Chapter thirteen: Leap of faith

( after four days )

Test day four: over.

Virat and Shubman retreated back to the dressing room after a stellar performance. The crowd was on the edge of their seats the entire day, enjoying the game wholeheartedly. As soon as Virat touched the floor of the room, he immediately placed a call back home. His daughter, now almost four years old, happily received the call.

"Vamika? What were you doing on the phone, beta?" Virat gently asked and Shubman smiled. Virat Kohli has always been a force to reckon with on the field. Aggressive and intimidating. And here he was, just a father to his baby girl, in his softest version.

Virat kept taking to Vamika while Shubman began removing his knee pads, helmet and all the gear.

"Yes, he is here. Shubman, say hi to Vamika," Virat said, turning his phone screen towards the younger player.

"Hello buddy," Shubman said softly and Vamika grinned at him, showing her baby teeth.

"Hey buddy, see I'm princess!" She exclaimed, walking a little away from the camera and showing off her flowy dress.

"You're the prettiest princess," Shubman said, in awe. Vamika giggled.

"Of course, talk to baby now," she said, taking her mom's phone in her hand, switching the camera to show a sleeping Akaay, her younger brother.

"But baby's sleeping," Shubman said.

"He's always sleeping," Vamika whispered, holding the phone close to her mouth. "He boring!" Shubman couldn't control his laugh at Vamika's adorable complaint and Virat laughed along with him.

"Vaaami, Mumma Kaha hai?" (Vaaami, where's your mom?) Virat asked.

"Cooking," Vamika replied.

"Okay, I'll call you later," Virat said and Vamika nodded.

"Bye Dadda,"

"Bye Va," Vamika cut off her father.

"Princess!"

"Oh, I'm sorry- Bye, princess," Virat hung up, the smile never leaving his face. Shubman looked at Virat thoughtfully. His senior was a family man. A complete family man. And his romance was the country's favourite. Virat and Anushka- the made for each other couple. How did they navigate their relationship? Perhaps, Virat had some words of wisdom to soothe his heart which was acting restless for the past few days.

"Bhaiyya, can I ask you something?" Shubman asked.

"Bol na,"

"How did you know that Anushka bhabhi was the one for you?" Shubman asked his question and Virat raised his brows. Interesting.

"Shubman, when you look into a person's eyes and everything feels perfect and peaceful, you know that she's the one." Virat said and Shubman nodded. "And when she brings you your mom's besan ke laddoo from Pune to Chennai, just because you wanted to eat them, she's the one," he added, shocking Shubman.

"No, I wasn't..." Shubman tried to protest, blushing.

"Abbey bada hu tujhse, sab pata hai mujhe," (I'm older than you, I know everything)

"I like her bhaiyya, I really do...but what if she doesn't see me that way? What if she's literally never ever considered anything beyond friendship between us? I can't lose her, I really can't," Shubman said, a hint of panic in his tone.

"Even I didn't know about Anoushka's feelings for me, but I had to take a step ahead and ask her, the rest is history," Virat smiled at him. "And don't underestimate friendships because the truth can never hurt a real friendship, Shubman. I've learnt that," he advised.

"Truth be told, I liked her during college, but I never had the guts to ask her, and then I came to Mumbai, and when I finally felt confident, she was dating someone else and it just...crushed me, back then," Shubman confessed. "After that, even I dated someone else for some time, but the feelings were never the same, what I feel for her is so special and...and now she's back in my life, and we've agreed to be better friends to each other, what if my confession ruins everything again?"

Virat sighed as he heard what Shubman said.

"Dekh, after one point you have to be honest about your feelings. For how long will you suppress your feelings? If you value what you have with Sara, you'll be honest with her. I'm not saying call her right away and blurt your feelings, take your time, be confident and confess. If she reciprocates, good for you!" Virat saw Shubman's eyes twinkle with hope and he smiled.

"And even if she doesn't like you back," Shubman's smile quickly dropped, "As I said, a strong friendship navigates all challenges together, and the fact that you were truthful is good, right?" Virat said and Shubman nodded.

"Take that leap of faith, Gill. The man I am today is majorly because of Anushka, so I'm telling you- take that leap, there's a beautiful life on the other side,"

Shubman simply nodded.

Be honest. Perhaps, she does like you. I mean, her best friend- Sanvi does keep on teasing us, so maybe...maybe there's a beautiful life on the other side for me, too.

🦚

It was nighttime. The team was done with dinner by eight-thirty. Shubman was cooped up in his room, watching television to unwind before he slept. The past few days had been exhausting for him professionally and personally. Playing against a team like New Zealand was challenging. And so was being wrapped up in fear and insecurities like a goddamn burrito.

But, Shubman's plan was not working. He had put on the ITA awards, thinking he'd feel better seeing Sara shine on the silver screen. Turns out, seeing her perform on stage with another guy did NOT help her. Shubman frowned and groaned, not liking this side of his.

