Over the past month, Shubman had retreated into himself, becoming noticeably quiet and withdrawn. The announcement from Sara's office, declaring her dead, had left a dark cloud hanging over his life, but he refused to believe it. At practices, his focus was razor-sharp, but his usual charisma and laughter were missing. During post-match interviews, he responded to questions with the bare minimum, his smile conspicuously absent. Despite the emotional turmoil, his on-field performance remained unaffected, showcasing his resilience.

One evening, as Shubman was in the kitchen preparing a simple dinner for himself, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. He set aside the kitchen towel, walked to the door, and opened it. Standing before him was Sara, her face ashen and her eyes weary. She looked like a shadow of her former self, but to Shubman, she was a sight for sore eyes.

"Shub..." she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible.

Before he could respond, Sara's eyes fluttered closed, and she collapsed. Shubman's instincts kicked in as he quickly caught her, cradling her gently in his arms. His heart raced with a mix of relief and concern as he carried her inside and laid her on the couch. He immediately checked her pulse and breathed a sigh of relief to find it steady, though faint.

"Sara, it's going to be okay," he murmured, brushing her hair from her face as he reached for his phone to call for help.

Shubman's heart was still pounding as he sat by Sara's side, waiting for her to regain consciousness. He couldn't shake the eerie feeling that had settled over him, as if something more was about to happen. The night was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the house and the distant hum of traffic outside.

Just then, a loud knock on the door shattered the silence. Shubman tensed, his instincts telling him something was off. He rose slowly, glancing back at Sara to ensure she was still there, then approached the door.

When he opened it, Aryan Khan stood there, his expression dark and menacing. Shubman recognized him instantly as the man Sara had told him about, the one who had been stalking her for years.

"Give her back to me," Aryan demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Shubman's jaw clenched as he stood his ground. "She's not yours to take," he replied firmly, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear creeping into his veins.

Aryan's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't understand, she belongs to me! I've waited years for this moment," he hissed, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a gun.

Shubman's eyes widened, and his heart raced. He quickly stepped back, putting himself between Aryan and the door to the living room where Sara lay. He knew he had to protect her at all costs.

"Don't do this, Aryan," Shubman warned, his voice calm but firm. "This isn't going to end well for you."

Aryan sneered, raising the gun and aiming it at Shubman. "I'm not leaving without her," he said coldly, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Before Aryan could pull the trigger, the sound of sirens filled the air. Blue and red lights flashed through the windows as police cars surrounded the house. Shubman's security team had been on high alert since Sara's disappearance, and they had immediately alerted the authorities when Aryan showed up.

The police quickly stormed the house, guns drawn, and ordered Aryan to drop his weapon. Caught off guard and outnumbered, Aryan had no choice but to comply. He slowly lowered the gun, his face twisted in frustration and defeat.

As the police cuffed Aryan and led him away, Shubman breathed a sigh of relief. The tension in his body slowly eased as he watched Aryan being taken into custody. The officers assured Shubman that they would make sure Aryan faced justice for his actions.

With the immediate danger over, Shubman returned to Sara's side. He gently took her hand in his, his heart aching at the sight of her pale face.

"You're safe now, Sara," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of relief and love. "I'm here, and I'll always protect you."

As the police escorted Aryan away, a sense of calm began to settle in the house. Shubman, however, was still on edge, his mind racing with the events that had just unfolded. He knew he needed to get Sara the help she needed.

He immediately called his family doctor, who promised to arrive as soon as possible. Within minutes, the doctor was at the door, carrying his medical bag and a look of concern on his face. Shubman led him to where Sara was resting, still unconscious on the couch.

The doctor carefully examined Sara, checking her vitals and looking for any signs of injury or distress. After a thorough examination, he turned to Shubman, who was anxiously waiting for an update.

"She's dehydrated and exhausted, but she'll be okay," the doctor reassured him. "She needs rest and fluids. I've given her a sedative to help her sleep through the night."

Shubman breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you, doctor," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. He watched as the doctor left, then turned his attention back to Sara. He gently lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom, tucking her into bed.

As the night wore on, Shubman found himself unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sara's pale face and the haunted look in her eyes. His mind was plagued with thoughts of what could have happened, of how close he had come to losing her.

Finally, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted off into a restless sleep. But his dreams were far from peaceful. He found himself back in the moment when Aryan had aimed the gun at him, the cold metal barrel pointed directly at his chest. He felt the fear and helplessness wash over him, unable to protect Sara as Aryan's menacing laughter filled his ears.

Shubman jerked awake, his heart pounding and his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. He sat up in bed, his body trembling with the intensity of the nightmare. He ran a hand over his face, trying to shake off the lingering fear.

