TAKE 1.1 - Up for Some ME Time

3 years ago

mysticaltales11111

@mysticltales111

Hellooooo Guysssssssss....

Hope you and your family all are Safe and Sound amidst the rising Covid Tsunami in India. Stay in and Stay Safe - Guysss!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

And Yup here I am - with the next update - introducing Our Male Lead into the Story..(winks)

Word Count - Short/Medium Length - 5.4K Words.

Taking some hours off to just Write this Out finally has truly been my Respite in taking my Mind Off - Everything Covid! And I truly hope - that you are able to experience some distraction and entertainment through the Story Too! 🙏🙏🙏

Please scroll Up the Index to see the Faces to the Characters so that you can relate faces to the Characters as they appear in the Update.

Also, yes this is the First Draft. Please definitely ignore editing/common repition of words errors etc - since I have not proofread.

And I shall now let you all dive in without Further Delay.

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Copyright Disclaimer :

The Moral Right of the Author has been asserted. All Rights Reserved. This Story is published subject to the condition that it shall not be reproduced or transmitted/distributed in whole or in part, in any manner, whether in electronic or in hard copy, without the written consent of the author, and any infringement of this is a violation of Copyright Law.

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TAKE 1.1 - Up for Some ME Time

Same Day - 16th Feburary, 2019

At The Hotel - MayFair - Central London

At The Hotel - MayFair - Central London

9:30 AM

9:30 AM

Arnav's POV

Raunak sips his coffee patiently and shoots Ved and me a relaxed smile as he say's - " guys..you gotta stop worrying...I am sure this will be smooth..we just gotta wait for a couple of minutes more to know the outcome of the same...that's all..."

Ved sips his coffee as he says with a skeptical nod - " yes..should be smooth given that it was discussed prior too...but it's just better to be assured..."

Raunak and me nod in agreement instantly - " Ofcourse - It's just better to be assured...plus I gotta feeling it's going to be smooth too," I add taking the last bite of my omellete trying to put up the mask of patience even though - I just can't wait for Skip to return to the table.

So.

There are times - I do pretend to be a lot more patient on the outside - in comparison to what I actually feel on the Inside. And it's totally an amusing experience for me to curtail or channelise a curtain over my expressions or words(because otherwise I am the Total Extrovert. I express and I say exactly what I feel. I do not mince or filter my words/expressions usually. And my face tends to always just give me away. And everyone who knows me closely enough personally - surely can see through that in perception - anyway.)

Now for example on moments like these it's totally amusing for me to fight back the thought off wanting to go stand right in front of Cap and read his expressions as the conversation unfolds as is. I just really wanna know what's being said on the other line too. Maybe we all should have just asked Cap to talk out loud on the Speaker? Would have saved Raunak, Ved and me - this - continuous turn back to look in Skip's direction spree. ( He had walked to a corner to take the call.)

Ved winks at me as he says continuing to eat the last couple of bites of his breakfast - " ASR, you do know that we know that you are just trying to look patient...you probably just want to go and stand in front of Skip and gauge his expressions..."

Ha.

Ofcourse Ved understands the same - also because its probably what he wants to do himself too. We are quite similar in our extrovert-expressive selves.A reason - why two of us are touted to be the most animated characters with our hearts up our sleeves expressions in the middle of the Game.(Infact the only time I ace masking my expressions - is when I am getting set to Bowl. That's the only time my face/gestures cannot be read by anyone. I like to guard my bowling strategies/mindgames from the opposite side as if I were guarding a precious fortress.)

Plus Everyone in the unit calls me - ASR - mostly which is the short abbreviation for my full name. It's this very acronym of my name that dawns my playing Jersey's too along with my playing no -17.

I chuckle as continue to sip my coffee - " well well..well....one can't lie to his best buddies now can he...so I'd like to say...a yes to that...for that's exactly what I wana do...but...I am just totally trying to ace the pretend to be patient mode in here...just like you are Ved..," I finish with a wink.

And Ved acknowledges the same with a restless nod and we dramatically share a -High-Five.

We all share a warm laugh after. Raunak winks and adds - " guys know what...on a fun note - let's totally do that..."

Ved winks - "really ..shall we??"

