EDIT: NEXT UPDATE ONLY WHEN THIS CHAPTER RECEIVES 20 VOTES!

Hira practically skipped through Paris Airport, her heart light with excitement.

It had been three long months since she last saw her parents, and the anticipation of reuniting with them filled her with joy.

As soon as she spotted them in the crowded terminal, a bright smile spread across her face.

She ran toward them, arms outstretched, and they embraced her warmly.

"Hira, beta!" her mother exclaimed, holding her close. "We missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Maa," Hira replied, her voice muffled against her mother's shoulder.

Her father joined in the hug, his strong arms wrapping around both women.

"Look at you," he said, pulling back to examine her. "You're glowing! How's everything been?"

"Busy, but good," Hira said with a smile. "I've got so much to tell you."

As they made their way through the airport and toward the hotel, Hira's phone buzzed in her pocket.

She pulled it out, seeing Shubman's name flashing on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly answered.

"Hey," she greeted him, her voice filled with warmth.

"Hey, love," Shubman replied, his tone equally affectionate. "I'm at the airport, too, catching a flight to Chennai for our next match. Just wanted to hear your voice before I board."

Hira's smile widened. "That's sweet of you. I'm actually very excited for the World Cup, Shub. I know you and the team are going to do great."

"We're working hard," he said with a chuckle. "But hearing your confidence in us means a lot. You should come watch some of the matches."

"I will," Hira promised. "I'll be cheering for you from the stands."

They continued talking, exchanging updates and sweet nothings until it was time for Shubman to board.

"Alright, I have to go," he said reluctantly. "I'll call you when I land."

"Safe flight," Hira whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Shubman replied before the line went dead.

Hira slipped her phone back into her pocket, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

As she turned back to her parents, she found them watching her with curious eyes.

"So, Hia," her mother began gently, "you seem very happy when you talk to Shubman. Do you really like him?"

Hira's smile returned, and she felt her heart swell as she thought about him.

"It's more than like, Maa," she admitted, her voice soft but sure. "I love him. He’s everything I ever wanted. But right now, he's focused on the World Cup, and I don't want to distract him. He needs to give it his all, and I want to support him in that."

Her parents exchanged a knowing glance, pleased with her response.

"We're happy to hear that, beta," her father said. "Shubman is a good man. We knew you two would be a good match."

They arrived at the hotel, and as they stepped out of the car, Hira was surprised to see a familiar figure approaching them.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Kartik?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with shock.

Her best friend, Kartik, grinned widely as he came closer, spreading his arms wide for a hug. "Surprise!" he said, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Hira's parents looked pleased as well. "We thought it would be a good idea for Kartik to join us," her mother explained. "He’s practically family, after all."

"That's right," her father added, patting Kartik on the back. "We’re going to have a great time exploring New York together."

Hira smiled, but it was half-hearted.

While she was genuinely happy to see Kartik, a nagging thought tugged at the back of her mind.

If the media caught sight of her spending time with Kartik, it might make Shubman insecure.

The last thing she wanted was to cause any tension between them, especially now.

Her thoughts swirled as they walked into the hotel, Kartik chattering excitedly about the plans for their trip.

Hira did her best to join in, but her heart wasn’t fully in it.

She was missing Shubman already.

In the hotel room, after settling down, Hira’s mother noticed her daughter's thoughtful expression.

She switched to Gujarati, a tone of concern in her voice. "Su thaiyu, Beta? (What happened, Beta?) You seem distant."

Hira hesitated before replying in their mother tongue.  mane Shubman ni yaad aavi gayi.( I miss Shubman.)"

Her father nodded, understanding. "Shubman no dhyan game par che. (Shubman’s focus is on his game) You don't need to worry about anything."

Hira smiled, grateful for her parents' support. "Hu samjhu chu, Papa. Bas, mane Kevu lage che ke aa vakhte maaru dhyan jyaare vaatvaar jodaay che, tyaare Shubman na man ma je chhe te samjay nahi. (I understand, Papa. I just feel like whenever I’m with others, I don’t want Shubman to misunderstand.)"

