(a/n : guyss before beginning to read this chapter, just have a look at the characters chapter of this book, i did something and please tell if you like it or not.)

24th june, 2024.

10:56 pm.

after hanging out with the team for a while, everyone decided to go and sleep as the day was very eventful. kasturie and shubman weren't very sleepy.

"aaj toh field pe aag laga di tune." shubman said, nudging her playfully.

"thanks, aur tu bhi kuch kam nahi tha." she replied with a grin, nudging him back.

they decided to take a walk around the hotel's garden to unwind. the night air was cool, and the garden was quiet, providing a perfect escape from the excitement inside. they strolled along the paths, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the flowers.

"it's so peaceful out here," kasturie said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

"haan, sach mein," shubman agreed, his eyes scanning their surroundings. he enjoyed these moments with kasturie, where they could just be themselves, away from the hustle and bustle of their hectic schedules.

as they walked, shubman's gaze fell on a plumeria tree. he remembered kasturie mentioning once how much she loved those flowers. a smile spread across his face as he reached up to pluck a blossom for her.

"yeh le." he said, handing her the delicate white flower. "mujhe yaad hai tumne kaha tha yeh tumhare favorite hain."

kasturie took the flower, a warm smile on her face. "thanks, shubi. that's really sweet of you." she paused, then added thoughtfully, "you know, they say: if you like a flower, you pluck it. but if you love a flower, you water it daily."

shubman looked at her, a little puzzled. "hein? kya matlab?"

"i mean, it's better not to pluck flowers," she explained gently. "iska meaning bohot deep hai. it's about the difference between like and love. when you like something, you try to change it the way you want for you to love it but if you love something, you accept it the way it is. waise, if you find one that's already fallen, you can give it to me, that'll be much better."

"maine kabhi is tarah nahi socha," shubman admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. "bas tumhe khush karna chahta tha."

"and you did," kasturie assured him, touching his arm lightly. "par aage se, let's leave the flowers where they are, okay?"

shubman nodded, understanding the deeper meaning behind her words. "okay. aage se yaad rakhunga."

they continued their walk, their hands brushing occasionally as they walked side by side. the night seemed to wrap them in its gentle embrace, a sense of calm and contentment settling over them.

they walked on, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's company. as they neared the hotel, shubman spotted a plumeria on the ground. he bent down, picked it up carefully, and showed it to kasturie.

"tumhare liye," he said with a smile and tucked it behind her ear.

"thank you," she giggled. "this is perfect."

"aye idhar dekh." he said and took out his phone to click a picture of her.

"abbey yaar." she smiled at the camera.

"best." he clicked a photo of her.

they shared a quiet laugh, the bond between them growing even stronger. in that moment, under the starlit sky, they felt a connection that went beyond words, a promise of more shared moments and deeper understanding

they found a bench and sat down, facing a small fountain. shubman turned to her, his expression serious yet tender. "i'm really glad we have this time together, kastu. it's like we get to see a different side of each other off the field."

she nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "yeah, it feels like we can just be ourselves here."

they sat quietly for a while, simply enjoying each other's company. the sound of the fountain and the distant chirping of crickets created a serene atmosphere.

after a while, they decided to go inside and sleep. he dropped her to her hotel room and went to his own. then he had an idea of posting her photo on instagram.

shubmangill her>>🫶🏻🧿
@kasturiepatil

comments disabled

on the other hand, kasturie in her room, decided to take a photo of her and put it on her story.

(a/n : sowey guys my editing skills, not to good so please bear with it.)

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25th june, 2024.

11:11 am.

the day was a rest day for the team. kasturie and shubman found themselves drawn to each other, seeking comfort in the other's presence. they spent the day together, enjoying the freedom and anonymity of being away from the public eye.

as they wandered through the hotel's amenities, visiting the spa and the lounge, they talked about everything and nothing. their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and shared memories.

"remember that time you tripped over your own feet during practice?" shubman teased, earning a playful punch from kasturie.

"only because you distracted me with your terrible singing," she shot back, rolling her eyes.

the team gathered for a strategy meeting. kasturie and shubman, sitting next to each other, exchanged supportive glances. the pressure of the upcoming match was palpable, but they drew strength from each other's presence.

after the meeting, they joined the rest of the team for a light-hearted bonding session. playing card games and sharing stories, the team relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. kasturie found herself leaning against shubman, his arm casually draped over her shoulders.

