The air was warm as Revathi stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the pink floral lehenga she had carefully chosen for the occasion. The intricate patterns of the lehenga shimmered under the soft lighting, a perfect mix of traditional and modern. 

The skirt flowed elegantly, the delicate fabric a contrast to her pale, smooth skin. Instead of the traditional dupatta, she wore an overcoat-style jacket with fine gold threadwork that caught the light, making her feel both regal and elegant.

Her hair was styled in soft waves, cascading over her shoulders, and her makeup was subtle but stunning, with just a hint of a dewy glow. 

She'd gone for a natural look with soft pink lip gloss and a delicate bindi placed perfectly on her forehead. 

She felt beautiful, but there was a nervous knot in her stomach. She was about to meet Shubman's family, and this wedding was the perfect setting for that introduction.

"Hey, you look incredible," Shubman's voice broke through her thoughts. He stepped into the room, wearing a navy blue kurta with gold accents, his hair neatly styled. 

He looked every bit the charming cricketer, but it was the way his eyes softened when they landed on her that made her feel like she was the only person in the room.

"Thanks," Revathi said with a smile, her voice a little shaky. "This is a big deal, huh? Meeting your family."

Shubman walked over to her, his hand reaching out to gently adjust a stray strand of hair. "Yeah, but there's nothing to worry about. They're all really nice. You'll be fine," he reassured her, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "And just so you know, they've heard a lot about you."

Her heart raced at the thought. "I hope that's good stuff," she said, trying to lighten the mood, but she could feel the weight of the moment. 

She wasn't used to these kinds of formal events, let alone meeting the family of her boyfriend who happened to be a famous cricketer.

Shubman chuckled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Oh, trust me, they've heard nothing but the best."

As they walked out to the car, Revathi noticed how calm and composed Shubman was. He was used to these kinds of events—dinners, weddings, public appearances—but for her, this was a whole new world. 

The car ride was smooth, with light chatter about the wedding and her nervousness slowly fading as she got more comfortable with the idea of meeting his family.

When they arrived, they were greeted by the warmth of a lavish venue decorated with gold and cream, flowers everywhere, and an atmosphere full of excitement. 

Guests mingled, some in traditional attire, others in more contemporary outfits, all creating a beautiful blend of cultures. 

The wedding wasn't too far from the reception area, so the sound of soft music and laughter carried in the air.

As soon as they entered the venue, Revathi's nerves crept back up. She had imagined this moment a thousand times in her head, but now that it was happening, she felt completely unprepared. 

She didn't want to embarrass herself, especially in front of people who mattered to Shubman.

He squeezed her hand, sensing her tension. "Babe, relax. They're gonna love you. Just be yourself."

They made their way to a table where Shubman's family was sitting. She spotted his mom, Keart, and his dad, Lakhwinder, immediately. They were sitting with Shubman's older sister, 

Shahneel, who was dressed in a gorgeous green saree with intricate embroidery. She looked every bit the elegant older sister, and Revathi couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.

Shubman turned to Revathi, giving her a soft smile. "This is my family, Revathi. The people who mean the most to me." He gestured toward his mom first. 

"This is my mom, Keart," he said. "And my dad, Lakhwinder."

Revathi smiled nervously, her hands folding together. "Hi, it's so nice to meet you," she said, her voice a little more tentative than she wanted.

Keart smiled warmly, standing up to greet her. "You look beautiful, dear," she said in a soft, melodic voice. "Shubman has told us so much about you. We're so glad you could join us."

Revathi smiled back, her nerves slowly starting to settle. "Thank you so much, ma'am. It's a pleasure to be here."

Lakhwinder, Shubman's dad, gave her a friendly nod and a smile. "Glad to meet you, Revathi. Shubman speaks highly of you. It's great to see him so happy."

His words made her heart flutter a little. "Thank you, sir. I'm really happy to be here."

And then, Revathi turned her attention to Shahneel, who gave her a friendly smile, standing up to welcome her. 

"You look stunning, Revathi," she said, a bit more casually than their parents. "Shubman has been telling me how much you like music, right? We'll have to chat about that later."

Revathi smiled, grateful for the ease with which Shahneel spoke to her. "I'd love that. Music is my life," she said, feeling more at ease as the conversation shifted to a topic she loved.

As they settled down, the family was warm and welcoming, making Revathi feel like she was part of the group. 

The initial awkwardness faded as Shubman kept glancing at her with a proud smile, subtly giving her the reassurance she needed. 

