A few weeks had passed since the IPL final, and ever since that memorable night, Hira and Shubman had been talking to each other every day.

Their conversations flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter, shared stories, and the kind of easy banter that only true friends could enjoy.

"Hey, skiper," Hira teased one evening as they chatted over the phone. "How does it feel to be the hero of the IPL?"

Shubman laughed, the sound warm and familiar.

"Oh, you know, just another day in the life," he replied with mock arrogance.

"But seriously, it feels amazing. And it's even better knowing I have such a supportive friend cheering me on."

One night, as they discussed their respective careers, he said, "You know, Hira, I never really asked—what made you want to become a pilot?"

She paused, thinking back to her childhood dreams. "I've always loved the idea of flying," she explained.

"The freedom, the adventure... It's like nothing else. And every time I take off, I feel like I'm leaving all my worries on the ground."

He listened intently, his admiration for her growing with every word. "That's amazing, Hira. You're living your dream, just like I am. It's inspiring."

"Thanks, Shubman," Hira said softly. "And you know what? Talking to you every day, makes me feel relaxed."

The clock struck midnight on July 6, and Hira was in the middle of her nightly skincare routine.

She carefully applied the last of her products, enjoying the calming ritual before bed.

Just as she finished, she heard her mom's urgent voice calling out from the living room, the tone laced with a sense of urgency that sent a jolt of anxiety through her.

"Hira! Dikra! Come here quickly!"

Her heart raced as she rushed out of the bathroom, her mind racing with possibilities.

"Kya hua?" she wondered, her footsteps echoing through the quiet house.

She reached the living room in seconds, breathless and filled with worry.

"Mummy, su thayu?" (Mom, what happened?) she asked, her eyes wide with concern as she took in her mother's flustered appearance

Her mom pointed to the TV, her face a mix of shock and confusion. "Look at this, Hira."

Hira's gaze followed her mom's pointing finger to the television screen, where a news report was playing.

The headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen in bold letters:

BREAKING NEWS: CRICKETER SHUBMAN GILL SPOTTED WITH BOLLYWOOD ACTRESS SARA ALI KHAN —FANS SPECULATE ROMANCE.

Hira's heart skipped a beat as she saw a picture of herself and Shubman from the a cafe, the two of them smiling and chatting animatedly.

The camera had captured their every move, and now it seemed the nosy media had taken an interest.

"Oh no," she muttered, her mind reeling from the sudden attention. "Mom, this is...this is just a misunderstanding."

Her mom turned to her, concern etched on her face. "Beta, is everything okay? Are you and Shubman...?"

Hira shook her head quickly, trying to control the uneasy feeling in her stomach

"No, Mummy, we're just friends. This is all blown out of proportion."

But even as she said the words, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her stomach.

The media attention was intense, and she knew that it could complicate things between her and Shubman.

She needed to talk to him, to figure out what their next steps should be.

"I need to call him," Hira said, reaching for her phone. "I'll talk to him about this ridiculous rumour."

Her mom nodded, secretly knowing her daughter's feelings for that boy.

"It's going to be okay, Hira. Just talk to him and see what he says."

She retreated to her room, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

She closed the door behind her, trying to block out the noise from the TV and her own rising anxiety.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed Shubman's number, her heart pounding as she waited for him to pick up.

After a few rings, Shubman's familiar voice came through the line, sounding slightly out of breath. "Hey, Hira. What's up?"

Hira hesitated for a moment, her emotions swirling inside her. "Shubman, did you see the news?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

There was a pause on the other end before Shubman replied, his tone cautious. "Yeah, I saw it. It's crazy how quickly these things blow up."

She felt a lump forming in her throat. "It's not just that," she said, her voice breaking a little.

"I'm hurt by all these rumors, and... and it doesn't help that people are also talking about you and Sara Ali Khan."

He sighed, his voice filled with concern. "Hira, you know how the media is. They love to create drama out of nothing. There's nothing between Sara and me. We're just friends, just like you and I are."

"But it doesn't feel like nothing," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Seeing those pictures and hearing all the gossip... it makes me insecure. I thought what we had was special."

"You are special, Hira," Shubman said earnestly. "I promise you, there's nothing going on with Sara. You're the one I care about, and I hate that these rumors are making you feel this way."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I know it's not your fault, Shubman.  I don't want like some stupid rumors. I.... I dont want to... to lose you."

"You won't lose me, ," he said firmly. " Let's ignore the rumors and focus on us. I value our friendship too much to let anything come between us."

