Chai, Confessions, and Cricket Dreams

Evening settled softly over Nawabganj, washing the lanes in that familiar orange glow. Arjun was sitting on the old water tank on his rooftop, towel draped over his head, muscles still buzzing from the day's training grind. His bat rested beside him, like a trusted partner after a long battle.

His phone buzzed.

Rhea Kapoor: "Free for a quick chai date? Or are you too busy becoming the next Tendulkar?"

Arjun grinned. He typed back:

"Tendulkar bhi chai break leta tha."( Tendulkar also used to take tea break)

Ten minutes later, they were at Sharma Ji's Tapri, their unofficial meeting point since the Jubilee Ground match. Rhea showed up in jeans, a Lucknow University hoodie, and her usual air of effortless confidence. A reporter in disguise — notebook tucked into her sleeve, voice recorder peeking out of her pocket.

Arjun: "Tu journalist hai ya spy? Kabhi toh bina gadget ke aa."

(Are you a journalist or a spy? Show up without gadgets at least once.)

Rhea smirked. "Acha? Toh tu kya hai? Cricketer ya Bollywood hero? Har shot ke baad dialogue zaroori hai kya?"

(Oh really? And what are you? Cricketer or Bollywood hero? Why is a dialogue necessary after every shot?)

They both laughed, the kind of easy laughter that comes when two people slowly stop pretending around each other.

They sat down with two cutting chais, the warm glass soothing Arjun's callused palms. Rhea leaned back, studying him the way she had since day one — not like a fan, not like a girl crushing, but like a storyteller trying to crack the heart of her story.

Rhea: "Kal trial ki date announce hone wali hai na?"

(Tomorrow they're announcing the trial date, right?)

Arjun nodded. "Schedule bana diya hai. Subah flyover se lekar raat tak rubber ball ki maar."

(I've made a full schedule. Flyover sprints in the morning, rubber ball attack drills at night.)

Rhea stirred her chai absentmindedly. "Aur agar select nahi hue toh?"

(And what if you don't get selected?)

For a second, Arjun didn't answer. He stared at the steam rising from his glass, before shrugging with that trademark Nawabganj bravado.

"Phir bhi Mohalla ka King toh rahunga."

(I'll still be the King of my street.)

Rhea leaned forward. "Aur agar select ho gaye toh?"

(And if you do get selected?)

Arjun's smile sharpened. "Phir sirf Mohalla nahi — poora Lucknow yaad rakhega naam."

(Then not just my street — the whole city will remember my name.)

Rhea's voice softened. "Arjun, tujhe samajh bhi aata hai tu kitna talented hai? I've covered U19 camps, seen players from bigger schools, richer academies — they don't have half your instinct."

(Arjun, do you even realize how talented you are? I've covered U19 camps, seen players from elite schools and academies — they don't have half your instinct.)

Arjun scratched his head, unsure how to handle a compliment without joking.

"Talent ka kya hai? Gali gali milta hai. To be frank bolu agar humare desh ka selection process ka system aur achha toh pata nhi kitne ache talent milenge"

(What about talent? Found in every street. So to speak frankly, if our country's system of selection process is better then I don't know how many good talents we will get..)

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the upcoming trials pressing between them. Then, Rhea reached into her bag and pulled out a brand-new pair of gloves — proper ones, not the street cricket knockoffs Arjun usually wore.

Rhea: "Yeh toh meri taraf se."

(This is from me.)

Arjun raised a brow. "Bribe de rahi hai kya? Agar select ho gaya toh exclusive interview pakka?"

(Are you bribing me? If I get selected, exclusive interview confirmed?)

Rhea smiled. "Interview toh pakka. Par yeh gloves isliye nahi diye."

(The interview's guaranteed. But I didn't get these just for that.)

Arjun: "Toh phir kyun?"

(Then why?)

Rhea looked straight into his eyes. "Kyunki iss baar sirf Lucknow ka Sultan nahi — Lucknow ka Champion banna hai."

(Because this time, you're not just aiming to be the Sultan of Lucknow — you're aiming to be its Champion.)

For once, Arjun had no reply. He just took the gloves, gripped them tightly, and nodded.

📊 Sania System Reminder:

"Mohalla King se District Champion tak — progress 82%."

(From Street King to District Champion — progress 82%.)