After the heated kiss, the air between them was electric with tension, but Shubman pulled back just enough to give them both a breather. 

He flashed her a lazy smile, his eyes still smouldering. "You look incredible in that dress, Reva," he murmured again, almost like he was reminding himself. 

"But hey, I came here with more than just a kiss for your birthday."

Revathi raised an eyebrow, a small, playful smirk on her lips. 

"Did you? Because so far, it's just been kisses," she teased, looking up at him with mischievous eyes.

He chuckled, a deep, warm sound that sent shivers through her. 

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I could spend the whole night kissing you," he said, voice dropping to that dangerously seductive tone. 

"But you deserve more than that. And besides," he added, "I promised you cake, didn't I?"

Revathi laughed, shaking her head. "You're something else, you know that?"

"Yeah, but you love it," he shot back confidently.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. He was right. She did love it.

He took her hand and led her over to the small dining table, where a cake sat waiting — a perfectly decorated chocolate cake with white icing and the words "Happy Birthday, Reva!" written on it in gold script. 

It was a simple cake, but the thoughtfulness behind it felt huge. It was just the kind of gesture that made her heart swell.

"Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to let you blow out the candles," he said with a grin, before gently guiding her to sit down.

Revathi felt a sudden rush of warmth in her chest. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice a little softer than usual. 

"You really didn't have to do all this. You're... you're really sweet, Shubman."

He chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her skin for a moment longer than necessary. 

"I'm just getting started, baby," he said, his voice low but playful. "Go on. Make a wish."

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think of something, but the only thing that came to her mind was the feeling of him being here, with her. 

She wished for this moment to never end.

When she opened her eyes, she saw him watching her intently, his gaze burning with something she couldn't quite name. 

She smiled at him, the corners of her mouth pulling up softly. "Done."

He grinned and leaned forward, flicking the lighter and lighting the candles, the flame casting soft light across his face. 

For a moment, the room felt like it was just them, the quiet, intimate glow surrounding them.

"Okay, now blow them out, birthday girl," he teased.

Revathi inhaled deeply, her breath steadying as she leaned forward and blew out the candles, the soft whoosh of air escaping her lips. 

She couldn't help but laugh when he clapped, cheering dramatically. "There you go. Perfect."

"Make sure you keep the wish a secret," he added, eyes twinkling. "Or else it won't come true."

"Trust me, it's a secret," she replied, laughing. She picked up the knife, cutting into the cake and served a slice for him first.

Shubman accepted the slice with a smirk, his eyes catching hers with an intensity that made her feel like she was being undressed by just his gaze. 

"You know," he said casually, his voice barely above a whisper as he took a bite, "you look even more beautiful tonight than your pictures. I didn't think it was possible."

Revathi felt her cheeks heat up under the compliment, trying to play it cool. 

"You're laying it on thick, aren't you?" she said with a playful eye-roll, though she could tell it made her heart flutter.

He shrugged, grinning. "I'm just speaking the truth."

The cake was delicious, rich and moist, and they ate together, the silence comfortable between them, only broken by occasional laughter. 

But even as they joked and shared stories about the most random things, Shubman couldn't stop his eyes from wandering. 

When she wasn't looking, he'd discreetly snap photos of her — her soft smile as she took a bite of cake, the way the light caught the shine in her hair, the way she looked when she was lost in thought. 

Every angle, every moment — he captured it, wanting to remember it all.

Revathi didn't notice him snapping the pictures, her attention entirely on the moment. She was too busy laughing at some ridiculous story he was telling about his teammates.

"...and then I just threw the bat down and said, 'If you wanna argue, go do it somewhere else, but not with me,'" Shubman finished his story with a grin.

Revathi snorted, her head thrown back in laughter. "You did not say that."

"I totally did! They couldn't handle it," he said, his smile mischievous.

She wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. "I can't even imagine you doing that, all serious and intimidating."

"Babe, I can be very intimidating when I want to be," he said, winking at her. "Especially when I'm dealing with people who can't take a joke."

