Before we jump into the next chapter, I want to apologize for the mix-up in Chapter 17. I've updated it and made sure everything is correct now. Please give it another read, as it's completely edited. I'm really sorry for the mistake!

Shubman sighed heavily as he switched off the TV, unable to find anything interesting to watch. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of Sara typing away on her laptop, completely absorbed in her assignments.

He scrolled through his phone, hoping to find something to distract him, but nothing held his interest. After a few minutes of aimlessly browsing, he tossed his phone aside and looked over at Sara, who was sitting at the dining table, surrounded by books and papers.

Shubman got up from the couch and walked over to her, leaning on the back of her chair. "Sara," he said in a slightly whiny tone, "I'm so bored. There's nothing to do."

Without looking up from her laptop, Sara replied, "Shub, I have so much work to do right now. I need to focus on this assignment."

Shubman pouted, his fingers gently drumming on the table. "But there's nothing to do... I even tried watching TV, and I went through everything on my phone. I'm literally dying of boredom here."

Sara finally looked up, her expression a mix of sympathy and determination. "I know, and I'm sorry, but this assignment is due tomorrow, and I'm way behind. I promise, as soon as I'm done, we can do something fun together, okay?"

Shubman sighed again, feeling a little defeated. "I just miss spending time with you. It feels like ages since we've done something together."

Sara softened at his words, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I miss spending time with you too, but this is really important. Just give me a few more hours, and then I'm all yours. We'll do whatever you want."

He nodded, understanding but still feeling restless. "Alright, I'll let you focus. But don't take too long, okay?"

Sara smiled and nodded, her focus already shifting back to her work. "I'll try not to. Just hang in there."

Shubman gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before walking back to the couch. He knew he had to find a way to pass the time until Sara was free, but at least he had the promise of some quality time with her later. For now, he decided to grab a book and see if that could hold his attention until then.

Shubman, feeling restless and bored, started fidgeting with random objects around the room. He picked up a pillow and began tossing it in the air, catching it with exaggerated gestures as if it were a cricket ball. Then, he pretended to do a little dance, making funny faces at Sara, who was trying to concentrate on her assignments.

Sara glanced up from her work and couldn't help but chuckle softly at his antics. Shubman, noticing her smile, grinned wider and started mimicking a dramatic scene from a movie, complete with over-the-top expressions and gestures.

"You're such a goofball," Sara said, shaking her head, her smile growing.

"But at least I got you to smile," Shubman replied, throwing the pillow aside and coming closer to her. He leaned in slightly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Sara playfully pushed him back, trying to focus on her work again. "I really need to finish this, Shub. You're not making it any easier."

Shubman pouted, crossing his arms. "Fine, I'll leave you to it. But don't be surprised if you find something missing when you finish," he teased, pretending to swipe one of her pens.

Sara chuckled again, watching him walk away with exaggerated gloom. Despite his playful interruptions, she was grateful for the lighthearted moments he brought into her day.

Shubman, still feeling restless, decided to up the ante. He grabbed one of Sara's notebooks and held it above his head, just out of her reach.

"Sara, I'm holding your precious notes hostage," he announced dramatically, waving the notebook around. "You must entertain me if you want them back."

Sara looked up, a mixture of amusement and mild annoyance on her face. "Shubman, seriously? I need those."

He pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin. "Hmm, maybe a quick game of charades? Or how about you tell me a joke?"

"Shubman," Sara warned, though she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.

Seeing her resistance softening, he decided to go all in. Shubman started hopping around the room on one foot, making exaggerated animal noises, trying to coax a laugh out of her. "Look, I'm a kangaroo! Or maybe a...dancing chicken?"

Sara finally burst out laughing, shaking her head at his antics. "Okay, okay! You win. Now give me my notebook back, you big kid."

He handed it back with a triumphant grin, clearly pleased with himself. But before she could return to her work, he leaned in close, batting his eyelashes dramatically. "You know, you could take a five-minute break. Just five minutes. We could have a mini dance party or something."

