Keifer's POV
Keiren's voice echoed through the door.
"If you two are discussing batting averages romantically again, we're leaving!"
Jay covered her mouth to stop laughing.
I opened the door.
Keiren stood outside in his red PBKS jersey with Ci-n beside him, both already wearing matching red wristbands.
"What took you so long?" Keiren asked dramatically.
I looked at Jay.
"She was busy ranking cricketers."
Jay gasped.
"I was not!"
Ci-n looked between us curiously.
"Jay..."
"Yes?"
"Is Keifer jealous?"
Jay smiled mischievously.
"Very."
"I am standing right here," I reminded them.
Keiren threw an arm around my shoulder.
"It's okay, Kuya."
He nodded very seriously.
"Today, Ate Jay is supporting PBKS."
Ci-n grinned.
"And she's going home with you anyway."
Jay laughed so brightly that even I couldn't keep a straight face.
"Come on," she said, picking up her cap. "Let's go before Eces comes looking for us."
"Too late."
Eces' calm voice drifted from downstairs.
"If you're finished debating cricket and appearances..."
A pause.
"...the cars are ready."
Krish added in his usual composed tone,
"And the match won't wait for the four of you."
Keiren saluted dramatically.
"Coming!"
Jay slipped her hand into mine as we walked out together.
I glanced at her once.
She caught me looking.
"What?"
I smiled.
"Nothing."
She already knew.
She squeezed my hand anyway.
And together, wearing matching red PBKS jerseys, we headed downstairs, ready for the excitement waiting in Mullanpur.
The stadium lights turned the entire sky silver.
As we stepped into the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, the atmosphere hit us all at once.
Music.
Cheering.
Thousands of fans dressed in red and orange.
Flags waving everywhere.
It was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement.
"Whoa..."
Keiren spun around in circles.
"This place is HUGE!"
Honey laughed as she looked around.
"It looks even better than it does on television."
Jay stood beside me in our matching PBKS jerseys, her eyes sparkling as she took everything in.
She looked genuinely excited.
I smiled.
Worth it.
Completely worth it.
Our VVIP seats were unbelievable.
Close enough to clearly see the players warming up.
Comfortable seats.
Private hospitality.
Cold drinks already waiting.
Even Percy looked impressed.
"I take back every complaint I've made today."
"You've made forty-three," Honey reminded him.
"Forty-four."
Everyone laughed.
The players began walking onto the field.
The entire stadium erupted.
"PBKS!"
"PBKS!"
Jay immediately stood up with everyone else.
"There!"
She pointed excitedly.
"Shreyas!"
I followed her finger.
Sure enough, she had spotted him before anyone else.
She waved enthusiastically, even though there was no chance he'd see her from here.
Keiren copied her anyway.
"COME ON PBKS!"
Aries laughed.
"I think he's talking louder than the stadium speakers."
The national anthem played.
Everyone stood silently.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Respectful.
United.
When it ended, another roar echoed around the stadium.
The match had begun.
The first few overs were tense.
Every run drew cheers.
Every dot ball earned applause.
Every boundary made the crowd explode.
Jay reacted to everything.
"Good shot!"
"Ohhh..."
"So close!"
When PBKS hit a huge six, she instinctively grabbed my arm.
"Did you see that?!"
"I did."
She realized she was still holding my sleeve and quickly let go.
"...Sorry."
I smiled.
"I wasn't complaining."
She rolled her eyes before turning back toward the field.
A few overs later...
Abhishek Sharma came in to bat for SRH.
Jay watched attentively.
"I told you he's a really good player."
"Hm."
"And he's stylish."
"Hm."
"And very confident."
"Hm."
She slowly looked at me.
"...Are you jealous?"
"No."
"You sound jealous."
"I'm evaluating the opposition."
She laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
"You're impossible."
"I've been told."
The match kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Even Eces, who normally remained composed, clapped once when PBKS took an important wicket.
Krish noticed.
"So you do enjoy cricket."
"I enjoy good strategy."
He smiled knowingly.
"Same thing."
Grace sat comfortably with Grazel sleeping peacefully in her arms, protected from the loudest noise by tiny earmuffs.
Denzel checked every few minutes to make sure the baby was comfortable.
Keigan, meanwhile...