As she turned to grab her drink, Shubman casually snapped another picture. She hadn't seen it, but he'd captured a perfect candid shot of her laughing, her eyes squinted with joy, her lips parted mid-laugh. 

It was the way he always wanted to remember her — free, beautiful, completely herself.

He leaned back in his chair, content. "You know, I'm really glad I got to be here with you. Just us. No one else."

Revathi looked up at him, smiling softly. "Me too," she replied, her heart still pounding. She wasn't sure where this was all headed, but in this moment, she didn't care. It was real. 

It was happening. And for the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy.

Shubman watched her for a long moment, his gaze softening. "Happy birthday, Reva," he said quietly, his tone turning sincere.

"Thank you, Shubman," she replied, her voice soft and full of warmth. "This... this is the best birthday I've had in a while."

He smiled, a little wicked glint in his eye. "Well, we're just getting started, baby. You've got a whole night ahead of you with me."

Her breath hitched again, and for a moment, she wondered what else he had in mind. But whatever it was, she knew it would be a night she'd never forget.

The air in the room was warm and cozy, with the soft glow from the fairy lights on the walls casting a romantic, almost dreamlike ambience. 

Shubman and Reva sat on the couch, his arms wrapped around her waist, her back pressed to his chest. 

They were so close that she could feel his breath on the back of her neck, the steady rise and fall of his chest making her heart race.

Reva had her phone in hand, scrolling through the pictures they'd taken earlier. She leaned back slightly into him, feeling the solid warmth of his body against her own. 

His scent — fresh and earthy, like a mix of aftershave and something uniquely him — filled her senses, and she couldn't help but sink into the feeling of being so close to him. 

It was impossible not to notice how natural this felt like they were two pieces of a puzzle that had finally clicked into place.

"Okay, we need to pick the one for the story," Reva said, glancing at the screen and swiping through the images. "But we can't post your face... so, what do you think?"

Shubman chuckled, his hands resting comfortably on her hips, fingertips lightly grazing her skin as he adjusted his position. 

He leaned his cheek against the side of her head, close enough for her to feel the tickle of his stubble. 

"I'm good with whatever," he murmured into her hair. "As long as I'm with you, I don't care who sees or doesn't see my face."

Reva smiled, her heart doing a little flip at his words, but she was quick to pull herself back into the present moment. 

"You do care," she teased lightly. "You've made it pretty obvious the last few weeks that you don't want people knowing about this."

"Yeah, but that's just because I like keeping you all to myself for a while." His voice dropped to a more seductive tone, sending a wave of heat down her spine. 

"You're like my little secret."

Reva rolled her eyes, but it was impossible to hide the smile tugging at her lips. She swiped through the pictures again. 

They had a few options: one where he was holding her around the waist as she smiled up at him, another where he had his chin resting on her head,  third one where their hands were intertwined, a perfect shot of their fingers laced together and the fourth one was their foreheads and their one eyes seen.

"Hmm, this one's cute," she said, selecting the fourth image. The lighting was soft, and the intimate way their heads were placed next to each other made her feel a little bit breathless.

"Yeah, that's perfect," Shubman agreed, his voice still smooth and low, the playful edge never leaving. 

"But are you sure you're okay with it? You know I'm fine not tagging myself, but you're the one with a lot to lose if someone figures this out."

She felt a pang of hesitation. There were so many complications — the fact that he was a public figure and they couldn't show his face. 

The fact that they had to be so discreet about it all. But in this moment, with him so close, the world outside of them didn't seem to matter.

"I'm okay," she said, her voice steady as she hit the "share" button. "Let them figure it out."

He grinned against her neck, the deep rumble of his voice vibrating through her. "I like the way you think."

She paused, her thumb hovering over her phone as she prepared to add a caption. "Okay, let me just... add something cute here."

"Hmm, something sappy and romantic, please," he teased, pulling her even closer so that she could feel every inch of him pressed against her back.

Reva let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, no. I'll keep it subtle. Just something like, 'Best moments are the ones with you.' How's that?"

Shubman made a noise of approval, his lips brushing the side of her neck, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. 

