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The last few overs of the match had everyone in the stadium absolutely riveted. The score was at 235/4 for India and 235/6 for New Zealand. It was now or never. Tilak saw James Neesham sprinting closer towards him. At the other end, Surya crouched, ready to run at a moment’s notice. Tilak took his stance, his heart beating loudly against his chest. He inhaled deeply and braced himself. Jacob hurled the ball towards him, and Tilak reacted by swinging the bat with all his might— BANG!
The sound of the ball against the bat echoed throughout the stadium from the stumps’ microphone. The ball flew across the pitch, looking promising. However, it was shattered when Tilak saw a fielder jumping up to catch the ball. Tilak's heart dropped. He thought that he’d disappointed the team. He hung his head in defeat, ready to remove his gear. Suddenly, he heard the loud cheers of the stadium and whipped his head up.
“It’s in the air... and it clears the boundary!” The voice of a male commentator echoed from the speakers, which was barely heard over the cheers and roars of the stadium, “SIX! What a shot! Just barely over the fielder's hand!”
“This is it! India has done it!” A female commentator exclaimed, "A spectacular victory in the ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup for the Men in Blue!"
Tilak was frozen in place, like he was cemented into the ground, before being immediately tackled by Surya, who lifted him off the ground in celebration. Both of them cheered as fire and confetti shot into the air. Fireworks erupted overhead, showering the sky with colour as gold confetti fluttered onto the pitch like butterflies.
Like a chain reaction, the rest of the players entered the field, sprinting towards the pair with their arms raised, celebration barely contained as they joined in. Abhishek raced out first, followed closely by Shubman and Ishan. Hardik barrelled in, with Shivam and Axar trailing closely behind. From the boundary, Arshdeep and Varun sprinted towards the growing huddle, while Jassi and Sanju slowly jogged with a grin stretched wide across their faces.
The flares roared, making the confetti shimmer and lingering smoke, while the stadium erupted into cheers. Surya finally set Tilak down and touched their foreheads together, both of them extremely tired, but laughing.
Everything around them faded, leaving only their laughter between them. The rest of their team crowded around them — hands clapped, shoulders, arms wrapped around others in bear hugs, and someone ruffled his hair as the entire team celebrated in a circle in the centre of the stadium.
Nearly an hour later, after the celebrations had barely begun to settle: the stadium was still alive with colour and sound. The remainder of the celebration still remained in the air – smoke tickled the nose, and confetti clung to their hair and jerseys like ivy wrapped around an old brick wall.
Surya took the trophy with hands that shook so badly that if he were to hold a cup filled with water, it would be empty almost immediately. Turning towards the stage where Tilak, his beloved boyfriend, and the rest of the team stood waiting, he began walking towards them, each step brimming with excitement.
Tilak was already grinning from ear to ear, unable to contain his excitement. At the same time, the rest of the team started to move towards Surya with similar grins, like magnets. When Surya finally reached the stage, he turned to the roaring crowd and raised the trophy high above his head.
For a split second, the world stopped breathing.
Then, like sharing a heartbeat, the rest of the team threw their arms up at the exact same time: fists raised up, shouts of victory by the players. The crowd followed suit, roaring with extreme happiness. The stadium erupted with noise, and cameras shuttered in the stands.
Surya’s eyes flicked sideways for a moment, meeting Tilak’s. Tilak laughed breathlessly, arms raised high in the air beside him. Surya had never imagined victory could look this bright.
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Hours later, Surya opened his apartment door, feeling it was heavier than usual. He thought it was because he was tired. He flicked on the light switch next to the burgundy door and stepped inside. Tilak followed immediately behind, both of their medals still hanging around their necks, making soft clinking sounds as Tilak tried to shake out the remaining specks of gold confetti. Surya let out a quiet laugh, then nudged the door shut with his foot after checking that everything was inside.
" Hillo mat," he said, plucking a piece of stubborn gold confetti, “Tum toh abhi bhi aadha stadium apne saath le kar ghoom rahe ho.”
