Shubman's POV

I kicked the football across the cricket stadium. Washy groaned. He was on ball fetching duty once more.

"You alright man?" Shreyas jogged up to me, Washy muttering colorful Tamil words about me left to get the ball.

"Fine," I grunted and waited for Washy to bring the ball back.

"Either you're not. Or you really enjoy torturing Washy with ball duty." Ro bhaiya laughed, The captain spot was empty. Virat had left.

The team was losing in the test series.

But we hadn't lost hope. We were going to try to lose with dignity. To make it better! We're going to be one of the many teams that will lose in the Gabba. But we had some hope.

Yes, we didn't have Virat, Shami, Bumrah, or Ash.

But we had hoped.

The match was tomorrow.

It had been a day since I found out about Aditi. I couldn't believe it at first. Aditi wasn't that type of person, my brain argued again. I shoved it aside and kicked the ball once more.

"Eruma! Nee ya poy ball edithko! (Cow! You go get the ball!)" Washy threw his hands in the air with irritation and stalked off to the locker room. A flicker of a smile played on my facial features.

"First time I'm seeing you smile since yesterday." Jinks tapped my back. I grunted and looked away.

"Aditi isn't that type of girl." Ro sighed and enjoined the conversation.

"I thought so too." I dug a hole into the ground with my foot.

"Talk to her." Jinks shook his head.

"I can't-" I groaned, Ro, motioned for me to elaborate.

"I just can't." I stood up and left for the locker room. Inside I saw Aditi. I hid behind a wall the moment I spotted her.

"Why's your cheek red?" Washy's voice spoke.

"Nothing." Her voice was gravelly and hoarse.

It's red because of me.

I slapped her...

"Are you really leaving?" Washy sighed and asked her.

Leaving?

Good. Let her leave.

"Yeah, I'm here for the test then that's it." She imitated the noise a plane makes. My heart yelled at me for not talking to her or asking her why she did it. But my brain told me what I did was right.

I left the locker room using another exit. I ran a hand through my hair. Why do I feel so... depressed?

My phone buzzed once more. It was an Unknown number, I frowned but picked it up.

"Is this Shubman Gill?" A male voice spoke in a quiet tone.

"Yeah...?" I answer as though it was a question.

"It's Akash." The male voice continued speaking in a hushed tone. I was about to cut the call when Akash cried out.

"Don't cut the call!" He pleaded.

"Look. The image you got was photo-shopped." Akash continued in the same urgent tone. I paused and looked around. No-one was around.

"Alright continue." I plugged in some headphones.

"Harry pulled Aditi aside and warned her to break-up with you." There was relief that I hadn't cut the call in Akash's tone.

"Harry threatened Aditi." There was a whole lot of resentment in his voice for Harry.

"So what your telling me is... Aditi didn't-" I took a deep breath.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath.

"Shubman! Pad up!" Jinks called out for me.

"Look. Try to convince Aditi to stay. I need to talk to her." I told Akash. Before Akash could say anything, I cut the call.

"Coming Bhai!" I replied to Ajju Bhaiya and ran off to get padded. I saw Paine grinning a bit too much.

He's got something up his sleeve.

"Heard your girlfriend cheated on ya." Tim snickered happily. I gritted my teeth.

Who told this baboon?

"Is she a good-looking one? Might like to borrow her myself." Paine added casually.

"You don't mind do you?" He asked me innocently. Smith chuckled at my expense.

"Keep Calm." Ro's voice carried a message to me, and a warning to the two Aussies. I gripped my bat.

"I suggest you keep your nose in your own business. Besides, I doubt Aditi likes snobs." I shrugged off his sledging.

"Be careful mate, Indians literally thrive off sledging." Warner called out to Paine.

"Anyone got any Paine killers?" I turned to Smith and asked him to keep the same tone Paine had. The Aussie team went silent, Ro chuckled. I smashed Lyon as hard as I could after Ro got out. I saw Aditi out of the corner of my eye. I tried to catch her attention but she deliberately looked anywhere but me. Washy ran up to me with a bottle of water.

"Thanks." I sighed and gulped the water down my parched throat. I was at 89. I caught Aditi intently watching me. She turned slightly red and turned around. She fiddled with her camera lens.

"I need a chance to talk to her," I muttered under my breath.

"Her flight is in a few hours." Washy nudged me, I nodded thanks for the time check. I got back to the crease, Puj just really wanted to take a dig at Paine.

"So Tim, what were you saying to Shubman earlier?" Pujara asked him innocently. I smirked. Tim looked everywhere but at me and Puj. His teammates didn't offer any assistance. The next ball was a single. I noticed Aditi packing her things up and checking her phone.

What!

I thought her flight was in a few hours!

I could see Washy trying to delay her but it was too late. She was already out the door. Lyon bowled toward me, I deliberately made the ball fall short. Smith caught it. While they were celebrating so was I. I would have killed Smith if he missed the catch. I rushed off toward the locker room. Jinks smiled knowingly that I did it on purpose. I chucked off the leg pads and threw my gloves while still running into the locker room. I leaped over my fallen helmet.

"Come on!" I hissed and struggled to remove my shirt. I changed into casual clothes and bolted for the exit.

Aditi placed her luggage onto the trunk of the car. She took a long sad look at me before leaving.

Shit!

I sprinted out and grabbed my motorbike. I followed the car to the airport. Paine rushed out toward me.

"What!" I practically screamed at him.

"Take a left at Brisbane street. It's a faster route to the airport." He smacked my head and left.

If this is true, I will personally thank him.

Aditi's cab passed the signal but I was stuck there. It gave her a good two-minute lead. I took the left at the street Tim told me. I knew that there was going to be a traffic jam. It took me a good ten minutes to get through. I didn't bother parking the bike. I threw off my helmet and ran toward the airport.

I saw the flight Australian Airways take off into the air.

My heart sank.

That was Aditi's flight.

Just like she did in England, like a butterfly she left me once more.