Revathi stood in front of the mirror in her flat, fussing with the pleats of her dark green saree. She had opted for a trendy twist, pairing it with a sleeveless black blouse that had a plunging neckline and a crisscross back. 

Her long hair was in loose waves, cascading down her shoulders, and she wore a pair of dangling gold earrings. Subtle highlighter made her skin glow, and her signature touch of nude lip gloss completed the look.

She stole a glance at Shubman, who was leaning casually against the doorway, dressed in a fitted white shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms, paired with black slim-fit trousers. 

His hair was perfectly messy, and the devilish grin on his face made her heartbeat spike.

"Babe," he drawled, taking a step closer. "You're making it really hard for me to focus on anything except you right now."

Revathi rolled her eyes, though her cheeks burned. Why does he have to look so fucking hot while existing? She turned to him, giving him a mock glare. 

"Focus on eating dinner at my parent's place without giving my dad a reason to murder you, yeah?"

"Relax," he said, stepping closer until he was standing right behind her. His fingers brushed against her exposed waist, sending shivers down her spine. "Your dad likes me."

"You're an Indian cricketer. He likes what you represent," she muttered, trying not to let the heat from his touch make her knees buckle. 

"Big difference."

He smirked, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her bare shoulder. "And what do you think I represent?" His voice was low and teasing, dripping with charm.

God, why is he like this? she thought, swallowing hard. Stop. STOP. You cannot combust in front of your parents.

"You represent trouble," she shot back, spinning around and poking a finger into his chest. "Big trouble."

"I like the sound of that," he replied, grabbing her hand and lacing their fingers together. His eyes softened as he looked at her. "Now, come on, baby. We don't want to keep your parents waiting."

When they arrived at her parents' place, her mom, Radha, greeted them warmly, pulling Revathi into a hug. 

"You look so beautiful, kanna," Radha said, then turned to Shubman with an approving smile. "And Shubman! Such a handsome boy. Come in, come in."

Her dad, Maran, was seated in the living room with Madhav, who was flipping through TV channels. 

Maran stood up and shook Shubman's hand firmly. "Good to see you again, beta. Heard you had an incredible match."

Madhav, on the other hand, froze when he saw who had just walked in. His eyes darted between Shubman and Revathi, confusion etched all over his face. "Wait... what? You're Shubman Gill."

Shubman gave him a polite smile and a small nod. "That's me."

Madhav narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Revathi smirked, sensing her brother's growing disbelief. Oh, this is gonna be fun. "He's here because we're dating, duh."

Madhav's jaw dropped. "WHAT?" His voice cracked as he looked at their parents. "You knew about this?"

Radha, ever calm, smiled. "Of course, we knew. He's a good boy."

Madhav looked like he was about to combust. "You're okay with this?! He's like... famous! And... and old!"

Shubman raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I'm not that old, kid. Six years isn't a big deal."

Madhav threw his hands up in exasperation. "This is insane. I didn't even know she had a boyfriend. And it's Shubman fucking Gill?!" He turned to Revathi, pointing an accusatory finger. "You didn't tell me anything!"

Revathi folded her arms, trying not to laugh. "Oh, you mean like how you didn't tell anyone about your girlfriend?"

Madhav turned beet red. "That's—ugh—different!"

"It's really not," Shubman chimed in, smirking. "But hey, I get it. It's tough keeping secrets. You're gonna learn that it's easier just to be honest."

Madhav looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock. "This is the worst day of my life."

Later, as dinner was being served, Shubman smoothly charmed both her parents, praising Radha's cooking and laughing at Maran's dad jokes. 

Revathi watched, trying not to swoon at how effortlessly he fit into her family. Of course, he's perfect. He's literally too good to be true.

But every now and then, his hand would find hers under the table, his thumb brushing softly against her knuckles, sending sparks through her veins. 

And when he thought no one was looking, he'd glance at her with so much love in his eyes, it made her chest ache.