"you two look cozy," virat teased, raising an eyebrow.

"just making sure she's not too tense for tomorrow," shubman replied with a wink.

"haan haan, sab samajh rahe hain," rohit chimed in, smirking. "you two are practically inseparable these days."

"we're always inseparable dada, you people just never noticed." kasturie blushed, but she couldn't deny how natural it felt to be close to shubman. they shared a look, filled with unspoken understanding and affection.

later, ishan joined them, sitting down next to kasturie. "so, what's the plan for tonight?" he asked, glancing between her and shubman.

"just relaxing, i guess," kasturie replied. "need to save our energy for tomorrow."

"speaking of which," ishan said, leaning closer, "tu yeh jo dedh match ke liye gayab ho gyi thi tab tune aisa kya kha liya jo australia ko itna mehenga pad gya?."

"thanks, ishan," she said, laughing at what he said. "i'm glad to be back too."

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27th june, 2024.

the day of the semi-finals arrived, and the team was focused and determined. kasturie and shubman shared a quick, encouraging hug before heading to the field.

india played a phenomenal game, with both kasturie and shubman giving their all. kasturie took crucial wickets, while shubman scored a steady half-century. their synergy on the field was evident, each trusting the other implicitly.

"aye kasturie, idhar aa." hardik called kasturie as he held on the spider cam which was flying around the field. "rishu tu bhi aa."

"yeh kya kar rha hai tu, hardik dada." she laughed at his actions.

"selfie le rha hu, pose de jaldi." the three of them posed into the camera.

"rohit dada ne dekh liya na toh maar dalega apneko." they laughed.

as the final wicket fell, sealing india's victory, the team erupted in cheers. they had qualified for the finals. kasturie and shubman hugged tightly, the elation of their win mingling with the deeper feelings they had for each other.

"we're going to the finals," kasturie said, her voice filled with excitement.

"we did it," shubman replied, his eyes shining with pride. "you were amazing out there."

"you too," she said, feeling the warmth of his compliment. "we make a pretty good team."

as the team headed back to the hotel, the atmosphere was electric with joy. everyone gathered in the lounge, basking in the glow of their triumph. kasturie, back in her usual comfortable attire, lay upside down on the couch, her head resting on hardik's lap.

"tum logon ne toh kamaal kar diya," hardik said, patting her head affectionately.

"thanks, hardik dada." she replied with a grin. they turned to ishan. "kya re harami, mere hi dost se khudki setting laga ke merko hi nhi bataya?"

"sab kuch itna jaldi jaldi ho gya, pata hi nhi chala." he said sheepishly.

"sAb KuCh ItNa JaLdi jAlDi HuA, pAtA hI nHi ChAlA." she said mockingly and glared at him.

"bhai, tu toh chhupa rustam nikla," virat teased. "aarya se kab baat paki ki?"

"bas yaar, jab milne gaya tha tab hi decide kar liya," ishan said, chuckling.

"jokes apart, I'm really happy for you both," kasturie said, her eyes glistening with happiness for her friend.

"thanks, kastu," ishan replied warmly. "finals ko aa rhi hai woh match dekhne, tab mil lena sab."

the team continued their celebration, their bond stronger than ever. kasturie and shubman shared a moment, their fingers brushing as they reached for the same snack.

"looks like everyone's finding their special someone," shubman said softly, his eyes locked on hers.

"maybe we already have," kasturie replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

with the finals just around the corner, their connection grew deeper, fueled by their shared victories and the unwavering support of their teammates. they knew that no matter what, they would face the challenges ahead together, as a team and perhaps, something more.

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a/n : main kal raat se itna naach rhi hai bhay kya bolu. jinklo guyss. the match was a total rollercoaster of emotions. at one moment, i thought we lost and started sobbing but soon enough, our boys did it and turned my tears into khushi ke aasu. aur kaha gye woh log jo hardik bhay ko troll kar rhe the? jisko ipl ke wakt itna troll kiya, na jaane kya kya bola, aaj usi insaan ne hume jeetaya. saale dogle log. but i swear, kal jo field pe humne dekha that wasn't them just playing, it was apne ghayal shers ki dahaad.

anyways, next chapter will be finals ka, it'll be long so likhne mein time jayega, have patience guys. also, i need a face claim for kasturie, who do you think will be the best fit for her, please tell.

peace out.
~k.