Chapter 61: The Championship After-Party

Cut to:

At a small party hall:

(The party in the hall was in full swing, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and cheerful chatter. The three winners stood at the center of the gathering, surrounded by their teams, friends, and family.)

(As the party reached its peak, servers moved gracefully around, serving platters of delicious food and an assortment of drinks.

Kiara stood with her family, enjoying some snacks and refreshments.)

Kiara: (grinning) I still can't believe ki yeh, national championship trophy, maine jeeti hai!!!

Vikram: (proudly) Beta, tumne jo aaj kiya hai, uske liye we are all proud of you!! Tumhaari mehnat ka phal, aaj sab dekh rahe hain.

Purab: (teasing) aur, beta ji.... Abhi toh yeh sirf shuruaat hai... aage aur bhi trophies jeetni hai!!!!

Kiara: (smiles) and I will need your support for every race... just like you did for this one!!!! This may look like a single person sport... but there is a whole team behind that one racer!!!! And I owe this trophy to my team!!!!! Woh kahaavat toh suni hogi aapne- There is no 'I' in the word TEAM!!!!

Abhir: (chuckles) but there is definitely a 'ME'!!!!

(As laughter filled the room, Kiara looked around at her family and friends, her heart swelling with gratitude and joy.)

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A while later,

(A staff member rolled a trolley into the center of the hall, catching everyone's attention. On it was an elegant ice bucket holding a chilled bottle of champagne.

The host, a cheerful man with a microphone in hand, stepped onto the small dais at the center.)

Host: Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to officially celebrate our winners! And as tradition goes, it's the honor of the winner to pop the champagne!

(The room erupted in applause and cheers as all eyes turned to Kiara.

She froze for a moment, glancing at the large bottle with a nervous laugh.)

Kiara: (hesitant) Me? Are you sure? I've never done this before!!! What if I break the bottle?

Vikram: (encouraging) Go on, beta! It's all yours.

Kiaan: (teasing) Don't worry, Kiru, it's just a bottle. You've handled tougher things-like that last lap today!

(The crowd laughed encouragingly, as Vikram, stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.)

Vikram: Relax, beta. It's simple. Main samjhaata hoon. (he points to the bottle) Dekho, sabse pehle foil ko remove karo.... theek hai?? Phir wire cage ko twist karke kholna hota hai...... but do it very gently. Uske baad bas bottle ko thoda tilt karke cork ko push karna hai.... that's it!!!

Kiara: (murmuring, with shaky hands) Okay, okay... twist gently... tilt bottle... push cork... okay. got it!!!!

(Kiara gave him a smile and walked up to the dais to take her position beside the host.

The crowd leaned in, waiting with bated breath.)

Host: (joking) Careful, guys! First-timers can be unpredictable!

(The room broke into laughter, and Kiara giggled, her nerves easing slightly.

With Vikram guiding her from the side, she removed the foil, carefully twisted the wire cage and tilted the bottle just as instructed.)

Kiara: (muttering) Okay, here goes nothing...

(Finally, with a loud pop, the cork flew out, and a small burst of champagne fizzed out.

The room erupted in cheers, and Kiara let out a triumphant laugh, holding the bottle up victoriously.)

Someone in the crowd: (joking) Hey, she's a minor! Don't let her drink that!

(The room filled with laughter, and Kiara doubled over, laughing out loud.)

Kiara: (grinning) Don't worry, guys! I'm not touching it. This is strictly for the adults.

Aryan: (playfully) Good call, champ. But don't forget, you earned the right to pop it.

(As the champagne flowed and glasses were raised, Kiara beamed, surrounded by her loved ones.

It was a moment she would never forget-a celebration not just of her victory but of the people who made it all worthwhile.)

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Later,

(As the party progressed, people began to move around meeting other and having a little chit chat with them.

Naina was also mingling with a few people she knew from her racing days.

Abhimanyu had taken up the duty of introducing her to the other people.)

Abhimanyu: Waise, do you even remember about your first national championship?

Naina: (laughing) Of course, I do! How could I forget? It was one of the most intense races of my life.

Abhimanyu: (getting nostalgic) Intense??? Are you kidding? (he turns to the other guests) you know what.... I was so sure I'd win that day. I mean, I was blocking every chance of Raftaar overtaking me.... Every corner, every straight- I had it all covered. Or so I thought!!!

Naina: (realizing) Oh haan!!! I remember that!!!! You were so aggressive with your defense; I thought I'd never get past you.

Abhimanyu: (chuckling) And then, in the last lap, out of nowhere, she completely confused me!!!!

Man 1: how so?

Abhimanyu: I don't even know!!!! I don't know, how she did it.... But, Naina.... you just made this impossible move... you literally jumped ahead, and left me eating your dust.

Naina: (laughing) It wasn't impossible- it was strategy! You were so focused on blocking me on the inside that you didn't see me lining up for the outside.

Abhimanyu: (mock disbelief) Lining up for the outside? Who even does that? I didn't know whether to be impressed or furious back then.

Man 2: (laughs) oh... poor Abhimanyu!!!! losing to a 16-year-old girl must've stung.

Abhimanyu: It stung, alright. But it also made me better.

Man 1: I think she even raised the bar of motorcycle racing in India, back then!!!!

Abhimanyu: true.... And also, on that was the day I learned never to underestimate her-or anyone else, for that matter.

(The group dissolved into laughter again, the camaraderie and nostalgia making the party even more special.

Their laughter attracted the attention of those nearby. Purab watched Naina and Abhimanyu talking with each other.

Both of them laughing and reminiscing. Purab smirked and casually walked over to Vikram, who was standing by the snacks table, sipping his drink.)

Purab: (teasing) Kya baat hai, Vikram bhai? Aapke saamne hi Naina aur Abhimanyu itni masti bhari baatein kar rahe hain... jealousy nahi ho rahi kya?

Vikram: (raising an eyebrow) Jealousy??? Nah!!! (smiles) Haan, pehle hoti thi.... Har din koi na koi, puraana dost mil jaata tha.... and I feel ki Naina ke saare friends, uske liye special hi hote hain!!!!

Purab: (mock surprise) Oh!!! Are you serious? Toh ab aapko bilkul bhi jealousy nahi ho rahi??? Dekho toh.... Kaise Nunu, Abhimanyu se itne acche se baat kar rahi hai!!!! (His tone gets mischievous) Waise suna hai, Abhimanyu abhi tak unmarried hai!!!

Vikram: (smirking) Purab, tum Naina ko apna best friend bulaate ho na?

Purab: (nodding) Haan, obviously.

Vikram: (grinning) Toh you should've understood this fact- Naina talks nicely to the people she is not close with!!! Woh unse acche se hi baat karegi!!!! But.... Jinn ke saath woh close hai... Jinke saath uski vibe jamti hai... unhe toh woh roast karti hai!!!

(The room echoed with laughter as Purab clapped Vikram on the back, shaking his head.)

Purab: (grinning) Arrey haan, yaar!!!! Yeh baat toh tumne, bilkul perfect samjhi hai!!! Naina ke close hone ka asli proof, toh uske roast sessions hi hain!

(Both of them laughed harder, their bond evident in the lighthearted teasing, as the celebrations continued late into the night.)

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Author's Note 🎉🏎️🔥

What a PARTY, right?! 🥳 From Kiara's big win to Naina's legendary racing flashback, this chapter was packed with emotions, nostalgia, and of course, some classic roast sessions! 😂🔥

But tell me-did Vikram just flex his confidence, or was there a tiny hint of jealousy there? 🤭 And what about Kiara? Is her journey just getting started? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 💬👇

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