Hira felt a wave of relief wash over her, but before she could reply, Shubman's voice softened, a hint of a smile in his tone.

"By the way, Hira, happy birthday."

H

er eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know it was my birthday?" she asked, genuinely taken aback.

S

hubman chuckled softly. "Well, I might have done a little stalking on your Instagram."

H

ira couldn't help but smile at his confession, her earlier distress momentarily forgotten.

"You stalked my Instagram? I didn't know you had it in you, Gill."

"

Hey, a guy's got to do his research," he teased.

"But seriously, Hira, I wanted to make sure I didn't miss the chance to wish you. You deserve a special day."

H

er heart warmed at his words, the sincerity in his voice clear.

"Thank you, Shubman. That means a lot to me, especially today."

"I'm glad," he replied. "Listen, Hira, I know things are a bit crazy right now with the rumors and all, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

Hira nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Okay," she said softly.

"Thank you for being there for me, and for making my birthday a little brighter."

"Anytime, Hira," he responded.

"Now, let's focus on making today about you and not the rumors. How about we plan something special for tomorrow evening ?"

"I'd like that," she said, feeling a newfound sense of hope. "I'd like that a lot."

Shubman hesitated for a moment before speaking again, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Hey,since it's your birthday and all, how about you join me and the Indian cricket team for a party tomorrow night? We're heading to a club to celebrate Mahi bhai's birthday"

Her initial reaction was one of hesitation.

"I don't know, Shubman. I'm not really sure I'm up for a party right now, especially with everything going on."

"I get that," he replied gently. "But maybe it's exactly what you need. A chance to unwind and have some fun, surrounded by good company. Plus, it's your birthday. You deserve to celebrate."

She bit her lip, weighing her options. The idea of going out and facing more public attention made her uneasy, but the thought of spending her birthday alone wasn't appealing either.

"I'm not sure if I'd fit in, Shubman. It's a bit intimidating."

"Trust me, you'll fit right in," Shubman assured her.

"Everyone's really nice, and I'll be there with you the whole time. Think of it as a way to get your mind off things and just enjoy yourself for a night."

Hira sighed, feeling her resolve waver. The sincerity in Shubman's voice and the promise of a distraction were tempting.

"Okay," she said finally. "I'll come. But you have to promise to stay by my side."

"Deal," hs said, a smile evident in his voice.

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow at 7 pm. Get ready to have some fun, birthday girl."

As Hira put down her phone, the door suddenly barged open, and her friends Saanvi and Kartik burst into the room, their faces lit up with excitement.

"Happy birthday, Hira!" they screamed in unison, their voices filled with joy.

She laughed in surprise, her earlier anxieties momentarily forgotten.

"Oh my God, you guys! What are you doing here?"

Saanvi grinned, holding up a small cake with candles already lit. "We couldn't let your birthday pass without a celebration! We figured you might need a little cheering up"

Kartik nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, especially with everything going on. We're here to make sure you have the best birthday ever."

Hira felt a wave of gratitude wash over her.

She had been so caught up in the stress of the rumors and her conversation with Shubman that she hadn't expected this thoughtful surprise from her friends.

"You guys are amazing. This is exactly what I needed."

Saanvi set the cake down on the bed and handed Hira a knife. "Make a wish and blow out the candles, birthday girl!"

Hira closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made a silent wish before blowing out the candles.

As she cut the cake, Saanvi and Kartik started singing "Happy Birthday," their off-key chorus making her laugh.

After sharing the cake and catching up with her friends, Hira remembered Shubman's invitation.

She looked at Saanvi and Kartik, unsure how to bring it up.

"So, um, Shubman invited me to join him and his team for a party at a club tomorrow. I was thinking of going."

Saanvi's eyes widened. "The Shubman Gill invited you? That's amazing! You have to go!"

Kartik nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you should definitely go. It'll be fun, and you deserve a night out."

Hira smiled, feeling more confident about her. "Okay, you're right. I'll go. But for now, lets hang out, all of us."

Hira's birthday started off with her best friend Shubman wishing her first, followed by her group of friends.

She felt extremely grateful to have them in her life and knew she could lean on them whenever she needed their support.

@AsliHira added to their story

@saannnvviiiii added to their story

Helllooo babies
This was the eight chapter of the book

Hira baby would be celebrating 23rd Bday in the next chapter along with her Shubman and The Ict👍🏻

Today my CUET papers ended and I couldn't resist updating.

Next chapter will be party food and a bit of ICT drama, coz why not?

Anyways
Back to the topic
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Till then
Yours truly, Author A♌️