Shubman was sleeping peacefully until his alarm started ringing. He turned it off and went to shower, getting ready for college.

He wore a dark-colored, long-sleeved polo shirt with the word "MANHATTAN" printed across the chest in bold, white letters, along with a small white logo below the text. The collar and sleeve cuffs were ribbed with a contrasting white stripe. He paired the polo with brown trousers made of thick fabric, possibly corduroy, and completed his look with white sneakers featuring intricate detailing, including tan and light brown accents and a patterned design on the sides.

Arriving at college, Shubman found his friends, the Fusion Five, sitting in the garden. He sat next to Abhishek, and Kartikey asked, "How was the premiere?"

"It was good," Shubman replied. Then he saw Sara. She was wearing straight-leg jeans with a raw hem at the bottom and visible red stitching detail near the hem on one leg. She wore white low-top sneakers with black detailing, and her top was an oversized black sweater layered over a white collared shirt, with the collar peeking out at the neckline and the shirt's hem extending slightly below the sweater's hemline. Her hair was tied into a messy bun.

Kamlesh said, "Bro, you guys are technically twinning."

Shubman blinked and pretended to be innocent. "Who?"

"Sara," Tunisha replied.

Shubman scoffed, "I don't care."

After college, Shubman went home and saw a big crowd outside his house. As he tried to navigate through, a reporter asked, "Are you dating Sara Shroff?"

Shubman simply said, "No comments," and hurried inside. "What is all this?" he asked.

Kiara explained, "People think you are dating Tiger's sister, Sara."

"What are you saying, Bhabhi?" Shubman responded in disbelief.

Sidharth added, "The picture where she hugged you has gone viral."

Shubman sat down, exasperated. "Shit!"

Shubman sat down, feeling the weight of the unexpected attention. The viral photo had turned a simple hug into a media frenzy.

"I can't believe this is happening," Shubman muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Kiara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be okay. The media always blows things out of proportion."

Sidharth nodded. "We'll handle this. Just keep calm and avoid saying anything that could fuel the rumors."

Shubman sighed, "I guess I have no choice. Thanks for the support, Bhabhi, Bhaiya."

As he tried to relax in his room, his phone buzzed with a message from Sara.

Shubman felt a bit more at ease knowing he'd soon get to talk to Sara and clear things up. He quickly changed into a casual outfit, putting on a plain black t-shirt and jeans, then headed out, careful to avoid the reporters still lingering outside.

At the café, Sara was already waiting at a corner table. She looked a bit stressed but managed a smile when she saw him.

"Hey," Shubman greeted as he sat down. "This is insane, right?"

Sara nodded, "Totally. I didn't think a simple hug would cause such a stir."

Shubman sighed, "Me neither. But we need to figure out how to deal with this. I don't want people thinking we're hiding something or creating more drama."

Sara agreed. "We need to be clear and honest, but also careful about how we handle it publicly."

They talked for a while, strategizing on how to address the rumors without adding fuel to the fire. They decided to make a joint statement, explaining that they were just friends and that the hug was a friendly gesture taken out of context.

Back home, Shubman crafted a message with Sara's input, ready to be shared on their social media accounts.

Shubman reviewed the message, ensuring it conveyed the right tone and clarity. Satisfied, he posted it to his social media accounts and took a deep breath, hoping it would help dispel the rumors.

As the day went on, supportive comments and messages started to pour in from friends, family, and followers. People appreciated their honesty and maturity in handling the situation. The initial wave of rumors and gossip began to die down, replaced by messages of support and understanding.

Later that evening, Shubman and Sara decided to meet up at the café near their to unwind. They sat in a cozy corner, away from prying eyes and the chaos of the day.

"How are you holding up?" Shubman asked, sipping his coffee.

"Better now," Sara replied, smiling. "I think your message really helped calm things down."

Shubman nodded, relieved. "I'm glad. I just wanted to make sure people understood the truth. The last thing we need is more drama."

Sara chuckled, "True. But I guess it comes with the territory. We just have to stay true to ourselves and not let it get to us."

They spent the next couple of hours talking about their projects, their plans, and everything else that had nothing to do with the rumors. It was a refreshing break from the hectic day, and both felt a renewed sense of normalcy.

As they parted ways, Shubman felt grateful for Sara's friendship and support. Despite the unexpected media attention, their bond had only grown stronger. It had been a challenging day, but it also reaffirmed the importance of trust and communication.

Back at home, Shubman finally felt at peace. He had faced the rumors head-on and emerged with his friendships intact.

With a smile, Shubman drifted off to sleep, knowing that no matter what, he had good friends by his side and the strength to face whatever came his way.