As they arrived at the bustling Mohali airport, Shubman Gill, clad in his mask, hood, and sunglasses, deftly maneuvered through the throng of people. He made his way to the car that Lakwinder had recently purchased. Anvi and Shahneel settled into the back seats, while Shubman took the front passenger seat. With a heavy sigh, he removed his mask, revealing a face etched with fatigue.

Lakwinder glanced over with a supportive smile and said, "Come on, let's head home." Shubman offered a tired nod in agreement, and they set off towards the familiar comfort of their house. Upon arrival, Shubman rang the doorbell, and as the door swung open, Keart enveloped him in a warm embrace, her voice filled with pride as she exclaimed, "Well played, my child."

Gratitude shimmered in Shubman's eyes as he replied softly, "Thanks, mumma." He then sank into the plush couch, the weight of exhaustion grounding him. Keart turned to Shahneel and instructed, "Fetch some water for Shub, dear."

With a playful smirk, Shahneel retorted, "Ah, the king has arrived, and thus my servitude begins." Her words, though teasing, carried an undertone of affection.

Shubman, despite his weariness, couldn't help but respond, "I heard that, di." Shahneel rolled her eyes in mock exasperation and disappeared into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Anvi stood up, addressing Keart, "Aunty, I should head home now. It's getting quite late."

Keart nodded understandingly, and just as Shahneel returned, sans water, to bid Anvi farewell, Shubman leaned back, resting his head against the sofa's headrest, and let the world fade away.

Shahneel, returning with a glass of water, found Shubman already lost in slumber. "What? How can he fall asleep in just a minute?" she exclaimed in disbelief.

Lakwinder, observing the scene, replied with a gentle chuckle, "Shahneel, he's exhausted. But now, how shall we move him to his room?"

Keart, ever the nurturing figure, suggested, "Let him be. He can sleep here tonight." With that, Shahneel draped a blanket over Shubman's sleeping form, and they all retreated to their rooms, leaving him to rest in the quiet living room.

The next morning, Anvi awoke refreshed and promptly called Shubman. His groggy voice greeted her, "Hello?"

"Maan, it's 8 o'clock, and you're still not up?" Anvi chided playfully.

"I was so tired," Shubman murmured, the remnants of sleep clinging to his words.

"Alright, freshen up and come over to my place," Anvi urged.

"Just half an hour more," Shubman bargained, his voice muffled by the couch cushion.

"Maan, please. You know you're heading to the hotel later this evening," Anvi reminded him.

"Fine, fine," Shubman conceded, ending the call with a yawn. He stretched, rising from the couch, and made his way to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the vestiges of sleep.

Emerging into the living room, Shubman caught sight of Shahneel sneaking out of the kitchen with a bowl of maggi. "Maggi? Should I tell mumma?" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

Shahneel's eyes widened in mock horror. "No, no, no, please, yaar," she pleaded, eliciting a chuckle from Shubman as he left to visit Anvi.

Upon reaching Anvi's door, it swung open to reveal Sanaya, who greeted him with a warm, "Come in, Shub." Inside, Karthik praised him, "What a game, Shubman."

Shubman's smile was genuine as he thanked Karthik and made his way upstairs. There, he found Anvi engrossed in her writing. She looked up, her eyes lighting up as she said, "Come in, Maan."

Without hesitation, Shubman flopped onto the bed, eliciting a scolding from Anvi, "You'll break the bed!" But Shubman was too content to care, reaching for the rubix cube on the bedside table and beginning to twist and turn it.

Anvi's voice broke through his concentration. "I have a surprise for you," she said, a hint of excitement in her tone.

"Really? Show me," Shubman replied, curiosity piqued.

"Just wait," Anvi responded, her eyes dancing with anticipation.

The doorbell's chime echoed through the house, and Anvi dashed downstairs. Shubman, left alone, continued to work on the puzzle. Moments later, Anvi returned, accompanied by a familiar face—Aryan Singhaniya. Shubman offered a polite, if somewhat strained, smile and went back to his cube.

"Maan, meet my best friend Aryan. Aryan, this is my best friend Shubman," Anvi introduced them, her voice warm with affection.

Shubman nodded in acknowledgment, his focus still on the cube, until Anvi snatched it away, exclaiming, "MAAN!"

"What?" Shubman asked, his frown deepening.

Anvi gestured towards Aryan, prompting a more formal greeting. "Oh, hi Aryan, nice to meet you," Shubman said, extending a hand.

Aryan's greeting came with a teasing edge, "Hi, flop cricketer."

Shubman's frown returned, but Aryan quickly added, "Hey, I'm just kidding."

Shubman glanced at Anvi, noticing the small smile playing on her lips. A thought crossed his mind, "Does she enjoy hearing these taunts?"

As Aryan settled on the couch next to Anvi, Shubman remained on the bed, a silent observer. Aryan broke the silence, "Dude, can I ask you something?"

Shubman gave a nod, and Aryan continued, "After your performance in the test series, how did Gautham Ghambir still choose you? There were extraordinary players available. It's like picking a stale fruit over fresh ones."

Anvi's laughter filled the room, her amusement clear. She had always used that comparison in jest, but now she couldn't contain her mirth. Unbeknownst to her, her laughter was a sharp contrast to the hurt that Shubman felt, a hurt that was growing deeper with each passing moment.