Sameer joins us back on the table as he digs into his second serving of the fresh fruit salad - "no..let us not do that boys..we know Skip is in the middle of a serious conversation and just in case this is not going our way - he's going to be in that scary deep in thought frustrated mode - and I am not risking him having bench me from the playing 11 in the first test..I still gotta impress him and Coach Sir with my defensive/block techniques in the nets ..again...,"he finishes with a playful wink and we all share another laugh.

Skip's otherwise mostly as Cool as a Cucumber. But there can be certain moments that can push him off that mode - at times.

I chuckle as I admit - "well I am surely not risking the same at all - so maybe let's just stick to pretending to be patient..."

We all exchange a relaxed nod - as they begin to finish up their breakfast. I'v just finished mine - so I just continue to indulge in sipping my piping hot black coffee. I love it - either piping hot/or Iced.

*Also - a little birdie tells me that you all are already aware of the Basics/Introductries around me both personal and professional - so I am not going to get into too many details with regards to that* - and Just focus on the Present.

So.

We all - as in the Indian National Cricket Team/ or as the country fondly calls us - the Men in Blue unit - arrived in London yesterday.And England's pretty much going to be our Home for the Next 51 days for we are here for a long tour which ends on the 6th of April. Our tour of England includes a 4 Match Test Series + 3ODI'S + 3 T20'S and we are going to be touring all around the country and play our cricket in different venues. Our first Venue for the first test match of the Test Series - is the Iconic Lord's. The games begin on the 21st Feb.

Ok - to be Honest.

I am a mix bundle of excited nerves + tad bit anxious too at the moment - which is the reason for all this underlying impatience actually for Skip's on the call to reconfirm our practice/net's schedule arranged for us for the next four days by the England Cricket Board. Usually when we tour a country - it's on their cricket board to arrange the venue's and spots and timings for our trainings on the grounds/nets sessions/ - before the games begin in discussions with our officials from the BCCI + Our Coaches+ Skip who put forth a template off the schedule we would like to request.(It's absolutely important to just reaccamlatize the mind freshly again with the playing conditions of the country we are touring.)

So.

First- a brief peek-abo into the reason for my excited nerves. It's got everything to do with the bit off - how crazily excited I am to hit the Nets at Lord's.Playing Cricket(be it practice/or the actual game) at any given time at Lord's is another experience all-together.(Even if - you'v been there - done that before)

Now - a Peek-abo into the reason for my Anxiousness which totally stems from the bit that I am returning to play after a little halt of a month. I had sustained a significant shoulder spasm in the middle of a T20 Match in the beginning of January during New Zealand's tour of India and I was advised to just pause for a bit and let the injury re-coup- on it's own and give it enough time to just strengthen before I get back to Play and gear up for this tour of England.(I had cleared the fitness test just in time before departure with the Squad - but I haven't actually got any intense practice sessions after the recovery.)

And I have to admit another strange in here though - and that's the fact that even though I have been playing internationally and professionally for India for years now(since my debut in 2012) - everytime I return to play the matches/practice after even a short injury(even if it's just a week or even three-four days) - I get this pool of anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

But because I usually am a big fan off my natural - positive + jovial+ extrovert mood mode it would be apt to say that - that's the state of my mind - I like to have my gears tuned in as my go to mode which technically equates into the bit that I don't fancy being friends with Anxiety. It's natural for it to come around but when it does I always find my own ways to deal with it.(Which is exactly what I gotta do today too by giving myself some Me Time to just unwind at my own pace - before I hit the Net's/Practice tomorrow - i.e if everything goes according to our team's plan).

It's a good thing that the first day of every Long tour- (which is today) - is mostly a dedicated day off to just relax and settle in - which is also the reason why the rest of the boys + support team are yet to come down for breakfast. They are all probably still sleeping in a little late.