Sara sighed, half-exasperated, half-amused. "You're impossible."

Shubman beamed. "But that's why you love me, right?"

She shook her head, laughing softly. "Fine, five minutes. But that's it."

Shubman's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned on some music, pulling her up from her chair. "Deal! Let's make the most of it!"

As the music played, they both danced around the room, laughing and enjoying the moment. Sara felt her stress melting away, grateful for Shubman's ability to turn even the most mundane day into something special.

After their impromptu dance session, Sara glanced at the clock and reluctantly pulled away from Shubman. "Okay, five minutes are up. I really need to get back to work."

Shubman pouted playfully, "Aww, you're no fun. What am I supposed to do now?"

Sara, thinking quickly, reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a colorful Rubik's Cube. She handed it to him with a teasing smile. "Here, why don't you try solving this? It'll keep you busy for a while."

Shubman took the Rubik's Cube, turning it over in his hands with a skeptical look. "You know I have no idea how to solve one of these, right?"

"That's the point," Sara said, grinning. "It'll give you something to focus on besides bothering me."

He raised an eyebrow, still doubtful but curious. "Alright, challenge accepted. But don't blame me if I break it in frustration."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Good luck, you'll need it."

Shubman plopped down on the couch with the Rubik's Cube, twisting and turning it in different directions, trying to make sense of the colorful puzzle. Every few minutes, he'd glance over at Sara, who was now fully engrossed in her assignment again.

He tried matching colors, only to realize he'd messed up another side. "How is this even possible?" he muttered to himself, turning the cube around in frustration.

Sara, noticing his struggle, couldn't help but smile. "Having fun there?"

He shot her a mock glare. "This thing is impossible! How do people solve these?"

"Patience and practice," she replied, amused. "Or you could just look up a tutorial online."

"Where's the fun in that?" he retorted, still determined to figure it out on his own.

Sara watched him for a moment, appreciating how his competitive side came out even with something as simple as a Rubik's Cube. After a few more minutes of watching him fumble with it, she couldn't help but laugh softly.

"Need any hints?" she offered, trying to suppress her grin.

"No way," he said stubbornly, though there was a smile on his face. "I'm going to crack this thing."

As Shubman continued his battle with the Rubik's Cube, Sara felt a warm affection for him. His determination, even in the face of a frustrating puzzle, was just another reason she adored him. And though she needed to focus on her work, she couldn't help but glance at him every now and then, entertained by his attempts and knowing that his presence made everything just a little bit better.

Sara was trying her best to focus on her assignments, but every few moments, she couldn't resist sneaking glances at Shubman. He was sitting on the couch, the Rubik's Cube in his hands, his brows furrowed in concentration. His fingers twisted and turned the cube, but it seemed like every move he made just scrambled the colors even more.

He let out a frustrated sigh, his lips forming into a pout as he muttered to himself. "This stupid cube... how does anyone solve this thing? It's like it's mocking me."

Sara bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Seeing Shubman so absorbed in something so trivial was endearing. He was always so composed and confident on the field, but here he was, utterly stumped by a small plastic puzzle.

"I swear," he continued, oblivious to her watching him, "there's no logic to this. Every time I think I'm getting somewhere, it just gets worse!"

He gave the cube another twist, only to find that the side he'd been working on was now a complete mess again. Shubman groaned in exasperation, sinking back into the couch with a defeated look.

Sara finally couldn't hold back her laughter anymore. She let out a giggle, which made Shubman glance over at her. "Oh, so now you're laughing at my misery, huh?" he said, his pout deepening.

"I'm sorry," she said, still chuckling, "but you're just too cute when you're frustrated."

He rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile a little. "Cute, huh? I don't think that's the look I'm going for."

Sara got up from her desk and walked over to him, sitting down beside him on the couch. "You know, you don't have to solve it. It's just a silly puzzle."

He looked at her, his expression softening. "Maybe, but now it's a matter of pride. I'm not letting this thing beat me."

