The English summer of 2014 ultimately proved to be a harsh, uncompromising crucible for the young Indian Test squad. Despite Siddanth Deva's superhuman triple century at Trent Bridge and the historic, narrative-shattering victory at Lord's, the sheer depth and home-ground advantage of the English side eventually ground the visitors down.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford and the final Test at The Oval followed a frustratingly similar script. James Anderson and Stuart Broad, backed by the relentless accuracy of Chris Woakes, ruthlessly exploited the swinging Dukes ball.
While Siddanth stood tall, acting as the absolute anchor and scoring two more gritty half-centuries in incredibly tough conditions, the rest of the Indian batting order repeatedly crumbled. The moving ball proved too complex a puzzle for the inexperienced top order to solve consistently. England claimed victories in both Manchester and London, sealing the Test series 3-2.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, a stark reminder of how difficult winning overseas in the longest format truly was. However, the despair of the red-ball series was quickly washed away by the transition to colored clothing.
When the white-ball leg of the tour commenced, the dynamic completely shifted. Freed from the relentless pressure of the swinging Dukes ball and slip cordons, the Indian team, led by MS Dhoni, played with a ruthless, liberated aggression.
Siddanth, returning to the limited-overs format where he was statistically a demigod, was unstoppable. He scored a majestic 118 in the second ODI and a rapid 85 in the fourth, while picking up a crucial six wickets across the series with his deceptive cutters and express pace. India comfortably secured the ODI series 3-1, thoroughly dominating the English white-ball specialists.
They capped off the long, grueling two-month tour by winning the lone T20 International at Edgbaston in a nail-biting finish, with Siddanth executing a flawless 15-run final over to defend the total.
With the English assignment finally concluded, the BCCI granted the exhausted squad a well-deserved, mandatory three-week rest period.
Siddanth arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on a quiet Tuesday morning. He completely bypassed the usual media circus, slipping out through a private exit arranged by Arjun's security team.
When his Audi pulled into the lush, green driveway of the Shamshabad farmhouse, the heavy, suffocating weight of the international media scrutiny instantly vanished.
Vikram Deva was reading his newspaper on the veranda, looking up with a wide, proud smile as the car pulled in. Sesikala Deva was right behind him, holding a small tray.
"You look exhausted, ra," Sesikala noted. "And you have lost weight. Did you not eat those pickles I packed for you?"
"I ate them, Amma. English food is just terrible," Siddanth smiled, touching her feet and then his father's. "It's good to be home."
"Go wash up. I am making mutton biryani for lunch, and you are going to eat two plates," she instructed, her tone brokering absolutely no argument.
Siddanth spent the afternoon entirely off the grid. He simply slept for five hours straight, allowing the Perfect Rhythm passive trait to flush the fatigue of the two-month tour out of his system.
By 5:30 PM, he was awake, showered, and feeling completely rejuvenated. He pulled on a simple black t-shirt, dark jeans, and a grey hoodie.
He grabbed the keys to his silver Swift. He had explicitly texted Krithika earlier that morning, strictly forbidding her from taking her scooty to her office in Begumpet.
The Hyderabad evening traffic was its usual chaotic, beautiful mess. Siddanth navigated the Swift through the congested streets.
He pulled up to the large, modern glass building of the FMCG firm where Krithika was currently doing her job. He parked a few yards away from the main gate and sent her a quick text: Outside.
Ten minutes later, Krithika walked out of the building. She was dressed in a sharp, formal light-blue shirt and dark trousers, a laptop bag slung over her shoulder. Despite the obvious exhaustion of a long corporate workday, a bright, undeniable smile broke across her face the moment she spotted the silver Swift.
She opened the passenger door and slid in, tossing her bag into the backseat.
Before she could even put her seatbelt on, Siddanth leaned over and pulled her into a warm, lingering hug. The scent of her familiar vanilla perfume instantly grounded him, wiping away any residual stress from the cricket tour.
"Welcome back, Mama's Boy," she mumbled into his shoulder, her arms wrapping tightly around him. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Shorty," Siddanth said softly, pulling back just enough to look at her. "You look tired. Are they overworking you in the supply chain department?"
"It's just the end-of-month reporting cycle," she sighed, clicking her seatbelt into place. "It's a nightmare of spreadsheets and screaming managers. But I survived. How are your shoulders? You bowled a lot of overs in that last Test."
"I'm fine. Three weeks of rest is exactly what I need," Siddanth said, shifting the car into gear and pulling out into the traffic. "We are heading to your house first. You need to change out of these corporate clothes."
"Change? Why? Are we going somewhere nice?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We are going to watch a movie," Siddanth declared. "I haven't been to a cinema in months. I booked two tickets for the 7:30 PM show at Prasad's IMAX."
Krithika's eyes widened slightly. "Prasad's IMAX? Sid, are you crazy? It's going to be absolutely packed. It's one of the busiest malls in the city. If even one person recognizes you, it will turn into a mob scene in five seconds."
