06.01.2025

-

"I'm telling you, he was this close," Shahneel emphasized as she ate the last bits of the cupcake. "And then he tells me he just wanted a tissue and totally not my ice cream."

"Could've been," you replied, dipping a French fry in coke before eating it.

"Your husband is a serial thief," she complained. "Last week, it was my chocolate and yesterday, my ice cream-"

Her words were cut off when her phone rang, the caller ID displaying the name, 'Ishu.'

"Your brother," she told you before answering the call.

"Your boyfriend," you said back as you reached for the chocolate shake.

Nothing better than good food after a hectic workday.

You were hellbent on finishing everything before the upcoming week. It's going to be your third wedding monthsary and Shubman proposed a vacation.

(A/n: Ahem ahem, second honeymoon)

"Go ahead," you said as you ate the last of your French fries. "I'll pay the bill and come home with Shubi."

You finished the chocolate shake, trying what was possible to not get a brain free, watching your sister-in-law gather her things and leave.

"Ask him today," you added and she left, but not before giving you a nod.

You thought about your previous conversation.

Usually, if Shubman was to pick you up and Ishan came too for Shahneel, he'd drop her off at home and leave after a while.

Now you both were thinking about Ishan doing the same, but not leaving after a while.

If that's confusing, it's how you worded it.

It'd be nice if he did agree, you thought as you reached the bill counter.

"Hope he says yes," you mumbled to yourself as you lifted your head up and came face to face with- "Abhi."

Your former colleague in his late teens, raised his head upon hearing his name.

Realization flashed across his face, followed by a slightly surprised smile, "Y/n."

"What are you doing here?"

"Working?" Abhi answered, more like questioned, and you gave him a deadpan look.

"Alright, we're still the same," you said, forgetting about Shubman you'd asked to always wait outside, because no attention than what you had already was needed. "Dude, we're literally seeing each other after a year."

"I know," he replied. "I expected GTA 6 to be here before you."

When you worked together in the store, you talked about GTA all the time.

He told you he wanted to end up as Tommy Vercetti who can take cars as he likes.

You told him he'll probably end up on a cycle like in San Andreas.

"I've lost hope," you admitted while placing your hands on the counter. "GTA 6 is just a dream."

"Don't talk like that," he swatted your hand, evoking reactions from two men near you.

You turned to look at them before they could even make another movement, and their hands stopped, still holding the gun in their holsters.

"Can you both wait downstairs?" You asked because you really didn't want them blowing up a new café. "I'll tell Shubman. You can go."

Their faces relaxed just a millimeter, nodding in agreement before slowly leaving. Only to stand by the entrance though.

"Alright, that was weird," Abhi said and you gave him a slightly sheepish look.

But yeah, he supposes that came with marrying Shubman Gill.

The two of your shrugged it off, catching up over an unpaid bill until his manager came out to give him a subtle look that was meant for your eyes to evade.

You exchanged numbers, promising to call so that you didn't get estranged from each other again.

And with the excitement of seeing one of your first and actually nice acquaintances in Goa, you jumped down the stairs.

However, you miscalculated the steps you were jumping over and to no one's surprise, tripped a little.

You swore first, holding on to the nearest thing for support, which turned out to be a wall.

No one saw.

You gave the wall a weird look before walking down the stairs, carefully this time, smiling only when you saw Shubman.

"Hey, baby," he greeted you with a hug outside the car, beaming as he wrapped his arms around you.

You buried your face in his shoulder, inhaling his scent like you were a drug addict before pulling away.

"Hey, hubby," you greeted back as he placed a kiss on your lips.

"How was your day?" Shubman asked as he ran his fingers through your hair briefly.

"Eventful," you answered like you didn't see each other just seven hours back. "I have so much to tell you."

"I'm listening," he was still smiling when he opened the car door for you.

"I met my-"

"What happened?" Shubman hates cutting you off.

But it had to be done when he saw blood on your arm as you got in the car.

You followed his gaze with just slight confusion, realizing that while trying to hold the wall for support, you'd accidentally hurt your arm.

"Oh, I slipped a bit on the stairs," you said nonchalantly and he continued staring, the smile long gone from his face.

He nodded, closing the door on your side before turning around to look at Robin who'd been waiting just beside.

"The owner or the constructor?" He asked immediately.

Shubman stared at the unfortunate place for a good ten seconds. "The building."

He started and Robin nodded, awaiting instructions.

"Burn it."