WICKETS AND WIDGETS

Found Deceased

A week had passed since the events of the previous season. Sana remained in a coma, untouched by any threats, while Arjun Das had mysteriously disappeared, thwarting Aryan's plans until his whereabouts were discovered. In the midst of this, Aryan had secured a new job at a different IT company, thanks to Raghav's assistance.

My eyes fluttered open to the gentle embrace of morning light filtering into my room. There, nestled against me, was Kabir, peacefully asleep. He had become my boyfriend, a title that felt so right in this moment of bliss. Gazing at him, I couldn't help but smile; his slumbering face was truly endearing.

"I can sense your gaze, you know," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. There was something incredibly enticing about his morning voice, a warmth that enveloped me.

"How long have you been awake?" I inquired softly, running my fingers through his hair in a tender caress.

He nuzzled closer, his breath mingling with mine. "Long enough to feel the warmth of your stare."

The room seemed to hold its breath, cocooning us in a bubble of shared affection and quiet intimacy.

"I can't help it, you know," I shrugged, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "It's your fault for looking so adorable first thing in the morning."

He opened his eyes and gazed at me. "If there's anyone adorable and beautiful in this room, it's probably you."

The tips of my ears tinged red. "You're playing dirty, you know."

"How so?" He asked, tilting his head.

"What do you mean why? It is just not right to get someone hot the moment they wake up" I remarked.

"Get someone hot?" He asked, his eyes widening as a blush crept up his cheeks at my words.

"I mean, you know, get a boner. Biologically, it's also called an erection, I guess. It usually happens when a guy gets aroused," I explained in a detailed manner.

He covered his face in embarrassment and quickly got up from the bed. "You really need a filter on your mouth, did you know that? Anyway, when you decide to get up, feel free to use the bathroom first. You probably need it," He said, hurrying to the kitchen to make breakfast.

"Fuck it," I muttered, pulling the blanket over my head. "I probably made him uncomfortable. He must think I'm some kind of pervert." With a sigh, I got up from the bed and hurried to the bathroom to get ready, just to clarify, there were no shenanigans involved in my morning routine.

After a refreshing shower, I slipped into my favorite Harry Potter T-shirt, paired with cozy shorts. Sneaking quietly into the kitchen, I found Kabir already busy preparing what appeared to be French toast.

As I approached him, tiptoeing past my still-sleeping pups, I couldn't help but admire the delicious-looking food he was placing on the coffee table. With stars in my eyes, I exclaimed, "Okay, I love having you as my boyfriend. Want to know why?"

"Why?" he asked, turning to me with a smile.

"Because you can cook, obviously!" I replied with a playful grin. "I need more than just instant noodles to survive, you know."

He looked at me with a contemplative expression, prompting me to clarify, "But wait, that's not the only reason I like you. I don't just love you for your cooking skills. There's a lot more to you, so don't give me that serious look, dude."

He let out a relieved sigh, "Well, that's a relief."

I playfully gasped, feigning offense, "Hold on, did you really think I'd fall for you just because of your cooking? Come on, I may be a bit selfish, but not to that extent. I want a boyfriend I can love, not just a cook. Your cooking is just an extra perk for me, that's all. Even if you served burnt dishes with no salt, my love for you wouldn't change."

His smile softened, "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes meeting my surprised gaze.

"You're such a sappy guy," I teased, taking a seat by the coffee table and popping a piece of toast into my mouth. I mean, who needs perfect table manners when it's just us? It's not like my mom's here to scold me, right? It's just Kabir, and he's not one to judge.

He joined me at the table, his gaze intense as he watched me. I chewed slowly, trying to decipher his thoughts, but before I could say anything, he leaned across the table and took the other end of the toast into his mouth.

My eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, I was speechless with the toast in my mouth. I made a surprised noise, causing the toast to slip from my grip and dangle momentarily between us, before he deftly caught it with his hand and took a bite.

"What was that?" I managed to ask, feeling a flush creeping up my cheeks.

He finished chewing the toast before looking at me with a playful grin, "Isn't that how it goes in all those romantic movies? Two people sharing one piece of food?"

I stared at him, taken aback, and swiftly rose to embrace him as he remained seated, "My god Kabir, there's no need for you to replicate what you see in those films. I regret even bringing up the boner thing in the morning. You're such a pure soul, there's no necessity to mimic those Hollywood scenarios." I murmured, bestowing a tender kiss on his forehead.

He nestled against my stomach, seeking comfort in my embrace. With a soft sigh, he admitted, "I just wanted to impress you."

"You've already impressed me beyond words," I reassured him, running my fingers through his hair tenderly. "Keep it up, and I might just overload from all this love. My heart's storage might crash," I teased, a playful smile tugging at my lips.

"Hmm," he nodded in agreement, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I widened my eyes in alarm. "Hey, don't you have practice today?" I asked urgently.

"I don't feel like going," he mumbled, his tone filled with reluctance.

Shaking his shoulders gently, I insisted, "You can't skip. You represent the country. Skipping practice would be like letting down all your fans and supporters, you know."

He met my gaze, his expression conflicted. "I'll miss you all day," he admitted softly.

"I'll miss you too, but we both have responsibilities," I reasoned. "Work puts food on the table, just like practice hones your skills."

As he left for his morning routine with a tinge of sadness in his voice, I couldn't help but smile at his gentle demeanor. It had only been a week, yet it felt like he had always been a part of my home. Some might say I fall in love too quickly, and perhaps that's true. But with him, it felt different. I didn't have to pretend or put on airs; he accepted me with all my flaws. With him, I could be entirely myself—the raw, unfiltered version I rarely show to anyone else.

Lost in thoughts of him, my phone's ring shattered the quiet. Glancing at the screen, I saw Raghav's name and quickly answered, putting him on speaker.

"What's going on, Raghav?" I asked.

"Turn on the TV," he urged urgently.

Rushing to the living room, I grabbed the remote and powered up the TV. The news channel's headline grabbed my attention, and my eyes widened in shock.

"Renowned movie director Arjun Das found deceased," the headline blared, sending a chill down my spine.