The next day, as Aditi sat with the kids, talking about the games they'd played the day before, a mischievous thought crossed her mind. She leaned in, her voice playful as she looked at the group of children gathered around her.

"Alright, little ones," she began, glancing around to make sure the older boys weren't paying too much attention. "I have a confession to make."

The kids, especially the toddlers, all looked at her with wide, curious eyes. Aditi couldn't help but smile at their attention.

"I have a big crush," she said, winking as she lowered her voice to a whisper. "And it's on... Shubman Gill!"

The entire group of kids erupted into laughter. The older boys, who had heard the name a million times from the younger ones after every visit, exchanged sly glances. "You mean the Shubman Gill?" one of the boys asked with a grin. "The cricket star who comes here all the time?"

Aditi nodded, trying to keep a straight face, but it was impossible with the way the kids were giggling.

"He's so nice, you know?" she added, her voice turning soft and affectionate. "He helps out with all of you, and he's just... the sweetest."

One of the toddlers, a little girl who had been playing nearby, suddenly piped up in the most serious voice she could muster. "Auntie Aditi, he's cute! He's so nice!" she said, causing everyone to laugh even harder.

Aditi couldn't help but smile at how adorable they all were. "I know, right? He's cute and sweet. I think you all know that by now."

The teasing from the older boys didn't stop. One of them leaned in, with a cheeky grin, "Auntie Aditi's got a crush on Shubman Gill! Does that mean we're going to have a cricket match with him soon?"

The younger kids, especially the toddlers, were still giggling. One of them gave a little "ooooh" while another whispered loudly to a friend, "Auntie Aditi likes him! Auntie Aditi likes Shubman!"

Aditi was laughing so hard by now, she had to wipe a tear from her eye. She had never imagined that talking about her crush would turn into such a commotion. "Alright, alright," she said, trying to calm down the little giggles. "That's enough teasing. But I promise, when Shubman comes next time, we'll all hang out together, okay?"

The boys teased her a little more, but there was a warmth in the way they did it, as if they knew how much Shubman meant to her and how happy he made her. Even the toddlers seemed to understand, as they happily nodded along.

"Okay, Auntie Aditi," one of the boys said, pretending to be serious but with a grin, "we'll be on our best behavior when he comes next time. But just so you know..." He paused dramatically, "We all already know he's the nicest, coolest guy ever."

The toddlers giggled again, some even clapping their hands, while Aditi rolled her eyes, laughing along with them. "Alright, enough!" she said, chuckling. "We're going to have to focus on our games now, not on my secret crush."

But even as she said it, she couldn't stop smiling. The kids were so sweet, and their excitement about her having a crush just made everything feel a little more fun and lighthearted.

As she gathered them for the next activity, she caught one of the younger boys whispering to his friend, "Auntie Aditi's gonna marry Shubman Gill one day, I just know it!"

The whole group of kids burst into laughter once again. And Aditi? She couldn't help but blush and laugh along with them.

The next time Shubman arrived at the shelter, the energy was electric. The kids were all bustling around, excited to see him as always. He had become a familiar face to them, and they loved when he came by to help out. Aditi was busy organizing a game with the older boys when one of the toddlers, a sweet little boy with big brown eyes and chubby cheeks, toddled over to Shubman, looking up at him with innocent curiosity.

Shubman knelt down to his level, giving the toddler a smile that could melt anyone's heart. "Hey there, little guy," he said softly, ruffling his hair.

The toddler, as if knowing exactly what was about to happen, whispered loudly into Shubman's ear. "Didi has a crushie on you," he babbled in the sweetest, most innocent voice.

Shubman froze for a moment, blinking in surprise, before breaking into a grin. He glanced over at the older boys who were, as usual, nearby watching the exchange. They all grinned back, some giving him a knowing look, while one of them winked.

The toddler giggled, pleased with himself, and toddled off happily, completely unaware of the storm he had just unleashed. Shubman stood up, still amused, glancing over at Aditi who was focused on the kids and hadn't noticed what had just happened.

"Did she now?" Shubman asked, looking at the older boys with an eyebrow raised. They all nodded, some smirking, others just shaking their heads with playful grins.

