Arnab was a tender seven-year-old boy whose world crumbled when he lost both his parents in a devastating earthquake in Uttarakhand. In the aftermath of the tragedy, his relatives greedily pocketed the compensation provided by the government and heartlessly abandoned him. Left to fend for himself, little Arnab found shelter by working at a doctor’s bungalow. He spent two and a half years serving the family until they moved abroad, leaving him homeless once again.

One afternoon, while wandering through the bustling streets in search of work, Arnab noticed a man inadvertently leave his wallet at a tea stall. Without hesitation, Arnab sprinted after the gentleman and returned it to him. That man was Mr. Sanjeev Chatterjee — a renowned advocate in the town. Grateful for the boy’s honesty, Mr. Chatterjee asked, “Where do you live, beta?”

Looking slightly unkempt but sincere, Arnab replied, “I’m looking for a job, sir. My parents died in the earthquake in Uttarakhand.” Coincidentally, Mr. Chatterjee had been contemplating the persistent servant problem at his house. Without delay, he handed Arnab his address and said, “Come meet my wife and daughter, Arushi. If they like you, your job is yours.”

Two days later, Arnab arrived at the Chatterjees’ elegant villa. Seeing him at the door, Mr. Chatterjee called out, “Come see who’s here!” Mrs. Chatterjee and Arushi joined him, and he gestured toward the boy.

Mrs. Chatterjee looked Arnab over with quiet scrutiny and said, “He doesn’t seem like a bad sort... at any rate.”

As soon as six-year-old Arushi laid eyes on Arnab, she lit up with joy. “I like him!” she squealed. “From now on, I have a partner to play with!”

And just like that, Arnab was hired. In exchange for two meals a day and a monthly salary of seven thousand rupees, he washed clothes, chopped firewood, ran errands, tended the garden, and most importantly, played with Arushi.

“Arnab, come and play!” Arushi would call. No matter the task at hand, Arnab would drop it and race to her, where she’d be waiting in the garden, holding a red cricket ball and her bat. Arnab was more than just her companion—he was her confidant, her laughter, and her peace. When he hit sixes with ease, both of them would erupt in joy. Cricket was something Arnab was naturally gifted at.

One day, while Arnab and Arushi were playing, Arushi’s school sports teacher, Mr. Roy, visited their home. From a distance, he observed Arnab's graceful strokes and instinctive timing. “What a talent!” he murmured in awe, watching Arnab bat for 15 minutes straight.

Curious, he approached Mr. Chatterjee. “Who is this boy?”

“Our servant,” Mr. Chatterjee replied.

Mr. Roy, visibly intrigued, said, “If you have no objection, I’d like to train him. In fact, I’m willing to pay a thousand rupees as compensation.”

Seeing rare promise in Arnab, Mr. Roy took him under his wing. Arnab and Arushi continued to grow up together, sharing not just games but dreams. They giggled over romantic films, imagining themselves as hero and heroine. They whispered secrets, shared victories, and found joy in each other’s presence.

But when Arnab turned 13 and Arushi 12, everything shattered. Rumours began swirling among the relatives that the two children were in love—that they had been seen hugging and kissing. Despite the purity and innocence of their bond, Mr. and Mrs. Chatterjee, clouded by social pressure, turned against Arnab. Accusing him falsely of stealing money and jewellery, they dismissed him and handed him over to the police. Arushi wept, pleading for him, but her voice was silenced behind a locked door.

Mr. Dutta, a family friend, intervened. After hearing the full story, he approached the police station with a lawyer. Due to a lack of evidence and after learning of Arnab’s cricketing potential, the inspector released him.

That incident hardened Arnab. With a wounded heart, he began working at a coffee shop and joined a cricket academy. There, he poured his soul into the game, practising tirelessly—sometimes up to 12 hours a day. His relentless dedication caught the eye of the academy’s selection committee, and soon, he was representing the team in various matches. Century after century, six after six—Arnab’s bat began to speak for him.

At just 17, he was selected for the Indian Under-19 cricket team. In a crucial knockout match, Arnab astonished the world by scoring an explosive 120 runs off just 30 balls—a strike rate of 400. His name made headlines.

Arushi saw his picture in the newspaper and felt a rush of pride. She showed the article to her parents, who, now filled with shame, realised their grave mistake. Arushi tried to contact Arnab, but he had vanished into his pursuit of greatness. She thought he had forgotten her, but in truth, Arnab carried her in his heart every single day. She was the fire that drove him.

Later that year, Arnab was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, with a staggering contract worth ₹5 crore, making him the youngest player to earn such a sum.

Fame followed him, but he remained grounded. In a do-or-die match against KKR, Arushi sat among the crowd, watching him bat. Arnab scored a fierce 70 runs and led RCB to victory. As he walked off the field, Arushi couldn’t hold back. She burst through the barricades, tears in her eyes. The security tried to stop her, but Arnab saw her and ran.

They met in the middle of the field and embraced tightly. Tears flowed. The crowd, moved by the heartfelt reunion, erupted in applause.

And in that moment, on that cricket ground under floodlights, Arnab and Arushi’s story finally had the happy ending it deserved.

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