Her mother reached out to squeeze her  hand " When you have trust in each other, there’s nothing else to worry about."

Hira nodded, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions.

She knew her parents were right, but she couldn't shake the concern that lingered.

Still, she decided to focus on the present and enjoy the time with her family, even as her thoughts strayed to the man she loved, halfway around the world.

As they were getting ready in their hotel room, Hira decided it was the right moment to share something that had been weighing on her mind.

She sat down on the bed, her parents' attentive eyes on her, and took a deep breath.

Hira hesitated for a moment before continuing, "When Shubman and I visited his relatives in Fazilka, some of them... they backbitched about me. They said things that were really hurtful."

Her mother's face tightened with anger, and her father clenched his jaw. "How dare they talk about you like that?"

Her mother spat, her voice laced with fury. "What did they say?"

Hira sighed, trying to keep her emotions in check. "They said things about how I might not be a good fit for Shubman, how I'm too independent, and that I'm too focused on my career. They made it seem like I wouldn't be a good wife or daughter-in-law."

She quickly added, "But Shubman, his parents, and his sister—they all defended me. They stood up for me and made it clear that they won’t tolerate any negativity about me. Shubman was so firm. He didn’t let them say anything against me."

Her parents' anger slowly subsided as they heard how Shubman and his family had protected her.

Her father sighed, though still visibly upset. "I’m glad Shubman and his family defended you, beta. But it makes me so angry that anyone would try to berate my daughter."

Her mother nodded in agreement, her expression softening as she reached out to touch Hira's hand.

"You don’t deserve that, Beta. But we’re glad you have Shubman by your side. He’s a good man, just like we thought."

Hira smiled at her parents’ support. "I know, Maa. I’m lucky to have him."

With that conversation behind them, the family began to get ready for their day of exploring Paris.

Hira slipped into a stylish red crop top, paired with high-waist jeans and her favorite sneakers. The outfit was casual yet chic, perfect for a day of sightseeing.

As she finished adjusting her outfit, Kartik, popped into the room. "Looking sharp, Hia!" he teased with a grin. "You trying to impress someone?"

Hira huffed in mock annoyance, rolling her eyes at him. "You’re such a pain, Koki. Can’t a girl dress up for herself?"

Kartik laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. "Sure, sure. But I remember you disliked red color, right?"

Hira shot him a glare, but before she could retort, her father stepped in.

"Koki, stop annoying my daughter," he said firmly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "Let her enjoy her day."

Kartik raised his hands in surrender, still chuckling. "Alright, alright. I’ll behave."

Once everyone was ready, they set out to explore Paris, their first stop being the iconic Disneyland.

As they approached the towering structure, Hira felt a sense of awe.

The sight was breathtaking, and she couldn’t help but snap a few pictures to send to Shubman later.

AsliHira has posted:

Liked by shubmangill, ishankishan23, jugnu, shahneelgill, kartikaryan, Virat.18, anushkasharma, athiyashetty, klrahul,TrishaKulkarni, saaaaannnnnvvviiiiii, sakshidhoni, And 78K others

AsliHira: Finding magic in every moment, one smile at a time ✨ #DisneylandDreams #ParisLove #Wanderlust"

P.C- @kartikaryan

View All 315 comments

shubmangill: You look more magical than the place itself 😍✨
↪️AsliHira: omgg thanks Shub! 🩷

saaaaannnnnvvviiiiii:  Kamine Log, Mere bina chale gaye🙄! Next trip, I'm in!
↪️AsliHira: arre baba, it was a surprise for me as well!
↪️saaaaannnnnvvviiiiii: aa tu mere saamne😒

Ishankishan23:I bet Shubman’s already booking tickets to Paris 😄
↪️AsliHira: lmao probably 😂

anushkasharma: This has to be the cutest photo ever! 😘
↪️AsliHira: Thank you bhabhi💓

