The next morning, Malini woke up still buzzing from the night before. She'd barely slept, replaying every word, every glance, every little touch, over and over again. 

She grabbed her phone, smiling as she found a new message from him, sent just a few minutes ago.

Shub
Good morning beautiful!

Hope I didn't keep you
up late

MJ

Good morning!
But I'll blame you if i fall asleep
during class

Shub

Well, if you need to stay awake,

just let me know.

I'll keep you entertained.

MJ

So persistent already? 🙄

Shub
Hey, when a guy

meets someone amazing,

he doesn't take his chances lightly. 😉

In her painting class, Malini tried to focus, but every now and then she'd feel her phone vibrate with messages from Shubman. Kavya, kept nudging her, catching her grinning down at her phone.

"Alright, spill," Kavya finally demanded, her voice a conspiratorial whisper as the professor lectured on brush techniques.

"It's nothing, really," Malini whispered back, failing to hide the smile.

"Oh, come on. That's a 'someone-said-something-sweet' smile. Who is it?" Kavya pressed.

Malini sighed, still smiling. "Fine. It's... well, you won't believe me. It's Shubman. From the cafe."

Her eyes widened. "Shubman Gill? The cricketer? Oh my God, Malini, are you serious?"

"Girl, don't screw this up!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kav," Malini muttered, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at it under her desk.

Shub
Miss me yet?

She shook her head, chuckling softly. He was relentless, and damn if she wasn't loving every second of it.

After class, Malini stepped outside and found herself automatically typing a message to Shubman.

MJ

Class just got over.

You done for the day?

Shub

Yep! Just wrapped up.

I know this place you'll
like. Wanna meet? 😏😏

MJ

Oh really? You sure you
ain't dragging me to
some cricket thingy?

Shub

Nope!

I swear on my bat

Meet me in the park
near your college in
20 minutes <3

When she arrived at the park, she saw him standing under a tree, waving at her. He looked relaxed in a plain T-shirt and jeans, his hair still damp from practice, and for a second, she felt her heart skip a beat.

"Hey, MJ!" he called out, that easy grin already melting away any lingering nerves she might have had.

"Hey, Shubs," she replied, trying to play it cool as she joined him.

"Come on, this way," he said, leading her down a path through the park. They walked side by side, close enough that their arms brushed now and then.

"So," she said, looking around, "where's this 'place' you were so excited about?"

"Patience, beautiful," he teased, throwing her a wink.

They rounded a corner and she saw a small, shaded area under a large tree. Laid out on the grass was a picnic blanket, a few snacks, and a couple of sketchpads with charcoal pencils scattered on them.

She stared, blinking in surprise. "Wait... this is for me?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed for the first time. "Yeah, I mean... you're always painting, right? So I thought, maybe we could just, I don't know, draw together? Or you could teach me something. If you don't mind?"

Malini was genuinely speechless. She didn't think anyone had ever gone out of their way to do something like this for her.

"This is... Shub, this is incredible. Thank you," she murmured, dropping to her knees on the blanket, still taking it all in.

He sat down beside her, looking a little relieved. "Good, 'cause I had no idea if this would actually impress you or just seem... well, dumb."

"Dumb?" she laughed, playfully swatting his arm. "This is probably the sweetest thing anyone's done for me in... well, forever."

"Guess I'm doing something right, then." He flashed her a grin, picking up a sketchpad and holding it out to her. 

"Alright, Miss Jayadev. Teach me how to sketch something without embarrassing myself."

She shook her head, still in awe, but took the sketchpad from him. 

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you if it turns out looking like... whatever the hell this is," she teased, scribbling a quick, exaggerated doodle.

They spent the next hour talking, laughing, and attempting (or, in Shubman's case, failing) to draw. 

Shubman's sketches were... creative, to put it kindly, and every time he tried to draw her, they'd end up laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

Finally, they lay back on the blanket, both staring up at the branches overhead. Malini sighed, feeling the warmth of his presence beside her.

"Alright, now it's your turn to tell me something embarrassing," she said, turning to look at him.

He smirked. "Oh, you wanna know embarrassing? Try accidentally calling my coach 'Dad' in front of the whole team."

She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "No way! You're kidding."

"I swear! And that was barely the worst part. I had to live with them calling me 'Dad's favourite' for weeks."

As the laughter faded, she felt a comfortable silence settle between them. They lay there in silence for a while, just watching the leaves move in the breeze.

He finally broke the quiet, his voice soft. "You know, I wasn't sure about this at first. Thought I was just gonna freak you out with all this."

She turned to him, feeling her heart tighten in the best way. "Why would you think that?"

"Because... I don't know. Usually, people freak out when they realize, you know, who I am. You're the first person in a long time who hasn't cared, who's just seen me as... as me."

"Shub, I think that's the thing about you that makes you different. It's not the fame or the fans; it's just... you. You're actually kind of an idiot sometimes," she laughed, poking him in the side, "but you're a sweet idiot."

He laughed, then shifted, his hand reaching for hers. "Well, for the record, you're way better than I could've imagined."

