Shubman, scrolling through his phone, felt a pang of discomfort when he saw Sheela's latest Instagram post.

The caption read, "Unexpected dinner plans with my favorite guy! 💖 #GujratNights." The picture showed them in a cozy setting, and Shubman's expression in the photo revealed a mix of awkwardness and dissatisfaction.

Shubman, not thrilled about the public display by Sheela for the sake of some likes comments, muttered under his breath, "This is not what I needed right now."

Later that night, as he lay in bed, the weight of the situation pressed on his mind. He couldn't shake off the unease brought by Sheela's post and abandoning Ishan. Restlessly, he tried to come up with an excuse or explanation to counter the narrative that was building up.

Shubman, muttering to himself, "I need to find Ishan's Instagram. Maybe I can explain this directly to him."

Shubman,reached out to Ishan's Instagram profile, hesitated before sending a message. He typed and deleted multiple drafts, struggling to find the right words. Frustrated and desperate, he finally settled on a simple, "Can we talk?"

Shubman, feeling uneasy after sending the message to Ishan, was about to attempt some much-needed sleep when there was a knock on his hotel room door. Opening it, he found Sheela standing there, dressed in a revealing nightgown.

Sheela, with a mischievous smile: "Hey, Shubman! Couldn't sleep, so I thought maybe we could watch a movie or something. What do you say?"

Shubman, caught off guard, glanced at his cricket gear and replied, "Uh, Sheela, I have an early practice session tomorrow. You know how important it is for me. Maybe we can catch up later?"

Sheela, teasingly: "Come on, it's just one night. You can take a break. Besides, we had an unexpected dinner, so why not an unexpected movie night?"

Shubman, awkwardly: "I appreciate it, Sheela, but really, I need to focus on my game. You understand, right?How my form is still not consistent. Maybe you can head back to your room, and we can plan something when I'm free."

Sheela, feigning disappointment: "Alright, if you insist. But you owe me a rain check on that movie night!"

Shubman, relieved yet uneasy, closed the door and sighed. He knew he had narrowly avoided a potentially complicated situation. As Sheela walked away, Shubman couldn't help but think about Ishan and the mess he had found himself in.

The next day at the cricket field, Shubman scanned the area for Ishan but found him purposefully avoiding eye contact. The weight of guilt and the unresolved issues lingered, affecting Shubman's focus during practice. He fumbled catches, mistimed shots, and his frustration grew with every mistake.

Sheela,who came to watch practice,observing from the sidelines, noticed Shubman's distracted performance. She approached, adding another layer to the complexity.

Sheela, with a smirk: "Shubman, what's going on with you today? You're usually on fire during practice.Is my charm distracting you?"

Shubman, trying to deflect: "Just a bit tired. Didn't sleep well."

Sheela, playfully putting her hand on Shubman's shoulder: "Well, maybe I can be your lucky charm today. Focus, Shubman!"

Shubman, tactfully avoiding her flirtatious advances: "Thanks, Sheela, but I need to concentrate. The team is counting on me."

As Sheela continued to flirt and playfully put her hand on Shubman, he skillfully deflected each advance, aware of the eyes that were silently watching from a distance.

Meanwhile, Ishan observed the interaction from afar, feeling a twinge of jealousy.

Ishan, watching them interact, thought to himself, "Why am I feeling this way? This is how it's supposed to be. Shubman is a celebrity, and Sheela is... well, exactly the kind of person he should be with. Why does it bother me?"

The internal conflict within Ishan intensified as he questioned the unexpected emotions welling up inside him. He wrestled with the idea that perhaps his admiration for Shubman went beyond being just a fan. The realization that he cared more than he initially thought brought a mix of confusion and self-awareness.

So he did what came in his mind at first.He blocked Shubman's Instagram account.

"If I let this flow I will end up confessing to the person,who doesn’t even think I am a human with emotions."-Ishan thought  bitterly.

Shubman decided it was time to tackle the situation head-on. He felt a knot of nervousness in his stomach as he weaved through the cricket ground's corridors, intending to speak directly with Ishan.

