Chapter twenty- six: First Diwali

Diwali: the festival of lights.

All the houses were lit up with lights and diyas, marking the centuries long victory of good over bad. The roads which were used to frowning faces, whiny school kids and drivers living to honk horns continuously had changed completely.

Huge smiles adorned everyone's faces, relatives and friends gathered to share joy and happiness with each other, savouring Indian cuisine together. Diwali's charm would change something in the air, bringing a much needed warmth of happiness for everyone.

This was Shubman's first Diwali in Pune and he couldn't deny that he missed the celebrations of Delhi and Chandigarh - but Pune with its early morning music programs (known as Diwali Pahat) and snacks like 'Chakli', 'Shankarpale', 'Karanji'- altogether known as 'faral' (typical Marathi foods made during Diwali), had charmed the sixteen year old.

While Shubman's college friends- Yash and Rishabh had forged a friendship with his society friends Aditya and Swapnil; the group of four enjoying lighting their limited supply of crackers, Shubman stood in a corner, enjoying blasting some pop-pop bombs. They were small paper balls, which produced a sound when thrown on the ground. Shubman couldn't possibly interact with the actual firecrackers.

No, he couldn't absolutely risk an injury. Not when under nineteen trials were right around the corner.

He heard a soft, melodious sound and his head snapped up, trying to find the source. But, his vision was blocked as a soft cloth covered up his entire face. He instantly frowned, his hand grabbing on the cloth.

"Shit, sorry Shubman!" He heard a familiar voice and his heart skipped a beat. The dupatta came off of his face, his eyes landing on the sixteen year old in front of him.

Sara was dressed in a red anarkali which had golden dots all over it. The golden made her shine like a golden ornament itself was what Shubman thought.

He shyly smiled at, as opposed to her bright smile.

"Shubh Deepawali, Shubman" she wished him and he nodded.

"Happy diwali, Sara," he wished her back. Sara turned around, smiling at her four friends by the crackers.

"SHUBH DIWALI!" She said, a little loudly as they could hear her amidst the commotion.

"Happy diwali Gupte!" Yash and Rishabh simultaneously wished her.

"Shubh deepawali," Swapnil said back after a minute as he lit a sparkler.

"Tula pan shubhecha," (Wishing you the same) Aditya said. She smiled, turning towards Shubman again.

"So, no firecrackers today, Shubman?" She asked, curiously.

"I have this," he grinned, showing her the packet of pop-pops and Sara burst out laughing.

"Seriously Shubman?" He felt his heart race at the sight of her laughing.

For the introverted athlete from a boy's school, his heart racing on seeing a girl laugh...was confusing. He'd never known what it was like talking to girls, excluding his cousins. And then there was Sara- so beautiful, so kind, and so happy, like a sunflower.

'Doesn't the heart race when you're in a match, when the pressure is high, when you don't know what will happen till the last ball?' he thought.

"You never fail to astound me, Gill," she commented, still laughing and he just smiled, scratching the back of his head. Just then, a car stopped in front of the gate of Kusum society.

Sayali and Tanvi stepped out of the car, draped in beautiful sarees.

"Sara!" The sixteen year old's head turned towards the gate and she gasped, rushing towards her friends. Shubman heard the sound he'd heard before Sara came and saw that it was the sound of her anklets as she ran around.

"You guys look so pretty," Sara said in awe as the three girls hugged.

"Thank you Sara, you also look so nice," Sayali was quick to say. She had worn a navy blue saree with a golden border, a very traditional saree.

Tanvi, on the other hand had draped a pink chiffon saree with flowers on it, a comparatively modern look.

"I love your earrings, Sara!" She beamed and Sara smiled.

"Thank you!"

Yash, Rishabh and Shubman had also gathered around the girls, the boys gentlemanly enough to compliment the girls.

"Why didn't you wear a saree, Gupte?" The question innocently slipped off Rishabh's tongue, which he regretted instantly. Sara's face fell and Tanvi glared at Rishabh.