She blushed, looking down at their hands as his fingers laced with hers. "I don't know what's happening here, Shub, but... I kinda don't want it to stop."

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers, the usual teasing look in them replaced with something more serious, something that made her pulse quicken. 

"Then it won't, MJ. We'll figure this out. One day at a time."

She smiled, squeezing his hand, feeling the warmth of it in hers. "Sounds perfect."

The two sat there on the blanket, hands intertwined, a calm silence between them that felt as natural as breathing. 

Malini's mind raced with a million thoughts, but they were all gently washed away as she felt Shubman's thumb brush over the back of her hand. 
There was something deeply comforting in his presence, a pull that she hadn't expected.

Finally, after a few minutes, he spoke, breaking the silence with a low chuckle. 

"So, are we just going to sit here staring at trees, or do you want to grab a real dinner with me?"

She grinned. "Real dinner, huh? I don't know. I'm pretty full from all those laughs at your sketching skills."

He put on a mock-hurt expression. "Hey, those were masterpieces! I'm thinking of selling them as 'Modern Abstracts'—bet I'd get a gallery showing."

She snorted, playfully rolling her eyes. "You're right. You'll be famous as the worst artist of the century. I can see the headlines now."

"Rude," he said, chuckling, but he stood up, still holding her hand, and helped her to her feet. 

"But alright, Ms. Jayadev. Let's go see if my dinner choice makes up for my drawing skills."

They strolled out of the park and walked a few blocks before he led her to a small, dimly lit Italian restaurant tucked into a quiet corner of the city. 

Inside, it was warm and cozy, with exposed brick walls, flickering candles, and the aroma of fresh herbs filling the air.

"How did you know about this place?" Malini asked, her curiosity piqued.

He shrugged, holding the door open for her. "I found it on one of my quieter nights. Figured it was the perfect place to avoid anyone who might recognize me. And trust me, the food's unreal."

As they settled into their table, Malini felt herself sink into the comfortable glow of the room. She watched Shubman scan the menu, catching his lips quirking up in amusement at something. 

It was strange; she'd only known him for a day, but there was a familiar warmth in his presence, as though she'd known him much longer.

"So, I need to know," he said, leaning forward, "why fine arts? There must be a good story behind it."

Malini smiled, swirling her finger along the edge of her water glass. 

"Honestly? It's a mix of a lot of things. I was always that kid who'd doodle on every piece of paper. One day, my mom put a paintbrush in my hand, and I never looked back. Painting just... feels like the only thing I can't live without."

He nodded, a soft smile crossing his face. "I get that. I guess it's like cricket for me. It's just... in my bones. Feels right."

Their food arrived, and the conversation ebbed and flowed, each of them peeling back layers, asking questions, laughing over shared stories, and getting to know each other in the quiet warmth of the restaurant. 

At one point, Shubman made a joke about her paint-stained fingers, and she smudged some sauce on his nose in return, which led to both of them laughing so hard that people turned to look.

By the end of the meal, they were completely at ease, leaning into each other's space, each little joke and soft glance leaving them both smiling wider than before. 

He reached across the table, lightly tracing his thumb over her knuckles again.

"So," he murmured, his gaze warm and unwavering, "think you'll want to see me again after this? Or was I just a one-time hangout?"

She pretended to think about it, biting her lip as she looked at him from under her lashes. 

"Hmm... I don't know. I'll have to see if your texts tomorrow are still as charming as they were today."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I'll take that challenge. Just wait—you'll be begging to see me by the end of the week."

They left the restaurant and walked side by side, their hands brushing as they moved. The air was cool, a slight breeze tugging at her hair, and she felt herself sway a little closer to him.

Finally, they reached the spot where she'd parked her car. She turned to him, feeling a sudden pang of nervousness—an odd contrast to how easy the night had felt up until now.

"So, I guess this is it," she said, her voice softer than she'd intended.

He tilted his head, studying her for a long moment before he spoke, his voice low. "Not quite."

Before she could process his words, he took a step forward, closing the space between them, and his hand reached up to gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear. 

She felt her breath catch, her heart pounding as his gaze held hers, intense and warm.

"Malini," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "I don't think I've ever been this hooked this fast. You... you're something else."

She swallowed, every inch of her tingling under his gaze. "You barely know me."

"Then let me get to know you." He leaned in, his face inches from hers, and she felt his breath against her skin.

And before she could think, his lips were on hers, gentle and warm, like a question waiting to be answered. 

She melted into the kiss, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as he pulled her closer, the city fading away around them until it was just the two of them, alone in that perfect moment.

When they finally pulled back, she looked up at him, breathless and speechless. He grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

"Now," he whispered, his voice low, "do I get to see you tomorrow?"

She laughed, still a bit dazed. "You better. Or I might just have to show up at practice to find you."

He chuckled, brushing a thumb over her cheek before finally stepping back. "Good night, MJ."

"Good night, Shub."

She watched him walk away, her heart pounding, her mind spinning, and when he disappeared into the shadows, she turned to her car, barely able to contain her grin as she headed home, replaying every perfect detail of the night in her mind.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

- i love them sm

- also comments on the chapter?

- i hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