"That's good. And maybe add a little heart emoji for extra effect," he added with a smirk.

Reva shot him a playful glare, but she couldn't stop the warmth from spreading through her chest. 

She added the heart emoji, then tapped "post," watching as the story went live.

"Done," she said, placing her phone down on the table. "Now, no turning back."

"No turning back," he echoed, leaning in to kiss the side of her neck, his lips grazing her skin lightly as if testing the waters.

Reva shivered, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she closed her eyes and let herself sink into the feeling of him, his arms around her, his scent surrounding her, the sound of his soft laughter vibrating in her chest.

"You know," he murmured against her neck, voice still low and seductive, "this is just the beginning, right?"

"Yeah?" she asked, a little breathless as she leaned back into him, feeling the heat of his body pressing against hers.

"Yeah," he confirmed, his hands tightening around her waist, his breath warm against her skin. 

"You and me, Reva. This is just the beginning."

She smiled, a little unsure of where things were going, but she knew one thing for sure: with him, everything felt like it was right where it was supposed to be.

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mridhulkumar  happiest birthday to the best smol bean

bhaviissoslay baby looks so pretty

kirareddy  hello? the hair? the fit?

ishansboyfriend  hottest girl alive
                     revarathnakumar 😭😭😭😭

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Reva's eyes fluttered shut, and the gentle hum of the room and the steady rhythm of Shubman's breathing made her feel safe and at peace in his embrace. 

Her body had relaxed against him completely, her head resting on his shoulder as they sat together on the couch. 

She was just starting to drift off, her mind slipping into the warmth of sleep, when the sound of the door opening pulled her out of her haze.

"Reva, are you still awake?" her mother's voice called out softly, as the door creaked open.

Reva's heart leapt into her throat. She had barely had a moment to catch her breath after everything with Shubman, and now her parents were standing in the doorway, a pile of gift bags in hand. 

Her mom had a bright smile on her face, while her dad stood next to her, looking a little awkward but clearly excited to surprise his daughter.

"Uh—mom? Dad?" Reva stammered, still trying to shake off the sleepiness and the warmth that was still radiating from Shubman's arms around her.

Shubman had stiffened slightly at the sound of voices, but his grip on her waist didn't falter. 

He wasn't exactly panicking about her parents walking in, but the fact that they were there, suddenly, with the awkward timing, was enough to make him feel a little nervous.

Her parents, however, didn't seem surprised by his presence. 

They'd seen him on TV enough times to recognize him immediately, and Reva's mom raised an eyebrow when she noticed the picture-perfect way their daughter was snuggled up against the cricket star.

"Reva, kanna, we got you a little something," her mom said with a playful smile, trying not to act too curious, but there was definitely something in her gaze as she looked at Shubman. 

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!"

Reva blinked rapidly, a little dazed, as she shifted away from Shubman and stood up, awkwardly smoothing down her clothes. 

The sudden rush of being caught off guard by her parents when things were so new with Shubman had her tongue-tied.

"Oh—thanks, Mom! You didn't have to—" she started, but her voice trailed off as she glanced back at Shubman, who had stood up too, clearly aware of the unexpectedness of the situation.

Her dad, still standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, glanced at Shubman, then back at Reva, his face unreadable for a moment. 

"Wait a second... Shubman?" he asked with a hint of disbelief, his tone a mix of surprise and recognition. 

"You... you're the guy from the cricket matches, aren't you?"

Reva's face flushed, and she tried to stutter something out to explain the situation, but before she could, her mother jumped in with a knowing smile.

"Wait a minute, I knew we'd seen you somewhere. You're Reva's wallpaper, aren't you?" her mother said with a grin, looking between the two of them, her eyes widening as if everything suddenly made sense.

Reva groaned inwardly, her heart pounding as she glanced up at Shubman. 

He was standing there, relaxed, but there was a certain awkward tension in his eyes as he realized her parents had connected the dots.

"Yeah, yeah, it's me," Shubman said, flashing a grin at Reva's parents, clearly trying to make the situation less awkward. 

"It's nice to meet you both."