Sara, who had been lightly dozing, immediately sensed his distress. She turned to him, her eyes filled with concern. "Shub, what's wrong?" she asked softly, reaching out to touch his arm.

Shubman looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and pain. He couldn't hold it in any longer. "I thought I lost you, Sara," he said, his voice breaking as tears began to well up in his eyes. "These past months have been a living nightmare. I've been so lost without you, so afraid that I'd never see you again."

Sara's heart ached as she listened to him pour out his feelings. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace. "I'm here now, Shub. I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice soothing.

Shubman's tears flowed freely as he finally let go of the pain and fear he had been holding inside. "I was so scared, Sara," he admitted, his voice trembling. "Every day, I hoped and prayed that you were alive, that you'd come back to me. I couldn't stand the thought of losing you."

Sara held him tighter, her own eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry, Shubman," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I never meant to put you through that. I love you so much."

Shubman leaned into her embrace, finding comfort in her presence. He let out a shaky breath, feeling a sense of relief and peace wash over him. "I love you too, Sara," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. "More than anything."

As they sat together in the quiet of the night, Shubman felt the weight of his fears and worries slowly lift. With Sara by his side, he knew that he could face anything. Together, they were stronger, and he was determined to never let anything come between them again.

The next morning, Shubman woke up early, determined to do something special for Sara after the ordeal she had been through. As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, he quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. He headed to the kitchen, where he began to prepare a breakfast fit for a queen.

Shubman moved with quiet efficiency, cracking eggs into a bowl and whisking them into a fluffy mixture. He diced tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers with practiced ease, adding them to the eggs along with a sprinkle of cheese. As he poured the mixture into a hot skillet, the aroma of cooking eggs filled the kitchen, mingling with the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

While the omelet sizzled on the stove, Shubman set the table with care. He laid out plates, silverware, and glasses, adding a small vase of flowers to the center for a touch of color. He cut up fresh fruit, arranging slices of melon, strawberries, and bananas on a platter.

Just as Shubman was putting the finishing touches on the table, he heard a soft rustling from the bedroom. Sara appeared in the doorway, looking sleepy but refreshed. She smiled at the sight of him bustling around the kitchen. "Good morning, Shub," she greeted him, her voice warm and affectionate.

Shubman turned to her with a smile. "Good morning, Sara. I hope you're hungry," he said, gesturing to the breakfast spread. "I made your favorite omelet."

Sara's eyes lit up as she took in the feast before her. "This looks amazing, Shubman!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. She walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

Shubman grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction at her reaction. "I'm glad you like it. Let's eat before it gets cold," he said, leading her to the table.

As they sat down to enjoy their meal, Sara couldn't help but snap a picture of the beautiful breakfast spread. The colorful fruits, the perfectly cooked omelet, and the coffee steaming in their cups made for a picturesque scene. She quickly posted the photo on her Instagram, captioning it.

Starting the day with a perfect breakfast. #BlessedMorning #Grateful.

Comments
hardikpandya93: Looks like someone's being treated like royalty! 👑 Who's the lucky chef, Sara? 😏
                                       ↪saratendulkar: Myself!😉😉
rashid.khan19: Wow, such a fancy breakfast! I wonder who's behind this five-star service. 😉
                                ↪saratendulkar: Myself, who else🤔🤔
sais.1509: Breakfast of champions! But seriously, who's the mastermind behind this? Spill the tea, Sara! 🥘☕️
                       ↪saratendulkar: I myself made it. Who else🤔🤔
ishankishan23: That omelet looks as good as Shubman's cover drives. Coincidence? I think not! 😜
                                ↪saratendulkar: How can food look like cover drives??😶😶
jaspritb1: The breakfast looks amazing! Is the chef accepting orders? Asking for a friend... 🍳😂
                     ↪saratendulkar: Why isn't Sanjana bhabhi cooking breakfast for you??🤔🤔
rohitsharma45: Looks like someone has found a good teammate off the field! 😉 Nice breakfast spread!
                                  ↪saratendulkar: Its just regular omelet🍳🍳

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Within minutes, the post was flooded with likes and comments from her followers, all of whom were curious about who had made such a beautiful breakfast. Shubman glanced at the photo on her phone and smiled. He was happy to see Sara smiling and enjoying herself again.

As they ate, Sara looked at Shubman, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you for this, Shub. You always know how to make me feel better," she said, her voice filled with affection.

Shubman reached across the table and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I just want to make sure you're happy, Sara," he replied, his voice sincere. "You mean everything to me."

They finished their breakfast, talking and laughing together, enjoying each other's company. In that moment, all the worries and fears of the past month seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment. They both knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, stronger and more united than ever.