Just a small note that the previous chapter was republished, with an extended part added to it. If you haven't read the update, do make sure to read it.

-

"Koel, what is my name?" You asked in a low tone, looking at your phone as you sat on the couch in the recording room.

Your manager who was sitting beside you, looked up from her iPad and paused organizing your schedule for the month, eyebrows raised slightly in confusion.

"Aditi?" She said it more like a question.

"Then why am I 'Shubman's girlfriend' everywhere on the internet?" You showed her your phone that displayed an article about the last IG story posted by the cricketer.

"And do you know what he's called?" She answered before you could even try. "Aditi's boyfriend."

Saying that, she returned back to her work.

"My mom gave me a name," you mumbled to yourself before turning your phone off.

Koel's phone rang and you started packing. You knew it must be your driver.

"The car's outside," she let you know. "Shall we leave?"

You nodded and grabbed your bag, taking a moment to bid 'goodbye' to the people who sat silently around the room.

'See you next month,' they said because you've been doing rounds with most studios.

"Can I go home?" You asked, still tired from the recording that started at 4 am and just ended now, in the evening.

"We can go to a hotel," Koel said as you both got in the backseat of the car. "You'll get ready, walk the red carpet with Shubman before he leaves for his next series, show your face to the cameras, and then go home."

You covered your face with your palm, trying to block any form of light.

"Great," you sighed and uncovered your face after a while. "Can I at least know what I'll be wearing?"

She glanced at you for a moment before giving you an answer she knew you wouldn't complain about. "Fendi."

The next hour or so went by like such a lovely dream.

You were too tired to speak anymore, so stayed silent throughout the process.

While you did love the black blazer, you didn't have the energy to vaunt about it.

Instead you gave your manager a double-thumbs and thanked your stylists before leaving in your car again.

"Didn't we go together, like, three months back?" You asked, leaning your head on her shoulder because it hurt too much.

"This is our window for now. Sebastian wouldn't send him to film awards," she replied. "Only common grounds. But you can accompany him if it's Star Sports and so forth."

"Double standards," you mumbled.

"Practically speaking," she started. "A person being involved in sports doesn't attract bad press. But sometimes, when it is the other way around, it does."

"Then why are we doing this?" You asked again, eyes closed.

"Well, then Shubman doesn't need to be paired up with a different person each week and be dragged about it," Koel answered. "He doesn't mind being shipped with Ishan though."

"Why can't he just fake date Ishan then?" You opened your eyes, raising your head from her shoulder.

"They're best friends. Can't risk things getting complicated and turning into a situationship," she moved your head back to her shoulder. "Plus, it's not the plot of this book. It'll be for another one."

"Aren't we risking things too?" You raised your head from her shoulder again.

"You've become friends just for now, Aditi," she said as the car halted at the venue. "Once all this is over, you're strangers again."

-

"Put a smile on your face, Shubi," Sebastian suggested. "It's your eighth monthsary."

"Monthsary?" He still looked at a distance, waiting for you just where the red carpet started.

"Eight months since that ad shoot," his manager reminded him. "Also, I've been thinking. Why don't you ask her to watch your next match from the stadium-"

"I'll ask her, Seb," he cut the former's words off once he spotted you. "See you later."

"Later," Sebastian left it at that before disappearing with the guards.

When you were near, he held out his hand for you, and you took it before walking further.

"Been too long," Shubman said in between the chatter of everyone else as you faced each other.

He leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss on your forehead before you walked together.

"It's been two weeks, dude," you replied, making sure you both were in the middle and front of the cameras.

You ran a hand down your black blazer, paired with a tank top.

With your hand clutching Shubman's own blazer over his back, you let out a small sigh.

"I have so many memes to show you," he leaned towards you once again, speaking beside your ear.

"You've shown it already, Shubi," you turned your face slightly away so that his gaze fell on your cheek. "Your life."

He looked at you smiling and had this urge to pinch your cheeks. He didn't know why.

Anyway, he didn't try to make the appearance of his dimples subtle.

You knew the drill.

No interviews. Pose for the cameras, sit beside each other during the event, and leave in your respective cars that'll be waiting in a blind spot.

You were already at a huge risk if body language experts figured something out. We don't need words held against you in the future too.

Making sure the photographers were done satisfied with their clicks, you both made your way away from the carpet.

The event was a product launch, a way to generate excitement about the product and the brand as a whole. And might require you to stand.

Except in your case, there's no 'might.'

It's been three hours, and you're nearing the end. You needed to stand.

"Are you drunk?" Shubman asked as he stood beside you between the several other guests who were invited like you.

"No," you looked at him. "Why do you ask?"

"You're swaying," he said and yes. You were swaying a little. "You look like you haven't slept in days."

"You don't say," you muttered before bending your head down and yawning slightly. "Just a bit sleepy."

He looked at you for a few seconds before blinking.

"You really haven't slept in days?" Shubman asked in disbelief and raised your head back up again.

"Two days," you replied and he was too flabbergasted to say anything for a while.

"Sleep is the priority, Aditi," his voice wasn't that high in the midst of the people speaking onstage. "What's more important that you're deteriorating your own health?"

"Being Aladdin," you replied again. "Fulfilling my manager's wishes."

"Wait, this is in violation of Labor Laws-"

"Shubi," you called in a low tone. "My head hurts too. Shall we talk about this later?"

Either you had to break every single speaker in the event or silence your closest source of voice.

"I'm sorry," Shubman's voice was just as soft as the hand holding yours. "You really don't have to stand just because everyone else is."

"That's exactly why I need to," you said and swayed once again, shifting closer.

"We can leave," he proposed but you turned it down.

"That'll be rude," you mumbled, eyes half-closed. "I'll be fine zoning out."

"You can lean on my shoulder if you want to," Shubman said and you didn't think twice.

"Okay," you rested your head on his shoulder, and gawd, it was really comfortable to even get less than half-sleeping. "Wake me up if I fall asleep."

Your eyelids felt heavy as he nodded, bringing an arm up to wrap around your shoulders.

Falling asleep wasn't really a possibility with all the people around you.

But you felt at peace after a long while, with eyes closed and Shubman pressing a soft kiss on your forehead.