Shobhana's POV

It had been weird lately. I could feel the distance between Shubman and me growing with each passing day. When we first started dating, it felt like nothing could tear us apart. He would call me every morning, ask me about my day, and send me sweet texts just to check-in. 

But lately... it had all stopped. No calls, no texts, and definitely no "Good morning, sweetheart" messages. 

I wasn't sure if I had done something wrong or if something was bothering him. It felt like I was losing him bit by bit.

The worrying kept me awake at night, and the loneliness had begun to eat away at me. I just couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. 

Was he getting bored of me? Was he starting to find someone else? These thoughts plagued my mind.

I knew I had to do something. His birthday was in just a few days— September 8th. The thought of him turning 20 made my heart race, but at the same time, it hurt because I wasn't sure where we stood anymore. Would he even want to celebrate with me?

Just as I was contemplating, my phone rang. It was Ishan. A relief washed over me, not because of him, but because it was a call—a break from the silence.

"Hello?" I answered, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.

"Shobhana, listen carefully," Ishan said.

"Ha, tell me," I answered, eager for some distraction from my spiralling thoughts.

"Shubman's birthday is coming up, right?" Ishan said, his tone more serious than usual. "So we have planned a surprise party for him. Unfortunately, on Abhay's birthday, we have practice, so we'll celebrate both their birthdays together."

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of a surprise party. A flicker of happiness sparked inside me.

"That sounds good," I said, trying to mask my emotions.

"I know, I made the plan," he snickered, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Of course, you did," I muttered, but smiled despite myself.

"Anyway, book a ticket and try to be here on that day. He'd be so happy if you were here," Ishan said.

"Of course, I will," I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. I was already planning my flight.

"Acha, I got to go. I'll talk later," he said before ending the call.

I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone, trying to calm my racing heart. A surprise party... Shubman would love that. But now, the pressure was on. What would I get him for his birthday?

He'd never told me what he liked, and I had no idea what to get him. I sighed and sat down at my desk, opening my laptop to book my flight. 

I found a ticket that worked perfectly, and I clicked the purchase button without a second thought.

"Hey, Susan!" I yelled from my room.

"Yeah?" came the reply.

"What did you give James for his birthday?" I asked.

"A photo of us framed and a watch," Susan shouted back.

"Okay, thanks!" I yelled back, already having an idea.

A framed photo. That's it. I quickly opened my camera roll and scrolled through my pictures until I found one that stood out. It was a picture we took at the park. 

Shubman had his arms around me, his chin resting on my shoulder as we both laughed at something I had said. I couldn't help but smile at the memory. 

It was the perfect photo—candid, real, and full of joy.

I printed the photo, bought a frame, and placed the picture inside. As I stared at it, I realized how much I missed him. 

This simple act of buying a gift, something so personal, reminded me of the small moments we shared together. The moments I wanted to hold onto forever.

"Now, to find something else," I muttered to myself. I grabbed my bag and headed to the store to find something that could be a perfect addition to the gift. I needed him to know how much I cared.

Shubman's POV

I sat there, rubbing my face as I watched the practice session unfold. My mind, however, was elsewhere. 

The silence between Shobhana and me had become deafening. What happened? Why hadn't I heard from her? I had told myself I would call her later, but then I thought about it and hesitated.

The nagging voice in my head wouldn't stop. The one that told me, What if she's just using you to get ahead in her career? What if this is all just a game to her?

I didn't want to believe it. I knew Shobhana. I trusted her. But the doubt still gnawed at me.

"Hey, bro," Ishan said, sitting next to me and snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, man," I muttered, rubbing my eyes.

"You alright?" he asked, giving me a concerned look.

"Yeah, just stress. I'll speak to her later," I said, trying to brush it off.

But Ishan didn't seem convinced. "Kriti told me you haven't spoken to Shobi in a while. What's going on, man? You've been distant."

I didn't know how to explain it. How could I tell him I was struggling with these thoughts? That I was terrified of being hurt again? 

"Nothing, just... I don't know. Stress," I muttered, trying to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal.

"Bro, you've got to talk to her. She's not going to just hang around waiting for you to get your act together. Whatever's going on, sort it out. You don't want to lose her over something stupid," Ishan said, looking me dead in the eye.

"Yeah, you're right," I said, sighing.

But even as I said it, I wasn't sure. What if I was right? What if she was using me?

I ran a hand through my hair and looked out onto the field. I wasn't even focused on the game anymore. I just wanted to make things right with her. I wanted to fix whatever was broken, but I didn't know how.