After dessert, as they were getting ready to leave, Madhav pulled her aside, his face still a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "You seriously think this guy is boyfriend material?"

Revathi raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously asking me that after he just scored a double-century in an ODI?"

Madhav groaned. "I hate this."

Revathi grinned, patting his head like he was five. "Get used to it, little bro." She winked, walking away to join Shubman, who was waiting by the door.

As they left, Shubman wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "That went well, don't you think?"

Revathi leaned into him, a content smile on her lips. "You're too good to be true, you know that?"

He grinned, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Only for you, baby."

As Revathi and Shubman were about to step out the door, ready to leave her parents' place, Radha called her name softly from the living room.

"Revathi, beta..."

Revathi turned around, feeling a lump form in her throat at the way her mother spoke. Radha was standing near the doorway, her eyes a little glassy, but her smile gentle and warm. 

"I'm really happy for you, darling," she said in her usual soft voice, though this time there was a subtle depth to it, something maternal and knowing. 

"Shubman is a good boy. I can see how much he cares for you. I just want you to always be happy."

The words, though simple, hit Revathi right in the chest. She knows. It wasn't just the casual acknowledgement of her relationship with Shubman; it was the quiet certainty in her mom's voice, the kind that only came from years of experience. 

Her mom was giving her this unspoken blessing, and it made her feel like she was finally being seen in a way she hadn't known she needed. 

It was like her whole life, her relationship, her choices, were valid in this moment.

Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them. She didn't want to cry in front of Shubman or her brother, but her mom's words had cut through all the nervous tension she'd been holding inside.

"Mom..." Revathi's voice cracked, and before she could control it, her tears spilled over. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand, but it didn't help.

Her mother moved quickly, walking over and pulling her into a tight, warm hug. Revathi buried her face in her mother's shoulder, letting herself melt into the embrace. 

"It's okay, beta. You don't need to hide anything from me. You're a beautiful, strong woman, and I want nothing but the best for you."

Shubman watched them from the doorway, his heart softening at the sight. He had seen Revathi's strength and independence, but it was moments like these—moments of vulnerability—that made him fall for her even more. 

He stepped closer, not wanting to interrupt, but letting her know he was there.

"Thank you, Mom," Revathi whispered, her voice shaky. "I really needed to hear that."

Radha pulled back slightly, cupping her daughter's face in her hands. "I'm proud of you, my love. Always remember that."

Revathi nodded, sniffling a little and trying to compose herself. As she wiped her face, she glanced at Shubman, who was watching them with a soft, understanding expression. 

She gave him a small, grateful smile before turning back to her parents.

"Well, it's getting pretty late," Radha continued, giving them both a knowing look. "You two should stay the night, no need to rush. The guest room is all setup."

Revathi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Shubman. She wasn't sure if he'd want to stay, but she also didn't want to leave her parents just yet. 

The evening had been so warm and full of love, and there was still something about the atmosphere that made her not want to break it just yet.

Shubman smiled, already stepping forward with a calm nod. "That sounds perfect. We'd love to stay." He glanced at Revathi, gently squeezing her hand. "I don't mind at all."

Her mom's smile widened, and she reached out to pull both of them back into the living room. "Good, then. You're always welcome here."

As they sat back down on the couch, the evening stretched on, quiet and comfortable. Revathi's mom brought them some tea, and her dad started up a casual conversation with Shubman about cricket. 

Revathi, still processing the overwhelming wave of emotion from her mom's words, leaned into Shubman's side, feeling the weight of everything fall away.

She felt safe. Secure. Loved.

And as the night deepened, her heart swelled with gratitude. She had her family, she had Shubman, and she knew that, no matter where life took her, this was exactly where she was meant to be.

SOUP RANTS!

Welcome to the twenty-ninth chapter of this book!
me when :(
did we like this chapter?
I'll see you guys soon!
yours truly,

soup 🫶