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and Revathi couldn't help but get swept up in the romance of it all, thinking about her own future with Shubman.

Throughout the evening, the conversation flowed easily. They discussed everything from family stories to upcoming cricket matches, and slowly, Revathi felt herself becoming more comfortable with the idea of being with Shubman in these public spaces. 

She wasn't just the quiet girl from university anymore—she was his girl, and that realization made her chest swell with pride.

By the time they got back to the car, Revathi was exhausted, but in a good way. She leaned against Shubman, her head resting on his shoulder.

"How did I do?" she asked softly, her voice tired but content.

Shubman chuckled, his arm wrapping around her. "You were amazing. You charmed the entire family, babe."

She smiled up at him, the events of the night still sinking in. "I was nervous. But it turned out to be fun."

"Yeah, see? Nothing to worry about." He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering just a little longer than usual. "I'm glad you're with me. I'm proud of you, Revathi."

Her heart fluttered. "I'm proud to be with you too, Shubman."

As they sat in the car, the evening winding down, Shubman pulled out his phone and glanced over at Revathi, who was resting her head on his shoulder, the soft hum of the engine in the background. 

He had been thinking about it for a while—the way she had looked all evening, so beautiful in her pink floral lehenga, so graceful yet so nervous at the wedding. He couldn't get enough of how stunning she was, how perfect she looked next to him.

He smiled to himself, his fingers moving instinctively over his phone's screen. He opened Instagram, scrolling for a moment as he found the perfect picture. It was the one they had taken earlier in the evening, standing by the wedding venue's entrance. 

The soft lighting had captured her in such a natural, effortless way. Her pink lehenga glowed against the golden backdrop, her hair spilling over her shoulders in soft waves, her expression caught in a serene smile.

"One second," he muttered to her, breaking the comfortable silence between them. Revathi blinked and lifted her head from his shoulder.

"What's up?" she asked, her voice soft, still a bit dreamy from the warmth of the evening.

"Just give me a sec," he said, not looking up from his phone. He quickly uploaded the picture to his Instagram story, adding a simple caption: "My favourite girl 💕 "

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Revathi's eyes widened when she noticed what he was doing. "Wait, Shubman, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise and a bit of nervousness.

He grinned, looking up from his phone. "What? It's just a picture."

"Yeah, but—" Revathi trailed off, her eyes flickering from his phone to his face. "You're posting this? Like, publicly?"

"Of course," he said nonchalantly as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I want everyone to know you're mine." 

His voice was low but teasing, the smile playing on his lips as he added, "I'm proud of you, babe. And I'm proud to be with you."

Revathi felt a little breathless at his words, and her heart fluttered at the thought of him wanting to make it official in such a public way. 

She hadn't realized just how much it would mean to her for him to share her with the world. Her cheeks flushed, partly because of the heat of the moment, but also because the idea of being so seen by everyone made her feel a little vulnerable.

"But... aren't you worried about what people will say?" she asked, her voice quieter now, a little unsure. "I mean, everyone knows you're, like, a cricketer and... well, you're kind of a big deal."

Shubman's grin widened, and he gently took her hand in his, his fingers threading through hers. 

"Babe, who cares what people think?" he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. 

"I don't care about the opinions of others. This is about us. You're my girl, and I want to shout it from the rooftops."

Revathi didn't know what to say at first, her emotions swirling in her chest. She'd never been one to openly show affection, let alone be so out there about her relationship. 

But with Shubman, everything felt different. He made her feel seen, wanted, and important in a way no one ever had before.

"You really mean that?" she asked softly, her voice small.

"Of course, I do," he said, his tone softening as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her temple in a gentle kiss. "You're everything to me, Revathi. Don't you ever forget that."

Revathi's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she just stared at him, taking in the sincerity of his words. 

She had never imagined that someone like Shubman—so confident, so public—would be this open about their relationship. But somehow, in his eyes, she could see nothing but love and admiration.

"Okay," she said, a small smile forming on her lips, her voice full of affection. "But only if I get to post a picture of you looking all handsome too."

Shubman chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Deal."

As the car rolled down the street, Revathi found herself smiling at the thought of the post. It wasn't just a picture. It was a declaration. 

To everyone in the world, Shubman had just made her feel like she was his—and that was a feeling she could never have imagined, but now, she never wanted to let go of.

SOUP RANTS!

Welcome to the twenty-fourth chapter of this book!
me when😔
did we like this chapter?
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yours truly,

soup 🫶