t w o
perfect marriage.

Shubman's hand was resting on the doorknob when he got the call. As the call ended, he frantically turned towards his wife who was sipping on the hot beverage he had brewed.

"SARA!" He exclaimed. "Mummy Papa aarahe hai," (My parents are arriving!)

"WHEN?" She asked, getting up.

"In an hour," he breathed out and she gasped. "Goodness, we'll...we'll have to move your stuff in my room and...and God," she stuttered, completely thrown off her game by his revelation. 

"Okay, don't panic, we'll just...just, I dunno know..." Shubman tried to stay calm but miserably failed. "Okay, we just have to tidy up my room...and then we're done! And I have to leave before Mummy-Papa arrive so that they don't ask me why I left late for practice, " Sara paused as he talked. Then, she nodded, showing her thumb.

"You're right, ask them to send them their live location!"

"Done!"

The tension in the room subsided as Shubman and Sara realised that they weren't at a high risk of getting their secrets revealed. The two dashed into the room Shubman occupied, and began emptying the cupboard, ready to move it to the Sara's bedroom.

"WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY HOODIES?" She asked, using a laundry bag to transfer the contents of one cupboard to another.

"Oh my god, is this really the time to judge my personal possessions, Tendulkar?" He groaned, removing his clothes from the highest shelf. Sara halted for a minute, blankly staring at her husband.

"Don't call me Tendulkar in front of your parents," his brows furrowed at her instruction, as he tilted his head to face her.

"Why not?"

"It sounds like I'm one of your teammates, not your wife!" She dramatically explained. "It feels as if you're a second away from cussing at me for doing something stupid on field!"

"Goodness," he breathed out. "Fine, I'll call you Sara, okay Sara?"

Sara rolled her eyes, hands on her hips.

"Yes, don't you dare forget my first name, Mr. Gill,"

"Alright, Mrs. Gill,"

In half an hour, the two were very surprisingly done. Sara's room got its makeover and has turned into a love nest instead of her personal space, where she could be herself, unfiltered. Sara breathed out, displeased at how different her room looked. The increase in the cricket posters was drastic, from zero to ten, in the room.

"And now, for the final touch," Shubman dramatically announced, pulling out a photo frame from a drawer. It was a framed photo of the married couple from their reception. Shubman was back-hugging Sara, resting his chin on her shoulder while Sara held onto him, smiling ear to ear. Oh, they look so in love.

He placed it on the nightstand and Sara nodded.

"This really does feel like our shared room," she muttered under her breath. Our room. Mine and Shubman's room. A shared room. A shared life.

"Hm," he hummed mindlessly, glancing at his watch. "Well, I should leave. For obvious reasons, I'll be returning home late," he informed her like the good husband he was.

"Wait, can I ask you something?" Sara asked, suddenly feeling nervous. "Why are your parents coming today? Weren't they supposed to come next week?" She asked, rubbing her palms together.

"They're coming over earlier to help us with the preparations of Ganeshotsav and the party we're throwing for our anniversary," he explained. "I'm sorry Tendulkar, they're coming earlier as a surprise...I know you're going to be uncomfortable," he guiltily said and Sara shook her head. Why can't we just peacefully...live?

"Shubman, as boneheaded you are, your parents are really the best people out there," Shubman's lips curved into a smile. The bond between Sara and his parents was simply very sincere. "The only drawback is that I'm to share a bed with my husband who calls me by my maiden surname, ALL THE TIME," she said, glaring at him. He groaned, looking up.

"I'm sorry, Sara,"

🪷

Sara was singing along to a One Direction song when the doorbell rung, announcing the arrival of Sunita and Rajesh Gill, Shubman's parents and Sara's in-laws. As she opened the door, the soft jingle of her bangles was heard, and her dupatta got caught in the doorknob. She nervously chuckled, pulling it out, and proceeded to open the safety door.

"Hello Mummy, Papa," she greeted them. Despite sheer exhaustion on their faces, the in-laws put up a smile on their faces, warmly greeting their daughter-in-law.

"Hello Sara bete," Rajesh said as she touched his feet, seeking blessings. "Yashaswini bhava," was what he blessed her, wishing her success. "Khush raho," Sunita blessed her with lifelong happiness.

"How was your journey?" She asked as she brought them glasses of water.

"Oh, it was so tiring beta," Sunita exasperatedly answered. "Our flight got delayed thrice!"

"Ek minute, aapka original flight time kya tha?" (Hold on, what was your original flight timing?)

"11 at yesterday night," Rajesh shook his head, clearly upset.

"Arey deva!" (Oh my God!) Sara exclaimed. "You both should go and sleep now! You need rest,"

"We do, as a matter of fact,"

"Have you eaten anything?" She asked.

"Yeah, as a compensation for the delay, the airlines gave us a proper Indian dinner instead of the cold sandwiches they distribute,"

"Okay that's good," Sara breathed out in relief. "Breakfast is ready, toh aap freshen up karlo, let's eat and then you both go and sleep, yeah?"

"Sounds like a plan," Rajesh agreed.

"By the way Sara, isn't this the dress we bought in Chandigarh?" Sunita asked, her eyes shining. Sara smiled at her mother-in-law, eagerly nodding.

"Aap aarahe the toh special pehna meine yeh dress," (You were coming, that's why I wore this dress) she grinned.

🪷

"Oh he had made it once a few months ago! Special Amritsari lassi, it was actually good!" Sara recounted a memory, touching Shubman's arm momentarily.

"Arey waah, jara hume bhi pilao, beta," (Make for us too, son) Sudeep excitedly said and Shubman eagerly nodded.

"Kal hi banadunga!" (I'll make it tomorrow!)

The four were at a sophisticated restaurant, enjoying a nice dinner. The sound of western classical music played in the background, not too disturbing, but not too negligible. Shubman, Sara, Sunita and Rajesh were conversing about their daily lives, filling in with some details, catching up, recounting anecdotes.

A wonderful night ensured and by 10 p.m., they had called it a day. The parents who were already tired from the delays in their flight in the morning and the eventful day which followed with their son and daughter-in-law retreated to their room quickly.

Sara sighed, kicking off her stilettos and Shubman couldn't help but stifle a laughter as he noticed the drastic difference in her height without the heels. He went to the kitchen to drink water before heading back to bed.

"Sara?" He called out his wife's name, looking at the locked door. Did she forget that we're sharing a room?

"Sara?" He repeated, knocking the door. She opened the door with a swing, a confused expression on her face. Shubman yawned, keeping his palm on his face as Sara blankly stared at him. What is he doing here?

"You,"

"Me," he replied. "Let me in, wifey,"

"Ugh, not you again," she groaned, walking inside as he followed her. Now he'll get up early every morning, sleep early and just mess up the cycle of this room.

"You have to get used to it, dude," he said. "Imagine if Mummy or Papa saw this,"

Sara nonchalantly shrugged, looking at him.

Sharing hotel rooms was okay. The constant housekeeping made up for his presence. But, sharing a room in our house too? Help.

"I could just say galti se hogaya,"

Shubman sighed, knowing he couldn't ever get Sara to agree with him.

A/N: Part two! Every marriage has its secrets, hm? Let me know your thoughts on this one, we're still at the beginning and feedback helps me a LOT.

Momma, it's your day today. I love you and I hope you never come across this♥️