She smiled, placing a hand on his arm. "I love that about you, you know? You never give up, no matter what."

He leaned in closer, his eyes locking with hers. "Well, when I have someone like you cheering me on, how could I?"

Sara felt a flutter in her chest at his words. She reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her fingers lingering there for a moment. "You've got this, Shub. But if you get too frustrated, I'm always here to help."

Shubman grinned, the tension from the Rubik's Cube fading away. "I might just take you up on that. But only after I've given it a fair shot."

She laughed softly and then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Deal. Now, get back to it, champ."

As she returned to her desk, Shubman felt a renewed sense of determination. He picked up the Rubik's Cube again, ready to give it another try, all the while knowing that whether he solved it or not, he already felt like a winner with Sara by his side.

Shubman took a deep breath, his fingers resuming their work on the Rubik's Cube, though with less frustration this time. He was still determined, but Sara's encouragement had lightened his mood. Every now and then, he'd glance up at her, watching as she focused on her assignments, her brow furrowed slightly in concentration. It was a look he had come to admire—her dedication and passion for her work.

After a few minutes of twisting and turning the cube with little success, Shubman sighed dramatically. "You know, Sara, I think this Rubik's Cube is plotting against me. It's got a mind of its own."

Sara looked up from her work, her lips curving into a smile. "Oh, really? A mind of its own? That's a new one."

"I'm serious!" he insisted, waving the cube in the air. "I get close to solving one side, and then bam! It changes everything just to mess with me."

Sara chuckled and got up from her desk again, walking over to where he sat. "Let me see," she said, gently taking the cube from his hands.

She examined the cube for a moment, then looked back at him with a teasing smile. "Well, you've almost got one side done. That's progress."

"Almost," Shubman repeated, leaning back on the couch. "But almost doesn't count when it comes to these things."

She sat down next to him, their shoulders brushing. "Want me to show you a trick?"

Shubman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A trick? You know how to solve this?"

Sara grinned mischievously. "Maybe. But I'm not going to do it for you. I'll just give you a hint."

"Alright, I'm listening," he said, turning his body slightly to face her.

She leaned in closer, her voice soft. "The key is to focus on solving it layer by layer, not just one side at a time. Start with the first layer, then move on to the middle, and finally the last. It's all about strategy."

Shubman looked at her, impressed. "You sound like a Rubik's Cube master. Where'd you learn all this?"

Sara shrugged playfully. "I picked up a few tricks here and there. But the real secret is patience. You need to take your time and think about each move."

"Patience, huh?" Shubman said, his gaze lingering on her. "I guess I could use a little more of that."

Sara smiled and handed the cube back to him. "You'll get it. Just remember, layer by layer."

He nodded, feeling more confident now. He tried following her advice, focusing on one layer at a time, and to his surprise, he started making progress.

After a few more minutes, Sara returned to her desk, but she couldn't help glancing over at Shubman from time to time. His focus on the puzzle was endearing, and she loved seeing him so determined.

Finally, Shubman let out a triumphant cheer. "I did it! I actually did it!"

Sara turned to see him holding up the solved Rubik's Cube, his face lit up with pride. She couldn't help but laugh, genuinely happy for him. "See? I knew you could do it!"

He jumped up from the couch and pulled her into a celebratory hug. "All thanks to you, coach."

She hugged him back, feeling a warmth in her chest. "I barely did anything. It was all you."

Shubman pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a grin. "Maybe, but it's nice to know I have you to help me when I'm stuck."

Sara smiled up at him, their faces close. "Always."

For a moment, they stood there, just enjoying each other's presence, the Rubik's Cube momentarily forgotten. Shubman leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, making her heart skip a beat.

"Now, how about we celebrate this victory with some ice cream?" he suggested, his eyes sparkling.

Sara laughed. "I think that's a great idea. But only if you promise not to challenge me to another puzzle afterward."

"Deal," he agreed with a chuckle, grabbing her hand as they headed toward the kitchen, ready to share a sweet moment together after a day of playful antics and triumphs.