||Shubman||

"You know what, the three of us should hang out together" Manjot said after our gym session.

"Seriously bro, it's been ages since the three of us hung out together" Abhay agreed.

"Let's go to some club in the evening and grab drinks" I suggested.

"Riya won't let me drink with the series coming up next week" Abhay said.

"I'm not drinking either. I was talking about mocktails" I clarified.

"That's cool with me" Manjot said.

"Tonight 7pm" Abhay fixed the time.

"Done" Manjot and I said together.

We bid byes to each other and went home.

________________________

I drove to club where I was supposed to meet with Abhishek and Manjot.

"Hey" Abhay waved at me as I entered the club. Manjot and him had already reached.

"Hey" I greeted after walking up to them.

We ordered for our drinks and continued chatting. It's been a long time since we met and talked about things other than cricket.

We kept talking for around two hours about all the random things.

"I need to go. I had to stay with Riya tonight and she must be waiting" Abhay said after sometime.

"Shit it's nine. I had to pick up Myra from her uncle's place" Manjot said looking at his watch.

"You guys should leave then" I told them.

"And you?" Manjot asked.

"I'll leave after completing my drink" I replied.

"Okay. See you tomorrow" Abhay hugged me before leaving and so did Manjot.

I sipped my drink from the glass while scrolling my Instagram.

"Hey Shub" I heard a familiar voice. The voice I never wanted to hear again.

"Siya" I turned around.

"That's not how we meet. Won't you hug me today?" She asked with a devilish smirk.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement" she shrugged.

"I don't need it" I looked away from her.

"Don't act like you hate me" she said.

"I'm not acting. I actually hate you" I said bluntly.

"You're hurting me Shub" she said dramatically.

"You no longer have the right to call me Shub" I said sharply.

"Oops. Looks like I hurt you really bad that day" she said sitting beside me.

"I'm not interested in talking to you so please just go away" I blurted.

"Have you really moved on from me?" She asked looking into my eyes.

"Yes" I replied almost in a whisper.

"Do you love her?" She asked me in a serious tone.

I couldn't answer. I remained silent.

"Well that gives the answer" she said after few seconds. "You're still not over me" she added.

"Why do you even care?" I asked in annoyance.

She let out a laugh and said, "I don't care anything about you Shubman. I never did"

That caused a pain in my heart. The girl I gave my everything to never loved me.

"Please go away" I said sternly.

"You know what's your problem? You're do easy to influence. You believe everything what people say" she said.

"No one cares for you Shub. No one will ever will, the popularity you've won't let anyone to. You're just everyone's prop to gain what they want" she added.

"Siya, don't make me scream at you" I said controlling my anger.

"No one will stay with you Shub. I repeat no one. Not even that bloody fiancee of yours" she said rudely.

"Don't utter a word against her" I warned. "You don't stand anywhere infront of her" I said.

"You believe she'll love you for real?" She chuckled.

"I don't expect her to love me" I replied.

"Then what's the point of this marriage? Are you planning this to show the world that you've moved on?" She asked bitterly.

"I'm doing this for my parents" I told her.

"I see you're forced to marry an ordinary girl" she said.

"You were an ordinary girl too when we started dating" I defended.

"Do you still love me?" She asked out of the blue.

"Doesn't matter" I replied looking away.

"It does" she said.

"I don't wish to answer this question" I said with a straight face.

"Let me ask you another question then. Can you ever love her?" She asked.

"I'm.. I don't.." I stammered.

She just chuckled and said, "you call me a bitch for what I did but Shub you're no different. You're doing the same thing"

"How?" I asked.

"You're going to ruin her life. Do you think any wife will like to hear that her husband doesn't love her just because he can't get over his ex girlfriend? That's cheating too" she said and I just couldn't deny what she said.

"If I was wrong, you're wrong too" she added.

"Stay away from my life Siya" I said to her rudely because I didn't have a reply to what she said.

"You never deserved happiness Shub. You're nothing but a weak soul who is too easy to influence and a coward when it comes to taking decisions in life" she said sharply.

"And this is the reason why you're still alone and will always be" she finished and stomped out of the club.

Whatever she said is hurtful to accept though I know she's right. I am weak, I was an idiot that I never understood Siya didn't love me.

I ordered tequila shots and gulped them in a go. I left the club and went to my car and took over the driver's seat.

Slow tears started streaming down my cheeks when I recalled the day Siya left me. Have I really moved on?

I looked at the ring in my hand whose weight felt more than it actually was. Am I seriously ruining Anya's life? I couldn't think of what is right.

