Chapter 42: Limelight

This chapter is to give you guys an update. I will release till chapter 50 tomorrow. So stay tuned and I am not dropping this, not yet.

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The matches were over, and our victorious team was ready to fly back to the country. As we made our way to the airport, our team couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and pride. We had just won the ODI series, despite all the tensions between our cricket boards.

I'm just hoping that politics won't add any ghee to the flames, although I know that it probably will. Despite this, I just want to play more matches in Pakistan.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of defeating your rivals on their home ground, and it's been an absolute blast to do so. My confidence is sky-high right now, especially after winning the series and breaking some records.

As we boarded the plane and found our seats, I realized that I was sandwiched between two of the biggest names in cricket: Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh. Even though I had flown before, I still couldn't shake the inner fear that came with being up in the air.

But as the plane took off and we soared higher and higher into the clouds, my nerves began to settle. Surrounded by my teammates and the buzz of excitement that came with traveling to play the sport I loved, I started to feel more at ease.

Before I knew it, the plane took off and we were soaring through the clouds. As soon as the seatbelt sign turned off, the flight attendants served us some much-needed refreshments. It was a relief to have a moment to relax and recharge before the upcoming match.

I had heard that our team usually flies economy for most of our travels, but this time was different. Playing in Pakistan was a special occasion, and our management had pulled out all the stops to ensure that we were comfortable and well-taken care of.

Since there were no direct flights between the two countries, we were fortunate to have special flights arranged for us by Air India. This allowed us to travel in complete privacy, with no one else on board except for our team members.

Feeling a bit nervous, I turned to Yuvraj Singh and asked, "Yuvi Paaji, can I ask you a question?" Suresh Raina, sitting beside us, perked up his ears in curiosity.

"'Of course, I'm all ears," replied Yuvraj, looking intrigued.

"Um, well...I was just wondering...how long does it usually take for the match fee to be transferred to our accounts?" I asked, trying not to sound too greedy.

"Ho, Baby wants money?" Yuvraj laughed, teasing me a bit.

I blushed with embarrassment and asked again, "No, not really...I was just curious."

"Well, don't worry, it's already in your account. Check your bank balance when we land," Raina reassured me with a smile.

Yuvraj chuckled and turned to Raina, teasing him as well. "Why do your ears perk up whenever someone whispers about money?"

Raina tried to play it off cool, saying, "I was just answering his question."

"Weren't you sleeping just now?" Yuvraj taunted him again, with a sly grin.

"I was just resting my eyes," Raina replied, trying to overcome his embarrassment.

Yuvraj and Raina's playful bickering continued throughout the flight, providing some much-needed levity and entertainment. As we approached our destination, the captain's voice came over the intercom, announcing that we would be landing soon.

Money.

Although I wasn't yet qualified for a contract, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Pakistan and earn my match fee. After participating in two ODIs and sitting out for three Test matches, I was eager to see how much I had earned.

Since I was a reserved player, I was only entitled to receive 50% of the match fees for the three Test matches that I didn't play in. Doing the math, that works out to be 3 x 2.5 x 0.5 = 3.75. However, I did get the chance to participate in two ODIs, which earned me a total of 2 x 1.8 = 3.6.

On top of that, I also had the incredible honor of being named the Man of the Match for one of those ODIs, which came with a prize of ₹20,000.

All in all, I had earned a total of ₹755,000 for my time in Pakistan. And with seven months left in the session, there was still plenty of time for me to make an even greater impact on the field and earn even more rewards.

At the moment, I don't have the luxury of hiring an accountant, and being a minor is not helping my financial situation. But I know that it won't be long before I turn 18 and gain the independence I need to take control of my finances.

Luckily, my grandfather was an experienced accountant, which means I won't have to worry about the financial side of things. But I'm not in any rush to jump into this investment venture just yet.

After all, I'm not quite an adult yet, and I want to make sure I have enough capital to get started on the right foot. It's important to approach these things with caution, and I'm willing to put in the hard work to ensure my success in the long run.

The moment our plane touched down at Mumbai airport, I felt a rush of excitement and nerves flood through me. "This is it, Vipin," I thought to myself. "Your first taste of the limelight."

As I gathered my belongings and prepared to disembark, Yuvraj Singh gave me a reassuring pat on the back. But then he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to navigate the throngs of people on my own.

As we made our way through the airport, the sound of enthusiastic fans shouting our names. My heart raced with excitement, but at the same time, I could feel my palms growing clammy with nervousness.

As we stepped outside, the roar of the crowd grew even louder. I was taken aback by the sheer number of people - there were fans as far as the eye could see, holding up signs and banners emblazoned with our names and pictures.