Tilak swatted his hand away, though the corners of his mouth rose up. “Excuse me, yeh souvenirs hain," he said with a fake tone of offence. He said with a fake tone of offence.
"Souvenirs?" Surya said, amusedly, his eyebrow raising.
Tilak gestured with both hands toward his medal-covered chest and jersey, saying, “World champions bhi souvenirs deserve karte hain, you know.”
“Acha, toh medals souvenirs nahi hain?” Surya asked his boyfriend jokingly while he removed his shoes and socks. Tilak started to stutter, unable to form a proper response. After a few seconds, he just sighed in defeat.
Surya chuckled at his response to the question and set the keys on the counter. He then held out his hand toward Tilak, silently asking for the medals.
Tilak huffed, “Abhi se mere prize chura rahe ho?”
When he wasn’t given a response and was given an expectant look instead, he glanced down at the two medals hanging around his neck (his and Surya’s), letting them clink softly together as he shifted.
Surya looked at him questioningly. “Kya inhein pehen ker sone ka iraada hai?
Tilak shrugged, but took them off anyway, the ribbons sliding over his neck as he placed both medals into Surya’s palm.
“Sirf abhi ke liye,” Tilak muttered, drowsiness starting to hit him.
“Theek hai,” Surya said, setting them beside the keys.
Tilak didn’t bother responding. He wandered toward the couch and dropped onto it, his limbs heavy and aching, the fabric cool against his skin as the hush of the room settled around him.
“Chalo, change kar lo aur bedroom main jaakar so jao," Surya said.
“Bas paanch minute,” Tilak mumbled, already half asleep, one arm thrown over his eyes. Surya glanced over at him, amused.
“Paanch minute,” he repeated under his breath.
Tilak’s breathing levelled out almost immediately, exhaustion finally catching up with him after the long night. Within moments, he was out like a light. Surya shook his head softly. He walked over to the couch where his boyfriend lay like a starfish. He slid one hand underneath his sleeping boyfriend’s knees and the other behind his back before gently lifting him with a soft grunt. Tilak’s head landed snug against his shoulder, and another arm draped over Surya’s shoulder as he was carried to the bedroom. Once there, Surya carefully lowered him onto the plush mattress of the bed and sighed.
“Bilkul nahi, tum ismein toh nahi soge,” Surya muttered to no one in particular.
He tugged off Tilak’s shoes first and placed them near the doorstep neatly. He returned and started to hesitate. He didn't know whether to take off his shirt or pants first. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to just swap his shirt and let him continue peacefully sleeping. He gently raised him up and leaned him against his chest.
When Surya reached to pull the jersey over Tilak's head, Tilak stirred again. His arms lifted halfway on instinct, eyes still closed, before almost immediately going limp against Surya’s chest. Surya let out a chuckle. He managed to swap the jersey for a loose t-shirt lying around, then lay him back and pulled the blanket over him. Just as he stepped back, Tilak’s hand shifted blindly across the mattress and caught the edge of Surya’s sleeve.
“Jaao mat, yahin so jaao." Tilak muttered sleepily.
Surya froze. For a moment, he just stood there, staring at him. Tilak was already half-curled into the pillow again, unaware of what he’d just said to him. Surya huffed out a quiet laugh so as not to wake up his sleeping beauty.
“Chinta mat karo,” Surya whispered, “Main bas abhi aaya"
Surya walked towards their cupboard, grabbed a shirt and some shorts, and then headed to their bathroom to take a shower. Meanwhile, the faint sound of the shower running in the bedroom made Tilak melt even further into the mattress like jelly. After a while, Surya came out of the shower in a simple grey shirt coupled with cotton pants as dark as the night sky, with his hair still damp and a towel draped over his head.
Surya carelessly tossed the damp towel onto one of the chairs in the room and walked over to the lights, turning them off. The room settled into a quiet darkness, illuminated only by the soft, yellowish glow of streetlamps outside.
He returned to the bedside and slipped under the covers beside Tilak, his mattress dipping slightly. Tilak moved. Still half asleep, he shifted closer without opening his eyes, instinctively seeking the warmth from beside him, like a moth to a flame. Within seconds, he had curled against Surya’s side, one arm and leg draping across his waist and thighs.