On that Note - It's only fair that I give a brief peek-abo into our team dynamics too. We are a close knit unit and mostly everyone gets along with one another and we focus on building + nurturing an amiable bond - both on pitch and off pitch with one another. Squads composition do keep shifting and rotating obviously given the different formats/ injury status of players /personal leaves/testing and deepening the bench strength - but nonetheless Skip makes sure that the culture of having a close bond in balance with a healthy-positive competitive spirit within a squad/unit continues to prevail amongst all and not just the Playing 11 members.(As of now - for this long tour to England - we are a 25 member player squad - that's flown into England along with the rest off of our Support team off Admin /Medical/Physio's/Coaches)

Also on a personal note - Raunak, Ved, Sameer, Skip, Daksh and me - have been a closer set of buddies for years and we are actively involved in the inner circles of each other's personal lives as well.

Raunak says now as he finishes up his breakfast looking behind towards Skip - " okay seriously..what's taking him so long though? I really hope there isn't any clash with England's practice plan for then it's just going to need so much unnecessary shuffling in our plan..."

Ved nods as he finishes his breakfast - " my thoughts exactly...we just got the next four days to prep and get accustomed to the change in playing conditions before the Test Series...and we totally need this time because it's been a couple of months since we just prepped with keeping the Test's in mind..."

Our preparation and intensive training/gaming strategies before games - depends on the Format of the Fixtures coming up - obviously. Each format - is a different ball game - altogether.

We all look up to see Skip finally walk back towards us as he takes his seat back on our breakfast table. He places his phone back on the table and Ved asks instantly- " all confirmed Skip??please tell me there is no clash for the Nets/Practice sessions this time around??and we got the exact balance in between the indoor/outdoor nets time that we were looking for??"

Also please note - We all love to address our Captain Dev - as Skip/Cap most of the times - even when we are all in our personal space. It just has a different respectful ring to it.He's The Captain of Our Ship - the one who holds it all together and we all look upto him in so many different ways both professionally and personally. Ved's our Vice Captain - and for us - as a unit I think we'v got this perfect blend of passive aggressive approach towards how we go about Our Game - because of the apt blend of their leading styles. The fact that they enjoy a very sorted personal equation also helps - of course.

Raunak,Sameer and me exchange a knowing grin now as we observe Skip's relaxed body language and the breezy smile and we wink at Ved in unison as we say - "ofcourse we did get exactly what we want Ved - isn't that why Skip's body language is all relaxed...he would be frowning deep in thought otherwise.."

Ved grins as he looks at Skip to reconfirm- " we did??"

Cap nods picking up his coffee mug as his relaxed grin widens - " yes we did... boys - it's confirmed - we get all the Indoor nets at the Lords for practice tomorrow and day after for our usual sessions and the next two days after we get the outdoors in the mornings - but on the last day before the match we did have to compromise on about an hour's time with regards to the indoor nets in the afternoon - for England wants it too.But that should be okay..."

We all exchange a happy relieved nod and I gulp down the last sip off my coffee feeling my anxiety knots ease up a little now that I finally know that I have full next four days of apt practice time. As an Bowling all-rounder - I need to give an equal amount off time and training to all three departments - Ball,Bat and Fielding and I like to focus on just one element on any given session.And with the way things have panned out for us now - I am absolutely delighted that I will have enough time to just focus on it all.

We all continue to chatter casually for about five minutes or so - as we wait for Cap to finish up his breakfast.

Once Cap finishes - he leans back in his chair all relaxed as he says - "well..now we can all just relax for the day with no worry on our minds and get ready to sweat it out tomorrow on...,"and he pauses as Ved nods typing into his phone - "also Skip.. I'v just texted everyone about the confirmation off practice plan on our whtsapp group - they should see it and have the heads up too..as and when they wake up..."

Skip grins and nods at him - "that's good Ved....so...anyone up for a Swim?"

Raunak and Sameer nod as they say - "we are..."

Ved winks - " I will hit the gym first for a bit first Skip and then join you in the pool..."

Raunak chips in next picking up his phone and flashing it to our faces - " guys - the games begin in four days but the excitement around the series is on an all time high - it's been the talk of the cricketing hour back in the media home ever since we arrived here..."

Sameer nods looking into his phone - "well it's the same in the local media here too..."

England and India - are two countries that love their Cricket immense.The Media frenzy and the expected performance analysis by critics, gaming experts - all begin well in advance.

Raunak chips in next - "And - lets not even begin to talk about social media..for we all know the state off the buzz on all our handle's on Instagram..."

