Later that evening, after they'd all settled into their rooms and explored the beautiful resort, the group decided to head out for dinner at a local beachfront restaurant. The atmosphere was lively, with the sound of waves crashing nearby and soft music playing in the background.

As they walked through the restaurant's outdoor seating area, a voice called out, "Shubman? Is that you?"

Shubman turned, surprised to see a familiar face. It was Priya, an old friend from his hometown, someone he hadn't seen in years. She had a big smile on her face, clearly excited to run into him.

"Priya!" Shubman greeted her warmly, walking over to give her a quick hug. "Wow, it's been ages! What are you doing here?"

"I could say the same to you!" Priya laughed. "I'm here with some friends for a vacation. I can't believe I bumped into you of all people."

Sara watched from a few feet away, her smile fading slightly as she saw the familiarity between Shubman and Priya. She walked up to stand next to Shubman, and though she didn't say anything, Shubman noticed the slight change in her expression.

"Oh, and this is Sara," Shubman introduced her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Sara, this is Priya, an old friend from school."

Sara forced a polite smile. "Hi, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Priya said, still beaming. She and Shubman chatted for a few more minutes, catching up on old times, while Sara stood quietly by his side, feeling a little out of place.

After saying their goodbyes, Shubman and Sara walked back to their table. The group had already started eating, oblivious to the small interaction.

As soon as they were seated, Sara remained unusually quiet, playing with her food rather than engaging in the conversation around her.

Shubman noticed her silence and leaned in to ask, "You okay?"

Sara glanced at him briefly, then looked away. "Yeah, I'm fine."

But the tone of her voice said otherwise. Shubman raised an eyebrow but didn't press her further during dinner.

Later, when they returned to their room after a long evening, Sara's mood hadn't lifted. She walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, arms crossed, staring out at the window. Shubman, sensing something was off, decided to finally address it.

"Alright, what's going on?" he asked, sitting down next to her. "You've been quiet since dinner."

Sara pouted, her lips forming a small frown as she turned to him. "Why don't you go hang out with Priya instead of me? Seems like you two have a lot to catch up on."

Shubman blinked, caught off guard by her response. "Wait, is this about Priya?"

Sara huffed, crossing her arms tighter. "You seemed so happy to see her. I mean, I didn't even know she existed until tonight. You two were all smiles and catching up while I was just... standing there."

Shubman couldn't help but chuckle softly, which only made Sara pout more.

"Don't laugh," she said, turning away from him. "I'm serious."

Shubman moved closer, gently grabbing her hand. "Sara, come on. Priya's just an old friend. I haven't seen her in years, and it was nice to catch up for a few minutes, but that's it."

Sara glanced at him, her frown still in place but softening slightly. "I don't know... You looked really happy. Maybe you should've gone with her instead."

Shubman raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her jealousy. "Really? You want me to go hang out with Priya?"

Sara nodded, her pout deepening. "Yes. You two looked like you were having a great time."

Shubman sighed dramatically, pulling Sara closer. "Well, if I have to choose between hanging out with an old friend and spending the night with my beautiful, amazing girlfriend, I think I'll pick... you."

Sara's pout finally gave way to a small smile, though she tried to hide it. "You're just saying that."

"No, I'm serious," Shubman said, tilting her chin up so she'd look at him. "You're the one I want to be with, Sara. Priya's just a memory from the past. You're my present and future."

Sara's smile widened, though she still tried to maintain her act. "Hmm, okay... but next time, don't make me feel like a third wheel."

Shubman chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Deal."

Sara finally relaxed, leaning into his embrace. "Okay, I guess I'll forgive you."

"Thank you," Shubman teased, holding her tightly. "But I've got to admit, your jealous side is kind of cute."

Sara playfully hit his chest. "Shut up."

They both laughed, the tension between them fading away as they snuggled closer, the night turning into one of warmth and affection.

Later that evening, after their playful banter had settled down and they were relaxing in their hotel room, Shubman received a sudden message. He sighed, looking at his phone with a hint of frustration.

"What happened?" Sara asked, noticing his expression.

Shubman looked at her apologetically. "I have to attend an impromptu meeting. Something came up with the team management. It won't take long."

Sara frowned, clearly not thrilled about the idea of him working while they were supposed to be on vacation. "A meeting? Now?"

"Yeah, it's important," Shubman said, grabbing his laptop and setting it up on the small table in their room. "I promise, it'll be quick."

Sara watched him for a moment, her lips pursed as he started logging into the call. She didn't like it when their alone time was interrupted, especially by something work-related. But instead of complaining, she quietly walked over to him, a mischievous smile forming on her face.

Shubman, engrossed in setting up his meeting, barely noticed Sara as she came closer. She stood next to him, and without a word, she gently took his hand in hers, absentmindedly playing with his fingers.

Shubman gave her a sideways glance, trying to focus on the screen while feeling her soft touch on his hand. He smiled slightly, but his attention was quickly pulled into the meeting as his manager and teammates appeared on the call.

As the discussion began, Sara decided to take things a step further. She moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind, her chin resting gently on his head. Shubman, caught between the serious tones of the meeting and Sara's playful antics, tried to stay focused.

Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, Sara made her move. She slowly slipped onto his lap, settling herself comfortably as if she belonged there. Shubman, wide-eyed for a moment, gave her a look that said, *Really? Right now?*

Sara smirked, pretending to be innocent as she continued playing with his hand. Her fingers traced circles on his palm, intertwining with his every now and then, making it impossible for Shubman to ignore her.

Shubman tried his best to stay composed, nodding at the points being discussed on the call while Sara kept shifting on his lap, clearly trying to get his attention. She even leaned into his ear, whispering, "Do I need to remind you that you're on vacation?"

Shubman bit his lip, trying to suppress a chuckle. "Sara, I'm in a meeting," he whispered back, his voice low and amused, though he didn't push her off.

Sara giggled softly, still playing with his hand, her fingers brushing lightly over his as the meeting dragged on. She rested her head against his shoulder, her presence both comforting and distracting at the same time. Shubman, though he tried to maintain his professionalism, couldn't help but feel his attention drifting more towards her than the discussion happening on the screen.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting wrapped up. Shubman quickly ended the call, sighing in relief as he shut the laptop.

"You're impossible, you know that?" Shubman said, wrapping his arms around Sara's waist, pulling her closer on his lap.

"I was just making sure you didn't forget I'm here," Sara teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"How could I forget?" Shubman chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "You made it pretty hard to focus."

Sara grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Good. You've been focused on work long enough. Now you can focus on me."

Shubman laughed, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I'm all yours now."

Sara smiled, satisfied, as she nestled into his chest, the earlier tension between them completely gone. They stayed like that for a while, content in each other's arms, with nothing but the sound of the waves outside their window filling the room.

                                                         ***********