s e v e n (part one)
a lost charger

"Mera charger dekha hai?" (Have you seen my charger?) Shubman hurriedly asked Sara as she stepped out of the bathroom while putting on a hair towel on her dripping wet hair.

"I don't know. Last kaha rakha tha?" (I don't know. Where did you see it for the last time?) she asked casually.

"That's the best you can do? Give me this universal advice?" He asked as he went through 'his' shelves of the cupboard.

"Okay, how would your charger be with your clothes?" She asked, squinting her eyes.

"Tendulkar, I searched for it everywhere, it's nowhere!" His voice was shaky, as he couldn't shake off his haste. Fuck, I'm so late.

"My phone is about to die, GOD!"

While her husband rummaged throughout the room, Sara was spraying a toner on her face, more specifically- a Korean rice water toner.

"MIL GAYA!" (Found it!) he victoriously announced, pulling out a charger from the switchboard beside Sara's side of the bed. Sara tilted her head to acknowledge him but got up as she glanced at the very familiar cable.

"That's mine, bonehead," she mumbled, snatching it from him.

"Nope, it's mine," he replied, snatching it from her. "Look at the initials written on this- S, G," he said, reading out the letters loudly, with strong emphasis. Sara rolled her eyes and pointed at herself.

"I have the same initials," She said and he stared at her blankly.

"Why? How?"

"It was almost a year ago. A September morning, 14th of the month. You came to my house and we went to the court. There was a lot of traffic on the way. You were wearing a navy blue kurta and I had draped a gorgeous paithani saree. Honestly, I looked like a vision in the turquoise saree, I mean I have never looked pre-

"Sara," he cut her off. "Have I ever told you how annoying you can be?"

"...Yes of course!" She smilingly said and he resigned in defeat.

"This is fucking pointless," he muttered under his breath.

"Well I wouldn't annoy you if you didn't just randomly claim my charger-

Sara, he shushed her, waving off his hand at her.

"My apologies for troubling her highness. But I have to leave," he turned around on his heel to exit the room.

"Ek minute, how will you charge your phone?"

He didn't reply.

🪷

Shubman returned to an empty house like every other day. His parents had gone to visit Sara's parents today. It had been a week since his parents had arrived in town and he had gotten so used to that timely atmosphere in his apartment. Tired, he quickly made some tea for himself and turned on the television, catching up with some news.

As he took the last sip from the beverage, his phone rang. Feeling lazy to pick it up from the table where it was kept, he received the call from his watch.

"Shubi, sunn na, " (Hello Shubi) his best friend- Abhishek Sharma's voice came through.

"Bol na Abhay," (What happened Abhay?)

"Do you have that weird medal we'd gotten from our school?"

"What medal are you talking about?"

"Arey! When we passed out of the school, they gave us those cheap, blue ribbon medals, for being outstanding students of the school, do you remember?"

"What even Abhay? I don't remember anything. Also, aaj tujhe yeh achanak kyun yaad aaraha?" (What even Abhay? I don't remember anything. Also, why do you remember this all of a sudden?)

"The school's called me next week, to talk to the kids, " before Abhishek could complete the rest of his sentence, Shubman burst into laughter.

"Why would a school call a doofus to misguide their students?" Abhishek rolled his eyes at Shubman's remark.

"Wow, so funny Shubman, " he mockingly said.

"Acha chal, so how is this medal related?"

"The school wants me to show the students how the school praised me and supported me," Shubman shook his head, knowing the truth. "I don't have that godforsaken medal, if you do, I can show a picture of yours and say that the medal is not at my house but at my nani's house, "

"Goodness, " Shubman breathed out after listening to the elaborate plan. "I'll try and find it, " he assured him. As the main topic was discussed, the two friends talked about everything and anything under the sun, gossiping and sharing their plans.

Due to Sunita's insistence, Abhay was flying to Mumbai for Shubman's and Sara's wedding anniversary. As the call ended after almost forty-five minutes, Shubman went to 'his' room to find out if he still possessed the 'cheap Blue Ribbon medal'

While he set out on a search mission in the room for the second time, his mind couldn't help but wander to his wife. Lately, their tug of war had intensified. Be it sneaky rude comments, unnecessary jabs and arguing. It had been going well for them.

He went to practice.
She went to work.

He returned home.
And so did she.

They would have dinner together.
Joke a little, sometimes eat late-night ice cream.
Watch matches together.
Watch Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai together.

And then, they'd go for his matches.
Play the lovebirds.
Things would get tense in their room.
But everything would get back to normal, here.

It was a vicious cycle they were stuck in, in Sara's words 'an infinite loop'.

God, she drives me crazy.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair in annoyance.

The medal. That's what I have to find.

While he was searching through the various compartments, drawers and shelves, his eyes fell on a paper which was lying on the cold floor.

What's this?

He crouched, picking up the piece of paper. He was sure that the penmanship belonged to his wife. He wanted to not read it, but he couldn't resist. Not when he saw his name on the top.

Sara Shubman Gill.

Their names, joint together. For life.

A/N: It is a double update! Scroll down❤️