Surya blinked, caught off guard by the instant reaction. A quiet chuckle escaped as he adjusted the blanket before sliding his own hand over his partner’s waist and simply holding him there, like he wasn’t sure he existed. The gesture was immediately reciprocated by Tilak snuggling into his neck, settling comfortably against him. Surya smiled adoringly. Sleepiness washed over him, and he soon succumbed too.
________________________________________________________________
The next day was like the days before the tournament training. The apartment smelled of coffee and toasted bread. Warm sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, bathing the room in shades of yellow and gold as Surya stood by the stove, flipping something in the pan. Behind him, the bedroom door opened.
Tilak shuffled out slowly, still half asleep, rubbing one of his eyes as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing one of Surya's hoodies—the black sleeves flowing past his hands like a waterfall, and the hem sitting halfway through his thighs. It was extremely obvious that the hoodie wasn’t his size, nor was it his.
Tilak shuffled over to Surya, standing behind him before wrapping his arms around Surya’s waist and laid his head on Surya’s back. Surya placed one hand around the arms wrapped around his waist, the other still busy flipping whatever he was cooking.
“Uth gaye,” Surya said, glancing back slightly to see the head of messy curls that decorate his back. Tilak only hummed back in response, wrapping his arms tighter around his waist and burying his face further into Surya’s back.
“Barely,” Tilak mumbled, sending soft vibrations up Surya’s back, “Jab meri aankh khuli toh tum wahan nahi the.”
Surya huffed out a quiet laugh, “Arre, main sirf 10 minute ke liye yahan aaya tha.”
“Haan, par 10 minutes is too long.” Tilak fired back
Surya shook his head in disbelief, turning off the stove and setting aside the food before gently prying Tilak's arms away and turning around to face him. Up close, Surya’s hoodie engulfed Tilak even more — the sleeves bunched at the wrist, and his hair is still messy
“Waise, kya mera hoodie waapas dene ka koi iraada hai?” Surya raised an eyebrow.
Tilak blinked slowly at him before curtly replying with a “Nahi.”
Surya let out a soft chuckle while fixing a stray piece of hair that had fallen into Tilak’s eyes, “Pata tha mujhe.”
For a moment, neither of them moved. They just stood there in the quiet kitchen, sunlight spilling around them.Then, the doorbell rang. Tilak went rigid with shock.
“...Nahi,” he said almost immediately.
The doorbell rang again, the sound carrying an impatient edge. Tilak turned his head toward the door, then he turned back to Surya.
“Main darwaaza nahi khol raha”
“But you live here, Tilak.”
The doorbell rang for the third time, the sound considerably louder. Surya sighed and stepped away, “Relax, its probably nothing.”
Tilak stayed exactly where he was, watching him go with deep suspicion.
Surya opened the door.
“Devi!” Surya said with a shock mixed with happiness, his voice echoing throughout the house and into the kitchen where Tilak currently was, “It’s good to see you! Tum yahan?”
Tilak whipped his head over so fast he was so sure he got whiplash. He thought he misheard what Surya said. He immediately ran over to Surya and stopped dead in his tracks.
Devisha stood in the doorway. In their doorway.
Tilak’s brain buffered,crashed, rebooted, and then just gave up.
“...Hi,” Tilak faintly said
Surya leaned casually against the doorframe. “Tilak, this is–”
“Mujhe pata hai,” Tilak blurted out way too quickly. He straightened up, trying (and failing) to look normal. “I mean – Haan. I know who you are.”
“Oh~” Devi said with an interested tone, “Ab ye kaun hai, Surya?”
“Main Tilak hoon,” he quickly stuttered out of sheer embarrassment, “Inka…dost, aur neighbour bhi. By the way, main aapka bahut bada fan hoon ”
“Thank you! Lekin…” Devisha thanked his warmly before raising an eyebrow, “Dost aur neighbour?”
Tilak nodded his head so fast it made him dizzy, “Ji, bilkul. completely and totally platonic friends.”
