19/02/22

Dear Diary,
I barely have anything to say today.

No words can probably express perfectly what I felt, I myself couldn't understand a thing.

I just seem to understand, Sara Tendulkar's presence and absence both affects me.

And it's just....weird.

She dropped by to return my favourite jacket today.

And she looked so pale yet so pretty.

It immensely worried me.

She looked like she'd cried for hours, and I couldn't resist the urge to stop her and ask her.

She wasn't her usual self today.

And I wonder why?

I'd rather have her mock me, throw playful insults and sly remarks instead of watch her vulnerable.

It's not a sight to behold for me, it's a sight to want to disregard for me, yet I couldn't do it.

" I...um...had to return your jacket. Seb said you're still there in Mumbai. So I dropped by to meet Jugnu and return your jacket. Thank you, for talking to me and distracting me, it really helped a lot. Here's your jacket, don't worry, I've not spoilt it."

Shubman frowned as he looked up at her.

She looked unusually pale, devoid of any makeup, all she had on was sunscreen and lip balm, she'd said it in an interview, those were the products she always put on, even if she didn't have anything else on.

But despite the paleness and having no makeup on, she still looked extremely ethereal.

She looked like she just cried for hours altogether.

Where was her usual self that would give him snarky retorts, sly smirks, and render him speechless?

She...worried him.

" Sara...are you okay?"

" Yeah...better than ever. Why do you ask?"

" You don't look okay."

" Concerned are you?" She arched a a brow, a playful smile spreading across her lips which didn't quite reach her eyes, for they shone with mirth.

" If I say, I am, would you believe you me?"

" Hardly. I'd feel there's something wrong with you instead."

" Why?"

" Shubman Gill being concerned about me, a girl he vehemently detests, doesn't sound so normal, does it?"

" I'm fine with the unusuality."

" I'm not, God something's actually wrong with you? You got fever?" She suddenly stepped closer to him, intruding his space as she placed soft warm palm on his cold forehead and pulled away quickly.

And now, Shubman wanted more of her touch.

" Nope, you're fine." She nodded, walking a few steps back.

" Won't you sit?"

" I'm not here to sit Shubman."

" Jugnu's Mother won't be happy if she discovers you left without eating y'know?"

" I'm in a hurry. She'll understand. Besides, it'd please you, her being upset with me."

" I'd rather have her spoil you than get upset with you?"

" What's up with you today?" She frowned.

" That's my question for you. What's up with you today?"

" Nothing. I'm fine I told you."

" Lie. That's a white lie. I don't believe you."

" Then don't." She sighed exasperatedly.
" I really gotta leave."

" Why? Shahneel said you barely had any meetings today and they were in the morning."

" Since when did you start keeping yourself updated with my schedule?"

Since you occupied my mind and started living in my head rent-free, He wanted to say but held himself back.

" I don't. Shahneel was rambling off to me. What's wrong Sara?"

" I'm fine Shubman. Can you not...ask me the same question repeatedly?"

" I have to. Until you give me an answer I might believe."

" Why? You press my buttons further and mock me more?" She shook her head, turning to leave till he held her hand, his fingers wrapping around her wrist and she turned back surprised.

" Itna bhi bura nahi hoon. Rude hoon, tumhe pasand nahi karta par itna bhi nahi ki mujhe tumhe rote dekh maza aaye. If there is something I detest more than you, then those are your tears, and your silence."

" Why?" She asked, her voice a mere whisper.

" I don't know. Nahi pasand tumhari khamoshi. Nahi pasand tumhare aasu. Nafrat hai mujhe unse, tumse bhi jyada." He got up, stepping closer to her, cornerning her towards the wall.

" Mujhse jyada mere khamoshi aur aasu se nafrat hai? Tumhe samajh raha hai tum kya bol rahe ho?"

" Haan. I very well know what I'm talking about."

" You're insane." She shook her head, attempting to push him away, as her hands flew to his chest, he however, pinned them above her head, shifting even closer, their proximity increasing as her breath hitched.

" I am. You seemed to have realised it quite late."

" What's wrong with you?" She glared heatedly at him.

" Everything is wrong with me when it comes to you Sara. What's bothering you? The rumours?"

" What bothers me is how it doesn't bother you. Rumours with Sara Tendulkar, isn't good publicity for you, is it?"

" Oh I don't mind them. At all."

" You seem to have spoken to your PR team then."

" I have. I asked them to let them be."

" I didn't. I want them taken down."

" Why?"

" Why? Don't you know why? They've already started trolling me. Claiming a starkid like me doesn't deserve you. Besides we aren't even together. So why keep them? Why let them be?"

" Firstly, they don't get to choose who deserves me, who doesn't. I'm going to spend my life with that girl, not them. They don't get to say a word about my woman. Secondly, rumours have hardly affected you before. Then why now?"

Sara was rendered speechless at his question.
" Why do they not bother you?" She asked him back.

" They don't. They just don't." He replied, not wanting to admit the fact that he oddly seemed to like the rumours with her.
" Besides, there are more people who seem to like the rumours. You wanna take a look at the comments?" He pulled out his phone from his pocket and showed her the comments.

Shubianfl: New couple in townnn, I ship😌

Shubsara_lover: SEE? MANIFESTATION ACTUALLY WORKS! Now all we need is an official announcement soon

SaraTendulkar_77: No matter how hard you dislike them, you gotta admit they'll be a power couple.

Sid199: Wait, what about Sidharth and Sara?
User77:Omg, they're literally cousins, please wake up from your delulu land.

Ishanxsunshine: Bhabhiii y'all

Shubish: The journey from having Sachin sir as his idol to dating his daughter and being his son-in-law was real smart Shubi

Shubmanxict: So now, we just know how can we tease Shubman in the stadium
Ictlovers:Omg, yes, the best cheering would be, Humari Bhabhi Kaisi ho, Sara Bhabhi jaisi ho!

Arjunt999: The day they get papped together and choose to go official, the internet will go crazy.

Ishman:Inki world cup ke pehle shaadi kara dete hai, phir hum hi jeetenge 😌

Shubmanlover: Sachin sir, hum rishta pakka samjhe kya?

" Shubi? Is Sara in your room?" Jugnu's voice echoed outside the room as he knocked his door, distracting Sara from the comments as she pushed him away, fixed her clothes and immediately opened the door.

" I just came to return the jacket. I'm mighty upset with you KP."

" What did I do?" Jugnu asked, feigning innocence.

" You lied to me stating-"

" Sara? Why are you all flushed red?" He immediately cut her off to save himself.

" Red?" She asked touching her cheeks.

" Yeah? Are you okay?"

" It's just the heat...." She trailed off.

" But the A/C's on." He frowned at her and she gulped.

" I'm running late to work. See you later!" She rushed out of the room and Jugnu turned to Shubman with a sly smirk who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

" W-what? Shut up! It's not what you think it is!"

" But I never said anything." He shrugged.

" Shut up!" He said throwing a pillow at his face and he burst into laughter.