Hardikpandya: Why are you making Shubman jealous?😂😂
↪️AsliHira: oh shit

ShubxHira: The person given credit is definitely going to stir up some dating rumors😏
↪️Ictxcelestial: omg who's tagged?
↪️random: Actor Kartik Aryan OMG😳

Ritikasajdehsharma: That shirt, those jeans, and that smile—perfection!
↪️AsliHira: Thank you so much <3

shahneelgill: Mickey Mouse approves!
↪️AsliHira: Lmao yesss

ShubxHira: hamari bhabhi kesi ho? Hira bhabhi jesi ho!!!
↪️trueictlover: hira bhabhi jesi ho
↪️ShubHiraMyParents: Hira bhabhi jesi ho
↪️Sara_Shub_supporter: Nahi!! Sara bhabhi jesi ho

Comments have been limited

Kartikaryan has posted:

Liked by AsliHira, shubmangill, ishankishan23, jugnu, shahneelgill, nushrattt, Virat.18, anushkasharma, athiyashetty, klrahul, saaaaannnnnvvviiiiii, saraalikhan, ananyapandey, Hetal_ Sarabhai, and 4 million others.

Kartikaryan: Parissssss!!! Here we come!! #bestfriendgoals #Paris #trip #Memories

View All 964k comments

shubmangill: Looks like I have competition in making her smile 😏
↪️AsliHira: no you don't babe!

ViralBhayani: This friendship is the definition of goals!❤️
↪️Hateclub: yeh yaha par bhi??

Kartikmylove: The chemistry between you two is unreal!💘

Fan2: Wait, are they dating? 😮

Leavemyshubmanalone: Kartik and Hira look amazing together!

ShreyasIyer: Is this where the 'Kira' rumors started? 😂

gossipmongers: Sorry Shubman, but Kartik and Hira just look too good together!
↪️Saaaaannnnnvvviiiiii: no one asked for your opinion. Mind your own goddamn business!

BopalGam: OMG the rumors were true? Shubman and Hira aren't together anymore?
↪️AsliHira: get the fuck out

Fan11: Hira is perfect with Shubman. Kartik, stop confusing us!
↪️ishankishan23: exactly!

HiraHusnpari: Hira, how do you manage to have all the handsome men around you?

ShubHiraMyParents: Stop the rumors! Kartik and Hira are just friends, right?

Hiraisabitch: Wow, Hira! Cheating on Shubman with your 'best friend'? What a joke!"

ShubSaraLover: what a slut!

MujheKaamDhandaNaiHai: Paris is for lovers, not for backstabbing! Poor Shubman…

AngelPriya: I am free? wanna video call? 🔥💋👄

ShaantiLovers: Both Shubman and Kartik care for Hira, but let’s not assume the worst.

View more comments.

On the flight to Chennai, Shubman was scrolling through social media to pass the time when he came across Hira's latest posts.

His heart sank as he saw the photos of her and Kartik together, exploring Paris.

They looked happy, enjoying their time, but the comments below were anything but kind.

The posts had stirred up a storm of negativity.

Some people accused Hira of being a "cheater" and a "slut," calling into question her character simply because she was seen with Kartik.

Others were comparing her to Sara Tendulkar again, reigniting rumors and speculation.

Shubman’s face darkened as he read through the comments, his jealousy and anger escalating with each swipe.

Isha noticed the tension in Shubman’s demeanor. "Hey, what’s up?" He asked, concerned.

Shubman handed him the phone, barely able to speak. "Look at this," he said, his voice strained.

"People are saying terrible things about Hira. They’re calling her names, and it’s driving me insane."

Ishan took a look at the comments, his expression hardening. "That’s brutal," he said, passing the phone around to the rest of the team.

The entire Indian cricket team was soon involved, gathering around Shubman to offer their support.

"Ignore them, Shubman," Hardik said. "You know it’s all nonsense. Hira is a great person, and these comments are just from people who don’t know her."

"Yeah, don’t let them get to you," KL added. "They’re just trying to get a reaction out of you."

"But it’s not just that," Shubman replied, his voice cracking with frustration.