"You didn't know?" one of the boys teased, clearly enjoying the moment.

Shubman laughed softly, his eyes still on Aditi. "I guess not," he said, his voice light. "But I'm glad she's got good taste."

The older boys chuckled, and one of them added, "She talks about you all the time. She's super nice to everyone, but when you're around, it's different. She gets all shy when you show up."

Shubman grinned, his amusement only growing. He couldn't help but feel touched by how sweet Aditi was with the kids. And hearing this from the boys only made him appreciate her more.

As he watched Aditi laughing and playing with the kids, he felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. He hadn't realized how special she made everything feel—how much her presence lit up the room, especially for the kids. It wasn't just her kindness; it was the way she genuinely cared, without expecting anything in return.

Shubman stood up, deciding not to make a big deal of it. He walked over to the group of kids, a soft smile on his face. Aditi glanced up at him and returned his smile, oblivious to the toddler's confession and the boys' teasing.

"Hey, Aditi," Shubman said casually, his tone easy. "What's going on here? Need any help?"

Aditi looked up, momentarily surprised but then relaxed, always happy to see him. "Oh, hey Shubman!" she said with a bright smile. "We're about to play some games with the kids. You're just in time."

"Perfect," he said, flashing her a grin. "I'm always up for some fun." He knelt down to one of the toddlers, offering his hand. "How about you, buddy? Ready for some fun?"

The toddler giggled, taking his hand eagerly, and Aditi watched them, her heart warming. Little did she know, the whole time the older boys were exchanging knowing glances, their smirks hidden behind their playful chatter.

Shubman, for his part, couldn't stop the quiet smile from tugging at his lips. He liked being around Aditi. There was something about her—something real—that made everything feel easy and genuine. He was beginning to look forward to these moments more and more.

Shubman picked Aditi up for their third date, a soft smile tugging at his lips the moment she opened the door. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, the kind that made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

"Hey," he said, his voice low and warm as his eyes swept over her. "You look... stunning."

Aditi blushed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks," she murmured. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

Shubman grinned, stepping closer. "Only for you."

The date was everything she could have hoped for—casual yet filled with moments that made her heart race. He had planned a little dinner at an open-air bistro, fairy lights twinkling above them as a soft breeze carried the scent of flowers through the air. They talked and laughed over shared plates, their conversation flowing effortlessly, as it always did.

Shubman was his usual touchy self, reaching across the table to hold her hand, brushing stray hair from her face, and leaning in just a little too close when he teased her. Aditi, who wasn't used to being on the receiving end of so much undivided attention, felt like she was floating.

"You're incredible, you know that?" he said at one point, his voice soft and sincere as he laced his fingers with hers.

Aditi smiled, her cheeks warm. "I'm not, but... thanks."

"You are," he insisted, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I mean, the way you light up a room, how you care about everyone around you. It's... amazing."

She didn't know how to respond to that, so she simply smiled, her heart doing little flips in her chest.

After dinner, he suggested a walk along the nearby waterfront. The city lights reflected off the rippling water, and the sound of gentle waves filled the air. As they strolled, his arm found its way around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"You cold?" he asked, looking down at her.

"A little," she admitted, leaning into him without hesitation.

Shubman smiled, wrapping his other arm around her too, holding her tightly against him. "Better?"

"Much," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

They stopped at a quiet spot overlooking the water, the world around them fading away. Aditi turned to look at him, her heart swelling as she took in the warmth in his eyes.

"You're so sweet," she said, her voice soft. "I don't know how you do it, but... you always make me feel like I'm the only person in the world."

"That's because, to me, you are," he said, his tone low and steady.

Before she could respond, he tilted her chin up gently with his fingers, his gaze locked on hers. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness, just an undeniable pull between them as he leaned in and kissed her.

It was soft and sweet at first, a tentative brush of lips that quickly deepened into something more. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer as her arms wrapped around his neck, both of them lost in the moment.

When they finally pulled back, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed and her heart racing.

"Wow," she whispered, unable to hide the smile spreading across her face.

Shubman chuckled, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice full of warmth. "Wow."

From that moment, there was no doubt—they were officially together, and both of them knew they had found something special.