Shubman was still peacefully asleep when Sara woke up, her head resting comfortably on his chest. She gazed at his serene face, tracing his features with her eyes, feeling a wave of affection wash over her.

Moments later, Shubman stirred, slowly waking up. He blinked a few times before looking down at her with a soft smile. "Good morning," he greeted, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Sara smiled back warmly, "Good morning."

As she sat up, Shubman stretched, the remnants of sleep leaving his body as he got up to freshen up. When he returned, Sara, still lounging on the bed, looked up at him with a cute pout. "I'm hungry," she declared, her voice playful and light.

Shubman chuckled at her expression, already thinking about what they could whip up together for breakfast. "Well, let's fix that, shall we?" he said, smiling at her with the same warmth that started their day.

Sara confidently walked into the kitchen, determined to cook a special breakfast for Shubman. "I'll handle it today!" she declared with a grin.

Shubman raised an eyebrow, amused but curious. "You sure you know how to cook?"

Sara nodded enthusiastically, "Of course! Just you wait and see."

Shubman leaned against the doorway, watching as Sara moved around the kitchen, grabbing ingredients and utensils. However, as time went on, things started to go awry. The pancake batter was too runny, the eggs were overcooked, and somehow flour ended up all over the counter—and in her hair. The kitchen was slowly turning into a disaster zone.

Shubman tried to keep a straight face, but the sight of Sara's usually pristine hair now dusted with flour, and the chaos unfolding around her, was too much. His eyes widened in surprise as she turned around to show him the burnt toast and lopsided pancakes.

When Sara saw his shocked expression, the stress of trying to impress him, coupled with her hormonal mood swings, overwhelmed her. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she started to cry, "I just wanted to make you something nice!"

Shubman immediately rushed over, pulling her into a comforting hug. "Hey, hey, it's okay!" he whispered, holding her close. "It's just breakfast, no big deal."

Sara sniffled, burying her face in his chest. "But I ruined everything. And I just feel... ugh, so emotional."

Shubman gently wiped away her tears. "You're amazing for even trying, and I love you for it," he said softly. "Let's clean this up together, and then I'll make us something simple, okay?"

Sara nodded, still sniffling but feeling better as he kissed her forehead. They worked side by side to tidy up the kitchen, Shubman making sure to keep her spirits up with little jokes and reassurances. Once everything was back in order, he quickly whipped up some eggs and toast, serving it with a playful smile.

As they sat down to eat, Sara couldn't help but laugh at how things had turned out. "Maybe I'll leave the cooking to you next time."

Shubman chuckled and leaned over to peck her on the lips. "Or we can just order in from now on," he teased, making her giggle as they enjoyed their simple breakfast together.

Sara wiped away her tears and was about to continue cooking when her phone rang. It was Tara, her close friend. Sara hesitated for a moment before picking up, still feeling the weight of her emotions from earlier.

"Hey, Tara," Sara answered, sounding cheerful.

"Sara! Let's have a girl's outing today. It's been ages since we had some fun together," Tara suggested excitedly.

Sara glanced over at Shubman, who was still cleaning up the mess she had made in the kitchen. He looked up and their eyes met, but there was an unusual tension in his gaze. Despite that, she couldn't help but think that maybe going out with Tara would lift her spirits.

"I think I can join you," Sara replied, trying to sounding enthusiastic.

Shubman's expression darkened. He had taken the day off, hoping to spend it with Sara, and now she was planning to go out. He turned away from her, his jaw clenched.

"Shub," Sara began, sensing his frustration.

He didn't respond, just continued to clean up the kitchen in silence. Finally, after a few moments, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "Do whatever you want to do, Sara," he said coldly, his back still turned to her.

Sara felt a pang in her chest. "Shub, I—"

He cut her off, "I'll be out for a while," he said, leaving the kitchen abruptly.

Sara stood there, stunned and hurt by his reaction. She knew he was upset, but she hadn't expected this. She debated whether to go out with Tara or try to make things right with Shubman. The kitchen was now quiet, but the tension lingered in the air, leaving Sara feeling torn and unsure of what to do next.

Sara searched the house for Shubman, calling his name softly, but there was no response. She checked every room, even the balcony, but he was nowhere to be found. Frustration and worry gnawed at her, but just then, the doorbell rang. She hurried to open it, and there stood Tara, smiling brightly.

"Ready for our outing?" Tara asked, oblivious to the turmoil in Sara's mind.

Sara forced a smile. "Yeah, let's go."

As they made their way to the mall, Sara tried to focus on Tara's chatter, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Shubman. She felt guilty for agreeing to go out when he had the day off and wanted to spend time with her. She wondered where he had gone and if he was still upset.

At the mall, Tara pulled Sara into various stores, trying on clothes and chatting about the latest trends. Sara went through the motions, nodding and smiling at the right moments, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept checking her phone, hoping for a message from Shubman, but there was nothing. Tara, still unaware of the situation, didn't notice Sara's distraction.

They sat down for a coffee, and Tara finally noticed something was off. "Sara, are you okay? You seem a bit distant."

Sara hesitated for a moment but then shook her head. "I'm fine, just a little tired."

Tara nodded sympathetically. "Well, after this coffee, we can head back. You can get some rest."

Sara smiled weakly, grateful for the offer. As much as she appreciated Tara's company, she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to find Shubman and make things right.

After their outing, Sara returned home, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Shubman. She entered the house, hoping to find him. The place was quiet, and she could feel the heaviness of the earlier argument lingering in the air.

She called out softly, "Shub?"

There was no response. She walked through the house, her heart sinking with each empty room she checked. Finally, she heard a noise coming from the backyard. She stepped outside and saw Shubman sitting on a bench, staring at the garden. He looked up as she approached, his face a mix of frustration and sadness.

"Shub," Sara said softly, sitting beside him. "Can we talk?"

Shubman looked at her, his eyes softening. "I'm sorry, Sara. I didn't mean to ignore you. I was just... hurt and frustrated."

Sara took his hand in hers. "I know. I should have been more considerate. I was so caught up with everything that I didn't realize how much I was hurting you."

Shubman sighed, squeezing her hand. "It's not just about the cooking or the day off. It's about us. I feel like we're not communicating properly, and it worries me."

Sara nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I've been so overwhelmed with everything lately. My period, the mess in the kitchen, and then Tara calling for the outing. I didn't mean to push you away."

Shubman pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "I just want us to be okay. I want us to communicate and be there for each other."

Sara hugged him tightly, her tears mingling with his shirt. "I'm sorry for everything. I promise I'll try to be more understanding."

Shubman gently pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Let's work on this together. We need to be a team, especially when things get tough."

Sara nodded, wiping her tears. "Absolutely. I love you, and I want to make this work."

They shared a tender kiss, their earlier tension melting away. As they walked back inside, hand in hand, the atmosphere between them felt lighter, their bond strengthened by the honest conversation and mutual understanding.

They spent the rest of the evening talking and reconnecting, their laughter and warmth filling the house once more. The issues that had seemed so significant earlier were now just small bumps in the road, easily overcome by their commitment to each other.