We all share a collective knowing nod. All of us here on the table - just like most of the other boys on the squad/team are really active up on Instagram and we mostly manage our own social media accounts. In today's day and age - social media has just become this powerful tool of connection and communication. And we all know that just like any coin - its has two sides to it and is a double edged sword - however we just regularly try to keep our focus on the positive side of the coin and ignore the crazy trolling/hate/criticism.(We often sit and have a laugh over - our very own amusing meme's that go viral up online and Ved/Raunak/Daksh/me are quite vocal in taking a mischevious dig at one another on each other's Insta handles.The fact that we know each other so well otherwise and share a thick bond just makes the jovial banter more Fun.

Cap adds next grinning - " yes boys - but do not let the pressure from the outside be it gaming critics or performance expectations- play on your mind and derail your focus alright?"

We all nod in unsion - " copy that ..skip.."

We are all kind of used to this but it's good to have Skip remind us the same every now and then.

Personally - even though I do keep myself aware of what is being said on the outside - I try my best to not let it overshadow my state of mindfulness and focus.I like to just keep my Focus on what is in my hand -which is My Hard work/grit/ my performance and the expectations that I have off myself in terms off my contribution towards our Team. I try not to get too influenced by media pressures/gaming critics opinions/or any other pressure from the outside - as I remind myself that they are just out there doing their Job. And all that is in my hands is just to Focus on Mine.It's a positive coping mechanism I learnt from Cap over the years.(I think we all did)

Ved nods as he adds with a grin picking up his phone - "on a fun note - did you all read this article written by some local sports reporter here that floated in last night online - that's talking all about - how every cricket fan in England can't wait to see if our man ASR is going to get the better off Wilson's game this time around too?? or will it be vice-versa - finally? ASR..did you see this one??this ones my favourite given the cheeky way its taking a subtle dig at Wilson - afterall you'v got his wicket everytime we'v played England in any format for the last six freaking years...if you don't clean bowl him - you trap him LBW or get him catch out and if its none of that - you run him out...,"he finishes with a chuckle.

The England batsmen here in context is their star opener - Robert Wilson. He opens for England in all formats - and fortunately my ball's been able to get the better of his bat eventually - every single game.

I chuckle as I admit - " yes I did read that one..Ved.....however it's crazy that it's such a hype though...we'v always been very cordial off field..during the customary handshake's.."

Sameer grins - " that's because as players we all like to uphold the spirit of the game - nonetheless - once the game is over..but I am sure at the back of his head - Wilson's always wondering how is it that you are able to get the better of him every single time...despite all his prepration..."

I chuckle as I admit - "which is precisely why it will be good to just get into his head and deceive him to play a rash shot and get his wicket again obviously plus I totally aim for a couple more wickets in the same match...maybe their entire top order..you all know bowlings the first love of my life - taking wickets is what keeps me going - infact Ma's words just before I was leaving home this time were - yeah give my son wickets to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner - and he will never complain of hunger...,"I finish with a playful wink.

We all share a warm laugh at that.

Raunak chides mischeviously next - "well aunty is right about that - also I think Wilson surely must be scowling immensely reading this though.If only he knew our inner secret- that our very own ASR often gets the better of both Sameer and me in the net's too...so it isn't just England opener's that he has the knack of dismissing often.."

Sameer adds with a wink - " and that it's us too...I am so glad..we play for the same team brother mostly..."

I chuckle as I nod - "so am I....."

Ved nods - "totally...The IPL is enough time for us spending out ways to outplay your spin and Daksh's express pace... "( The IPL is the only tournament in which we all play on different teams. Sameer plays for Delhi. Raunak captains Mumbai and Daksh plays for Mumbai too. Ved captains Bangalore. Cap and me - play for Chennai.)

Cap grins - "and I am so glad I do not even have to think about that.."

We all share a happy chuckle at that - and our friendly chatter continues as we get up from the table.

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Cap, Sameer, Raunak get off the elevator on their floor and now it's just Ved and me as the elevator lunges up towards our floor.

Ved shoots me a knowing look reading my expressions easily- "anxious much??"

Now you know what I mean by the bit that My Face just always gives me away.

