Shubman's pov:

I press my doorbell only to be greeted by Shahneel, mom and dad smiling widely.

This seems suspicious. Why are they all welcoming me like that.

I manage to smile fakely and gets pulled into a hug by my mom and a kiss on the cheek. Also my dad pats my back and Shahneel takes my luggage from me settling it.

I step inside without showing any sign of affection towards my mother. And only give her one word answer. I'm still not on comfortable terms with her. Even though she misses no opportunity in trying to do that, hugging and kissing me whenever she gets the chance.

I sit on the couch and Shahneel offers me water. I gladly take it from her and raise my eyebrows to ask her what had gotten in my parents.

She makes a scowling face and returned to the kitchen.

Mom comes out with a plate of sizzling aloo parathas and water immediately floods my mouth as I smell them in front of my.

But the world cup is approaching and I don't wanna ruin my diet. So I decide as skipping dinner like I do.

"I'm sorry, me yeh nhi kha sakta, diet par hu." I said and I saw her smile fading as she takes it away.

Tbh, it feels a bit bad tonot talk to mom like that, but she did destroy my relationship.

Dad sits by my side and talks tome about my game and we talk for a while before mom came and sat on my other side.

"Kaka, beta mujhe pata he ki tujhe meri shakal bhi ni dekhni par please, ek baar apni maa ki baat sunn le." She said with raised pleading eyebrows.

I sit back down.

"Hame pta he ki tu......Sara ke saath he." She said as I stared at her.

"Ab teri shaadi ki umar ho gyi he, aur beta sach bolun toh wo ladki bohot acchi he. Tujhe wo pasand bhi he, please ek baar soch le." She said.

I closed my eyes and leaned back knowing my answer.

"Nhi." I said.

"Arey beta ek baar soch toh le-"

"Soch liya, nhi! Bass?" I said.

"Par ab toh kucch ho hi nhi sakta....." I heard Shahneel lowly trail off and my ears perk up.

"Kyu? Kya hua? Rishta fix kar diya kya mera?" I said with a laugh.

Everyone goes silent and keeps looking at me.

"Kya hua...sab ese chup kyu...." I said sensing that there might be some sort of problem.

"Kyu ji? Aap bhi toh kuchh bolo! Me akeli bolti rahun?" Mom said to dad.

"H-haan...matlab n-nhi...nhi haan me bolta hu..." dad said.

"Kaka....wo gall kuchh es trah he ki.....aaj hamne....matlab teri maa ne....Sara beti ko phone kita...aur teri baat usse already ho hi rhi thi...toh isne baat thodi aage bhada di...kuchh zyada nhi bass....." I could feel my face getting heated up by anger.

"Beta please mana mat karna, Sara acchi ladki he....wo tujhe khush rakhegi.....aur tum dono saath me bohot acche lagte ho.....usko mana karna ab accha nhi lagega." Mom said.

"Sara se me baat kar lunga...par aap log aaj ke baad mat karna, usey pata he mujhe usse pyaar nhi he....end of discussion, aur aaj ke baad Aashna ke alawa kisi se meri shaadi ki baat chalayi, toh bhul jana ki aapka koi beta bhi he." I said and stood up.

Everyone got suspiciously silent again.

I stopped in my tracks and peeped over my shoulder.

"Is there something else that I need to know?" I said assertively.

I stood there with my hands on my hips till mom cleared her throat and decided to speak.

"Baat kucch esi he beta, ki hamne Sachin ji se baat kar li he aur tera rishta fix ho chuka he, wo bohot khush the, please ab tu unhe mana mat kariyo!" Mom said.

"Is this a joke?!" I shouted.

"No...?" Shahneel said.

"Mujhe yeh baat samajh nhi aa rhi ki tum sab KYU LAGE HO MERI LIFE BARBAAD KARNE!!" I find myself shouting.

"Beta please gussa mat kar! Hamne wahi kiya jo hame tere liye best laga, ham maa baap he, tera bhala sochte he." She tried touching my hand but I jerked it off.

"Mummy me 32 saal ka ho gya si, ab chhado menu, eni gall samajh ni aa ri? Kab tak control karogi mujhe, meri ek life he, let me live." I join my hands and retreat to the terrace.

I sit on a bench and take out my new packet of cigarettes.

I was about to light a third one when the terrace door opened and my sister came to sit beside me. On the bench.

She snatched my cigarette and threw it on the floor.

I stare at her blankly and pull out another one making her exhale a deep breath.

She gave up and I light that one and keep holding the smoke inside my lungs for a good whole minute before finally exhaling.

"Smoke kar le, atleast usko andar hold toh mat kar!" She said to me.

"I'm holding a lot of stuff inside me already, more fatal then a petty cigarette." I spat.

"Toh....ab kya karega?" She asked me.

"Abhi toh chhat se kudne ka mann kar rha he." I said seriously.

