Shubman had reached college early and was intensely practicing basketball. The gym was quiet, the echo of the bouncing ball and his shoes squeaking against the floor the only sounds. Today was a free day for the students not selected for the team, but Shubman was determined to push himself harder. Sweat poured down his face as he dribbled and shot with a single-minded focus.

Suddenly, Abhishek appeared at the edge of the court. "Stop it, man. Since when have you been practicing?" he called out, concern etched on his face.

Shubman barely glanced at him, continuing to dribble. "Five hours," he replied curtly.

Abhishek gasped and hurried off to find the rest of their group, the Fusion Five. He found them in the common area, relaxing and chatting.

"Nish, Ash, Kamlesh, Shubman has gone mad," Abhishek announced, out of breath.

Tunisha looked up, alarmed. "What happened, Abhi?"

Abhishek shook his head, trying to catch his breath. "That man has been practicing basketball continuously for five hours and won't stop."

The group exchanged worried glances before rushing to the court. They found Shubman sitting on the bench, breathing heavily but with a determined look on his face.

Ashnoor approached him first. "Basketball practice for five hours? Without any break? Are you mad?" she exclaimed.

Shubman wiped his forehead with a towel and shrugged. "Just leave it, na. What are you guys doing today?"

Kartikey, ever the practical one, chimed in. "The professor said we need to work on our projects."

Shubman managed a tired smile. "Oh, okay. I'll shower and change." He got up and headed to the showers, where he let the water wash away his fatigue and frustration. After dressing, he made his way to the canteen.

Sitting there, he spotted Sara with her friends, the Five Dynamics. A smile crept onto his face as he picked up his phone and messaged her.

Sara: "Hey, come to the canteen. Need to talk."

Sara saw the message, excused herself from her friends, and made her way over to him. As soon as she saw him, she hugged him tightly. "What are you planning to do?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.

Before Shubman could respond, a girl in an extremely short dress approached them, her eyes fixed on Shubman. "Hey, you're Shubman Malhotra, right?" she asked with a flirty smile.

Shubman nodded, a bit taken aback. "Yeah, that's me."

The girl glanced dismissively at Sara. "Why are you hanging out with her? You can join me. I promise to make your day memorable."

Shubman's expression hardened. "I'm sorry, but I'm extremely busy." He then turned to Sara, his voice softening. "Sara, let's go to the library for the assignment."

Sara's eyes sparkled with relief and affection as they walked away together. In the library, they found a quiet corner and settled down with their books and laptops.

Sara looked at him with a mixture of admiration and concern. "You know, you don't have to push yourself so hard. You're already amazing."

Shubman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just feel like I have to prove myself, Sara. After not getting selected, it's like I need to show everyone—and myself—that I'm still capable."

Sara reached out and took his hand. "You have nothing to prove, Shubman. Not to me, not to anyone. We all know how talented you are. Just don't forget to take care of yourself too."

Shubman squeezed her hand, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Sara. You always know what to say."

They spent the next few hours working on their assignments, the library's quiet atmosphere providing the perfect backdrop for their focused efforts. Every now and then, Shubman would glance at Sara, her presence a comforting reminder that he wasn't alone in his struggles.

As the afternoon sun filtered through the library windows, casting a warm glow over them, Shubman felt a renewed sense of determination. With Sara by his side and the support of his friends and family, he knew he could face any challenge that came his way.

As the afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the library windows, Shubman and Sara continued working on their assignments. Occasionally, they exchanged smiles and soft glances, the quiet intimacy of the moment enveloping them.

Shubman stretched his arms above his head, trying to ease the stiffness from his long practice session earlier. Sara noticed and reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You look tense," she said softly. "Want me to give you a quick shoulder massage?"

Shubman smiled gratefully. "That would be amazing, actually."

Sara moved behind him and began to gently knead his shoulders, her touch soothing and warm. Shubman closed his eyes, letting out a contented sigh. "You have magic hands, you know that?"

Sara chuckled, leaning in close to his ear. "Just for you," she whispered, sending a shiver down his spine.

After a few minutes, she returned to her seat, and they continued their work. As they worked, their legs brushed under the table, sending sparks of electricity between them. Shubman couldn't help but steal glances at Sara, admiring her focused expression and the way her hair framed her face.

Suddenly, Sara looked up and caught him staring. She raised an eyebrow playfully. "What's on your mind, Mr. Malhotra?"

Shubman blushed but didn't look away. "Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life."

Sara's eyes softened, and she reached across the table to take his hand. "I'm the lucky one, Shub. You make everything better."

They shared a quiet moment, their hands intertwined, feeling the unspoken connection between them.

As the library started to empty out, signaling the end of the day, Shubman closed his laptop and stood up. "How about we take a walk? It's a beautiful evening."

Sara nodded, packing her things. "I'd love that."

They left the library and stepped outside into the cool evening air. The campus was bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees. As they walked, their fingers naturally found each other's, and they walked hand in hand.

"Remember our first walk together?" Sara asked, a nostalgic smile on her face.

Shubman grinned. "How could I forget? You tripped over a rock and almost took me down with you."

Sara laughed, nudging him playfully. "And you caught me. My knight in shining armor."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. Eventually, they found a bench under a large oak tree and sat down, still holding hands.

Shubman turned to Sara, his eyes filled with affection. "Sara, I don't know what I'd do without you. You've been my rock through everything."

Sara leaned in, her eyes sparkling. "And you've been mine. We're a team, remember?"

Shubman smiled, leaning closer. "Always."

Their lips met in a soft, tender kiss, the world around them fading away. It was just the two of them, lost in each other. When they finally pulled back, they rested their foreheads together, their breaths mingling.

Sara whispered, "I love you, Shubman."

Shubman's heart swelled with emotion. "I love you too, Sara."

As the evening turned to night, they continued to sit under the oak tree, wrapped in each other's arms, content in the knowledge that no matter what challenges came their way, they would face them together.