Chapter seventeen: A very bollywood-y day

8:03 p.m.

If you told Shubman an hour and eleven minutes before that he'd be cuddling with Sara on the sofa while watching a rom-com, he would have laughed in disbelief in your face. But, life in its utter perfection had other plans. He was doing exactly the same thing. It was a high-school love story about a guy who had been offered money to date a girl so that somebody else could date? Shubman couldn't care less about the movie. Not when he had Sara Gupte wrapped up in his arms. She was immersed in the movie, her eyes never leaving the screen- laughing, giggling and squealing at every little moment.

Sara loved '10 things I hate about you'. It was a high school story and despite being an adult she loved it. She'd watch it all the time, for something about young love charmed her. Perhaps, it was a sweet reminder of her young love. She could feel Shubman's soft gaze on her, and couldn't possibly turn her head to face him. Stop blushing, stop blushing. His hand was warm against her cold skin, very cosy.

"Bhai yeh banda sahi hai, started singing in front of the school on the field for his girl, " (This guy is great, started singing in front of the entire school in the field for this girl)

"He is amazing. He's the standard, he's just...perfection," Sara swooned. In her head, she could visualise Shubman also doing some over the top gesture for her. Just like Patrick. Maybe that's why I like this movie so much.

"Well, seems like an exaggeration," he mumbled under his breath. Perfect? That's too much!

"Oh it's not an exaggeration, it's rather an underwhelming praise for the perfection Patrick is," Sara said, enjoying Shubman's reaction. Has me in his arms and gets jealous over a fictional character? Doofus. A cute doofus. My cute doofus though.

"Whatever, he's okay- he's getting paid to date her, so yeah...sounds like a re," but Shubman was cut off as Sara placed a kiss on his cheek, giggling.

"You're adorable," she said and Shubman looked at her, amused. He rested his head on her fruity shoulder, the smell of her shampoo hitting his nostrils.

"This is nice," he mumbled in her hair.

"It is," Sara smiled, resting her head against his head.

Sara continued watching the romance unfold on the screen as Patrick and Kat go on a romantic paint ball date. Shubman was still feeling a little exhausted and sleepy but was trying his best to keep his eyes open to watch the movie. It clearly meant a lot to Sara. Eventually, as the movie headed to its climax, he dozed off. It had been an overwhelming day for him and the exhaustion had finally caught on. Sara gently stroke his arm, as the movie continued.  

But Shubman was denied of his peace again as the bell rang five times. Scared, he jerked up awake.

"HE MAA MAATAJI" he shouted, scared. His shriek startled Sara more than the doorbell. She laughed softly.

"It's just a doorbell, even if it was crazily rung, Shub," she said softly, getting up and Shubman immediately frowned, missing the warmth she radiated as she walked away.

Sara opened the door and saw her best friend.

"Sanvi, itki bell ka vajavte?" (Why did you ring the bell so much?) Sara asked, shaking her head as Sanvi walked, a tight lipped smile adorning her face.

"Sara, I...wait, Gill is also here? How amazing!" She happily said but Shubman had almost doze off again.

"Uh...yeah," Sara slightly blushed as Sanvi walked up to the sofa.

"Gill, wake up! Wake up!" Sanvi said, shaking him by his arms. He opened his eyes, startled.

"Sanvi? Marathe, what happened?" He asked, worriedly. "Did someone trouble you? Let me just go and beat up that piece of shit," he muttered and Sanvi sighed.

"Ohho Shubi, why do you always assume the worst? No one's troubled me," she sighed.

"Well if something good had happened to you, you wouldn't have disturbed my sleep," he grumbled.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled and Shubman fake gasped, making Sanvi and Sara chuckle.

"Yeah, I know me apologising is weird, but the day calls for it, my children!" She started. "It's too monumental!" She exlaimed.

"Well, we were never going to forget this day anyway, Marathe but say what you got to," Shubman said, putting his arm on Sanvi's shoulder and flashing a boyish grin at Sara. Sara smiled back at him, still feeling that the day was a dream.

"What?" Sanvi mumbled softly, the smiles between Sara and Shubman did not go unnoticed by her.

"Uh..." she cleared her throat as Shubman's eyes remained on Sara who was smiling brightly at him.

"I have an announcement," Sanvi said, a little abruptly, shoving her right hand in Shubman's face who was startled, again.

"Wait, what is this sparkly thing?" He asked, holding her hand and inspecting it. "Is that a ring?" He mumbled. Sara's eyes widened as she heard Shubman's words.

"A RING?" She gasped, in surprise. Sanvi eagerly nodded, her eyes sparkling with joy. Shubman's brows furrowed in confusion as Sara squealed.

"OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!" Sara explained, literally jumping on Sanvi. The two girls were squealing in the hug happily but the guy was still confused. She bought a ring, what's so special about that?

As the two girls parted, Sara looked at Shubman.

"Shub, she got ENGAGED!" Sara announced, enthusiastically.

"Wait, what?" He asked, eyes wide. "Congratulations," he said happily, giving her a quick hug.

"Thank you people, but I gotta go, I gotta pee and change out of this saree," Sara laughed at Sanvi's statement.

"Please don't change, ever," Sara said, giving Sanvi a kiss on her cheek.

"I know I look way too gorgeous but I HAVE to change now, Sara," Sanvi said, brows furrowed in slight confusion.

"I'm talking about your personality, silly," Sara giggled as Sanvi dashed into Sara's room.

"OH YEAH, THAT IS NIT CHANGING," she shouted back from the room, making Shubman and Sara laugh.

"Sanvi will be a married woman now, he bhagwan," Shubman muttered. For a fleeting moment, he felt like he was back in eleventh grade, third-wheeling Sara and her best. But now, Sanvi's announcement brought a strange sense of unfamiliarity. Things had changed so much, yet, in this tiny bubble with Sara by his side, everything felt comfortingly the same.

"It's a big day," Sara said, interlinking her arm with his. "What a day, huh? From your airport confession, to the stupid rumour, our getting together, and Sanvi getting engaged," she said.

"Hmm, we were living in a Karan Johar movie today," he commented and Sara smiled.

"True that- a very bollywood-y day!" She giggled, agreeing wholeheartedly.

A/N: Small chapter, but this is the fourth (if I'm not wrong) chapter about the SAME day lol. Also, scroll down, there's another 'texts' chapter added. Sending you all lots of love ❤️