"They’re making her look bad, and I can’t stand seeing anyone talk about her like that. She’s not just my girlfriend—she’s someone I love deeply. No one has the right to speak about her that way."

The team members nodded in understanding, trying to calm him down.

"We get it," Virat said. "It’s hard, but remember why you’re here. You have a game to focus on. Don’t let these trolls get under your skin."

Shubman took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

"It’s just... seeing Kartik and Aryan’s selfie together, and all these comments—it’s like people are trying to tear us apart. And now they’re shipping me with Sara again. It feels like everything is going wrong."

"Look," Shreyas said, putting a hand on Shubman’s shoulder, "you and Hira are solid. The opinions of a few idiots don’t change that. You know who you are, and you know who Hira is. Don’t let this get in the way of your focus."

Rohit chimed in, "And let’s be honest, anyone who knows you both can see that these comments are just baseless noise. Stay strong and focus on your game."

The support from his teammates helped Shubman calm down, though the anger and hurt were still there.

As soon as Shubman landed in Chennai, he checked into his hotel and immediately set up a video call with Hira.

He was eager to see her, but his insecurities lingered after seeing the negative comments about her.

Hira answered the call, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Shub! How was your flight?"

"It was fine," He replied, trying to keep his tone light. "I’m just glad to see you."

She continued babbling excitedly about her day at Disneyland. "You should have seen it, Shub! The rides were amazing, and we got to meet Mickey Mouse!"

Shubman nodded, but his mind was preoccupied. Hira’s parents joined the call, and he greeted them respectfully. "Hello, Uncle, Aunty"

"Hello, Beta," Hira’s father said warmly. "How’s the World Cup preparation going?"

"It’s going well, thank you," Shubman replied.

Her mother chimed in with a teasing tone. "So, Shubman, when are you two allowing us to get you two married?"

Hira quickly jumped in to change the subject. "Maa, let’s not talk about that now. Shub, tell me more about your practice sessions."

Shubman felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped for a more personal conversation, but Hira was redirecting the topic.

Just then, Kartik appeared on the screen, carrying a variety of snacks.

He plopped down beside Hira on her right, while her dad sat to her left.

Kartik began feeding Hira some ice cream, and a bit of it ended up on her lips. Kartik gently wiped it away with a tissue.

Shubman watched this from the hotel room, feeling a surge of jealousy.

His eyes narrowed as he saw Kartik’s casual intimacy with Hira.

The way Kartik fed her and cleaned her lips seemed too familiar, and Shubman’s insecurity flared up.

Feeling the tension rise, Shubman forced a smile. "It looks like you’re having a great time, Hira."

Hira noticed the change in his tone and gave him a reassuring smile. "I am, but I miss you a lot."

Kartik, oblivious to the effect he was having, continued chatting and joking with Hira’s parents.

The more Shubman watched, the more unsettled he became.

As the call ended, Shubman felt a mix of frustration and sadness.

He wished he could be there with Hira, and the sight of Kartik’s easy familiarity had only heightened his feelings of jealousy and helplessness

Hira noticed Shubman's mood shift during the call and decided to address it.

After the call ended, she moved a bit away from her parents and Kartik, and dialed Shubman's number again.

When Shubman answered, his tone was sharp." Kya hai, Hira?"

Hira was taken aback. "What’s with the attitude, Shub? I just wanted to check in. Why are you acting like this?"

"Why am I acting like this?" He  snapped. "I see Kartik all over you, feeding you ice cream and wiping your lips. It’s like you’re all over him!"

Her confusion turned to frustration. "Kartik is just a friend. He’s been my best friend for years. There’s nothing between us."

Shubman’s voice was laced with anger. "It doesn’t look that way from here. You know how people are commenting on social media. They’re saying all kinds of nasty things about you and me. It’s not just the photos—it’s what people are saying."

Hira’s face flushed with a mix of hurt and anger. "You think I don’t know? I saw the comments too. But you should trust me, Shub. I would never do anything to hurt you."

"You know what?" His voice was cold. "Maybe I should just end this call. I can’t deal with this right now."