The air was thick with tension as Shubman trying to keep his composure, responded with a voice that barely concealed his hurt, "Umm... I'm not sure, perhaps Gautham sir would be the better person to ask." Aryan's laughter echoed in the room, a sound that felt like a jab to Shubman's heart. "Dude, why do you take everything so seriously?" he chided, unaware of the sting his words carried.

Shubman, feeling the walls closing in, turned to Anvi, "Um... I need to go. There's still a lot of packing left for me to do." Anvi, her brows furrowed with concern, implored, "But you just arrived last night. Can't you spend some more time with us?"

The hurt within Shubman had already taken root, and the thought of enduring further taunts was unbearable. "No, I have some work to attend to. It's paperwork, and since I'm in Mohali, I need to get it done," he explained, his voice laced with a quiet urgency.

Anvi, sensing his discomfort, relented with a soft, "Okay." Shubman took his leave, each step away from the house feeling like an escape from a battlefield of emotions.

As he stepped out, Karthik's voice reached him, tinged with fatherly concern, "Arre beta, you're leaving so early. Is everything alright?" Shubman mustered a reassuring smile, "Yes, uncle. There's some important work I need to take care of."

Returning to his own home, Shubman bypassed the calls of Shahneel, Keart, and Lakwinder, his heart heavy with unspoken words. He retreated to his room, the door closing behind him with a soft click, a barrier between him and the world.

He stepped out onto the balcony, the cool breeze doing little to soothe his turmoil. Aryan's words replayed in his mind, a relentless loop that tightened around his chest. His breaths grew shallow, and he sank to the floor, the cold tiles a stark contrast to the warmth of the tears that now freely flowed down his cheeks.

In the solitude of his balcony, with the sky as his only witness, Shubman allowed himself to be vulnerable. The facade of the sportsman crumbled, revealing the raw humanity beneath. It was here, in the quiet of the balcony, that he found the space to grieve the wounds inflicted not by the sport he loved, but by the words of those he thought understood him.

The laughter that had filled the room moments ago was now replaced by a poignant silence, punctuated only by the faint sound of sobs from the neighboring balcony. Anvi's heart sank as she recognized the source of the distress—it was Shubman. The realization hit her like a wave; her laughter, alongside Aryan's words, had wounded her friend deeply. Aryan, oblivious to the storm he had stirred, casually bid farewell, "Chal, bye Anvi." Lost in her thoughts, Anvi barely managed a nod in response before he departed.

With a sense of urgency, Anvi grabbed her phone and made her way to Shubman's house. Upon arrival, she inquired with a tinge of worry, "Aunty, where is Maan?"

Keart, looking equally concerned, replied, "I'm not sure, dear. He returned and went straight to his room without saying a word to any of us."

Acknowledging with a nod, Anvi hurried to Shubman's room. She had a spare key, a testament to their close bond. Gently turning the key in the lock, she entered and found Shubman on the balcony, his body curled up, his face buried in his hands.

Anvi softly closed the door behind her and locked it, ensuring their privacy. She approached Shubman cautiously and whispered, "Maan?" His response was a muffled plea, "Just go away, Anvi."

"I'm sorry, Maan," Anvi began, her voice laced with regret. "I shouldn't have laughed, but it was the same phrase I used to tease Aryan with."

Through his sobs, Shubman confessed, "Your laughter, Anvi... it hurt me more than his words. I can brush off his taunts, but not yours. You're my best friend."

In a moment of tenderness, Anvi wrapped her arms around Shubman, offering solace. "Calm down, Maan. Take deep breaths, or you'll faint. Just calm down," she soothed.

Gradually, Shubman's breathing steadied, the comfort of Anvi's embrace anchoring him. The ring of Anvi's phone broke the silence—it was Aryan. Without hesitation, Anvi answered, putting him on loudspeaker. "Listen, Aryan, if you're calling to mock Shubman, save it. He's a rising star, and he'll prove his worth," she declared firmly before ending the call.

A smile flickered across Shubman's face, a small token of gratitude for Anvi's defense. He stood, making his way to the bathroom to splash water on his face, an attempt to wash away the remnants of his vulnerability.

Checking his phone, Shubman noted he had an hour before he needed to leave for the hotel. His packing was nearly complete, his belongings neatly arranged in his suitcase. Descending the stairs, he was greeted by Shahneel's embrace. "Are you leaving already?" she asked.

"Yes, I need to head to the hotel. We're starting practice soon. You'll come to the match, won't you?" Shubman replied, hope coloring his tone.

Shahneel nodded, her support unwavering. At that moment, Kamlesh arrived, and Shubman introduced him to his family. "Maa, Papa, Di, this is Kamlesh, my best friend and teammate."

Kamlesh greeted them with respect, "Namaste Aunty, Namaste Uncle, and hi Di." Anvi couldn't resist a playful jab, "Look at Nagarkoti, playing chauffeur now. Hahaha."

"What choice do I have, Jadhav? Your best friend and mine is in high demand by GG sir, so I had to come and pick him up," Kamlesh retorted with a grin.

Shubman playfully smacked Kamlesh's head, then shared a heartfelt hug with Keart and Lakwinder. "Play well, son," Lakwinder encouraged.

"I will," Shubman promised, returning Anvi's th with determination.

As Shubman settled into the car, Kamlesh's chatter filled the space, but Shubman, with one AirPod in his ear, was lost in his own thoughts, the events of the day replaying in his mind as they drove towards the hotel.