Her mom raised her eyebrows, her smile now tinged with curiosity. 

"We saw you play in a few matches, of course. You're a good player," she added warmly. 

"And I believe our daughter does have quite the crush on you," she said, nudging her husband playfully.

Reva's face went crimson, and she nearly choked on her own words. "Mom! Please!"

"Hey, it's no big deal," Shubman interjected smoothly, turning to Reva's mom with a teasing smile. "I mean, who wouldn't want a little attention from such a beautiful girl?"

Reva's jaw dropped, and she nearly stumbled as she tried to respond, but Shubman was quick to catch her by the wrist. 

He was laughing, but there was a kind of reassurance in his gaze that made her heart thud a little faster.

"Well, we should probably let you open your gifts," her dad said, clearly trying to move past the awkwardness. 

He was watching the exchange with mild amusement, but also keeping a watchful eye on how the conversation unfolded. 

He seemed to understand that his daughter had some level of relationship with Shubman, though he didn't know exactly how deep it went.

"Right!" Reva said quickly, trying to divert the attention away from the bombshell her mom had just dropped. 

"Thanks, Mom, Dad." She grinned at them, a little embarrassed, but feeling a bit better now that Shubman was in on the whole thing. 

"What's all this?" she gestured to the gift bags.

Her mom handed her one of the gift bags, and as Reva opened it, she found a beautiful set of jewellery — delicate earrings and a necklace — something that sparkled with understated elegance.

"There's more," her dad said, gesturing for her to open the other one.

This time, it was a sleek new laptop, one that Reva had been eyeing for months. Her parents were thoughtful, she had to admit. 

They always knew exactly what she wanted.

"Thank you so much!" Reva said, overwhelmed by their kindness. But there was also the underlying confusion about how Shubman fit into this picture. 

Her parents were now completely aware of her crush, but Reva hadn't told them the whole truth.

Meanwhile, Shubman stood awkwardly by the door, his hands casually in his pockets, but there was a soft, amused smile on his face. 

It was clear that, though this was a bit uncomfortable, he was handling it like a champ.

"Well, I'm glad we could surprise you," her dad said, finally breaking the silence. He glanced at Shubman again, a knowing look in his eyes. 

"Just... don't forget about your education, alright, kid?"

Reva's eyes widened in shock. "Dad!" she exclaimed, but it was too late. He had already thrown a jab, and her mom was too busy smiling at Shubman to notice.

"I won't, sir," Shubman said politely, trying to hide his amusement at how the conversation had shifted. 

"I know how important education is."

Reva looked at Shubman with a mixture of embarrassment and affection. She still hadn't figured out what she was doing with him — what they were — but for now, she was grateful for him being here. 

For him not running away when things got complicated.

Her parents, ever so innocent, had no idea what was truly going on. But she couldn't help but smile, thinking how funny life could be.

As the awkward silence lingered, Reva couldn't help but feel her stomach tighten. 

The warmth from Shubman's presence still enveloped her, but her parents' expectant smiles made her realize that there was no point in hiding the truth anymore. 

They already knew there was something between them—there was no more reason to beat around the bush.

She could feel Shubman's gaze on her, soft but steady as if he was waiting for her to say something. She swallowed, knowing what she needed to do, even though it made her nervous.

"Actually, Mom, Dad... I need to tell you something." Her voice was quiet but firm, and she could see both her parents' eyes snap to her. 

They knew this wasn't just going to be another typical birthday surprise conversation. They could tell there was something serious on her mind.

Her mom immediately straightened up, her smile fading slightly, but still with that watchful, curious look. 

Her dad raised an eyebrow, sensing something deeper was about to unfold.

"Yeah, what's up, sweetie?" Her dad asked casually, though his tone was tinted with a touch of concern.

Taking a deep breath, Reva glanced at Shubman for a moment, meeting his eyes. 

He gave her a soft nod, as if silently encouraging her to speak her truth. 

He hadn't said much since her parents entered, but he was standing there with that reassuring smile on his face, waiting patiently.

"Okay," Reva started, feeling her heart race as she finally spoke the words she'd been avoiding for so long. 

