Victory nights don't end.
They dissolve.
Into laughter.
Into exhaustion.
Into badly sung songs and worse dance moves.
Aarav Malhotra hadn't slept.
He had survived.
---
## 🏆 NEW ZEALAND – INDIA U-19 TEAM HOTEL
**Time:** 7:12 AM
**Sleep Logged:** 43 minutes
**Mood:** World Champion, Mild Zombie
---
Aarav sat in the breakfast area, staring at his tea like it had personally betrayed him.
Virat dropped into the chair opposite him with a grin.
"You know," Virat said, "normal people celebrate finals."
Aarav squinted.
"I celebrated. I closed my eyes."
"Yeah," Rohit added, piling pancakes onto his plate, "for exactly four minutes. Then you started talking about swing trajectories in your sleep."
Aarav blinked.
"…Did I solve them?"
"No," Jadeja said, walking past. "You asked the pillow to set a field."
The table burst out laughing.
Aarav finally cracked a smile.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM STATUS – POST-TOURNAMENT MODE
---
**Warning:**
➡️ Fatigue extremely high
➡️ Ego inflation risk: LOW
➡️ Public attention: MAXIMUM
**Recommendation:**
➡️ Hydration
➡️ Media training
➡️ Do not attempt bowling actions near fragile objects
---
## 📺 MORNING NEWS LOOP
The hotel television replayed highlights on repeat.
"—AND THAT'S THE FIFTH WICKET FOR AARAV MALHOTRA!"
Aarav slowly slid lower in his chair.
"Can they stop yelling my name?" he muttered.
Virat smirked.
"Too late. You're officially loud now."
---
## 🧾 THE KNOCK
*Knock. Knock.*
Everyone froze.
Coach walked in.
Behind him—
Two men in blazers.
Folders in hand.
Smiles practiced.
Aarav whispered,
"Why do they look like bankers?"
Coach replied,
"Because dreams come with paperwork."
---
## 📑 THE FIRST CONTRACTS
They sat.
They explained.
They slid documents forward.
---
### 📄 DETAILS (SUMMARY):
- Domestic fast-track entry
- Ranji Trophy availability
- Emerging Players contract
- IPL auction watchlist (2008 season)
Aarav stared at the papers.
Then raised a hand.
"Sir… this doesn't mean I have to wake up earlier, right?"
The agent paused.
"…Yes."
Aarav sighed.
"Thought so."
Laughter broke the tension.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM PROMPT – REAL WORLD PHASE INITIATED
---
**Update:**
✔ U-19 Arc Complete
✔ Domestic Cricket Unlocked
✔ Financial Pathways Visible
**Next Unlock Condition:**
➡️ Ranji debut
➡️ Performance against senior bowlers
---
## 👨👩👦 FAMILY CALL – MUMBAI
Later that afternoon.
Aarav finally called home.
His mother answered instantly.
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"Properly?"
"…Define properly."
His father's voice came from the background.
"Put him on speaker."
Aarav did.
His father cleared his throat.
"We're proud of you," he said simply.
Pause.
Then—
"And no, this doesn't mean you can skip accounting classes."
Aarav groaned.
"Maa!"
His mother laughed.
"World Cup winner or not, homework remains."
---
## 🏏 TEAM BANTER – FINAL NIGHT
That evening, the team gathered again.
Music played.
Trophies passed around.
Someone handed Aarav the mic.
He froze.
"I… uh…"
He looked at Virat.
At Rohit.
At Jadeja.
"…I promise to keep winning matches," he said, "as long as none of you make me dance again."
Too late.
Music changed.
Someone pushed him forward.
Aarav raised both hands.
"I bowl fast, I bat faster, but I dance at strike rate zero."
The room exploded with laughter.
He danced anyway.
Badly.
Legendary levels of badly.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM LOG – PERSONALITY BALANCE ACHIEVED
---
✔ Competitive intensity intact
✔ Emotional range expanding
✔ Team bonding increased
**Note:**
Great players inspire fear.
Great leaders inspire laughter too.
---
## 🌅 NIGHT ENDS, JOURNEY BEGINS
As Aarav returned to his room, trophy finally resting on the desk, he lay back on the bed.
Phone buzzing.
Messages flooding.
Future knocking.
He smiled.
Not because he'd won.
But because—
For the first time, it felt real.
Tomorrow, cricket wouldn't be forgiving.
But tonight—
He was just a 19-year-old kid from Mumbai
who accidentally conquered the world
and still forgot to finish his tea.
--chapter 43 end--