Holding her pinky finger with his index, just like they did as kids, both of them moved through the city to find the perfect spot.

As they walked, Noor looked up at Shubman as he talked about how boring life had been without cricket and how much he wished to recover before the upcoming tour. She could hear the frustration in his voice and knew how much cricket meant to him. Being away from the game was affecting him mentally.

Seeing his pout, she gently turned his face toward her. "Don't worry, you'll recover before the next tour and be back with a bang. Just stay happy and show your dimples often—you'll recover sooner than you think."

Shubman couldn't help but smile at Noor's encouragement, his dimples appearing just as she had hoped. "You always know how to cheer me up," he said, his voice softening.

"Because, unlike you, I know when to say what and not just blurt out whatever comes to my mind," Noor said, rolling her eyes with a smile.

Shubman growled, "Do you always need to remind me of my stupidity?"

Noor grinned teasingly, "Absolutely. Someone has to keep you in check."

Pinching her nose, he rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever," making Noor annoyed. The only thing she didn't like about him was pinching her nose; it was so irritating. And since he found out, he made a point to do it often.

Noor swatted at his hand, trying to push him away. "Seriously, stop that! You know I hate it."

Shubman grinned mischievously. "And what if I say never?"

"You know what, I'll have dinner alone," Noor said, yanking her finger from his hold as she walked forward.

Shubman ran behind her and wrapped his arms around her tiny yet chubby waist. "Aree, Noori, gussa tere maathe pe khada hi rehta hai. I was just messing around, sorry!" he said, pulling her body close to his.

Noor huffed, struggling to keep her composure. Shubman's hug from behind always made her weak in the knees, making it hard for her to stay mad. She was tempted to turn around and grab his face, kissing him without caring about the eyes around them.

Noor turned around, the urge to kiss him almost overwhelming. She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Fine! But only if you give me a piggyback ride to the restaurant."

Shubman's eyes lit up with a mix of amusement and relief. "Deal," he said, bending down with a grin.

Noor climbed onto his back, and as Shubman stood up, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in her chest.

As they walked, Noor peeked her head in front, resting her chin on his shoulder. Shubman chuckled and said, "You know, Noori, since childhood, you were always so bossy—like a girlfriend, always wanting me to do things your way."

On the mention of "girlfriend," Noor went silent, her gaze turning distant. Her thoughts drifted back to the best days she'd shared with Shubman before he lost his memories. She vividly remembered the late-night ice cream runs and stolen kisses in cars.

As these memories flashed before her eyes, she tightened her hold on him, not wanting to let him go.

Shubman noticed the shift in Noor's demeanour and felt her grip on him tighten. He slowed his pace, sensing that something was troubling her.

"What's wrong, Noori?" he asked gently, his voice filled with concern.

Noor didn't immediately answer, her thoughts were still lost in the past. After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "It's just... thinking about how things used to be. Before everything changed."

Shubman, confused, looked back at her. "Changed? What do you mean, Noor?

Noor's reverie broke, and her eyes widened with a hint of fear before she chuckled and quickly made up something. "Oh, it's nothing," she said, forcing a light tone. "I was just thinking about how much I miss our old hangouts and how we used to have so much fun."

Shubman looked at her sceptically but seemed to accept her explanation. "Yeah, those were good times," he agreed. "But we're making new memories now, too."

Noor nodded, her smile returning as she leaned into him again. "Yeah, we are. And I'm really glad we're doing this."

After fifteen minutes of strolling through the quaint streets of Florence, Shubman and Noor found a hidden gem of a restaurant. It had a cosy, almost magical feel, with just a few tables scattered around, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight.

They were led to a table by the window, where the view of the dimly lit street outside added a touch of romance to their evening. Noor's earlier tension seemed to dissolve as she took in the restaurant's warm ambience.

Shubman glanced at the menu and said, "I'm in the mood for something comforting. Maybe pasta?"

Noor nodded eagerly. "Sounds great. But I want something huge for dessert afterwards."

Shubman raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You've already had two ice creams. If you add a huge dessert to that, you might end up with diabetes!"

Noor narrowed her eyes as she closed the menu. "Don't worry about my diabetes. I'm fit and have good sugar tolerance."

Shubman smirked, playfully pinching her chubby cheeks. "Well, I can see that. Just don't blame me if you end up with a sugar rush later."

Noor swatted his hand away with a laugh. "Deal. Now, let's enjoy our meal before I dive into that massive dessert."

As they dived into their pasta, Noor began recounting the story of how she'd ended up as a contestant in the Regalia Global Fashion Gala.

"You won't believe how it all started," Noor said, twirling her pasta on her fork. "I'd been following the gala for years, always dreaming about being a part of it. Then, out of the blue, I heard about the open application. I thought, 'Why not give it a shot?'"

Shubman listened intently, savouring his meal. "So you just applied on a whim?"

"Kind of," Noor continued, nodding. "But it wasn't that simple. I spent weeks preparing my collection, making sure everything was perfect. I wanted to make an impression."

