The morning light streamed softly through the curtains as Tara stirred awake. A moment of disorientation passed before she noticed something unusual on the bedside table. A small, neatly folded note lay beside a fresh cup of coffee.

Curious, she reached for it, the paper crisp beneath her fingertips. The handwriting-elegant, slanted, almost poetic-was unlike anything she had seen in a long time. It reminded her of the love letters people wrote in the old days, full of unspoken emotions carefully woven between inked words.

Tara,

I know last night wasn't easy. Some wounds take time, but that doesn't mean you have to bear them alone. You don't always have to be strong, not with the right people around.

For what it's worth, I'll always be one of them.

- Shubman

Tara exhaled slowly, something warm blooming in her chest. The note was simple, but it held a depth that settled the restlessness inside her. She traced the last words with her thumb, absorbing their weight. He didn't have to write this. He didn't have to stay. But he did.

A sudden knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. Startled, she placed the note aside and got up, not sure who to expect. When she opened the door, she barely had a second before a familiar figure launched herself at her.

"TARAAA!"

"KASHISH?!"

Tara barely managed to stay upright as Kashish crushed her in a tight hug, squeezing her like they hadn't seen each other in years.

"You idiot!" Kashish scolded, pulling back just enough to look at her. "I should've been here sooner! But no, you had to act all strong and independent and not tell me anything!"

Tara laughed, hugging her back just as fiercely. "You're actually here?! How? When? WHY?"

"Because I missed you, duh," Kashish huffed, rolling her eyes. "Also, Vriti and I decided I needed to personally check if you were still alive after everything."

Tara's heart swelled at the thought of her best friends always looking out for her. "You guys are insane."

"And you love us for it," Kashish said smugly. "Now, let me in! We need to catch up before you drag me to meet your fancy cricket team."

Tara stepped aside, letting Kashish inside as the two of them flopped onto the bed, diving into excited chatter. After an hour of updates, laughter, and mild scolding from Kashish, they decided to freshen up before heading downstairs.

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

Tara stood in front of the mirror, brushing through her hair as Kashish leaned against the dresser, watching her with a knowing smirk.

"So..." Kashish drawled. "You haven't mentioned a certain cricketer yet."

Tara stiffened, trying to play dumb. "Which one?"

Kashish scoffed. "Oh, don't even try that with me. Shubman. The one you kissed. The one who wrote you a handwritten note like some kind of 18th-century poet."

Tara flushed. "It wasn't a love letter."

"No, but it was something," Kashish pressed. "And that's what matters."

Tara bit her lip, glancing at the note still sitting by the bedside table. "It's complicated, Kash. I don't even know what I feel right now."

"Then figure it out," Kashish said gently. "But don't push it away just because it's scary."

Tara didn't reply, instead turning back to the mirror. "Come on, let's go. I'll introduce you to the team."

Kashish smirked. "Oh, I'm definitely ready for this."

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

The lounge was buzzing with energy when Tara and Kashish arrived. The warm glow of overhead lights bathed the room in a golden hue, casting soft shadows over the groups of players scattered across the space. Laughter and friendly banter filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint traces of cologne. The atmosphere was relaxed yet lively, a stark contrast to the tension Tara had carried with her all morning.

"Tara!" Ishan's voice rang out the moment he spotted her. He leaned back against the couch, throwing an arm over the backrest as his gaze flickered toward Kashish. His expression shifted, curiosity lighting his eyes before he grinned. "And who's this?"

Tara smirked. "This," she announced dramatically, "is Kashish, my best friend and the only person who keeps me sane."

Kashish crossed her arms, tilting her head playfully. "And the only person who will expose all her embarrassing secrets if she annoys me."

Ishan let out a low whistle, his grin widening. "I like her already."

"God help me," Tara muttered, shaking her head as Kashish exchanged a smirk with Ishan.

"Oi, what's all the fuss about?" Hardik appeared, throwing an arm around Tara's shoulder before turning to Kashish. "Ohh, another pretty face in the house. Welcome to the madhouse."

Kashish laughed. "Thanks. I've heard plenty about you guys."

"All good things, I hope?" Rohit asked, stepping closer with Virat right behind him.

Kashish snorted. "Depends. Are excessive pranks and being overgrown children considered good?"

Virat chuckled, shaking his head. "She fits in."

As the conversation flowed effortlessly, Kashish blended in with the group as if she had known them forever. She and Ishan engaged in a rapid-fire exchange of sarcastic remarks, their laughter filling the space between them. Every time Ishan leaned in just a little too close, Kashish would raise an eyebrow but never move away, her smirk never wavering.

Tara, despite her amusement, couldn't shake the feeling of a certain someone's gaze on her. She turned her head slightly-and there he was.

Shubman stood across the room, leaning casually against the counter, his hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. His gaze was steady, watching her with an unreadable expression. The moment their eyes met, something flickered in his gaze, something she couldn't quite place.

Then, ever so subtly, he smiled.

Tara's breath caught.

Kashish, observant as always, nudged her lightly and whispered, "You are so doomed."

Tara swallowed, forcing herself to focus on the conversation around her. But deep down, she knew. Kashish was right. She was absolutely doomed.

Trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened, she made her way toward Shubman. "Hey," she said softly, stopping beside him.

"Hey." His voice was warm, familiar, and the way he looked at her sent a flutter through her stomach.

She cleared her throat, her fingers brushing against the hem of her sweater. "I... uh, I just wanted to say thank you. For the note."

Shubman's lips quirked up. "You liked it?"

She nodded, her expression softening. "It made me feel... calm. Which, trust me, is rare these days."

He studied her for a moment before murmuring, "Good. That was the point."

Before Tara could respond, Kashish and Ishan's voices grew louder behind them.

"Admit it," Kashish teased, arms crossed as she faced Ishan. "You're terrible at card games."

Ishan scoffed, feigning offense. "I am an elite strategist, thank you very much."

"Oh really?" Kashish arched a brow. "Then how come you lost three times in a row?"

"That," Ishan declared dramatically, "was sabotage."

Kashish rolled her eyes. "Sure it was."

Shubman leaned in slightly, whispering to Tara, "I think he's in trouble."

Tara grinned. "Oh, absolutely."

Just then, Ishan, desperate to shift attention away from himself, smirked at Tara and Shubman. "Speaking of trouble, should we talk about the way you two keep having these suspiciously long conversations?"

Tara shot him a glare. "No, we should not."

"Interesting," Kashish mused, tapping a finger to her chin. "Now I want to know more."

Shubman chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not getting anything from me."

Kashish turned to Tara expectantly. "T?"

Tara took a sip of her drink, deliberately slow. "Nope."

"Oh, this is going to be fun," Kashish said with a wicked grin.

Ishan leaned back, his gaze flicking between Kashish and Tara before landing on Shubman. "Looks like you and I are both doomed, buddy."

Shubman exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile. "Yeah, I think we are."

As the night continued, the teasing never let up, the warmth of friendship filling the space. And though neither Tara nor Shubman said it aloud, they both knew-something was shifting between them. Something neither of them was ready to name just yet.