"I hate ties," Shubman grumbled under his breath as he tried to tie the tie for his suit, but it wasn't cooperating. 

"Then don't wear the tie, simple as that, Shub," Ira answered while seated on the edge of his bed. 

"You're right. I don't need a tie," he answered, throwing it back inside his wardrobe.

Ira chuckled softly, shaking her head. 

Such a drama queen, she thought, watching as he came over and plopped himself next to her on the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. 

He immediately reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers, a simple gesture that had become second nature between them. 

His thumb brushed against her skin, and he gave her hand three gentle squeezes—their unspoken language for I've got you.

 "Yeah, I'm good," she smiled, glancing at him, before brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

She took in how extremely good he looked. Not that he didn't look good on the other days. He was wearing a simple navy blue suit, a light blue shirt underneath, his collar buttons open revealing the thin silver chain he always wore. 

His wristwatch was there, and his hair was tousled, because of how he had run his fingers through it numerous times.

He couldn't help but glance at her outfit, which was a black maxi dress, simple and sleeveless with a V-neck.  

"You look beautiful," he muttered, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, making her breath hitch slightly and her cheeks tint pink. "Y-you look really handsome too Shubman."

They stayed like that for a while before he pulled away smiling, grabbing the car keys.

"Let's get going?" he asked flashing her a smile, which always made her go weak in her knees.

god, i wanna kiss him all over his face

"Yeah, let's go. You have my phone right?" she asked as he patted his pant pocket making her nod.

shubmangill has posted at 5:34 p.m.

liked by prithvishaw, kl_nagarkoti, iradeus, and 14437 others

snapbacks, and tattoos? No babe, good job and nice suits.🤵💯

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username omg

username VC IS SO HOT WTF

iradeus no tattoos? what about the one on your neck
                             woman
                                 prithvishaw YOU HAVE A TATTOOO?
                                          kl_nagarkoti HOW COULD YOU NOT SAY US

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They arrived at the venue—a high school farewell party, but somehow it felt more like the end of an era. The parking lot was already packed with cars and groups of students milling about in fancy clothes.

As they stepped out of the car, Shubman instinctively placed a hand on the small of Ira's back, guiding her toward the entrance. 

They walked side by side, their arms brushing occasionally, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down her spine.

Inside, the lights were dimmed, and the room buzzed with energy—laughter, loud conversations, and music filling the air. 

Shubman leaned down slightly, whispering into her ear over the noise. "Wanna get a drink first?"

"Sure," she nodded, her heart still racing from how close he was.

At the bar, Shubman handed her a drink and clinked his glass against hers. "To surviving high school," he said with a wink.

Ira laughed. "And to not killing each other during the process," she added, sipping her drink.

After a few drinks, they found themselves on the dance floor, the music loud and fast-paced. Shubman pulled her close, and they danced with a familiar rhythm. 

At one point, he spun her around, and when she faced him again, he leaned in, his mouth hovering dangerously close to her ear.

"Don't get too cocky, alright? I'm still better at this than you," he teased, his lips brushing her earlobe.

Ira shivered. "We'll see about that," she shot back, her voice laced with challenge. 

They danced like that for a while, their bodies moving in sync, but the tension between them kept growing with each passing second.

Finally, they found a quiet corner to catch their breath. Shubman leaned against the wall, pulling Ira close. "You having fun?"

She nodded, breathless, leaning into his chest. "Yeah, a lot. But—" she paused, her voice growing quieter, "I don't want this night to end."

Shubman tilted her chin up with his finger, his gaze locking onto hers. "Who says it has to?"

Her breath hitched again, and she bit her lip, her heart pounding.

"Shub..." she started, but before she could say anything else, he leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead in the softest kiss.

"I'm always gonna be here for you, Ira. Always."

A few hours later, after a night full of dancing, laughter, and a few too many drinks, Shubman guided Ira out of the bustling party. The crisp night air felt refreshing against their flushed skin as they walked to his car.

"You ready for a surprise?" Shubman asked, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

Ira raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "A surprise? At this hour?"

"Trust me," he grinned, "You're gonna love it."

They drove for about twenty minutes, the city lights of Chandigarh fading into a quieter, more serene area. 

The car finally stopped in front of a quaint, unassuming building with a small, hand-painted sign that read "Harmony Studios." The place looked cozy, with warm lights spilling out through the windows.

"What's this?" Ira asked, peering out the window.

Shubman opened her door with a flourish, offering her his hand. "This, my dear, is a music studio I found recently. Thought you might like it."

She took his hand and followed him inside, her eyes widening as she took in the interior. The studio was beautifully designed, with acoustic panels on the walls, soft, ambient lighting, and an array of musical instruments scattered about—grand piano, guitars, drums. 

The room was filled with the kind of soothing atmosphere that immediately made her feel at home.

"This place is incredible," Ira said, awe in her voice as she ran her fingers over the piano keys. "How did you find this?"

"Just stumbled upon it while I was exploring," Shubman shrugged, his smile proud. "Figured it would be a nice, calm spot to hang out before you leave."

They spent a while there, playing around with the instruments, Shubman on the guitar and Ira at the piano. They laughed and joked, their earlier tension melting away as they lost themselves in music.

iradeus has posted at 10:27 p.m. 

