Advay pulled on a dark green cashmere t-shirt and black denim, adjusting his watch as he glanced at the mirror.

Ananya, stepping out of the bathroom, wore a dark green top t-shirt paired with denim. She ran a hand through her hair before turning to look at Advay.

She raised an eyebrow. "We match."

Advay glanced at her outfit, then back at himself. "Looks like it."

Ananya smirked. "Great minds think alike, I guess."

He grabbed his phone and keys. "Let's go."

Their second day in London was just about to begin.

Advay and Ananya stepped out of the hotel and walked toward their car—a sleek black Ferrari Portofino, the same one Advay had arranged as a surprise for their trip. The car stood out among the usual traffic, drawing a few admiring glances as they got in.

Ananya, settling into the passenger seat, ran her hand over the leather interior. "Still can't believe you pulled this off. You and a Ferrari in London… it's like a movie scene."

Advay smirked, starting the engine. "Well, I had to make sure you traveled in style."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile as the car smoothly glided through the streets of London.

Their first stop was Big Ben. The towering clock stood against the cloudy London sky, its golden accents gleaming faintly in the daylight. Ananya excitedly took out her phone. "Okay, we have to take a picture. Otherwise, no one will believe we were here."

Advay leaned casually against the railing near the Thames, waiting as she snapped a few shots. She turned the camera toward him. "Come on, at least pretend to be a tourist for once."

He sighed but allowed her to take a picture—though instead of smiling, he just gave his signature ice-cold shrug, making her burst into laughter.

After spending some time near the iconic landmark, they headed to their next destination—the London Eye.

As they stepped into the glass capsule, the wheel slowly lifted them above the city, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of London's skyline.

Ananya pressed her hands against the glass, looking out at the River Thames, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace in the distance. "Wow… this is incredible."

Advay stood beside her, arms crossed, admiring the view in silence.

She turned toward him. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

He glanced at her, then back at the city below. "It's nice."

She huffed. "That's it? Just nice?"

He smirked. "It's not a cricket stadium, but yeah, it's nice."

Ananya rolled her eyes. "I swear, you're impossible sometimes."

He chuckled but didn't say anything else, simply watching as the city stretched out beneath them. For once, there were no cameras, no crowds—just the two of them, high above London, in their own little world.

As they stood there, taking in the breathtaking view of London from the top of the London Eye, Advay casually reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Without saying a word, he wrapped an arm around Ananya's waist and pulled her closer.

She blinked in surprise. "Wait, are you actually taking a selfie? The same Advay Rai who barely posts anything?"

He smirked, tilting his head slightly as he held up the phone. "Just don't expect this to be a daily thing."

Ananya, still caught off guard, quickly fixed her hair and smiled as he clicked the picture—her beaming, him with his usual calm expression, the London skyline in the background.

She peeked at the screen as he lowered the phone. "Okay, I need to see that."

Advay turned the phone toward her, and she grinned. "This is perfect. You actually look like you're enjoying yourself."

He raised an eyebrow. "I am."

She nudged him playfully. "Then you should post this."

He sighed. "You just had to ruin the moment."

Laughing, she leaned her head against his shoulder, enjoying the quiet, knowing that even though he rarely expressed things with words, this moment meant something.

After stepping off the London Eye, Advay and Ananya made their way back to the Ferrari Portofino, the cool London breeze adding to the relaxed mood of the day. As soon as they got in, Ananya stretched her arms and sighed. "Okay, next stop—Buckingham Palace!"

Advay, starting the car, glanced at her. "You really planned out this whole day, didn't you?"

She grinned. "Of course. You think I'd bring you to London and not show you everything?"

With that, they drove through the historic streets of London, past Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and St. James's Park, before finally arriving at Buckingham Palace.

The grandeur of the majestic palace stood before them, its golden gates glistening under the soft afternoon light. Tourists were scattered around, some taking pictures, others watching the guards in their iconic red uniforms and tall black hats.

Ananya, fascinated, turned to Advay. "Isn't it beautiful?"

He nodded, taking in the architecture. "It's impressive."

She gave him a look. "That's all you're going to say?"

He smirked. "What else do you want me to do? Salute the guards?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Sometimes, I wonder if anything actually excites you."

Advay glanced at her and, without a word, pulled out his phone and took a picture—not of the palace, but of her standing in front of it, smiling as she admired the view.

Ananya turned just in time to catch him lowering his phone. "Wait, did you just—did you take a picture of me?"

He tucked the phone back in his pocket. "Maybe."

She stared at him, then smirked. "Now this is historic."

He chuckled, looking up at the palace once more. "I guess London's not so bad."

After spending some time at Buckingham Palace, they made their way back to the Ferrari Portofino, ready for their next stop.

Ananya pulled out her phone, checking her itinerary. "Alright, next up is the—"

Before she could finish, Advay started the car and smoothly pulled out of the parking lot.

She frowned. "Wait, where are we going? The museum is in the other direction."

Advay didn't answer, just smirked as he navigated through the London streets, taking a completely different route.

She narrowed her eyes. "Advay… where are we going?"

Still no response. Just a slight flicker of amusement in his eyes as he kept driving.

After about twenty minutes, they pulled up to a private racing track, completely empty except for a few staff members who were waiting.

Ananya looked around, confused. "Wait… this isn't a museum."

Advay finally turned to her, smirking. "Nope."

Before she could even question him, he reached for the button and opened the top of the Ferrari, letting the cool air rush in.

"Advay, what are you—"

Before she could finish, he slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the Ferrari roared to life, launching forward at full speed.

Ananya let out a startled scream, clutching the seat as the car shot down the track, the wind whipping through her hair.

"ADVAY!" she shouted, half-laughing, half-panicking.

He just smirked, keeping his hands steady on the wheel as they raced down the track, the engine growling like a beast unleashed.

She finally caught her breath, her adrenaline kicking in. "You—are—INSANE!"

Advay chuckled. "You said you wanted to see London. Didn't say how."

She stared at him, then shook her head, laughing. "I hate that I'm actually enjoying this."

He shifted gears, the Ferrari gliding smoothly through the turns, the tires screeching slightly as he took them at impressive speeds.

For once, Ananya had no words. No plans. No expectations. Just her, Advay, and the thrill of the moment.