"I...uh, I don't know how to drape a saree," she awkwardly said and Rishabh just nodded, guilt gnawing at him.

'I didn't wear a saree because I don't have my mom, nor do I have her sarees' Sara thought to herself bitterly and everyone noticed the change in her body language.

"It's not a huge problem Sara, I'll help you drape a saree during our college's saree day!" Sayali smiled at her warmly, wrapping her arm around Sara's shoulder.

"Yes, and you can wear one of my mom's sarees too!" Tanvi added, making Sara's heart happy.

"And I'll hold your purse on saree day all the time!" Rishabh offered and Sara squinted her eyes at him.

"That was obvious, Rishabh," she said, smiling and he looked at her in astonishment.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't have to offer to hold my purse, Rishabh. It just is your responsibility," Sara said, shaking her head and he scoffed.

"That's unfair, you should be thanking me for my graciousness!"

"In your dreams," she replied and the group broke out in a fit of laughter.

Diwali- the festival of love and joy.

And this was the first Diwali Shubman had spent with Sara.

🦚

"HOW COULD HE SAY THAT, SHUB? I mean, how could he?" Sara said, exasperated and Shubman sighed at his dramatic girlfriend.

"Baby, I mean- he is more experienced and-

"So what? I'll learn too!" She retorted, not letting him speak.

"But-

"SHUT UP, chamcha!" (SHUT UP, sidekick) Shubman rolled his eyes, raising his arms.

"Fine. Call me a chamcha but the truth won't change. Kaka makes perfect chakli and you can't compete with him," he said and Sara sharply inhaled, glaring at him.

"Agreed, Baba's great at making chaklya, but I'm going to be better at it than him because he teased me AND he ridiculed my cooking skills,"

"You talk like you're the first Indian kid to be teased for their shortcomings by their parents," he said dryly and Sara's nostrils flared up in anger.

"Shubman, you're getting on my nerves today. You're going to regret each word you say when Sanvi and Abhinav will get to eat chakli made by me while you'll sit there, sulking"

"But- Nevermind. I'm sorry, chalo, make better chakli than uncle, okay? You have my full support,"

"You don't have a choice, Shubman Gill. You have to support me all the fucking time,"

"Yes ma'am," he charmingly smiled at her, and Sara would be lying if she said if she said that her heart didn't melt instantly. Sara cleared her throat, diverting her eyes.

"Anyway, are you done with Diwali shopping?" She asked, trying to change the topic.

"Bass Mummy aur Ishan ka gift lena hai, baaki sabka hogaya," (I just have to buy gifts for Mom and Ishan now) he said and she nodded. "What about you?"

"I'm done with everything," and Shubman nodded. Of course Sara was done with everything. It was four days before Diwali.

"EXCEPT MY OWN CLOTHES," she announced dramatically and he flinched at the loud voice.

"Bhai shant," (Calm down) he mumbled and she laughed softly.

"You did not just bro-zone me"

"I...I guess, I did," he sheepishly said and she frowned.

"You want to come shop with me tomorrow?" She asked, looking at him hopefully. Shubman nervously smiled, nodding.

"Sure!"

"Hm, where should we go?"

"Yeah, we can't possibly go to a mall or something," he said. "Oh wait," he said, as he remembered something. "One of Abhay's cousin owns a store on Mumbai. She's actually doing really well you know? And she does always ask me to visit the store since I am like an elder brother to her. We could go there! It'll be perfect!" He grinned and she nodded.

"Sounds like a plan," Sara smiled at him.

First diwali as a couple.

A/N: Do you like the flashbacks to their teenage days? There's a few more to come in the next chapters! Also, the story's going to slow down a little, as we have a small diwali arc of five six chapters before we get on with the narrative chapters. The next chapters will just focus on their relationship and fluff with all our favourite side characters too!

Also, I love it when you guys drop a comment (just saying)

Also (sorry this is the last thing) I know this is a small chapter, and if I finish writing my draft I'll publish tomorrow instead of day after tomorrow <3