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studios and grads @shubmangill

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shubmangill so slay [ as if i didn't sit with you for 20 minutes to figure out the picture ]

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As the night wore on, they found a quiet corner of the studio. Ira sat down, fiddling with her dress and taking a deep breath. She looked at Shubman, who was leaning against the wall, and decided it was time to say what had been on her mind all evening.

"Shubman," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "There's something I need to tell you."

He turned to face her, concern etched on his face. "What's up?"

"I... I like you a lot, Shub. More than just friends," she confessed, her heart pounding.

For a moment, Shubman's expression softened, but he quickly masked it with a gentle smile. 

"Ira, I..." He paused, searching for the right words. 

"I really care about you. But right now, I'm focused on my cricket career. I need to keep my head in the game. I can't afford distractions. I just want us to stay friends."

Ira's heart sank, but she nodded, forcing a brave smile. "I understand. It's okay." 

She brushed off the pain, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

There was a heavy silence between them, filled only with the distant hum of the city. Shubman reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

"I'm really sorry, Ira. I hope you know that this doesn't change how much I value you."

"Yeah, I know," she said softly. "Thanks for being honest."

There was a beat of silence before Ira hesitated, then looked up at him with a hopeful glint in her eye. 

"Would you... would you still come with me to the airport tomorrow?"

Shubman's face softened, a mixture of relief and gratitude in his eyes. "Of course, I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Thanks," she said, her voice a whisper.

They spent the rest of the night in quiet companionship, savouring their last moments together before her departure. 

The music studio, once filled with laughter and playful banter, now became a sanctuary for their unspoken feelings.

As dawn approached, Shubman drove her home, the car ride filled with a comfortable silence. When they reached her house, he helped her gather her things and carry them to the front door.

"Well," he said, giving her a gentle hug, "See you tomorrow at the airport?"

"Yeah," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "See you tomorrow."

As she closed the door behind her, Shubman stood there for a moment, watching the sun begin to rise, casting a golden hue over the quiet street. 

The night had brought its share of bittersweet moments, but he was grateful for every second spent with her.

Inside, Ira stood by the window, watching him drive away. She sighed, feeling a mix of sadness and relief. 

And Shubman, driving back to his place, couldn't shake the feeling that saying goodbye tonight was harder than he'd expected.

The door clicked softly behind Ira as she stepped into her room, the house now eerily quiet. She dropped her bag by the door and moved to her bed, sinking into it with a heavy sigh. 

The cool, muted light from her desk lamp cast a gentle glow over her room, highlighting the familiar posters of musicians and her neatly arranged study materials. 

It was all so ordinary, yet tonight it felt profoundly distant.

Ira sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers trembling as she tried to steady her breathing. 

The emotional wall she had built up all night began to crumble, and she could no longer keep the tears at bay. 

They spilled down her cheeks, hot and relentless.

"You're such a fool," she whispered to herself, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Why did you think he'd feel the same way? God, you're an idiot, Ira."

She picked up a framed photo from her nightstand—one of her and Shubman from last year's school event. 

They were both grinning widely, caught mid-laugh. It was a happy memory, but now it felt like a cruel reminder of what she was losing.

"Look at us," she murmured, her voice breaking. 4

"We were so happy. I thought... I thought maybe there could be something more."

She threw the photo back onto the nightstand, her breath hitching as she hugged her knees to her chest. 

"Why can't things just be simple? Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

The memories of the night replayed in her mind—Shubman's gentle touch, his reassuring smile, the way he had looked at her with such sincerity. 

She could still feel the warmth of his forehead against hers, the soft, lingering kiss on her forehead. It was all so vivid, so real, yet now it seemed like a cruel illusion.

"You're leaving tomorrow," she said, her voice trembling with resignation. "And he's not coming with you... in that way. It's going to be different. It's going to be... lonely."

She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she cried. The weight of the unspoken words, the unsent messages, the unfulfilled wishes felt unbearable. 

She had spent so much time trying to be strong, to keep her emotions in check, but now, alone in her room, she allowed herself to fall apart.

"I just wanted to be with him," she sobbed, her voice muffled. "Just once, to feel like... maybe he was mine."

She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm herself. "But no. He needs to focus on his career, and I have to... move on. I have to focus on what's next for me, too."

Her gaze fell on her packed suitcase, a stark reminder of her imminent departure. The future stretched out before her—unpredictable, full of promise but also daunting in its uncertainty. 

She had always dreamed of this moment, of studying music in the US, but now, with her heart so heavy, the excitement seemed distant.

"You'll be okay," she told herself, more firmly this time, trying to convince her own wavering heart. "You're strong. You've done hard things before. You can do this."

She stood up, moving to the window and looking out at the early morning light. The sky was starting to turn a soft pink, a new day was beginning. 

Ira took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs.

"Tomorrow is a new beginning," she said, more resolutely. "You've got this, Ira. Just keep going."

With a final, shaky sigh, she wiped her tears, turned away from the window, and began preparing for bed. 

She needed to be up early for the trip, and there was no use dwelling on the pain. 

For now, she would get some rest, face the day, and embrace the new chapter in her life, even if it meant leaving behind a piece of her heart.

She had told the truth, but he didn't like it.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

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

- they are so cute

-this chapter was extremely tough to write :(

- my babies, im gonna cry

- 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 🫶