Selections were rarely dramatic.
No trumpets.
No announcements.
No one bursting into the dressing room shouting destiny.
They arrived quietly—
like a chair pulled out behind you when you weren't looking.
---
## 🏟️ RANJI TROPHY – ROUND 3 (FINAL DAY)
**Match:** Mumbai vs Rajasthan
**Venue:** Brabourne Stadium
**Situation:** Match heading toward a controlled finish
---
Mumbai were comfortable.
Not dominating.
Not panicking.
Comfortable was dangerous.
It made people relax.
Selectors loved uncomfortable consistency.
Aarav was fielding at cover, hands low, eyes sharper than the sun above.
The ball came fast.
He attacked it.
Clean pickup.
Flat throw.
Direct hit.
The batsman froze mid-pitch.
Run-out.
Aarav blinked.
Then looked at the umpire.
Finger up.
He shrugged.
"Sorry," he muttered, not sorry at all.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – NON-CRICKET ALERT
---
⚠️ External Event Detected
⚠️ Importance: High
⚠️ Drama Level: Low (as expected)
---
Aarav frowned slightly.
The system rarely interrupted matches for nothing.
---
## 🏏 MATCH CONCLUSION
Rajasthan folded by late afternoon.
Mumbai won.
Again.
No heroics.
No chaos.
Just discipline.
Aarav's contribution looked ordinary on paper.
- 1st Innings: 100
- 2nd Innings: 23
- Bowling: 1/31
- Fielding: 1 Run-out
Selectors loved paper.
---
## 🧓 THE "CHAT"
As players packed up, the team manager walked over.
"Aarav," he said casually.
"Don't leave yet."
Aarav nodded.
He'd learned that *don't leave yet* meant everything and nothing.
In a quiet corner of the pavilion stood two selectors.
Neutral expressions.
Hands behind backs.
One of them spoke.
"How's your workload?"
Aarav answered instantly.
"Managed, sir."
No overconfidence.
No martyrdom.
The selector nodded.
"Any injuries?"
"No, sir."
Another nod.
Then—
"That run-out," the selector said,
"good awareness."
Aarav smiled politely.
"Ball looked lonely, sir."
The selector almost smiled.
Almost.
---
## 🎭 AWKWARD SILENCE
They didn't say congratulations.
They didn't say selection.
They didn't say anything useful.
Finally—
"Keep doing what you're doing," one said.
That was it.
They walked away.
Aarav stood there.
Blinking.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM TRANSLATION
---
**Human Selector Language Detected**
Phrase: *Keep doing what you're doing*
Actual Meaning:
➡️ You're in the picture
➡️ Don't mess it up
➡️ We're watching
---
Aarav exhaled slowly.
So that's how it worked.
---
## 🍵 DRESSING ROOM – AFTERMATH
A senior teammate looked at his face.
"Selector chat?"
Aarav nodded.
"What did they say?"
Aarav thought.
Then replied honestly.
"Nothing."
The senior smiled.
"Good. That means something."
---
## 😄 LIGHT MOMENT – TEAM TEASE
Another teammate chimed in.
"So, India A soon?"
Aarav shrugged.
"If they need someone to carry drinks very efficiently."
Laughter erupted.
Captain shook his head.
"Don't pretend," he said.
"You know it's coming."
Aarav smiled.
"Yeah," he replied.
"But pretending keeps me calm."
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – PATH UPDATE
---
**Ranji Phase:** Stabilized
**India A Probability:** High
**Timeline Integrity:** On Track
**Next Objective:**
➡️ Ranji Round 4
➡️ One more strong showing
➡️ Force formal communication
---
## 🌙 NIGHT – HOME CALL
Later that night, Aarav called home.
His mother answered.
"You sound tired," she said.
Aarav smiled.
"Good tired."
His father came on the line.
"No news?" he asked.
Aarav paused.
Then replied—
"Not yet."
A beat.
"That's fine," his father said.
"Silence means you're close."
Aarav leaned back on the bed.
Looked at the ceiling.
Silence.
For once—
It sounded promising.
---
--chapter 52 end--