"Shubman and I... we're... dating."

The words felt heavier than she thought they would, the weight of them hanging in the air. Her mom blinked in surprise, and her dad's eyes widened a little, his expression shifting to one of mild shock.

"You're what?" her dad blurted out, his eyebrows shooting up.

Reva couldn't help but laugh nervously, feeling the tension in the room, but also the excitement of finally telling her parents the truth.

"I mean, yeah," she said, now a little sheepish. "We've been talking for a while, and, well, we decided to give it a shot today. Like, this very day."

Her mom looked between her and Shubman, who was standing off to the side with his hands casually in his pockets, but his gaze soft and steady. 

It was obvious he wasn't intimidated by her parents, but he was still taking his cues from Reva.

"You're dating Shubman Gill?" her mom asked, a little breathless, her voice tinged with surprise. 

Her gaze darted between her daughter and Shubman, her mind clearly trying to process the revelation. 

"As in, this cricketer?"

Reva nodded, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah. Him." She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as the realization hit her: this was actually happening. She was telling her parents about him, about them. 

The whole world seemed to tilt a little with this admission, and she could feel the ground shifting beneath her feet.

Her dad didn't say anything for a few seconds, but he was clearly still processing. 

"Well... I'll be damned," he muttered, before glancing at Shubman. 

"You could've told us earlier, Reva. You know, you had us thinking we had to deal with some random boy from school."

Reva couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, rolling her eyes at her dad's words. 

"I wasn't exactly sure how to explain it, Dad. It's kind of complicated."

"Complicated?" Her mom raised an eyebrow. "You've been talking to him for months, haven't you?"

"Yeah..." Reva admitted, biting her lip nervously. "We've been talking for a while now, but today just felt like the right time, you know?" 

She looked back at Shubman, who was standing quietly by the door, his hands still in his pockets, though there was a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Her dad finally exhaled loudly, like he was trying to process everything at once. "Alright. Well, I guess this makes things a bit more interesting," he said, shrugging with a smirk. 

"I can't say I'm thrilled about the whole 'celebrity boyfriend' thing, but... he seems like a decent guy. You better treat her right, Mr. Gill."

Shubman chuckled, clearly not offended by the comment. "I'll try my best, sir," he said, giving her dad a respectful nod.

Reva's mom shook her head slightly, her face still a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "You really kept this a secret from us, huh?"

"I didn't want to complicate things," Reva explained, her voice softer now. "I wasn't sure if this was something real or just another phase."

"Well, if it's real to you, it's real to us," her mom said with a little shrug, though there was a hint of affection in her smile. 

"But... you've got to tell us these things sooner, Reva. We're your parents. We have to know."

Her dad nodded in agreement. "I'm still wrapping my head around this whole 'dating a famous cricketer' thing. It feels like something out of a Bollywood movie."

Reva laughed softly, her nerves beginning to ease as the tension broke. "It does, doesn't it? But... yeah, this is real, Dad. We're together now."

"I can see that." Her dad's expression softened, and he gave her a little smile. "Just remember to keep your head on straight. You've got your life ahead of you, don't let anything mess with your studies."

"I won't," Reva promised, her voice steady, though the underlying excitement still buzzed in her chest.

Her mom suddenly perked up, a cheeky grin crossing her face. 

"Well, if you're dating Shubman Gill... does that mean we get free tickets to his matches? Or at least a meet-and-greet?"

Reva groaned in embarrassment, but Shubman chuckled, the tension now completely gone. "We'll see," he teased her mom with a wink.

The conversation then shifted, and it wasn't long before her parents were congratulating her on her decision to finally open up to them. 

They even spent some time talking with Shubman, making sure he wasn't too overwhelmed by their enthusiastic questioning. 

But overall, the night took a much lighter, happier turn, and Reva felt a sense of relief wash over her.

She had finally told her parents about Shubman—about her feelings—and even though she had been nervous, it felt like the right choice. After all, they were her family, and now they knew.

SOUP RANTS!

welcome to the eleventh chapter of this book!

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