Something popped in my head suddenly and immediately started the car and drove to the place where I can get my answers.

||Anya||

I looked out of the window as the rain started pouring enjoying it's fragrance.

I love rains. They're so romantic.

Suddenly my eyes fell on someone I wasn't expecting to see at this hour.

"Shubman" I mumbled as I saw stand outside the gate of my house, completely drenched in water.

He walked closer the climbed up through the pipes to my window. I immediately pulled him in.

"Why were standing in the rain? You could have caught cold" I said handing him a towel.

"I was in a dilemma whether to come in or not" he replied.

"I wanted to talk" he added.

"Dry yourself first" I told him. "I don't think you have extra clothes. Do you?" I asked and he shook his head in negation.

"Alright. I'll go search something for you" I said.

"Stay here and don't let anyone know you're here" I instructed and he nodded.

I went to downstairs to my mother's room while she was busy in the kitchen and fetched a pair of dad'sclothes from her wardrobe and rushed upstairs.

I went to the bathroom in my room and placed a towel and the clothes I brought for him.

"I've placed the clothes inside. You should take a bath" I told Shubman after coming out of the bathroom.

"Thanks" he said and was about to go to the bathroom when I stopped him.

"Did you have dinner?" I asked him.

"Umm.. no" he replied.

"I'll arrange some dinner too then" I said and went downstairs again while he took a bath.

"Uh mom" I called her.

"What happened Anya?" She asked me.

"I've an urgent presentation to prepare so I'll have dinner in my room itself" I lied.

"Oh. No problem" she smiled and handed me my plate.

It's the food for only one person and I can't ask for more otherwise she'll doubt on me. I guess I need to skip my dinner today for Shubman.

I went upstairs and Shubman came out of the bathroom just then in a pair of tshirt and trousers.

"I brought dinner for you" I smiled at him after placing the plate on the bed.

"Where is yours?" He asked me.

"I'm not hungry" I lied.

"Are you sure?" He asked doubtfully.

"Yeah" I assured and he gave me an unsatisfactory look.

He sat on the bed and took the plate in his hand. I sat down beside him.

"You don't have to sacrifice your dinner for me" he said looking at me and I gave him an astonished look.

"We can share" he added smiling after offering me a bite from his hand and I smiled back.

I ate it and feed him a bite too and we grinned looking at each other.

"What brings you here Shub? At this time?" I asked him.

"Yeah actually.." he paused.

"Tell me Shubman" I persuaded.

"I met Siya today" he said in a low voice looking down.

"What?!" I reacted.

"Yes" he mumbled. I remained silent at this. I didn't know what to reply.

"Anya, am I ruining your life?" He asked all of a sudden.

"No Shub, you're not. What makes you think that?" I asked in a surprised tone.

He elaborated whatever Siya said to him today and started to hate this girl even more.

"Shub why are you letting her influence your mind? Don't let her get inside your head. She doesn't have the right to say anything about your life as she is no more a part of it" I explained.

"But maybe she's right. I'm lonely and don't deserve happiness" he said sadly.

"You're not Shub. You've me, your parents and your friends. We are never going to leave you no matter what happens. And you deserve all the happiness in this world, you've always been there for your friends and me. You're one of the most amazing souls I've met" I said to him.

"Do you really think so?" He asked with sparkling eyes.

"Yes. It's her who doesn't deserve happiness" I replied.

"Thank you" he smiled and I reciprocated it.

"Sleep. You must be tired. You can go home tomorrow" I told him.

"Okay" he mumbled as I took the plate from his hand and went downstairs to the kitchen and placed it near the washbasin.

I went back to my room upstairs and locked it from inside. I took a pillow and sheet and was approaching the  couch in my room when Shubman stopped me.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Sleeping on the couch" I shrugged.

"But why? We have enough space on the bed" he stated.

"Uh.. will you feel comfortable?" I asked.

"I should be the one asking this" he chuckled.

"I don't mind" I replied and he gesticulated to come beside him.

I went to the bed and laid beside Shubman. Both of us were facing each other and silence enveloped us.

"Uh.. Anya" he called me after a minute.

"Hmm?" I hummed in interrogation.

"Can I hold you?" He asked reluctantly.

"Sure" I mumbled and inched closer to him.

Shubman wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer as I snuggled up in his chest. His warmth feels so nice.

"Goodnight" he whispered to me.

"Goodnight" I whispered back and fell asleep inside his arms.

(A/N : I owe you guys an apology. I'm extremely sorry for not updating and I do have a reason. Wattpad wasn't letting me log into my account for I don't know what reason. After several attempts I was successful in logging into my account few days ago.

I'll try to update quicker next time.)