Kept accidentally looking toward Eces whenever something exciting happened.
Not because he expected anything.
Just because...
She was the first person he wanted to look at.
I noticed.
So did Jay.
She caught my eye and gave the tiniest smile.
He was trying.
The match remained close until the final overs.
Everyone was standing now.
Keiren couldn't sit anymore.
"COME ON!"
"JUST ONE MORE!"
Blaster looked ready to lose his voice.
Even Percy had stopped making jokes.
The last over felt like it lasted an hour.
Then...
PBKS sealed the victory.
The stadium exploded.
Red flags filled the air.
Music blasted through the speakers.
Fireworks lit up the night sky.
Jay actually jumped in excitement.
"They won!"
She turned toward me with the biggest smile I'd seen all day.
"They won!"
I laughed.
"I noticed."
Without thinking, she hugged me tightly.
Only for a second.
Then she realized what she'd done and stepped back immediately.
"...Sorry."
I shook my head.
"You never have to apologize for being happy."
Her smile returned.
Brighter this time.
As the celebrations slowly settled, Krish stood.
"Don't leave yet."
Everyone looked at him.
"What now?" Percy asked.
Krish simply smiled.
"One more surprise."
Eces checked her phone before nodding once.
"Perfect timing."
She looked toward Jay.
"Ate."
Jay blinked.
"...Me?"
"Come with us."
Curiosity spread through the group.
We followed them down a private corridor beneath the stands.
Security personnel greeted Krish respectfully as we passed.
Another corridor.
Another security gate.
Then...
A door opened.
Waiting inside was a private hospitality lounge overlooking the illuminated stadium.
The room was decorated in red and gold.
On the center table sat a beautifully decorated cake shaped like a cricket pitch.
Beside it were PBKS-themed cupcakes, balloons, and a large banner.
"For Our Team."
Jay stopped walking.
"What..."
She looked around in complete surprise.
"You..."
Eces smiled softly.
"You've wanted to watch a live IPL match for a long time."
Krish nodded.
"So we thought your first one should be memorable."
Jay looked speechless.
"You planned... all this?"
"We had help," Krish admitted.
"But yes."
The entire group stood quietly for a moment.
Honey whispered,
"I'm actually emotional."
Percy nodded.
"Same."
Keiren grinned widely.
"I knew they were hiding something!"
Jay slowly turned toward Eces.
Then quietly hugged her.
"Thank you."
Eces returned the hug gently.
"You deserve happy memories too, Ate."
When Jay stepped back, she looked at Krish.
"Thank you."
He gave his usual calm smile.
"You're welcome."
I watched all of it from a few steps away.
There wasn't a single grand speech.
No dramatic declarations.
Just thoughtful planning.
The kind that stayed with you long after the night ended.
As everyone gathered around the cake, laughing and taking pictures together, I looked at Jay.
She was smiling without hesitation.
Without fear.
Without looking over her shoulder.
For so long, every celebration had carried the shadow of Kaizer.
Tonight...
There was only laughter.
Only friends.
Only family.
And under the bright stadium lights of Mullanpur, surrounded by the people who loved her, Jay looked completely free.
I thought the cake had been the surprise.
I was wrong.
Very wrong.
After everyone had finished taking pictures and cutting the cake, Krish exchanged a glance with Eces.
She nodded once.
"There's one more thing."
Percy frowned.
"Another one?"
Krish smiled faintly.
"This is the main one."
Now everyone looked curious.
Jay tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Eces simply gestured toward another private corridor.
"Come."
Security escorted us through a restricted passage beneath the stadium.
The noise of the crowd became quieter with every step.
Jay walked beside me, curiosity written all over her face.
"Where are we going?"
I shrugged.
"No idea."
Keiren bounced beside us.
"If this is another cake, I'm still eating it."
Honey laughed.
"You'll eat anything."
"I take that as a compliment."
A few more turns...
One final security door.
It opened.
And everyone stopped.
Inside a spacious hospitality lounge...
Several Punjab Kings players were already there, chatting casually after the match.
For a second...
Nobody moved.
Then Keiren whispered loudly,
"...We're actually meeting them."
The room erupted.
"Oh my God!"
"No way!"
"Seriously?!"
Jay simply stared.
Speechless.
The players smiled at our reactions.