Surya stares at the conversation that is going on before him with an unimpressed look on his face. He sighs.
“Devisha,” Surya starts, “...hum date kar rahe hain.”
Pin-drop silence fell immediately.
Tilak froze.
Then, like a snail, he turned his head towards Surya very slowly with a mortified expression.
“Tumne– ” he started, his voice rising an octave, “Ye kya kiya?! What did you just do?!”
“Kya?” Surya said, unbothered, “Hum date kar rahe hain. Sach hi toh bola.”
Tilak pulled him closer by the shirt and hissed under his breath, “Arre, aise kaun batata hai? It sounded like you were announcing the weather! Main sab handle kar raha tha!”
“Achha, you were handling it?” Surya asked amusedly with his eyebrow raised.
Devisha, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold, let out a soft laugh. Then, as if a switch had flipped, something sparked in her eyes.
And just like that, she slipped into character.
“Oh…” She said slowly, folding her arms, “toh… tum ho woh?”
Tilak went rigid.
He hadn’t expected that.
He immediately withdrew from Surya and straightened, suddenly hyper-aware of everything— his hair, the way he stood, the hoodie.
“I— what?”
Devisha took a step forward, sharpening her expression to make it even more convincing.
“I’ll be honest,” she said, eyeing him up and down like he was on display, “Maine socha tha koi thoda... put together banda hoga.”
Tilak stiffened.
For a split second, she hesitated. Then, she kept on going.
Surya sighed, “Devisha–”
She completely ignored him.
“He looks like he just woke up,” she commented, vaguely gesturing at Tilak, “Baal dekho kitne bikhre hue hain, aur ye hoodie? This is not even your size.”
Tilak looked down to inspect himself, visibly panicking.
“Main abhi change kar leta hoon,,” Tilak quickly stammered out, “Main abhi change karke aata hoon! I—ye toh bas temporary hai, mujhe pata nahi tha ki—”
“Aur ye?” Devisha added while stepping closer and lightly tugging at the sleeves of the hoodie, “Is this even yours?”
“...Inka hai.” Tilak faintly muttered
Devisha hummed. “So we’ve already moved onto stealing clothes. Shuruat toh kaafi fast hai.”
Tilak was absolutely mortified. He didn’t know what to say. He looked like he wanted the floorboards to open up and swallow him whole. He kept on trying to smooth out his hair with his hands, but the curls just sprang back into place, mocking him.
Devi circled him once, tapping her chin.
“Mujhe nahi pata, Sky,” she said, glancing at Surya, “Ye thoda... scruffy sa hai. Kya ye wahi World Cup hero hai jo maine TV par dekha tha? Is hoodie mein toh ye bilkul toddler lag raha hai.”
“Mera—mera ek gym routine hai!” Tilak squeaked, his face burning a shade redder than the sun, “Aur main roz apne baal brush karta hoon! Main toh bas—”
Surya finally had enough. He reached his hand out, grabbing Tilak by the waist and pulled him firmly against his side, marking his territory with a grin. Meanwhile, Tilak somehow got even more redder and gasped when he was pulled into Surya’s waist.
“Theek hai, Devi, ab bas bhi karo,” Surya laughed, though his voice had a slightly protective edge to it, “se pareshan karna band karo. Bechaare ko heart attack de dogi tum, aur main ise sahi-salaamat rakhna chahta hoon.”
Devi’s mask shattered instantly, dissolving into a bright, mischievous laugh. She reached her hand out and ruffled Tilak’s already messy curls, making him blink in confusion.
“Arre, relax relax! I’m just kidding, Tilak,” Devi said, leaning against the wall, “ Main toh bas tumhari tange khinch rahi thi. I’ve known about you two for months.”
Tilak’s jaw dropped. “Months? Par Surya ne toh abhi aapko bataya!”
“Surya ne tere baare mein itna bataya hai ki I felt like I already knew you” Devisha teased
Tilak let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, his shoulders slumping downwards as if it was deformed from the tension “Oh god, Di… aapne toh meri jaan hi nikaal di thi. I thought main first impression ka kachra kar diya.”