"Stars? Why are there stars in the background? Ugh, this is so annoying, " he grumbled. "No-no. Stop behaving like this, don't don't, don't, " Just then, he heard the doorbell ring and sighed, getting up. The door opened to reveal Yashaswi.

"Jaiswal? Tu idhar?" (Jaiswal? What are you doing here?)

"Aww, you aren't happy to see the light of your life?" Yashaswi asked, frowning and Shubman rolled his eyes.

"Nope, " he said, popping the 'p', walking back into his room. Yashaswi followed in, slamming the door shut.

"Kya hua Shubman? Jab Chennai pohocha tab kitna enthusiastic tha, aur achanak kuchh toh badalgaya. Aisa bhi nahi hai ki tu bura khel raha hai, phir baat kya hai?" (What happened Shubman? When you reached Chennai, you were so enthusiastic, and then something just changed. You're even playing well, so what's the matter?) Yashaswi asked, genuinely concerned as Shubman slouched on the bed.

"Kuch nahi," (Nothing) he mumbled, eyes glued to the screen. Sara...she looks so calm, so happy, so comfortable. She's really shining like a star.

Yashaswi's eyes darted towards the screen and a soft sigh left his lips. This Shubman is turning into a stupid lover boy, something has to be done.

"Did something happen with Sara?" He asked.

"No,"

"Then why are you frowning?"

"I am jealous, and I hate that I am jealous," Shubman answered truthfully.

"Bass?" (That's it?) Yashaswi asked, amused.

"Bass? Jealous is a BAD emotion, Yashaswi," Shubman answered exasperatedly, stressing on the word 'bad'.

"Did you do something stupid and wrong because of your jealousy? No, all you're doing is frown at the screen. That's okay, happens with everyone, don't beat yourself up for every little thing," Shubman looked at him, attentively listening.

"Yashaswi, tujhe kya lagta hai? Should I just tell her?" (Yashaswi what do you think? Should I just tell her?) Shubman asked.

"Bata de," (Tell her) Yashaswi answered after taking a minute to think. Shubman's eyes twinkled with hope.

"Really? Do you think she likes me back?" He asked.

"Remote de," Yashaswi replied, as he remembered something he saw on a ShubSara fan page on Instagram. Shubman raised his brow but threw the remote anyway. Yashaswi forwarded the video, pausing it to the moment where Sara won her award.

"Speech sunn uska," (Listen to her speech) Yashaswi said, but he knew he didn't need to, as Shubman's eyes were already at the television. She was dressed differently from her performance outfit. She was dressed in a soft blue saree-like-dress, her long wavy hair resting on her back. She looked like a vision, and Shubman couldn't help but gaze at her like she was a starry sky against the backdrop of a dark night sky.

"Uh...first of all, this feels like a dream! I mean, Erica Fernandes and Surbhi Chandna: Sonakshi and Annika themselves gave me this award!" She started. "This is unbelievable, in all honesty, really unbelievable! I...I uh, I just want to thank everyone who has supported me and loved me throughout. My Baba- who is the best father in this world, Sudeep uncle, Rekha aunty: their entire family, to be honest" Shubman's eyes widened. Wait, Sudeep and Rekha- MY parents? I'm their family! Was she referring to me? ME? Did she thank me in her speech? WHAT?

"AYE JAISWAL," Shubman said loudly, his eyes still wide.

"Haa, teri baat kar rahi thi woh," (Yeah, she was talking about you) Yashaswi calmly said. "Just tell her Shubman,"

"Wait, but that could mean that I'm just a really good friend, and nothing else," Shubman murmured and Yashaswi sighed in annoyance.

"You know what, let's talk to Ishaan,"

Yashaswi and Shubman stared at the iPad, waiting for Ishaan to receive the call.

"Aditi?" the duo said together as Ishaan's girlfriend received the call.

"Sorry to disappoint you two, your friend's in the bathroom, " she replied.

"We're not disappointed, Aditi. We just didn't expect you guys to be together at night, what you all move in together?" Yashaswi asked and Aditi shook her head.

"No no, we did not. I was just leaving, I was about to hang up but I mistakenly pressed the green button, " she said.

"Whoa whoa, you were gonna hang up on us?" Shubman asked, feigning offence.

"I was, yes!" she grinned playfully. "Okay, now I am actually going to hang up, I have to go home, my parents will kill me" she said.

"NO, No! Wait!" Shubman shrieked out, scaring both Yashaswi and Aditi.

"Gill, what the fuck man?" Yashaswi exclaimed.

"Yeah, what happened?"

"You're a girl, Aditi." Shubman asserted, his mind churning with thoughts.

"Thanks for letting me know, getting periods every month was not enough proof for me," she said, rolling her eyes.

"No wait, I mean..." Shubman trailed off, unsurely. Is this a bad idea? Should I just ask her, I mean she'll help.

