It had been an exhausting day for Shubman, a grueling practice session leaving him drenched in sweat and utterly drained. Instead of heading back to his own place, his legs seemed to have a mind of their own, leading him straight to Khushi's apartment.

By the time Khushi finally got home from her shift at the café, she was greeted by the sight of him sprawled out on her couch, head tipped back, eyes closed, and his practice bag tossed carelessly on the floor. His shirt clung to him, damp with sweat, and his usually well-kept hair was messy and sticking to his forehead.

"Shubs," she said, crossing her arms with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You know you have your own place, right?"

His eyes fluttered open at her voice, and a slow, lazy smile spread across his face. "Khush," he murmured, his voice low and tired.

She set her bag down and approached him, kneeling beside the couch. "You look like you just ran a marathon."

"Feels like it," he mumbled, reaching out to gently grab her hand. His fingers intertwined with hers automatically, his touch warm despite the day he'd had. "Missed you, though."

Khushi rolled her eyes fondly. "You couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"Nope," he said simply, tugging her closer so she had no choice but to sit down on the edge of the couch. "Needed to see you. Also, your couch is comfier than mine."

"You're impossible," she said, brushing the damp strands of hair from his forehead. "You're sweaty, Shubs. You should've at least showered before invading my space."

"Your space feels better," he said with a teasing grin, though his voice was heavy with fatigue.

Khushi sighed, standing up. "Okay, come on. You're not sleeping on the couch like this. Shower first."

Instead of moving, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto the couch beside him, resting his head against her shoulder. "Five more minutes," he murmured.

She chuckled softly. "You're clingy when you're tired, you know that?"

"Only with you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her heart softened at his words, and she let him rest for a little longer, her fingers lightly combing through his messy hair. After a few minutes, she gently nudged him.

"Alright, come on. Shower, and I'll make you something to eat. You'll feel better."

He finally groaned but got up, leaning on her slightly as he made his way to the bathroom.

By the time he emerged, freshly showered and looking much more alive, she had a plate of his favorite snacks waiting for him on the coffee table.

"See?" she said as he sank onto the couch again, this time with a content sigh. "Much better."

Instead of replying, he grabbed her hand again, pulling her down to sit beside him. His head found her shoulder once more as he whispered, "Thanks, Khush. You're the best."

Khushi smiled, letting her head rest lightly against his. "Yeah, yeah. Now eat."

But even as he started eating, he kept her hand in his, as if letting go wasn't an option. 

It was one of those little moments that felt big in the way only small, sweet gestures could. The evening had flowed seamlessly, with laughter echoing through Anjali's house, the air rich with the warmth of friendship and Diwali sweets. Shubman had stepped out for a few minutes, claiming he needed to pick something up. Khushi didn't think much of it—he had a habit of surprising her with small, thoughtful gestures.

When he returned, he had something in his hands—a little box. He smiled as he approached her, the box a bit of an enigma.

"What's this?" Khushi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's for you," he replied, handing it to her with a soft, almost shy smile.

Khushi carefully opened the box and found a small, delicate cupcake inside—frosted with soft pink icing and sprinkles on top, the kind of treat that seemed to be made just for her. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she looked at him with so much warmth.

"You didn't have to," she said softly, but there was no hiding the joy in her eyes.

"Of course I did," he replied with a grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I saw it and thought of you."

Khushi took a bite of the cupcake, savoring the sweetness. It was the perfect mix of soft and sugary, just like she liked. Her heart fluttered a little—just for this moment, just for him.

But then, instead of finishing it herself, she held the rest of it out to him with a smile. "You should have some too," she said, her voice soft and selfless. "It's so good."

Shubman raised an eyebrow at her, amused and a little touched by her gesture. But in one smooth motion, he took the piece of the cupcake from her hand and, with a playful glint in his eye, gently stuffed the rest of it into her mouth before she could protest.

"Hey!" she laughed, surprised but too happy to be upset. The frosting landed on her lips, and she wiped it away with her finger, smiling at him in the sweetest way possible.

"You're too selfless, Khushi," he teased, his voice low and affectionate.

Khushi just smiled back at him, her heart full of the joy that only moments like this could bring. It wasn't the grand gestures that mattered, but the way he made her feel special with even the smallest of acts. She could feel her chest swell with warmth, knowing that this simple cupcake—this simple act of thoughtfulness—was one of the most precious gifts she'd ever received.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice full of sincerity.

