Chapter 24: GETTING THE GOALS RIGHT

                                    

                                          
Third person POV:
The next 3 days also passed quickly. The team again practicing their heart out during the day then having dinner together with the usual nonsense and silly fights of the players then having a sleep and then early morning gym session. They barely got 1 minute free in the last 3 days and afterall this was understood. This was a must win series to qualify. Anushka was also busy in looking after everyone's schedule and to not let it get hectic for anybody. After that day, she had no conversation with Virat. Not like they were ignoring each other but hardly got any perfect moment to have a talk. The team was already under pressure and it was justified as it was a young team but the trolling and criticism was making things worse. No matter how much the player tried to stay unaffected, they are a human at the end of the day and things did affect them. Virat was the least affected by all these social media trollings till he saw some posts claiming him to be a traitor (gaddar). He can bear anything but not someone questioning his loyalty. He has given his 100 and 10 percent everytime he has stepped onto the field. This has ignited a fire in him and everyone around him was aware and scared of this. Scared because they knew, whenever Virat feels like this, either he perform too good to be believed or he messes up a big time.
                          
Virat's POV:
It was a match day and We have reached the dressing room. The match was about to start in half an hour. Mahi bhai has gone for toss and the whole team was in the dugout. I was alone in the dressing room seated on a bench when I felt someone's hand over my shoulder bringing me out of my trance. I looked up to find out it was Anushka. I needed to have a talk with either Anushka or Mahi bhai. I was glad she came. I was lost in my thoughts again when she snapped her fingers in front of my eyes. I held her wrist and pulled her on the bench making her sit beside me. We sat there in a comfortable silence for 2 minutes then she broke the silence with her question
“So, Excited for the match?”
“Yeah. I just want to win this match at any cost” I said.
“That's the spirit, boy... You will do it” She motivated me further still holding her words within herself. I knew she had a lot to say but i didn't ask her.
“You know Anushka, I want to win this bloody match and show those damn stupid idiots that they are wrong. They can't call me a traitor and they can't troll my team for no reason. I want to shut their mouths with this win.” I told and she had a mini smile on her face.
“Virat, Do you remember why were you sad after the first match?” She asked me and I replied 
“Yes, I do. Our team didn't won despite so much hard work. And most importantly bcz this was the match of a must win series for us”
“Don't you think you have changed your aim?” she said and I realised that she was right but still these people need to be taught a lesson.
“Virat, you don't play for the crowd, neither for the fans nor for the haters. You play for your country, you represent India and you are not answerable to anyone as long as you are honest with this jersey” She put some sense into my thick skull.
“Win this match, not for those thousands of idiots but for those 15 members who are giving their all for this match. Win this match for your team and country and those clowns will shut their mouth themselves. They doesn't deserve your attention Virat”... She said and I realised how correct she was. I was getting my goal all wrong and I would've messed up a big time if she wouldn't have made me realise. 
“Anushka, thank you yrr. Sometimes amidst this excessive trolling and negativity, I fail to think with a right frame of mind. Thankfully I have you” I thanked her with all my heart and her reply gave me a satisfaction I wanted.
“I will be always there for you, Virat”.
Before I or she could say anything more, the trio entered the dressing room. Ro, Mahi bhai and Jaddu.
“Thankfully, you made him understand, Anushka.. otherwise he would've definitely done something big resulting in a disaster” Ro said putting his arms around Anushka's shoulder.
“Mahi bhai, look at him..he is talking nonsense” I complained to mahi bhai but even he didn't favour me today.
“Virat, he is no wrong. Last time you fought with Gambhir on the field when you were in the same state of mind..”
“Okay..I get it, I was not thinking straight.”
“Good for you” replied Jaddu.
In another 15 minutes the match started. We were batting first this time too. Surprisingly, there were no stupid questions from Anushka this time, I even turned to see if she has fallen asleep or what tragedy occured? But what I saw was pure bliss. Anushka with her fingers crossed was watching the match very keenly while praying for Rohit and Rahul to not give a catch, I guess she still doesn't know that there are other ways of getting out too. She still was not getting what was happening in the match, all she knew was that it's all good till the time they don't give a catch. She was praying with her whole heart. This girl is the purest human being I have ever seen. I think her prayers were getting answered too. Ro and Rahul were going brilliant.