Before Hira could respond, he ended the call abruptly. She stared at her phone in disbelief, her heart pounding.

Feeling a surge of frustration, she went back to her social media, reading through the hurtful comments again.

She saw how people were criticizing her and Shubman, and it dawned on her why he was feeling insecure.

But she also felt a deep pang of hurt—Shubman should have trusted her more.

Hira decided to call him again, her voice shaking with emotion.

When Shubman answered, he was still fuming. "What now?"

"Shubman, you can’t just end the call like that," Hira said, her voice rising.

"I’m trying to explain here. You think Kartik and I are doing something wrong, but that’s not true!"

"I don’t know what to believe anymore," Shubman yelled. "Everyone’s saying you’re a cheater, and it’s messing with my head!"

Hira’s voice cracked with frustratio.

"I’m not a cheater! I’m right here, and you’re acting like you don’t trust me. How could you think that about me?"

Shubman’s voice was strained, filled with hurt.

"I’m sorry if I’m overreacting, but it’s hard when all this negativity is swirling around."

"Well, maybe you should try talking to me instead of letting social media dictate how you feel," Hira retorted.

"You’re supposed to be my partner. You should trust me and not let all this crap get to you."

Their argument escalated, both of them shouting and cursing as the frustration boiled over.

"You're acting ljke a jealous bitch!" Hira screamed.

"At least I’m not pretending everything’s fine while people are tearing us apart!" Shubman shot back.

As the argument between Shubman and Hira continued, it escalated further.

Hira’s frustration was evident in her voice. “You’re not even listening to me! How can you just assume the worst without talking to me first?”

Shubman was equally heated. “It’s not about assuming, Hira! It’s about what I see and what people are saying. I don’t know what to believe anymore!”

Just then, Hira’s father, who had been listening to the heated conversation from the background, stepped in.

He grabbed Hira’s phone from her hand. “Enough!” he said, his voice stern. “Shubman, you have no right to make my daughter cry like this.”

Shubman was taken aback. “Uncle, I—”

Hira’s father cut him off. “No, listen to me. If you can’t trust her and are going to treat her like this, then maybe you’re not the right person for her. I won’t let my daughter be with someone who doesn’t trust her and makes her cry.”

He hung up the call with a decisive click, turning to Hira. She was shaking, her eyes filled with tears.

Her father wrapped her in a comforting hug. “It’s okay, beta. Don’t let him get to you.”

Hira clung to her father, her voice muffled against his chest. “I’m so tired, Papa. Why can’t he just trust me?”

Her father stroked her hair soothingly. “You’ve done nothing wrong. He needs to understand that you deserve better than this. We’ll figure this out, but remember, you’re stronger than this.”

As her father held her close, Hira felt a mix of relief and sadness.

She appreciated her father’s intervention but was also heartbroken by how things had unfolded with Shubman.

On the other side of the call, Shubman was left stunned.

His mind raced as he stared at the phone, now disconnected.

The words of Hira’s father echoed in his head: “If you can’t trust her and are going to treat her like this, then maybe you’re not the right person for her.”

He felt a deep pang of regret. He tried calling Hira back immediately, but the call was cut off from her side.

The sense of regret hit him hard. He paced around his hotel room, unable to sit still.

The guilt gnawed at him as he replayed the argument over and over in his mind.

What have I done?, he thought, frustration and self-reproach overwhelming him.

I should have trusted her. How could I let social media affect me like this?

The entire day felt like a blur.

Shubman had no appetite, skipping meals as he continued to walk around, lost in his thoughts.

His stomach was in knots, and he felt increasingly sick with worry and regret.

The stress of the situation took a toll on him, making him feel queasy and exhausted.

As night fell, the weight of the day’s events left him feeling drained.
He collapsed onto the bed, unable to escape the crushing sense of remorse.

He closed his eyes, hoping to find some rest, but his mind was still racing with thoughts of Hira and the argument they’d had.

The guilt was heavy, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d made a terrible mistake.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and he fell into a fitful sleep.