Mid-August. Time: 11:30 p.m. 

Shubman Gill, a 17-year-old teenager was still wide awake, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling fan, which was spinning slowly, due to low voltage. He looked around his room, taking in how he had gone from a small kid with an obsession for cricket to a teenager being selected in the Under 19 Indian Cricket Team, as the Vice Captain, no less.

He took in the way, posters of cricketing legends were stuck on the walls, on his wardrobe door, shelves lined with trophies, and certificates, dress hooks, with his jerseys, and a separate hook stand with all his medals. 

He had achieved a lot already for, just a 17-year-old.

He then turned to look at his right, when his eyes fell on the nightstand. His phone was resting on it, glowing slightly, as it charged. Next to it was his watch, which his dad had gifted him. Then he saw the tiny Polaroid photo of himself and his best friend.

Ira Deus.

He had met Ira when they were 14, and they had ended up in the same classroom. She was already known on campus for her creativity, music skills, and kindness. Also, the fact that she was the topper in literally everything, except maths. She was average in maths. 

The photo was taken that year on her birthday, literally the day after New Year. The 2 were standing next to each other, his hand around her shoulder. 

He was dressed in a navy blue shirt, and jeans with sneakers, whereas she was in a black satin dress that fell to her knees, with simple black ankle boots. Her hair was in a messy bun, with a few strands on her face, and he could still remember how he had adjusted the lip gloss for her that night after noticing how it was a little smudged near her lips. 

She looked drop-dead gorgeous.

And man, they were officially graduating the next day.

He was still thinking about it when his phone notification went off.

You have one message from IRA

IRA

YO
You awake?

SHUB

DUH
Stupid low voltage
can't sleep

IRA

You wanna go get pani puri?

SHUB

Now? At 11:40 pm?

IRA

You in or not?

SHUB

Meet you in your room in 10

IRA

See you, loser.

Shubman rolled his eyes, before getting off the bed. He ran his long fingers through his hair, before wearing the watch into his left wrist. 

Pulling on a jacket over his plain old t-shirt, he went downstairs, slowly, not to disturb his family who would be fast asleep. 

Wearing a pair of sandals, he took the house spare key, and stepped out, just to be slapped on the face by the cold air.

Rubbing his face with his, warm hands, he made his way to her house, which was literally the 2nd house after his. 

When he arrived, he made his way to the ladder which was in the backyard, before setting it up near the window, which he knew was her room. He then climbed up slowly, glancing around, so that no one would see him. 

When he reached the top, he saw her window slightly open, clearly looking like an invitation. Shubman then pushed it a little more up, before stepping inside and dusting off the imaginary dust. 

"Ira?" he called out softly, looking around. He then saw her wearing her sneakers while seated on the floor. Shubman noticed how she was wearing one of his old hoodies and her sweatpants. 

"Hey, you came," she spoke, getting off the floor. 

"You're wearing my hoodie, which I have been searching for nearly a year," Shubman retorted, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"You gave it to me, remember?" she answered and his mouth formed a 'O' shape.

"Right, of course, I did."

"Walk faster Shub!" Ira teased as she saw him walk slowly. "You can't win the world cup, if you walk this slow man!"

"Very funny, I'll show you fast now," he spoke before chasing her, their laughter echoing through the empty quiet streets of Chandigarh. 

When he nearly caught up to her, she flinched, stepping back, when a dog suddenly barked at them, making her bump into him, and he instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, and they moved away from the dog.

"You okay?" he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear, and he swore he saw her cheeks tint pink. "Y-yeah, thanks Shub," she muttered leaning against him. 

"No problem," he answered, before releasing her from his embrace.

She then shoved her hands into the pockets of the hoodie before they continued to walk towards the pain puri stall. The vendor as soon as spotting them, prepared their usual mix before handing it to them.

The 2 teens smiled wide before eating the snack, giggling and bantering. She then wiped away the sauce from the corner of his lips, before the 2 threw their cups into the dustbin and she paid the vendor, thanking him.

"So Mr. Vice Captain, how are you feeling? Turning 18 soon, but we both wouldn't be there together to celebrate 'cause you'd be with your teammates in New Zealand and I'd be in US studying music," Ira spoke.

"It's gonna be tough, that's for sure. Being away from you, I'll miss you. I'd miss the way you'd tease me, or mess around. I'd miss my best friend a lot. But hey we'd both have fun doing the things that we love, right?" He answered.

Best friend. The words stung a little in Ira's chest, but she forced a smile. God, could we ever be more than just friends, Shub?

"Yeah of course," she answered.

"Anyway take care alright," He answered as they approached her house. "Drink plenty of water, eat properly, and make me proud, yeah?" he spoke brushing away a strand of hair from her face.

Her cheeks flushed slightly at his touch on her cheeks. "You too Shub," she answered.

"I'll see you tomorrow, at school?" she asked hopefully as Shubman nodded smiling, before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Go get your beauty sleep. I'll see you later. Goodnight."

"Good night Shub," Ira answered biting her lower lip, watching him walk away to his house.

God, I love you so much, Shubman Gill.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

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

- pani puri is a must alright?

- ira loves him but does he?  

- my babies

- also comments on the chapter?

- what do you guys think will happen in the next chapter?

- i hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