Captain Shreyas Iyer stepped forward first with a friendly smile, followed by Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and a few of the other PBKS squad members who were still around after the match.
One by one, everyone greeted them.
There was plenty of space between everyone, security nearby, with quick handshakes and photographs.
Nothing crowded.
Nothing overwhelming.
Just a relaxed meet-and-greet.
Shreyas looked around the group with an easy smile.
"So..."
He folded his arms.
"Who's the biggest Punjab Kings fan here?"
Almost every finger pointed at Jay.
Including mine.
Jay looked horrified.
"Guys..."
Shreyas laughed.
"I had a feeling."
He looked at her.
"Who's your favourite player?"
She hesitated for exactly two seconds.
"...You."
The room immediately broke into teasing whistles.
Shreyas placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
"Aww... thank you."
He smiled warmly.
"Can I?"
Jay nodded politely.
He gave her a quick, friendly side hug for the photograph before stepping back immediately.
Nothing more.
Just a brief congratulatory gesture.
"...Thank you for supporting us," he said.
Jay was still smiling.
"I'm really happy to meet all of you."
Then I heard someone chuckle beside us.
Yuzvendra Chahal looked between Jay...
...and me.
Then pointed directly at my face.
"Captain..."
He looked at Shreyas.
"I think someone else's expression has changed."
Everyone turned toward me.
"What?" I asked.
Marcus Stoinis laughed.
"Mate..."
He pointed at my jaw.
"Why's it locked like that?"
The entire group looked at me.
Before I could answer...
Keiren proudly announced,
"Because the girl you hugged is his wife."
Silence.
Then...
The entire PBKS lounge burst into laughter.
Shreyas immediately raised both hands.
"Okay! That explains everything."
Arshdeep laughed.
"Brother, don't worry."
Marcus patted my shoulder.
"It was just a congratulatory hug."
I sighed dramatically.
"I know."
Shreyas grinned.
"But?"
I looked at Jay.
"...Still."
Jay covered her face.
"Oh no..."
Even Eces had to hide a smile.
Krish quietly shook his head.
"Possessive."
"A little," I admitted.
Jay nudged my arm.
"A little?"
The room laughed again.
A few minutes later, another group entered the lounge.
Orange jerseys.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad squad.
Among them were Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and several other SRH players.
The PBKS and SRH players greeted each other warmly after the match.
Jay looked excited all over again.
Honey leaned toward her.
"Don't tell me..."
Jay whispered,
"...Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan."
Honey started laughing.
"I knew it."
Abhishek noticed.
He smiled.
"So I'm guessing..."
He pointed toward himself.
"...I'm one of the favourites?"
Jay nodded sheepishly.
"Yes."
"And Ishan too."
Ishan laughed.
"Good choice."
Abhishek jokingly opened his arms.
"So... should we also get a fan photo?"
Before either of them could take another step...
Marcus Stoinis called out from behind with a grin,
"Bro..."
He pointed straight at me.
"Don't."
Everyone looked over.
Marcus continued dramatically,
"Her man will probably punch one of us now."
The entire room exploded with laughter.
Even Pat Cummins laughed.
Shreyas nodded seriously.
"I've seen the face."
Arshdeep added,
"We're keeping a safe distance."
I raised both hands.
"I wasn't going to punch anyone."
Keiren snorted.
"He's lying."
Jay turned bright red.
"You all are impossible."
Abhishek laughed.
"Fair enough."
Instead, he simply stood beside Jay with everyone maintaining a respectful distance while photographers clicked a few pictures.
Ishan joined in from the other side.
Simple.
Friendly.
Professional.
As the evening came to an end, players signed jerseys, cricket bats and caps for everyone.
Keiren looked like he might never recover from excitement.
Honey couldn't stop smiling.
Percy declared this the greatest surprise of the trip.
Jay carefully looked at the signatures on her PBKS jersey before smiling at Eces and Krish.
"You planned all this?"
Krish nodded.
"We knew this would make you happy."
Eces folded her arms.
"Worth it?"
Jay looked around one last time at the stadium, the players, and everyone laughing together.
Her eyes shone.
"...More than worth it."
Standing beside her, I couldn't help smiling too.
Although...
I silently decided one thing.
The next time a famous cricketer hugged my wife...
I was definitely standing one step closer.
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