The practice session at the stadium was buzzing with energy as the Indian cricket team went through their drills. Hardik Pandya, always the lively one, sauntered toward the group taking a break near the boundary line.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he clapped his hands, gathering everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up, boys! I've got some news," he began, his voice carrying authority tinged with excitement.

"What now, Hardik? Another prank?" KL Rahul teased, earning a round of chuckles.

Hardik smirked but shook his head. "No, no. This is serious. We're getting a new jersey designer for the team. Her name's Tara Arora. She's brilliant-and also happens to be like family to me."

"Oh? Family, huh?" Virat Kohli chimed in, smirking. "We should be on our best behavior, then."

"Exactly," Hardik replied, pointing at him. "Her parents and mine go way back. She's super talented, so don't scare her off with your nonsense."

The team laughed, but Shubman Gill froze mid-drink. The name struck a chord. Tara Arora. His mind raced back to the woman he'd bumped into days ago outside the BCCI headquarters-the one with the jersey sketches.

Could it be her?

"Hardik, when's she coming?" Ishan Kishan asked, always eager for a distraction.

"In a few days. She'll be here to take our measurements and finalize everything."

Shubman felt a spark of excitement surge through him. Without wasting time, he nudged Ishan and dragged him aside.

"I think I've met her," Shubman blurted out, barely able to contain himself.

"Who? Tara?"

"Yes! I ran into her outside the BCCI office. She dropped her sketches-they were jersey designs. It has to be her!"

Ishan smirked at Shubman's unusual enthusiasm. "You're way too invested in this, bro."

"Just wait and watch," Shubman said, his lips curving into a small smile as his thoughts drifted back to Tara.

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A Few Days Later

Tara walked into the stadium, clutching her notebook and tape measure. The vastness of the arena, the faint smell of freshly cut grass, and the echo of chatter gave her a sense of nervous excitement. She was here to work, but the prospect of meeting some of the players she admired made her stomach flutter.

"Tara!" Hardik's booming voice pulled her from her thoughts. He jogged over and gave her a side hug.

"You're finally here!" he said, beaming.

"Yep. Ready to make you all look good," she replied, smiling.

"Better start with me, then," KL Rahul joked, earning a laugh from the group gathering around her.

As Tara exchanged greetings with the players, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Banter flew back and forth, making her feel at ease.

Once everyone gathered in one spot, her assistant began taking measurements while Tara handled notes. Shubman, Yashasvi, and Ishan stayed behind in the nets, lightly practicing.

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After about fifteen minutes, Tara's assistant hurried over to her, phone in hand. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry, but I need to leave-urgent family matter."

Tara hesitated but nodded. "Go ahead. I'll manage the rest."

Hardik turned to the nets, where the three youngsters were still hitting balls. "Oi! Shubman, Yashasvi-it's your turn. Stop showing off and come here!"

"Looks like you two are up next," Tara said with a small smile. "Who's first?"

Shubman, catching her eye, stepped forward with a slight smirk. "I'll go first," he said, clearly not interested in waiting. His tone had a playful edge, and Tara couldn't help but feel a bit flustered. She had been around athletes before, but there was something about Shubman that made her nervous.

This guy's ridiculously good-looking.

Shubman stood before her, waiting. Tara's pulse quickened. Shaking off the distraction, she took the tape measure and stepped closer.

"Stand straight," she instructed, her voice steady despite the slight tremor she felt inside.

As she measured his shoulders, her fingers brushed against his toned muscles unintentionally. The warmth of his skin against hers sent a jolt through her, and she quickly withdrew her hand, trying to focus on the task.

Shubman noticed her slight hesitation and smirked. "Nervous?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

"Not at all," she lied, her cheeks heating up.

She moved to measure his chest, standing closer than she was comfortable with. The scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of sweat was intoxicating, and she found herself hyper-aware of his presence.

"You're awfully quiet," Shubman murmured, leaning slightly toward her.

Tara looked up, startled. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she quickly looked away. "Just focused," she replied curtly, trying to mask her nervousness.

As she finished, Shubman leaned down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don't you think you owe me an apology?"

"For what?" she asked, confused.

"For bumping into me and not even looking back," he said, his tone playful but his gaze intense.

Tara's eyes widened in realization. "You were the guy outside the BCCI office?"

"Guilty," he replied, his smirk widening.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. Tara's heart raced as she scrambled to regain her composure.

From a distance, Hardik watched the interaction with narrowed eyes. His protective instincts kicked in, and he cleared his throat loudly, breaking the moment.

Tara quickly moved on to Yashasvi, who was waiting patiently. Unlike with Shubman, she felt at ease, laughing at Yashasvi's lighthearted jokes.

Shubman, however, stood to the side, his jaw tightening. Watching Tara smile at Yashasvi sparked an unfamiliar pang of jealousy in him.

"You're glaring," Ishan muttered, walking up beside him.

"Am not," Shubman replied, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.

Ishan chuckled. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, bro."

Shubman didn't respond, but his gaze lingered on Tara, who seemed completely unaware of the effect she had on him.