"Sachin sir ko mana kese karenge?" She said.

"Pta nhi, unse me keh bhi kya sakta hu? I literally worship him and this should be great but....you know right?" I said looking at her.

"I know Shubhi...mana bhi nhi kar sakte unse.....mujhe lagta he ek chance toh banta he....if things don't work out...then...it's different but...you have to try." She said touching my cheek.

"Di....kese kar lu kisi aur se shaadi....me nhi accept kar sakta..." I felt my eyes brimming with tears.

"Shubhi I know this is hard...but we can't do anything else right?" Di said.

I hug her and finally let my tears flow, I never cried....but nowdays it like waterworks in my eyes.

She hugs me tightly and after an hour or so, I find myself resting with my head in her lap and her hands caressing my hair.

It doesn't seem to bother her now that I'm smoking my 10th cigarette of this night.

She's just by my side, not judging me.
.
.
.

After a week or so....I find myself standing in front of the mirror with di fixing my kurta collar.

"Do I really have to wear this?" I said, tired of the kurta getting stuck between my legs.

"Shut up Shubhi....." She said and moved her hands to my hair and fixed it.

"Pohochte honge wo log....please be ready." She said.

So you see, Sara's family is coming over for the roka, and mom has been doing all these preparations from the morning.

All the elders decided it would be nice to not delay the wedding. And when I was asked, all I said was that it shouldn't meddle with my world cup. So we are hurrying everything.

The wedding would be done before August would end. That is the end of the next month.

Sara is too excited. My fans are too excited. But me....my mind find it's way back to Aashna. And my anxiety rises.

I don't wanna do this.

The doorbell rings and I go out of the room to find Sara's whole family sitting and talking with mine.

I smile shortly and touch feet of her parents.

"Seekho kucch Sara, kitna sanskari he Shubman, per chhuta he apne in laws ke, aur tum?" Anjali ma'am said.

"Arey koi baat nhi behenji, Sara toh hamari beti jesi he. Hamare per kese chhuyegi?" My mom said making me scoff that went unnoticed.

Soon the ceremony starts and Sara keeps blushing the entire time while I struggle to tolerate her shit.

After the ceremony, I excuse myself to my room and finally light a cigarette that I was dying to have.

"You look so hot while smoking." I heard Sara's voice in my doorway.

I ignore her and keep on smoking.

I remember when Aashna found out that I used to smoke. She scolded me and lectured me about all her carcinogenic knowledge.

She never supported me to smoke.

"Shubhuu, we are getting married, atleast ab toh ignore mat karo!" She comes closer and puts her arms around my neck. I try to remove my face.

"Me tumse sirf isliye shaadi kar rha hu kyuki I respect your dad. Nothing else. And how dare you say yes to my mom without considering my opinions?" I said to her.

"Well you see.....there was a time Shubman, when you used to worship me....and even after I apologised a hundred times inspite of being who I am....you never forgave me. You made me think I'd have maybe lost my charm. So I promised myself to get you back where you belong. At my feet. Now I'm finally getting you back, I can't let you go." She said bitterly.

"Sara, you're wrong honey, I'll never be that Shubman again....because now I know that you're just as narcissistic and obnoxious as any rich kid. And if you see me as a bet that you can win. It's never gonna work. Just because you're sachin sir's daughter, it doesn't make you any better." I said.

"I have my ways honey. Just wait and watch!" And with that, she walked out of the room.

I soon finished my cigarette and walked downstairs.

"Arey beta, ham kya soch rhe the ki tum logon ko apna relationship status social media par update kar dena chahiye, jisse fans ko koi bada shock na lage achanak se shaadi ki baat se." Sachin sir said.

"Sir, what's the need? Fans will know already....with time, you don't need to do all this." I said fearing that Aashna might have already come to know about it.

"Dekho Shubman, Sara meri ekloti beti he, so I'm very excited for this, toh me to karunga, chalo saath me ek photo lete he tumhari." He said and Sara walked over to me and wrapped her hand around mine while I just stood straight.

And soon he uploaded it on social media.

.
.
.

Aashna's pov:

sachintendulkar posted:

sachintendulkar roka done, wedding in August.
My baby @saratendulkar❤ and @shubmangill
Bless you kids!
...........................

That was the first thing I saw as I opened my phone before going to bed. Well let's say now that I've seen it, I won't be going to bed so soon.

It was unbelievable at first so I reopened my instagram and checked the post again, it was posted 2 hours ago. And by now, all the tabloids had converted it into such a big news.

How does he even do that? Pretend like we never took place, all that happrned between us never took place? He wanted to marry me a month ago and now this?

How can he get married to someone else while I can't even think of it without feeling like shit.

Sara reposted that post on her Id and I didn't waste a second to comment.

"Congratulations guysss!!!❤❤❤"
I commented.