Shubman leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "And how did you find out you were selected?"

Noor's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I was in the middle of a fitting when I got the email. I nearly dropped my phone. I called my family and friends right away, and they were all overjoyed. It was a whirlwind of emotions."

Shubman bit his lip, his expression turning sombre. "And you didn't think to call someone who's been a part of your life for so long? Your best friend?"

Noor rubbed her face, her frustration evident. "I thought we were over this, Shubman"

Shubman cranked his neck to shake off the sadness. "Fine, I'm sorry. It's just... it feels bad not to be the one who knew first. Anyway, tell me more about the gala."

Noor took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "Well, after I got the news, I started preparing for the gala in earnest. It's been a whirlwind of fittings, meetings, and late nights working on the final touches of my collection. There's so much pressure, but also a lot of excitement."

Shubman leaned in, his interest piqued. "What's your collection like?"

A sad smile formed on her face. Before Shubman could catch it, she whispered in a cracked yet composed voice, "London Nights."

Shubman's eyes softened, sensing the depth behind her words. "What does that mean?"

She smiled, leaning in closer, her eyes twinkling like a night sky with a hint of storm behind the dark clouds. "You'll find out soon enough. Have patience, Kaake."

Shubman's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her calling him "kaake" for the first time since the accident. The familiar term, laden with affection and nostalgia, tugged at his emotions.

His eyes widened, and he almost blurted out, "You called me 'kaake'!" The surprise in his voice was unmistakable.

Noor's smile softened as she met his gaze. "I know it's been a while since I've used it. I guess it just felt right to say it now."

Shubman nodded, a smile spreading across his face despite the wave of emotions. "It's good to hear. It's like a piece of the old us is coming back."

Noor bit her lip as she took a bite of her pasta. "We're not there yet, but we'll see how soon we can get there."

Shubman, eating his pasta hastily with his mouth full, looked up at her. "I don't know, Noor. You've started talking so mysteriously. It's hard to understand what you're hinting at."

Noor chuckled, her eyes sparkling with love. "Some things are worth waiting for, Kaake. Trust me, it'll all make sense soon."

Shubman shook his head with a playful grin. "You're killing me with suspense. I just hope I don't have to wait too long."

"Me too," Noor murmured to herself, her thoughts already drifting to the future.

Soon, their dessert arrived, a towering, decadent creation that made Noor's eyes light up.

 Without hesitation, she dug in, savouring every bite as if nothing else in the world mattered. The joy on her face was unmistakable, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else could ruin their perfect evening

As Noor enjoyed her dessert, chocolate syrup dripped down her chin. Shubman leaned in close, his movements careful and deliberate. With a gentle touch, he wiped away the mess with a tissue, his eyes fixed on hers. Noor watched him, her heart fluttering. Though he had done this countless times before, the tenderness of his gesture felt different now, a comforting reminder of their deep bond amidst everything that had changed.

As Shubman leaned back, discarding the tissue, Noor felt a fleeting emptiness. The simple act of his care had touched her deeply, leaving her to wonder if this evening had shifted something in his heart as well. She pushed the thought aside as he asked, "By the way, Noor, have you ever visited London for inspiration?"

Noor’s heart ached with the desire to shout, “Yes!” and confess that he was the inspiration behind all her patterns. But she couldn’t bear to place that weight on him again, to break him further. The words that came out were a painful denial of what her heart didn't wanted to say. “It’s just a figment of imagination. I haven’t visited.”

Shubman nodded, encouraging Noor to continue enjoying her dessert. She smiled faintly, savouring each bite.

Meanwhile, across the city, Ghazal clenched her phone tightly, her teeth grinding as she watched Shubman giving Noor a piggyback ride. The image of them together stung like a raw wound. Even after everything she'd done to isolate him from Noor, he still found his way back to her. Ghazal's rage boiled over; she had dismantled every barrier, every connection that could link him to Noor, yet here he was, reconnecting with his past.

Fisting her hands, her long-manicured nails digging into her palms, Ghazal smashed her phone against the table. Her anger flared, but she knew it wouldn't help her cause. She'd brought Shubman to Italy to distance him from his family and Noor, hoping to rekindle their past bond in a more emotional, controlling manner. The sight of Noor here was a wrench in her plan.

Calming herself by running her fingers through her long hair, Ghazal knew she had to approach this situation with strategy. Her anger could jeopardize everything she'd worked for. She needed to understand Noor's presence and manage the situation with precision. Every move had to be calculated, as one wrong step could cost her the chance she had so carefully secured. This time, she wasn't going to let go, even if it meant sacrificing a few things along the way.

BOLLYWOODBUZZ

*Breaking News: Shubman Gill Spotted with Mystery Woman in Florence**

Shubman Gill, the Prince of Cricket, was recently seen in Florence with an unidentified woman. This sighting has sparked considerable interest as it matches a previous event where Gill was captured sending a flying kiss to the same woman at a stadium. Fans and media are abuzz, speculating about the nature of their relationship.