The words hit Ishan like a punch to the gut. He forced a smile, but inside, his thoughts were racing. “For now.” Those two words echoed in his mind, carrying with them a world of possibilities—and none of them were good.

"So, you’re thinking of asking her out?" Ishan asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Shubman nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, maybe. We’ve been friends for a while, and I think it might be time to take it to the next level."

Ishan swallowed hard, trying to keep the smile plastered on his face. "That’s great, man. She seems… nice."

"She is," Shubman agreed, not noticing the way Ishan’s voice had lost its enthusiasm.

***

Ishan was sitting in his room, the glow of his laptop screen casting a soft light on his face. He’d been trying to distract himself by working on an assignment, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the match, to Shubman’s words about Sara, and to that lingering feeling of unease he couldn’t quite shake.

Just as he was about to shut his laptop and call it a night, his phone buzzed on the table beside him. He picked it up, and a small smile tugged at his lips when he saw the message from Shubman:

Reached very safely at Ahmedabad with all of my limbs intact 👍

Ishan chuckled to himself, typing back quickly.

"Glad to hear it. I was worried you might lose a foot or two on the way there." he replied, adding a winking emoji at the end.

Within moments, his phone buzzed again with Shubman’s reply and a rush of dopamine arrived again:

You never know, man. These road trips can be dangerous. But hey, the real danger is tomorrow when I face those bowlers!

Ishan grinned, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. Despite the tension of the previous day, it was comforting to fall back into their usual banter. His heart wanted to still in hope, it seemed.

You’ll smash them, like you always do. Just make sure you keep all those limbs intact for when you’re back! Ishan texted back.

There was a pause before Shubman’s next message came through:

I’ll do my best. You better watch the match, topper.

Taking a look at Shubman's message, his mind wndered thinking how much might change by the time Shubman returned, but he pushed the thought away, determined to focus on the present.

I’ll watch for sure. You better make sure you bring that century with you. Ishan replied.

Shubman’s response was almost immediate:

Deal. Goodnight, Ishan. Don’t stay up too late thinking about me 😜

Ishan couldn’t help but grin as he read the message. He quickly typed out a reply:

I’ll try my best. Goodnight, Shubh.

He put his phone down, the smile still lingering on his lips as he settled into bed. Despite the questions and uncertainties swirling in his mind, for now, he let himself enjoy the moment. Shubman was safe, he’d made contact, and in some small way, it made Ishan feel connected to him, even from miles away.

These conversations made him happy, but they weren't enough.

***

After sending off his text to Ishan, Shubman felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. The day had been long and eventful, and despite everything, he couldn’t help but feel a thrill at how things were unfolding.

Yet, there was still one more thing on his mind before he could finally unwind for the night.

He scrolled through his contacts and found Sara’s number. With no hesitation at all, he pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear. It rang twice before her familiar voice came through the line.

"Shubman! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Sara’s voice was playful, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Shubman leaned back on the bed, a smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, Sara. Just wanted to check in with you. How’s everything going?"

"Busy as always," she replied, her voice light. "But I’m managing. How was your flight?"

"Smooth, thankfully. I’ve landed safely in Ahmedabad with all my limbs intact," he quipped, echoing the words he’d texted Ishan earlier. "But enough about that. I wanted to talk to you about something else."

"Oh? And what might that be?" Sara’s voice was laced with intrigue.

Shubman hesitated for a split second, but then he decided to go for it. "I was thinking... my next match is in Mumbai. I was wondering if you’d like to come and watch. And maybe... we could go out afterwards? You know, grab dinner or something?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and Shubman felt his heart rate pick up slightly. But then Sara’s voice came through, warm and teasing. "Are you asking me out on a date, Mr. Gill?"

Shubman grinned, leaning into the flirtation. "Well, it sounds like I am, doesn’t it? What do you say?" Saying that he leaned back on his pillow, and grabbing another one to keep on his lap.

Sara laughed softly, a sound that sent a small jolt of excitement through him. "I say yes. A date with Shubman Gill sounds like something I wouldn’t want to miss."

"Perfect," he said, relief and anticipation mixing together in his chest. "We’ll make it a fun day, I promise. You’ll be my good luck charm for the match, and then we can celebrate afterward."

"Sounds like a plan," Sara agreed, her voice smooth. "And here I thought you might be all work and no play."

"Well, I can be serious when I need to be," Shubman replied, "but I know how to have a good time too. And I think you're gonna enjoy it."

"I’m looking forward to it," Sara said, her voice dropping to a softer, more intimate tone. "Just don’t go breaking any more hearts in the meantime."

Shubman chuckled, the flirtation successfully working in his favour. "No promises. But I’ll try to keep mine closed for now, until we meet."

"You better," she teased. "I’ll see you in Mumbai then?"

"See you in Mumbai," Shubman echoed, feeling a sense of excitement building within him. "Goodnight, Sara."

"Goodnight, Shubman."

As he hung up the phone, Shubman couldn’t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction. The match, the date with Sara—everything seemed to be falling into place. But as he lay back in bed, his mind drifted for a moment to Ishan, who would also be watching. There was a slight tension in his chest, but he pushed it aside. He’d deal with that later. For now, he had a date to look forward to.

***