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Early in the morning, Aditi got ready in her gym outfit. A simple light blue tee and black yoga pants. She had too many days off, she was a gym freak back in London.

She took her phone off the charger and sat on her bed. She messaged Hardik, "Gym chale?" He told her to let him sleep as he has field practice. She tried her luck and messaged Shubman.

SHUBMAN

You up?

Ha. Kya hua?

Gym chalega?

Like, on a date?

Haha, whatever you say!
Come to the third floor gym.

Ji, ma'am.

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Aditi arrived at the gym and found Shubman doing planks. She looked around and spotted Virat with the weights. Her face turned to a scrawl as she went inside. "Good morning, Adi."

"Good morning, Chiku bhaiya." She gave him a tight lipped smile. Shubman looked up at her. "Hi Shubman. Didn't expect you to be here." She wore her AirPods and played Taylor Swift. She started with basic warm up then went for the leg press.

Occasionally, Shubman and her exchanged looks. He was now lifting weights, making his back muscles stretch out. Aditi felt heat rising her cheeks, not from the work out. "Baby, let the game begin..." she whispered to herself as Ready for it... played in her ears.

She went to the where the assisted pull up was, currently occupied by Virat. Strangely, there were no one else then the three. She pulled him down and said. "Go do something else." She sounded meaner then she intended to.

"Pata nahi kya ho gaya isko." Virat whispered. He shook his head and went to collect his stuff.

Aditi did 7 pull ups in a set. She was right in front of Shubman. He gulped and kept his weights down. When Virat left and he went to her and pulled her down by holding her waist. She turned arm and looked at him. Shubman's heavy hot breath fanning over her mouth.

He pulled her by her waist and took her AirPods out. He kept them on the bleacher nearby. Aditi was pushed against the pole of the equipment. Her body was pressed against his.

Suddenly the door opened, they broke apart and at a safe distance. Aditi picked her AirPods up and looked at the door. Virat was back to take his jacket that he forgot. "Shub, be ready for the regular practice by 10." He informed and left.

Aditi exhaled and turned back. "Enough for the day, don't you think?" She said and approached the door.

"Din to abhi shuru hi hua hai." He spoke in her ear. His chest touched her back for fraction of seconds before she elbowed him in the gut and left.

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While Aditi took a shower, her mind occupied with all the filthy thoughts she could have about Shubman. She blow dried and styled her bushy black hair. Since it was cold she wore a beige cashmere sweater and brown pants.

Natasa came to her, "you ready?" She nodded and picked her purse and phone. "Let's have breakfast together."

They went down to see Hardik and Agastya sitting together with their food. Aditi kept her things there and got herself a cheese omelette, cappuccino and a chicken Caesar salad.

"Thoda time, bhaiya bhabhi ke sath bhi reh lo." Hardik taunted. She looked down at her food, half hearted. She didn't realize, she got so busy with her new friends that she forgot about her family. She took small bites of her food. Hardik kissed her cheek and pulled at it. "Are yaar. Tu kitna serious ho jati hai choti bato pe." He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.

"Sorry." She muttered slowly, her voice cracking as she held back tears. She felt so left out from her family in London, and now that she's here, she didn't gave them her time.

"Ayy," Natasa said. She stood up and hugged Aditi from behind, while she was still seated. "Come on, now. We know how your brother is. He needs constant attention. He's just a crybaby for it." She went back to her seat.

"We can do one thing. Let's have breakfast together." Aditi nodded at Natasa's suggestion.

They looked at Hardik who rolled his eyes at them. They continued their breakfast, with Hardik cracking lame jokes and agastya messing with his fruits. At last, Aditi had to eat his left overs. "Aaj ke kya plans hai?" Hardik asked. She shrugged casually. She couldn't tell him that she has a date with Shubman. Her first date with him.

Natasa offered her to join the WAGs. "I'll ask Shahneel di, can't leave her alone." She nodded. She looked at her watch, it was 9:45.

"I'll get going." Hardik kissed the three on their cheek. He went along with his teammates for the practice. Natasa and Agastya left with Ritika and Anushka.

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'Get ready by 7, I'm taking you out.'
She had read this message for the hundredth time. She looked at the time, 5:30 it said. She jumped up and started to get ready. She had been to dates before, but this time she was a mess. She screamed in her pillow, then calmed herself.

Considering it was a cold evening, she put on a black knee length dress, leather boots and a olive trench coat. She styled and straightened her hair, wore minimal jewelries, and put on a bit of perfume.

Aditi was in the elevator when Shubman called her, "Ready ho gai, Madam? Neeche parking area mai aa ja."

She chuckled and replied. "Ha, aati hu." She hung up and texted her sister in law that she's going out,. Shahneel being busy with some office work, became the reason why she's going alone. That's what she said to everyone. She saw Shubman leaned against the car, waiting for her. She went to him and they shared a hug.

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"So Mr. Gill, where are you taking me to?" She asked as they drove across the city. She looked at him, looking on the road.

"Itna anticipation!" He laughed. They went silent for a moment before he spoke. "Aditi, I am really bad at this, you know. I have this thing on my mind since yesterday. And this is probably not a good idea to ask someone to be in a relationship before the first date."

He parked the car outside a fine dine. "Umm... Aditi." He called nervously. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

He looked at her with hope in his eyes. It didn't take her a second to hug him tightly. "Only if you be my boyfriend." They got out of the car. "This escalated so quickly. You know I was kind of expecting this. Since yesterday."

They sat on the reserved private cabin. They ordered their food and drinks. "Shubman," Aditi shook his hand. "I want to keep it private. Because If my brother gets to know about this. You are dead meat." He gulped and drank some water. "I didn't mean to scare you but I personally want to keep it to ourselves."

"Just the two of us." He tugged her hair behind her ear. "You know, I really like your piercings. They really suit you."

"You suit me." She flirted, they laughed as his face turned red. The food was served, lasagna for Aditi and Caprese salad for Shubman. "Why do you do that to yourself." She asked looking at his salad.

"We have to follow a strict diet and I already had my cheat day for the month in Ahmedabad." She still fed him a piece of her lasagna.

They talked about their interests and other general stuff. "So, everyone calls you Shub..." He nodded. "I'm gonna call you Man from now!" She beamed. He put his arm around her shoulder, it was big enough to hide her face.

Aditi was quite tall, like her brothers. "How tall are you" he asked. She said that she was 5'9". They sat in the car and drove back to the hotel. Aditi was blushing uncontrollably, so was Shubman.

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