If Shubman is happy with her to that extent, then I might as well be!

But what I don't understand is that how did it happen so fast...was he cheating on me?

Or maybe it's family pressure. Or worse, is she pregnant? Why such a hurry to get married?

It seems suspicious but I can't ignore the fact that it's happening regardless of how it's happening.

I'm genuinely happy for him.

But am I crying myself while thinking all that, well maybe just a few tears are coming out.

What I can't believe is that he moved on so fast when he said all those things to me about never leaving me and shit.

And even after witnessing that much, I'm still a stupid fool crying for him.

I hate myself for being so emotional. I'm more disappointed in myself than him.

Is he the last guy on earth? Do I not have the potential of dating someine else? To move on?

I go to sleep with a stong will to get up in the morning and begin my journey to move on!

I wake up in the morning at 7 and try to bring my life back on track. I have suffered enough. And even if I don't wanna do this, I'll fake it till I make it.

A call interrupts my breakfast.

'Shahneel di'

I pick up her call.

"Hi di!" I said cheerfully.

"Hi...you sound happy!" She said.

"Should I not?" I said.

"What? No! But...I wanted to check on you after......you know...what happened yesterday....I'm sure you must've seen it...and..." she said.

"Oh you mean Shubman and Sara getting married?" I said bluntly.

"Uhh..yeah, are you ok?" She said.

"Yeh bhi loi pucchne ki baat he? I'm okay, I'm happy that he's happy!" I said.

"Are you sure you're not faking?" She said.

"Fake it till you make it di!" I said.

"Seriously aashu?" She said.

"Alright fine....yeah...it felt bad, very bad, the worst I've felt in ages....but then I thought...if he's finally getting married, then I could atleast be happy for them." I told her truthfully.

"I'm proud of you Aashna, you really loved him didn't you?" She said choking up.

"Oh please now don't get me emo!" I shouted playfully.

"Yes I did, that's why I'm letting him go. It's not love if it's selfish right? Wanting him all to myself when he doesn't want that?" I said.

"You've raised yourself wonderfully!" She said.

"Life happened!" I said.

"Are you coming to the wedding?" She said.

"What? I mean...I can't come uninvited...or at all in this case!" I said.

"Aa ja na! We'll have so much fun!" She said.

"Di what are you saying? How will they feel if I come?" I said.

"Jab us pagal ko shaadi karne me koi problem nhi he, toh tujhe aane me kya problem he? Actually I know what is your problem, that you're too good!" She said. And I guess she's right.

"I know you're right! But...still! What will people say? Aur aapki mummy bhi toh hongi wahan par!" I said.

"Aashu, dekh! This is your chance to show him that you have MOVED ON! that you DON'T CARE, that you're STRONG! don't miss the chance!" She said.

Ok well now I'm considering going.

"Aashu? You there?"

"Haan haan I'm here! Alright fine! Agar invitation aayega, then I'll come! Alright?" I said and she squealed.

"Accha I think someone is calling me, I'll call you later alright?" She said and hung up so fast.

Ok?

Third pov:

Shahneel happily dialed Aditi's contact to tell her that the plan worked!

"Hello? Di? Itni subah kyu phone kiya?" She said sleepily.

"Uth jao madam! Guess what happened?" Shahneel said making Aditi sit up in bed.

"What happened?" She said.

"I convinced Aashu to come to the wedding!" She shouted.

"What!! Omg that's amazing!! How do you do it?!" Aditi said.

"I have my ways darling!" Shahneel said feeling proud to be able to plan and execute such a huge plan.

"But we'll have to send her an invitation, that I'll have to discuss with Sara or Shubhi." Shahneel said.

"I know you'll do it!" Aditi said.

"I just hope....sab acche se ho jaye and in dono ko dubara apni feelings realise ho jayein! And Aashna Shubman ko dobara accept kar le!" Aditi said.

"This is our last chance! Agar esa nhi hua toh...Sara meri bhabhi.....NHIII!!" Shahneel shouted dramatically.

"Di! Think positively, Shubman kabhi Aashna ke saamne kisi aur ke saath phere nhi lega!" Aditi said.

"I know Aditi, there is a 97% chance of this plan going well but that 3% makes me rethink it all!" Shahneel said.

"Aap pareshan mat ho, there are so many of us supporting you! Main hu, Ishan he, Khushpreet he, and if someone else of our group comes to know, they'll support us too." Aditi said.

"I guess you're right, I'll call you later, bye!" They hung up.

Now they had to focus on the next step, getting an invitation to Aashna.

AUTHOR'S RANT: Hey guysss, how are you, my lovely people? So this is their plan! I hope you're able to understand the setting of the story.

What do you think about making Shub a little jealous? Rebellious enough!

Alright, no more spoilers.

Vote and comment on this chapter.❤❤❤.

See ya!!