"Which is why I am in incognito mode," Siddanth smirked, tapping the hood of his grey sweatshirt. "Trust me. I've mapped it out. We slip in right as the trailers are ending, sit in the dark, and slip out during the end credits. It will be flawless."
Krithika rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "If we get mobbed by hundreds of screaming cricket fans, I am abandoning you and taking an auto-rickshaw home."
"Noted."
They drove to Tarnaka. Subba Rao and Suma were absolutely thrilled to see Siddanth. Mr. Rao immediately tried to launch into a deep, tactical analysis of why the Indian top order struggled against the swinging ball at Old Trafford, but Krithika quickly intervened, rescuing Siddanth from the cricket talk.
"Dad, he just got back. No cricket analysis today," she scolded lightly, shooing Siddanth toward the sofa. "I'm going to change. Give me ten minutes."
True to her word, she was back in exactly ten minutes. The stiff corporate attire was gone, replaced by a simple, incredibly elegant dark green salwar kameez with delicate silver embroidery. Her hair was let down, falling in soft waves over her shoulders. She wore minimal makeup, just a touch of kohl and lip gloss, but Siddanth thought she had never looked more breathtaking.
"What?" she asked, catching him staring as she walked into the living room.
"Nothing," Siddanth said, quickly standing up and clearing his throat, though his eyes betrayed his admiration. "You look beautiful."
Krithika felt a familiar flush rise to her cheeks. She quickly looked away, adjusting her dupatta. "Let's go before we miss the previews. Bye, Amma, Nanna!"
The drive to Prasad's IMAX near the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake was smooth. The massive multiplex, an iconic landmark in Hyderabad, was bustling with evening moviegoers, families, and teenagers hanging out near the food courts.
Siddanth parked the Swift in the underground basement. He pulled the hood of his grey sweatshirt up over his head and put on a plain black baseball cap, pulling the brim down low over his eyes.
"You look like a tech intern who hasn't slept in three days," Krithika observed critically, looking at his disguise.
"That is exactly the demographic I am aiming for," Siddanth whispered, taking her hand. "Just keep your head down and walk with purpose."
They took the elevator up to the cinema level. Siddanth kept his face angled away from the crowds, his posture slightly slouched to hide his athletic, instantly recognizable build. He had pre-booked the tickets online, so they completely bypassed the massive queues at the box office.
He quickly guided her to the concession stand. Keeping his head down, he paid for a large tub of caramel popcorn and two sodas in cash, letting Krithika do the talking to the cashier.
They slipped into Screen 1 just as the lights dimmed completely and the final movie trailer finished playing. Siddanth had booked two corner seats in the very top row—the premium balcony section—which offered maximum privacy and a perfect view of the massive IMAX screen.
They settled into the plush, comfortable seats as the movie began. It was a highly anticipated Hollywood action thriller.
As the movie progressed, the air conditioning in the massive theater began to feel quite cold. Krithika shivered slightly, rubbing her free arm.
Siddanth noticed immediately. Without a word, he unzipped his grey hoodie, took it off, and gently draped it over Krithika's shoulders.
"You'll be cold," she whispered in the dark, looking at his plain black t-shirt.
"I am not" he whispered back, his voice a low, comforting rumble. He put his arm around the back of her seat.
Krithika didn't argue. She pulled the oversized hoodie tighter around herself, inhaling the faint, familiar scent of his cologne. Feeling entirely safe and comfortable, she subtly shifted her weight, leaning over and resting her head gently against his shoulder.
Siddanth's arm naturally came down, wrapping securely around her waist, pulling her slightly closer. He rested his chin lightly against the top of her head. They watched the rest of the movie in that perfectly comfortable, quiet embrace, completely insulated from the outside world.
As the climax of the movie ended and the first line of the end credits rolled, Siddanth tapped her shoulder gently.
"Time to go, Shorty. Before the lights come on," he whispered.
Krithika reluctantly lifted her head from his shoulder, handing him back the hoodie. They quickly gathered their empty popcorn tub and cups, slipping out of the emergency exit doors at the back of the top row just seconds before the main theater lights blazed to life.
They successfully navigated the elevator back down to the basement parking without a single person recognizing the Devil of Cricket.
Once they were safely inside the silver Swift, pulling out onto the Necklace Road that curved around the beautiful, shimmering waters of Hussain Sagar lake, Siddanth finally pulled his cap off and ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Mission accomplished," Siddanth declared, rolling down his window slightly to let the cool lake breeze in. "Zero casualties, zero autographs."
"I have to admit, your ninja skills are improving," Krithika laughed, relaxing into the passenger seat. "The movie was actually really good. Thanks for taking me, Sid."
"Anytime," he smiled, glancing at her. "So, tell me about the job. You've been there for over a month now. How are the people? Is the corporate world treating you well?"
Krithika groaned softly, though she didn't sound truly miserable. "I finally got the hang of the actual job. The supply chain logistics make sense now. The spreadsheets don't look like an alien language anymore. As for the people... it's a mixed bag."