"What?" Aditi asked, tapping her foot.

"There's this girl..." Shubman started. "I like her, but...but I don't know if she reciprocates and I'm scared that our friendship will be ruined if I confess," he voiced out. "You could, maybe...help me with that? I mean, I need a female perspective on this- I don't think Ishaan and Yashaswi are helpful in this stuff, honestly." He added and Yashaswi was offended.

"Man, I give good love advice," he clicked his tongue. "I mean, I literally gave you proof she likes you back,"

"Alright, Shubman if a girl likes you, and she's...a friend, like a really good friend. Like, I'm assuming you two are very good friends judging on your tone and words, I don't think it is obvious if a friend who is a girl likes you like that. She'll care for you, and she'll like you a lot, but girls are more scared about ruining friendships. So I guess, you just have to find out if she likes you by asking her," Aditi said. "But it's also different for everyone," she added.

"See, she's...she's a family friend, like my parents, and some of my cousins...they all just adore her, like sometimes I think they love her more than me. And for us, we kinda...we kinda hit a rough patch in between all these years, but I think...I've always liked her, even if I was in denial. And we just became good friends again, I mean we're rebuilding our friendship to be honest, and I don't want to screw it up,"

"I think it's kind of like Schrödinger's cat," Aditi said.

"Abb woh kya hota hai?" (What is that?) Shubman asked.

"Yeah, all I understood was 'cat', Aditi" Yashaswi agreed.

"Uhm, wait. Okay, so as I said, you have to find out for yourself. You can't know the outcome before taking the leap, you understand now?"

"I think..." Shubman thoughtfully said. What should I do? Are my feelings for Sara more important than this friendship? Am I being hasty?

"How is a cat related to this, though?" Yashaswi asked, still confused.

"It's an experiment, just look it up, Jaiswal." Aditi said. "Shubman, can I say something?" She asked.

"Bol na," (Say it)

"Weigh the pros and cons before taking the leap of faith," she said.

"Aditi, you're talking in a very complicated language today," Yashaswi sighed.

"I mean, think about it thoroughly before taking the decision, Shubman! You'll do well," she smiled.

"Aditi, kisse baat kar rahi hai?" (Aditi, who are you talking to?)

"Meri sautano se," (Your other wives) she commented cheekily.

"Oh," A wet hair Ishaan appeared on the screen, waving at them.

"Kya hua?" (What happened?)

"Shubman's wondering whether he should ask out Sara," Yashaswi informed him and Shubman just nodded.

"Baby, I gotta leave now, I am so late, Mummy-Papa are waiting for me," Aditi said, pecking Ishaan's lips and leaving.

"Bye," he said softly. "Text me when you reach,"

Shubman and Yashaswi made a dramatic disgusted face.

"Eww PDA," Shubman said.

"Why do I have to see all this?" Yashaswi said, rubbing his eyes.

Ishaan rolled his eyes.

"Dramatic idiots," He said.

"Anyway, Shub? Is this true? You're asking out Sara?" Ishaan asked, amused.

"I was considering it, but I'm not sure," he said.

"At least you're upfront about your feelings now," Ishaan commented.

"Ishaan, just the other day- it just clicked, all of it, it makes sense. She's the one, she has always been," Shubman said truthfully, without narrating the events of the day. He couldn't possibly talk about how he realised he liked her- with Sara's anxiety attack and everything.

"I'm happy you're accepting it. It's okay if you don't want to tell her right away, accepting your feelings is the first and an important step," Ishaan replied.

"Ishaan, what if she doesn't like me back? What if our friendship is ruined?" Shubman voiced his concerns, again.

"I don't know Sara that personally to figure out her feelings, but from what all I know, I think what you two share is special and that you should go for it,"

"Bhai baat toh Ishaan ne sach bola, from everything I know about you, you and Sara are clearly very special for each other, and when I saw her and you that day, a month ago, I did think there was a certain comfort and chemistry between you two," Yashaswi said. "Also, again- I showed you her speech! Her winning speech and she mentions you, if that's not romantic, I don't know what is!"

"Bhai, Jaiswal-Ishaan, I was practically floating in the air when I finally accepted my feelings for her, I was so happy, so happy! But then, out of the blue, this fear creeped in my mind, what if she likes someone else, just like she liked someone else years ago? I am so confused!" Shubman rambled and the two friends patiently listened.

"Shubman, I don't know about that time, but today is a different day. Don't be scared to wear your heart on your sleeve," Ishaan said.

"Heart on your sleeve? Goodness, you're becoming like Aditi," Yashaswi teased, trying to lighten up the mood. "And Shubman, don't worry. Stay a little calm and patient, and you'll do the right thing," he added.

Would I really do the right thing?

A/N: The new cover's by Ablazed_phoenix ! How was this chapter anyway? 😭