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

As Tara finished for the day, she couldn't help but replay the moments with Shubman over and over in her mind. The brief encounter was still fresh-his teasing remark about the bump, his lingering gaze, and that smile.

His words had left her flustered, but it was the way he made her feel-nervous, excited, and utterly aware of him-that made her heart beat just a little faster.

She had dealt with plenty of professional athletes before, but none of them had quite the same... presence as Shubman. His natural charm and effortless confidence were magnetic.

As she wrapped up her final measurements for Yashasvi, she found herself glancing toward the nets, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of Shubman. Even though he was standing in the distance, she couldn't shake the feeling that his eyes were still on her.

Tara tried to push the thoughts away. She had a job to do, and she didn't have time for distractions. But it was hard to focus, especially when Shubman's words kept echoing in her head. "Don't you think you owe me an apology?"

There was something undeniably intense about him.

Her assistant had packed up, and it was time to leave. As Tara made her way toward the exit, she felt a slight tension building in her chest. She hadn't even realized how much she'd been affected by Shubman's presence until now. Was it just his obvious charm, or was there more to it?

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

Meanwhile, Shubman stood across the field, talking with Ishan, but his mind wasn't on the conversation. He had always been able to focus during training, but today, his thoughts kept drifting back to Tara.

There was something about her that intrigued him, something that went beyond the obvious-her beauty, her quiet confidence, and the way she handled herself around the team.

He couldn't stop thinking about the way her fingers brushed against his muscles when she'd taken his measurements. The brief touch had sent a shock through him, and it was hard to shake the feeling.

She had looked so nervous-so real. There was none of the cool, composed exterior he'd seen with other women who were used to being around celebrities like him. Tara was different.

And that, he realized, made him even more drawn to her.

"She's just the jersey designer," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. But the more he tried to dismiss the thought, the more it stuck with him. "You're just a guy who had a quick moment with her. Nothing more."

But that thought didn't sit well with him either.

As he walked off the field after practice, he couldn't help but notice his own feelings of frustration and curiosity. What was it about her that had him so... distracted?

Back in the locker room, Hardik, as always, was the first to change and head out. But before leaving, he turned to Shubman with a grin. "So, what do you think of Tara?"

Shubman's head snapped up, and for a moment, he felt a twinge of discomfort. Hardik must have noticed the unease on his face because he immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you're shy now?" Hardik teased, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

Shubman quickly composed himself. "She's cool. Professional. Good at what she does."

"Yeah, and?" Hardik pushed, his grin widening.

Shubman didn't want to admit how his thoughts had been racing all day-how he kept thinking about Tara, how her presence lingered even after she'd left.

But he also knew Hardik, and he wasn't about to let his friend tease him endlessly. He narrowed his eyes, trying to shrug it off.

"What's the deal with you and her anyway?" Shubman deflected, wanting to shift the conversation away from himself.

Hardik's tone grew more serious, his smile fading slightly. "I've known Tara since we were kids. She's like family to me, you know? So, no messing around."

Shubman nodded, understanding the implication. Hardik had always been protective of the people he cared about, especially those like Tara, whom he considered a sister. But that didn't mean Shubman could just push aside the way he felt.

Don't worry, mate," Hardik continued, oblivious to the storm of thoughts in Shubman's mind. "I'll introduce you properly soon. But she's engaged to Matthew Henry, the New Zealand bowler. So... just don't do anything stupid."

Shubman didn't respond, his mind still spinning. Hardik was his friend, but in this moment, he couldn't help but feel a rush of possessiveness rise within him, even though he had no claim to Tara.

Matthew Henry. Tara's fiancé. The name echoed in Shubman's mind, and with it came an uncomfortable twist in his stomach.

He wasn't one to get caught up in jealousy, but there was something about the way Hardik mentioned Matt's name, something in the casual tone that stung.

Tara was clearly taken, and yet, as he thought about her, all he could focus on was the way her smile had lit up when she spoke about her designs. The way she had looked at him, fleetingly, but with a certain warmth that had drawn him in.

Her engagement ring glimmered in his memory. She was spoken for, and yet... Shubman couldn't shake the thought of her. He didn't even know why.

Maybe it was the way her confidence had shone through when she'd presented her work, or how comfortable and at ease she seemed, despite the overwhelming atmosphere at the stadium.

Either way, something about Tara made her unforgettable.

As Shubman walked out of the locker room, he found himself scanning the area for any sign of her. There was no reason to feel this way.

They had barely exchanged a few words, a moment of awkwardness and a slight touch. But still, it was there-the strange pull that had him wanting more.

Tara was undeniably in his thoughts. Even as he stepped into his car, Matt Henry's name haunted him, a reminder that he had no real claim to her.

But why did it still feel like a challenge? Like he was in competition, not just for her attention, but for something deeper, something he couldn't quite understand.

For Shubman, the day had ended, but in his mind, it was only just beginning. His thoughts were tangled, swirling with images of Tara and Matt, and the possibility-no matter how slim-that there could be more to their brief encounter than just a moment of accidental touch.