I admit honestly - " a little bit..you know how it is for me...when I return even after a little halt - the first game up next always feels like as if it were my very first..."

He nods and smiles in an instant understanding - " I know...exactly what you mean..buddy..it's been the same for me...so what plans?? I know you aren't friends with anxiety - you surely want to get it sorted in the head before tomorrow."

I nod with a grin - " exactly...and I have a perfect plan in mind.."

He grins and asks - " so I reckon you won't join us in the gym or swim/P.S time after...just some - Me Time for you..perhaps??"

I nod at him - "exactly...but I will see you all in the late evening..for sure..."

He nods and grins as we step out the elevator to our floor - " take your time buddy...,"and we continue to chat on our way to our rooms.

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Once I close my room door shut - I take out my phone outta my pocket to quickly drop in all the best texts to my parents and my sister for their respective surgeries planned for this morning.(We spoke about it on our family video call last night) Even though it's still early in India given the time difference(a little over 4am) - they will see my message when they wake up at their scheduled 5am time.

I love my Family to Bits. We are all very close and both my parents have always been my Heroes and our biggest source of inspiration. Both my siblings are also an immense source of my strength too.

As I finish sending them the texts - I plonk on the bed to briefly check on some unread emails from last night. I open my inbox and find some recent ones from my business manager- Aman(whose back in India) - that I need to reply too. Aman is my right hand when it comes to managing all my business/PR/ activities related to the world outside off cricket in terms of brand endorsements/ad-shoots/ social media collaborations etc.

After I am done with addressing those - I scroll down to the next set of emails from my unidentical twin -Akash(who is two minutes younger to me).He is the Business Brain in our Family. Along with actively managing/overseeing the business aspect of our chain of Multi-Speciality Hospitals in the country on behalf of Dad/Mom (who founded these Hospitals) - he also oversee's about seven off my other active business investments that I have invested into in different industries and verticals (from all that I have earned from Cricket over time) and keeps me updated and in the loop about what's been reported to him by the executive partner's off those companies.

Ten minutes later - once I am finally done with answering all the Unread Mails for now I move to get set to head out for the day to just soak up on some - Me - Time.

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Fifty Minutes Later - 11:15 AM

In the Cab

Arnav's POV Continues

I don't know how many of you would relate - but somehow I really enjoy gazing out of the windows off the vehicles I am travelling in with some Music plugged into my ears. When I am in the car/team bus - I just enjoy gazing at the traffic passing by on the roads outside and when I am in the plane - I just enjoy gazing at the Clouds.

It's exactly what I'v been doing for the last fifty minutes enroute to the spot I have chosen to Unwind at all by myself. Plus Google Map now tells me - I am still ten minutes away from my Destination though.

I pause on my music and ask my Uber chauffeur to reconfirm - " we should be there in ten minutes perhaps?"

He nods instantly politely - " yes..we should be.."

I thank him politely and replay my music - now switching to some random playlists on my Music App. And the minute I do - in flows in a familiar tune of a latest Bollywood number - by chance.

Followed by her Voice.

Whose Voice?

My Ex-s.

Roohi Arora.(She's a popular face/singer off our Music Industry.And recently - almost all the popular hits have her voice in it.And I am happy for her professionally. She's always been brilliant at her Job.)

And now - its only natural for the memories of the past to flood in - given that she was my very first and the last one I'v dated until this point.

Hmm.

So - a brief context - I'd met her when I was 22 (three years ago) and through Ved actually as in at a house party at his place in Bombay. Ved's been steadily dating Maahi for four years now( and Maahi is Roohi's elder sister.She's a famous news anchor with one of the countrie's leading news channel and is also a great friend of mine).

It was obvious to run into Roohi then. She was just starting to make her place in the music industry then with a couple of hits to her name and I had been able to successfully cement my spot in the national team as an All rounder getting past those initial years. We did click on very comfortable level given that we have similar personalities and since there was a spark of attraction too - we began dating soon after. We were together for a Year and things were always good in between us. I really liked her and was quite invested in terms of my emotions too. And just when I thought I was on the verge off getting into it deeper - she dropped the break up bomb on me - on the accounts that - even though she did like me quite a lot and we did have this great relationship - she didn't think she could carry on further because long distance was starting to get too taxing and was taking a toll on her but because she did respect me greatly - she did want to part on a good note - rather than burn bridges as sour partners later on.