Just as Shubman reached the spot where the design team was working,where he thought Ishan might be, he noticed a peculiar gathering forming. Dev and Avi, Ishan's friends, were huddled together, occasionally casting furtive glances his way. This wasn't just a casual chat; it seemed like they were up to something.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Shubman decided to hang back and observe. To his surprise, the friends were planning a spontaneous birthday celebration for Ishan.

Dev, the chief architect of the surprise, declared with a grin, "Let's make Ishan's day unforgettable. A birthday surprise might light his mood.He is sad from last night!"

As they approached Ishan, the friends erupted in a chorus of "Happy Birthday," presenting the cake as if it was a trophy of goodwill. The genuine surprise on Ishan's face made Shubman smile, momentarily forgetting the complicated web of emotions that entangled them.

In the midst of the birthday surprise for Ishan, the atmosphere transformed into laughter and joy. Dev, the main planner of the plot, couldn't contain his excitement as he smashed a generous portion of cake on Ishan's face. Avi and others followed suit, engulfing Ishan in a delightful mess.

To everyone's delight, Ishan embraced the chaos with infectious laughter. His eyes sparkled with happiness, and the genuine joy radiated from him, momentarily lifting the weight of the complicated situation.

While the friends reveled in the playful celebration, Shubman found himself captivated by the sight of Ishan's carefree laughter. The unguarded moment allowed Shubman to appreciate the features that had become the focal point of the ongoing drama.

Ishan's laugh, melodious and unrestrained sounded like music to Shubman.As the laughter subsided, Shubman's gaze lingered on Ishan's features – the black strand of hair delicately falling on his forehead, the glint of his earring on the earlobe.Shubman made sure nobody notice him.

After birthday celebration, Ishan found himself covered in cake, laughing along with his friend.He decided to clean up and stepped towards the changing room.

Shubman, having observed the joyous scene, decided it was the right time to approach Ishan directly. Following him to the changing room, Shubman took a deep breath.

"Hey Ishan, happy birthday!" Shubman greeted with a warm smile.

Ishan, holding a towel, replied, "Thanks, Shubman." He attempted to move past Shubman, but the cricketer subtly blocked his way.

"Listen, about everything that's been happening lately, I..." Shubman started, attempting to apologize.

Ishan, maintaining a polite demeanor, interrupted, "No need to apologize, Shubman. I understand you're a celebrity, and it's okay. We're just fans, right?"

Shubman, not wanting to let the conversation end on a surface level, stepped a bit closer. The proximity made Ishan a tad dizzy, not only from the cake-smashing celebration but also from the unexpected closeness to someone he had admired from a distance.

"Actually, Ishan, I want to say sorry sincerely. I should have handled things better. You got caught up in all of this, and I never intended for that to happen," Shubman admitted, a genuine tone in his voice.

Ishan, trying to ease the situation, smiled, "No harm done, really. I get it."

Shubman persisted, "I want you to know that I appreciate your support. The trends, the memes, they might be overwhelming, but I value my fans, and you're one of them."

Ishan,little touched by the acknowledgment, nodded, "Thanks, Shubman. I'll always be a fan. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get back to the celebration."

As Ishan attempted to leave, Shubman, finding it hard to resist the temptation, stepped even closer. The change in proximity made Ishan's head spin a bit.

"Before you go, Ishan, I just want you to know that I admire your passion for the game and your support. It means a lot,I was genuinely looking for you on the last match.I don't want you to stop coming to stadium" Shubman expressed sincerely.

Ishan, a bit flustered,with Shubman being too close,tried to find excuse to go out.He managed a smile, "Thanks, Shubman. Now, I really should get going."

Shubman, not ready to let the conversation end so soon, wished that Ishan wouldn't leave the changing room too quickly. He racked his brain for a reason to keep talking, and then an idea struck him.

"Oh, by the way, Ishan," Shubman began,"About that coffee...Can we reschedule it?"

Ishan's formal smile dropped. He lowered his head, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I admire you, Shubman,a lot. But I am not a puppet."

As Ishan walked away, leaving Shubman standing in the changing room,the weight of Ishan's words sinking in.