Hearing this, Surya tightened his grip around Tilak’s waist and pulled him a bit closer (if that was even possible) “Maine kaha tha na, she’s a menace. Iske pranks se bachke rehna seekh le”
“Excuse me? Main toh bas check kar rahi thi if he can handle the pressure off-field as well as he does on the field,” Devi shot back. She looked at the two of them, really looked at them — Surya in his simple outfit and Tilak drowning in the oversized hoodie— Devi’s face softened. “But seriously, you guys look cute. Bohot zyada.”
Tilak rubbed the back of his neck, a shy smile finally breaking through his embarrassment. “Thanks, Devi Di. Sorry about the…hoodie situation. Breakfast? Sky is actually a decent cook when he’s not busy being dramatic.”
“Sun liya maine!” Surya called out while heading back to the stove, “ Devi, baith. Coffee is almost ready. Aur Tilak, jaake baal theek karle, warna she’ll start roasting you again”
“Nahi, rehne de,” Devi teased, heading for the dining table, “ I think it looks nice on you, and I’m sure he’s very comfortable like this.”
Tilak laughed, finally feeling at home in the chaos all around him. He leaned into Surya for one last time before heading to the kitchen counter to join Devi.
“Fine, but if this ends up on your insta story, I’m retiring from public life”
“No promises!” Devi replied with a laugh
After five minutes, Surya arrived at the counter holding plates and mugs. Soon, the room reverberated with laughter and conversations. Devisha showed Tilak embarrassing pictures of Surya when they hung out together, much to Surya’s loud protests.
The tension bled out of Tilak’s shoulders, replaced by a dizzying realization. He was standing in a kitchen, sharing a joke with the Devisha.
“Main… mujhe aapka kaam bohot pasand hai,” Tilak managed to say, finding his voice, “That last project? Who lighting incredible thi. I mean– aisa nahi hai ki main stalker hoon, I just—”
"Yeh fanboy hai, Devi," Surya interrupted, playfully nudging Tilak with his elbow. "Ye tumse milne ke liye zyada nervous tha... utna toh Neesham ko final over mein face karte waqt bhi nahi tha"
“Arre, ab bas bhi karo!” Tilak beamed while protesting Surya’s statement
After a few minutes, Tilak realised that he had never gotten a photo with his idol. It also dawned on him that this was his only shot. He fumbled for his phone, nearly dropping it twice.
"Um, Devisha? Aapke jaane se pehle..." He shyly held up his phone, the gesture immediately recognised by Devi, "Kya main... aapko bura toh nahi lagega? Taaki main apni mummy ko prove kar sakun ki ye sab koi sapna nahi tha?"
Devi laughed at his shyness and grabbed the phone from him, “Bilkul! Mana kaun kar raha hai? Aaja Sky, frame mein aa!”
She held the phone high up. Tilak stood in the middle, still in his oversized hoodie, grinning so hard that his eyes were crescents and his cheeks hurt. Surya stood on his other side, wrapping one arm around Tilak’s waist and smiling.
Devi returned the phone and glanced at her watch. Her eyes went wide and she urgently started rushing to collect her things, “Oh no! Main toh apne shoot ke liye late ho jaungi!”
She quickly gathered her things, but paused at the door to give Tilak a playful, pointed look. "I've got to go. It was very fun meeting you! See you soon... aur Surya ke saare hoodies churaana band karo!" She gave them a quick wave and vanished into the hallway just as the elevator dinged.
"Suniye?" Surya teased, leaning against the doorframe as he watched Tilak's face turn bright red again. "Sister's orders. Hoodie waapas karo?"
Tilak just responded by pulling the sleeves further down his hands and hiding his grin, “Nahi. Maine kaha tha na? Souvenir hai.”
Before Surya could respond, a thunderous bang echoed from the front door.
"SURYA! TILAK! Darwaaza kholo humein sab pata hai!" Ishan’s voice roared from the hallway, followed by the chaotic sound of the rest of the team arriving.
"Too late," Surya laughed, reaching for the handle. "Hungry lions are here."