It seemed like everything around Khushi was always brighter when Shubman was near her. Whether it was his small surprises, like the cupcake, or simply the way he made her feel, it always felt like she was wrapped in a warm embrace every time he smiled at her.

Khushi had always been used to the little moments that meant the world—whether it was her quiet evenings working at the café, or the playful banter with her friends, Anjali and Kunal. But with Shubman, everything just felt different. Even the mundane moments had a layer of excitement to them.

The night they shared the cupcake was no exception. As they sat together, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. It was just them—simple, sweet, and uncomplicated. Even though it was a Diwali celebration at Anjali's house, the fireworks outside didn't compare to the spark she felt every time Shubman glanced at her, or the way his hand brushed against hers.

"You're smiling a lot tonight," Shubman commented playfully, his voice low but teasing, as they sat in a cozy corner of the living room, watching the rest of the party unfold.

Khushi couldn't help but laugh softly. "Am I?" she asked, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him. "Well, I guess I have a lot of reasons to smile tonight."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Like what?"

She shrugged, a soft, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Like you."

Shubman's heart skipped a beat. That simple confession, coming from Khushi, felt like the most wonderful thing he had heard all evening. He leaned in a little closer, his voice soft and sincere. "You're my reason to smile too, you know."

Khushi's heart fluttered. She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks, her smile softening as she looked at him. His words, simple as they were, filled her with warmth. It was moments like this that made everything feel right in the world. No need for grand gestures, no need for anything elaborate—just them, in their own little bubble.

"Maybe we should leave the party early," Shubman murmured with a playful glint in his eyes, his hand brushing lightly against hers again.

Khushi tilted her head, considering it for a moment. "You're not going to let me enjoy the night with my friends, are you?" she teased.

"Well, maybe I just want to spend some more time with you," he said, grinning. "How about a walk under the stars after?"

Khushi's heart melted at the thought. "That sounds perfect."

And so, as the night carried on, with the lights twinkling around them and the laughter of friends filling the air, Khushi couldn't help but feel like she was living in a dream—one where the simple things with Shubman were enough to fill her heart with more joy than she ever thought possible.

The next day, Shubman couldn't help but feel the weight of his match. Every time he stepped onto the field, he felt like he had the world watching, and yet, in the back of his mind, it was always her. Khushi. The thought of her made him play like he was unstoppable, as if her smile were his secret weapon.

He played exceptionally well, hitting runs and taking wickets with ease, but deep down, it was her energy that pushed him to do his best. Every time he glanced up to see the crowd, he imagined her there, cheering him on, her smile lighting up the stadium.

By the time the match ended, Shubman was exhausted but satisfied. He had given it his all—and he couldn't wait to tell Khushi. But with the adrenaline still coursing through him, it wasn't until 1:00 AM that he finally picked up his phone to send her a text.

"Hey, sorry I didn't message earlier. Had a match. I played well, but it would've been better if you were here."

The message was simple, but it sent a warmth through Khushi's chest that made her heart race. She had been lying in bed, thinking about him, missing him after an entire day without seeing him. When her phone lit up with his name, she felt her stomach flip. She smiled, her heart swelling at the thought of him.

For a moment, she just stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. It was late, and she was exhausted too, but something about his message made her feel awake in a way she couldn't describe.

She giggled to herself, her cheeks turning pink as she typed her response.

"I missed you too! I knew you'd do well. I'm proud of you! But you really should've gotten some rest. Don't make me worry about you!"

She hit send and then placed the phone over her heart, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She couldn't believe how easily he had captured her heart. It was like she was a teenager again, giggling over a crush, feeling shy and excited all at once.

A few moments later, his reply came.

"Rest? Nah, not when I had you on my mind the whole time. But I'm glad you're proud of me. That means more than anything."

Khushi's heart fluttered at his words, and she found herself giggling once again. She buried her face in her pillow, her heart racing. She was so in love with him, and every little thing he did made her fall deeper.

"Why does he have to be so perfect?" she whispered to herself, still holding her phone close.

For the rest of the night, she kept her phone close, waiting for his next message. It didn't matter that it was late. It didn't matter that they weren't seeing each other right now. What mattered was that they were connected, even in the quietest moments. And that was enough for her.