"Mixed how?" Siddanth asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Well, my immediate team is great," Krithika explained, her tone brightening. "There are a few other girls in my rotation program who are incredibly smart. We usually grab lunch together at the cafeteria. Good company, very professional. But..."
She trailed off, a mischievous, highly amused glint appearing in her eyes.
"But what?" Siddanth prompted, sensing a story.
"Well, there's this one guy in the marketing department," Krithika started, shifting in her seat to face him. "His name is Krishna. He considers himself the absolute hotshot of the office. He wears too much cologne, drives a loud sports bike, and constantly tries to act like a Bollywood hero."
Siddanth frowned slightly. "Is he bothering you?"
"He was trying to," Krithika laughed, completely unbothered. "For the past two weeks, he has been constantly hovering around my desk, trying to make small talk, offering to buy me coffee, basically trying every cliché pickup line in the book. I kept giving him polite, professional brush-offs, but he just wasn't taking the hint."
Siddanth's jaw tightened. "Do you want me to call someone at his HR department? I can make a phone call."
"Sid, relax. I didn't need HR," Krithika smirked, looking incredibly proud of herself. "I handled it yesterday in the cafeteria."
"What did you do?"
"He walked up to my table while I was sitting with my friends," Krithika narrated, her eyes dancing with amusement. "He leaned on the table, gave me this incredibly cheesy smirk, and asked, 'So, Krithika, what are your plans for this weekend? Maybe I can take you out for a nice dinner?'"
"And?"
"And," Krithika grinned, "I looked up at him, put on my most innocent, sweet, wide-eyed expression, and said, perfectly loudly so everyone could hear... 'Oh, sorry Annaya (Brother), I am busy this weekend!'"
Siddanth actually hit the brakes a little too hard at a red light, staring at her in sheer disbelief.
"You called him Annaya?" Siddanth asked, a laugh bubbling up in his chest.
"I dropped the ultimate weapon, Sid," Krithika nodded proudly. "You should have seen his face! It was like I had physically punched him in the stomach. The absolute devastation! His jaw practically hit the floor."
Siddanth burst out laughing, the sound echoing in the small car.
"But it gets better," Krithika continued, unable to stop laughing herself. "Two of his friends from the marketing team were standing near the water cooler and heard the whole thing. They instantly burst out laughing. They were literally doubling over, pointing at him. And seeing him stand there looking so shattered, I completely played it up. I tilted my head and asked, 'Annaya, what happened? Are you okay?'"
Siddanth hit the steering wheel, laughing so hard his eyes began to water. It was the absolute, undisputed nuclear option of the Indian friend zone.
"I think I more than broke his heart, Sid. I destroyed his entire ego in front of his friends," Krithika stated, looking highly satisfied. "He hasn't walked past my desk once today. He actually took the stairs to avoid sharing an elevator with me."
"You are absolutely brutal, Krithi," Siddanth managed to say, catching his breath as the light turned green. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"Just keeping my skills sharp," she smirked.
Siddanth's laughter slowly subsided, leaving a warm, affectionate smile on his face. He reached over and briefly squeezed her hand. "Seriously though, if he continues pestering you, or if anyone else crosses the line, tell me. I will deal with it."
Krithika rolled her eyes dramatically. "What are you gonna do, Sid? Go full Rambo on him in the office parking lot? Hit him with a cricket bat?"
"I don't need a bat," Siddanth replied, his tone perfectly deadpan. "I can just buy the company and fire him."
Krithika stared at him for a second, trying to figure out if he was joking or entirely serious. With Siddanth, the line between sarcasm and actual billionaire power moves was often terrifyingly thin.
"I will take care of him, Mama's Boy," Krithika assured him, softening her tone. "I'm perfectly capable of handling office idiots. But... if he does something actually drastic or makes me feel unsafe, I promise, you will be the first person I tell."
"Good," Siddanth nodded, satisfied with the compromise. "Just making sure."
The rest of the drive back to Tarnaka was filled with easy, comfortable conversation. They discussed the upcoming charity football match against the Bollywood actors.
Siddanth pulled the Swift up to the front gate of the Rao household. The street was quiet, the neighborhood mostly asleep.
"Thank you for the movie, Sid," Krithika said, unbuckling her seatbelt. She turned to him, the soft glow of the streetlamp illuminating her face. "And for the popcorn. And the hoodie."
"Anytime, Shorty," Siddanth smiled.
She leaned over the center console. Siddanth met her halfway. It was a soft, unhurried kiss.
"Get some rest," she whispered as she pulled back, opening the car door. "Don't let Arjun drag you into the office tomorrow."
"I won't," Siddanth promised. "Goodnight, Krithi."
"Night, Sid."
He watched her walk up the path and unlock the front door, waiting until she turned around and gave him one final wave before stepping inside.
Siddanth put the car in gear and drove back toward Shamshabad.