Sara and Shubman decided it was time to tell her parents about their relationship. As they prepared for the conversation, Shubman couldn't stop pacing around the hall, his nerves getting the best of him. "Calm down, Shub," Sara said, watching him with a reassuring smile. Shubman paused and looked at her, his eyes wide with worry. "How can I calm down, Sara? I'm about to face Sachin Tendulkar!"

Sara chuckled softly, walking over to him and placing a hand on his arm. "It's going to be fine. They'll understand."

Despite her calming words, Shubman still looked uneasy, so Sara decided to check on her brother's arrival. She picked up her phone and called Arjun. "Ajju, when are you coming?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"In 5 minutes, Sara di," Arjun replied.

"Okay, see you soon," she said before disconnecting the call. She turned back to Shubman, who was now fidgeting with his shirt collar. "They'll be here any minute," she said, taking a deep breath herself. "Just remember, we're in this together."

Shubman nodded, taking her hand in his. "I know. I just... I hope they're okay with it."Sara squeezed his hand gently. "They will be. Trust me."

As the Tendulkar family arrived at Shubman's house, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Sara's heart pounded as she led her parents and Arjun into the living room, where Shubman was standing, looking a bit tense but determined.

After some casual conversation, Sara finally gathered the courage to speak. "Mumma, Baba, there's something important we need to tell you," she began, her voice steady but laced with nerves. "Shubman and I... we're in a relationship."

There was a moment of silence. Sachin's usually warm expression turned unreadable. He looked at Shubman, then at Sara, and without a word, he turned and walked out of the house.

Shubman's face drained of color, his worst fears seemingly coming true. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He looked at Sara, who was just as stunned.

Anjali quickly stood up, giving Sara a reassuring nod before following her husband outside. She found Sachin standing by the car, his hands gripping the roof, his gaze fixed on the distance.

"Sachin," Anjali began softly, walking up to him. "Talk to me."

He didn't look at her, his jaw clenched. "I wasn't expecting this, Anjali. Our little girl, with him? He's a good man, but..."

"But what?" Anjali gently prodded. "Shubman is respectful, hardworking, and he clearly loves Sara. What more could we want for her?"

Sachin finally turned to face her, his eyes filled with concern. "It's not that simple. You know the pressures, the life we've lived. I just want to protect her."

"I know you do," Anjali said, taking his hand. "But protecting her doesn't mean controlling her life. She's grown up, Sachin. She's made her choice, and we have to trust her judgment."

Sachin exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "I just... I wasn't ready for this."

"No parent ever is," Anjali replied with a small smile. "But you know Shubman. He's practically been like a son to us already. You've seen how he treats Sara, how much he cares about her. If anyone's going to look after our daughter, it's him."

Sachin looked down, taking in her words. After a long moment, he nodded slightly. "You're right," he said quietly. "I just needed a moment to process it."

Anjali smiled, relieved. "Come back inside. Let's show them that we trust their decisions."

Sachin nodded again, this time with more resolve. Together, they walked back into the house. Inside, Shubman was standing with his head lowered, guilt and fear written all over his face. Sara looked equally tense, her eyes filled with worry.

When they entered, Sachin walked over to Shubman and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Shubman," he began, his voice steady, "I'm sorry if I scared you by walking out like that. I just needed to wrap my head around this."

Shubman looked up, surprised by the calmness in Sachin's voice. "I understand, sir. I... I love Sara, and I want to do right by her."

Sachin nodded. "I know you do. And if she's chosen you, I trust her choice. Welcome to the family, Shubman."

Relief washed over Shubman as he looked over at Sara, who was now smiling through tears. Anjali stepped forward, pulling both Sara and Shubman into a warm hug. Arjun, standing nearby, grinned and clapped Shubman on the back.

The tension dissolved into a feeling of unity and understanding as the Tendulkar family, now with Shubman, embraced the new chapter in their lives together.

The atmosphere in the room lightened considerably after Sachin's acceptance. The Tendulkar family and Shubman shared a quiet moment of togetherness, the initial tension now replaced by warmth and relief.

Sara let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her heart swelling with happiness as she saw her parents embracing Shubman. This was everything she had hoped for.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Anjali suggested, "Why don't we all sit down for some tea? It's been quite an eventful day."

Everyone agreed, and they moved to the living room. Shubman excused himself to help bring out refreshments, and Sara followed him into the kitchen.

As they prepared the tea, Shubman glanced at Sara, his expression softening. "That was intense," he murmured, still processing everything that had just happened.

Sara nodded, pouring the tea into cups. "It was, but it went better than I expected. I was so nervous, but you handled it perfectly."

He reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. "I couldn't have done it without you by my side."

Sara smiled, leaning in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "We're in this together."

As they carried the tea and snacks back to the living room, the sight of Sachin and Arjun laughing together eased any lingering anxiety Shubman felt. They served everyone, and the conversation turned to lighter topics—cricket, family memories, and upcoming events.

Later, when the evening began to wind down, Sachin and Anjali prepared to leave. They had a long drive back home and wanted to give Sara and Shubman some time alone.

As they stood by the door, Anjali hugged Sara tightly. "Take care of each other," she whispered, her eyes filled with love and reassurance.

Sara nodded, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. "We will, Mom."

Sachin shook Shubman's hand firmly, a gesture that now carried a deeper meaning. "Remember what we talked about," he said, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness.

"I will, sir," Shubman replied respectfully.

After the Tendulkar family left, the house felt quieter, but it was a comforting quiet. Shubman and Sara were alone again, but now with the weight of the secret lifted from their shoulders.

As they stood in the hallway, Shubman turned to Sara, his expression filled with gratitude. "Thank you for everything today, Sara. I know it wasn't easy."

Sara shook her head, stepping closer to him. "It wasn't easy, but it was necessary. I wanted our families to know how much we mean to each other."

He smiled, pulling her into his arms. "I'm so lucky to have you."

Sara snuggled into his chest, feeling safe and content. "We're both lucky."

They stood like that for a while, simply enjoying the closeness and the peace that came with it. Eventually, Shubman pulled back slightly and kissed her forehead. "Let's get some rest. It's been a long day."

Sara nodded, and they headed upstairs to their room. As they prepared for bed, the day's events played through their minds, but instead of worry, there was only the comforting knowledge that they had each other and the support of their families.

Lying down together, Sara rested her head on Shubman's chest, and he wrapped his arm around her. They fell asleep quickly, content in the knowledge that they had taken an important step forward in their relationship, one that would only make them stronger.