Aditi's POV

Ugh! I hate Shubman.

That good for nothing playboy! I hate you!

I continued to rant and curse Shubman (and Maybe Paul) while packing up the equipment. 

I was stuck in a two-hour shoot, with the ICT.

Which unfortunately included Shubman. You're probably wondering, Hey Aditi! Shubman apologized. But my dear readers, Am I a two-year-old or 21 years old? I do not accept stupid apologies, specifically not from a former best friend and a current traitor.

"Aditi! Breakfast." Deepika called out, Yes I called her Deepika inside my head. It feels weird to call someone else mom to me.

"Coming!" I hollered back and started to go down the stairs. I came down as slow as I could. Which was at the pace of a tortoise. My step little sister, Jenny, rolled her eyes at me.

"Guess what!" Jenny grinned and addressed the whole family. Paul hummed a response to her.

"I got selected for the tour of the ICT!" Jenny shrieked her British accent showing. She sounded like a character from one of the Harry Potter movies. Akanksha spat a spoonful of cereal out. I saw Paul choke on his coffee.

"What?" Jenny cringed looking at the reaction.

"Nothing." Paul and Akanksha quickly spoke.

"Anyways, I entered this essay contest-" Jenny brushed the shock aside and started to talk.

"You? An essay contest?" I asked with disbelief. 

"Yes, so?" Jenny prompted me.

"Nothing." I parroted the earlier reply Paul and Akanksha had said.

"Well, as I was saying." She paused to glare at me, Paul and Akanksha. "I got second place in the contest."

"And the reward was a tour with the ICT. I get to hang out with them for a day!" Jenny squealed happily. I swear that it sounded like a happy pig. And, I don't hate her. Paul choked on air this time.

A brilliant family I have.

I finished off my toast and grabbed my camera bag.

"Asha, you coming?" I asked while checking if I had my favorite lense. 

"Yep, I'll just grab a quick coffee and meet you there." Akanksha stood up and took her plate to the sink.

"Girls, remember quality-" Paul started when he noticed that we were going to work.

"Quality over Quantity." I and Akanksha chanted the London Times logo. Paul turned away and unsuccessfully tried to hide a smile.

"Where are you going?" Jenny's voice held suspension.

"Work." I gave her a blank reply. Jenny frowned unsatisfied with my reply.

"Where are you going to work?" Jenny tried again to get the information out of me.

"You know, there's this proverb in India. You can't ask where the person is going to be rude." I fiddled with my microfiber cloth. Jenny let out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh come on! It's not like you're some secret service agent." Jenny whined and clutched the handle of my camera bag. I patted her on the head and walked out of the house. Outside I could see a group of boys playing basketball. They all went to Jenny's college.

And I hated them.

Yes, I hate a lot of people, deal with it. The oldest was James. Who was an absolute flirt and playboy. Odd how all the people I hate are playboys isn't it?

"Hey, babe." James threw the basketball to one of his many cronies and greeted me.

"Buzz off." I wasn't in the mood for this, I sidestepped and continued on my way.

"Oh? Having a bad day sweetheart?" James sped up to keep up with my pace.

That Son of a building block! Can't he take a hint? Or cram some knowledge into that tiny little brain of his?

"Yes, because I had to see your face." I shot at him and gritted my teeth.

"Oh come on Aditi! I'm the perfect match for you." James threw his hands in the air.  My name sounded like the word Oddity with that accent of his.

"You're the perfect match for me, my foot! I'll go on a date with you when the Sahara Desert floods." I called out behind my shoulder as I picked up the pace. For a few blocks, the place was blissfully silent. 

Ah, peace.

And that jinxed me, the sound of a bicycle bell came. I looked up from my phone and saw Andrew. Andrew's glasses bounced on the rim and his acne was enough to make me cringe.

"Hey...Hey Aditi." He got off, well more like tumbled, his bike. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at me. He was a good two inches shorter than me.

"Hello, Andrew." I faked a smile and took a step to the side to continue walking. 

"Where are you going?" Andrew asked in a high-pitch offended voice.

Exactly one of the many reasons why I hate boys.

"Work," I repeated the same blank reply I'd told Jenny. I heard footsteps pounding behind me, I turned around and saw James running up to me.

Oh, my luck!

Just then I heard a honk, I turned in the direction of the sound and saw a car slowing down.

"Good morning Aditi." Shubman's voice greeted me.

That's it, I hate life! First, James. Then Mark, and now Shubman!

"Good morning Shubman." I gritted my teeth. There was no response from the car.

"You want some help?" A British accented voice asked from inside the car.

"Who is that?" I frowned and peered into the car. The car's window rolled down to reveal Joe Root. 

"Helle Mr.Root." I smiled.

"Ah, just call me Joe." Joe Root waved away the formal term.

"And hop in, you look like you're in a pickle." He gestured to the two boys who were closing in fast.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed and got into the car quicker than a heartbeat. Someone took the camera bag from me, I mumbled a quick thanks and put on a seat belt. The person next to me was Shubman.

"Look, you don't know what happened that night-" Shubman sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"And I don't want to know Shubman." I sighed, how many times did he need to be rejected before he gave up!

"I'm perfectly happy with my life and don't need you messing it up again." I hissed at him, Hurt flashed in his eyes.

"That's a bit harsh," Joe mumbled and continued to drive.

"It wouldn't be if you knew what happened," I grumbled and looked out the window. The rest of the drive had gone by in silence. We pulled up at a stadium and Shubman was eager to get out. I clicked open the car door and the cold frosted air was absolute hell. Joe held me back and waited till Shubman was out of earshot.

"He's a good lad, he really means what he said. He feels bad." Joe spoke to me in a hushed tone.

"I know." I shrugged off Joe's concern easily. Joe raised an eyebrow and motioned for me to elaborate.

"I know that he feels bad, I'm not letting him get off the hook that easily. He changed and so did I." I added the last part softly.

"So this is just vengeance?" Joe frowned looking mildly confused.

"Sort of, I just need my own space and time" I sighed and tightened the grip around my camera bag. 

"Women." Joe scoffed under his breath quietly, unknowing that I'd heard that.

"Look, that poor chap feels so bad! He means well. Just try talking to him would you?" Joe looked at me in the eye and left, jogging toward England's practice area.

Maybe, just maybe Shubman changed?

*****

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~𝓡𝓲𝓪