What did I do then?

I respected her decision ofcourse and voiced the same to her - and walked away graciously - but I did tell her that it was going to take me some time to just bury the hatchet in my head to come around to being cordial as past acquaintances in the future. It obviously took me a little while in my head to get over the leftover hurt of it all and process the fact that she probably wasn't ready/or probably ever was emotionally invested enough in our relationship. But nonetheless in a way - I was glad that this happened before I was deeply in love with her or something. So yup - about four-five months later after our break up - I was able to look back at things neutrally and was able to just let go of it all. And it's been two years since our break up now - and it isn't that we are in touch or something - but there are times we run into each other through Ved or Maahi and we are only cordial and respectful towards one another. She also does drop me a congratulatory text here and there after any of my brilliant performances/teams victory and I acknowledge it with a gentle thanks and reply her - with a general - all the best to you for everything! That's about it all.

So the bottom line is that technically on the matters of the heart - I have been single ever since.Here's the thing - either I do relationships with proper investment of my time and feelings - or I don't do them at all. And that's how it rolls for me. I am not the guy who can indulge in causal affairs/no strings attached/one night stands - kind of business. For deep down - I am an emotional man and I get attached which means I can only be with someone that I really like beforehand with the feel of wanting to invest my emotions and time backing it all up.

In the deep corners of my heart - I do long to fall in Love though - for having witnessed my parents have a wonderful marriage and so many more happy couples in my extended family - I do have great respect/faith and belief in Relationships and the institution of Love.

It didn't work out for me once. But that does not mean - It won't work again.

I just haven't met anyone whose caught my genuine interest that way in these last two years.

That's all.

Maybe because - I'v just been so pre-occupied with drowning myself towards improving my game constantly?

"We will be there in three-four minutes - you want me to pull up towards the main enterance/drop off right? no point going into the parking..," comes my Uber chaueffeur's voice as the cab screeches to a halt in front of a red light pulling me outta my flashback into the tales of my heart - stuper. It is right then that Roohi's song comes to an end in my ears too.

Well - good on you Roohi - that was a good song! May you continue to soar to greater heights.

I pause on the Music next and answer back with a polite reply that - I do want him to pull in front off the drop off point.

Once he nods in acknowledgement of the same - I pop out my earpods and tuck them back in their box and shove it in my pocket and re-adjust my Cap on the head and pull the cover off my black Face Mask that covers half my face snug over my Nose.( Which I am wearing for two reasons). First - it's still part chilly here in England as the weather is shifting and it's the common flu season here and given that I am about to step into a public space even though it is a weekday - its going to be partially crowded and I do not want to catch the flu and fall sick right before the start of my tour- obviously. Second - the face mask also works as a tool to help conceal my identity and with my Cap on over my head - the complete look gives me the exact privacy cover I need for the day even though I know I look crazy and weird.

But at the moment all that matters is the fact that the privacy cover is working for my Uber chauffeur is an Asian (surely Indian) and he did not recognise me at all(even though I had the mask tucked little under the nose) when I sat into his car from the pick up point down the curb of our Hotel. So I am completely confident that with my face mask tucked over my nose snugly now - its going to be very difficult for anyone to see me/recognise me for who I am.

It is right then he pulls the car to a screeching halt in front off the drop off point of my destination and I thank him politely for his service - and get off the car - with a hidden smile curved up my lips under my mask.I haven't indulged in this mode of my Venting out my anxiety for a year now - which is why I just know I am going to totally enjoy it all and feel a lot relaxed after for sure.

Plus something in my Gut tells me - it's going to be a good-good- day and so my smile widens on its own accord - as I begin to walk in - all set and Up for Some Crazy - Fun - Me - Time!!

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TADAAAAAA!!

How was The Update Guys?

What are your thoughts on ASR's introduction this time around??

Also Yes.

Next Update : Tuesday Evening.

Until Then - Please take care and Stay Indoors and Safe guys!!!!

Thanks Guys for all the Support and your Precious Time to my Work!

Much Love

Always

Prachi

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