Ira stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest as she watched Shubman take a step back, an empty expression on his face. His black shirt looked sharp, accentuating his tall frame, but it felt so wrong in the moment. The air between them was thick with unsaid words, unfulfilled promises.

"This is it, huh?" Shubman finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, I guess," Ira mumbled, her eyes glued to her shoes. 

"What's with the sad face?" he teased lightly, but it fell flat. There was no smile, no warmth. Just a quiet, awkward tension that she could hardly stand.

"Just... thinking," she said, her voice quivering. "You know, about everything."

"Play well, okay? And get some sleep," she forced out, her heart racing as she met his eyes. But all she saw was distance—an unfathomable gulf that felt impossible to cross.

"Sure," he nodded, and the words hung in the air, lifeless.

TELL SOMETHING! SCREAM AT ME! PLEASE DON'T BE SILENT, SHUBMAN!

"I'll see you soon?" she asked, her voice cracking as she clung to the fragile thread of hope.

"Hopefully," he mumbled, and her heart sank.

Hopefully? Oh, fuck.

I messed up so bad.

I could have just kept my mouth shut.

Why am I like this?

The weight of regret pressed heavily on her chest. The room felt smaller, the air thicker. She fought back the urge to scream at him just to tell her what he was feeling, to be real for once. But all he did was stand there, his expression unreadable, as if he was already shutting her out.

Suddenly, the intercom buzzed, breaking the tension with a mechanical announcement. "Flight number 77 is now boarding to LA, United States of America."

"That's my call. I should get going," Ira mumbled, her heart racing.

"Yeah, you should," he muttered, his eyes drifting away from her.

Shubman, you're killing me.

She glanced back at him, desperate for something—anything—that resembled the connection they once had. "I'll see you soon, Ira," he said, his voice low and steady before he turned away.

The finality of his words struck her like a slap to the face. 

What happened to the forehead kiss? Not even a hug?

"Goodbye, Shubman Gill," she whispered, but he was already walking away, leaving her standing there, feeling utterly abandoned.

Ira swallowed hard, fighting the urge to break down. She turned her back to him, blinking back tears. She didn't want to look like a mess before him, especially now. She wanted to be strong, to show him that she could handle this transition, this distance.

But the truth was, her heart felt shattered. Each step she took toward the boarding gate felt heavier than the last. She clutched her bag tighter as if it could hold the pieces of her heart together.

As she approached the gate, she could still feel Shubman's eyes on her, a heat on her back that made her ache with longing. But when she turned around, he was already gone, lost in the throng of people at the airport.

Ira took a deep breath, trying to gather herself. 

"You got this," she whispered to herself, fighting back the tears. 

"Just focus on the future. You're going to make amazing memories. You'll be okay."

But as she stepped onto the jet bridge, the finality of it all hit her. She was leaving everything she knew behind. And Shubman, with his charming smile and the way he made her feel alive, was slipping away.

The plane ride was a blur. The seatbelt felt tight around her as if it mirrored the constriction in her chest. She stared out the window, watching the ground grow smaller beneath her, her thoughts a chaotic whirlpool. Would he miss her? Would he think about her when she was gone?

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her spiral. It was a text from Shubman:

"Take care of yourself, okay? I'll miss you."

Her heart skipped a beat, hope igniting for a moment. But then doubt crept back in. 

What did that even mean? Would he actually miss her, or was it just a polite gesture?

The plane took off, and as they ascended into the clouds, she felt the weight of her emotions settle heavily on her heart. She clutched her phone, staring at the screen, wishing for more than just words. She wanted him beside her, telling her everything would be okay, holding her close.

But for now, all she had was uncertainty and the bittersweet taste of what could have been. She closed her eyes, letting the tears flow silently as the plane soared into the sky, leaving her heart behind in Chandigarh.

As the plane ascended, the clouds enveloped them, and Ira's thoughts spiralled further. She closed her eyes, the rhythmic hum of the engines trying to lull her into a sense of calm, but it only amplified the chaos in her mind.

Shubman's face played like a movie reel in her head—the way he had looked at her last night, the gentle teasing, the moments that felt like they meant something more. 

But then reality would crash in, reminding her of the distance that was now between them, and her stomach twisted in knots.

"Take care of yourself, okay? I'll miss you."

Ira clenched her phone tightly, feeling a mix of anger and sorrow. 

Why did he have to be so damn perfect? Why did he have to be so focused on his cricket career? It wasn't fair.

"I could have just kept my damn mouth shut," she muttered under her breath, earning a curious glance from the passenger next to her. 

She forced a smile, but it felt like a mask. "Sorry," she mumbled, turning her attention back to the window, where the city of Chandigarh was now just a cluster of tiny lights, flickering like stars.

As the flight attendants passed by with refreshments, she ordered a Coke, hoping the sugar would perk her up. 

But as she sipped the fizzy drink, it felt flat—just like her heart. The bubbling soda was no match for the heaviness of her thoughts.

She pulled out her phone again and scrolled through her gallery, landing on the photo of her and Shubman from last year's dance. He was in a tux, looking sharp, and she wore a vibrant red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. They were both laughing, caught in a moment of pure joy.

"What happened to us?" she whispered to herself, the image almost mocking her now. She swiped left to another picture of them from last summer, at a cricket match, her cheering him on while he hit a six. 

"Why didn't I just tell you how I felt? Why didn't I fight back?"

With a sigh, she tossed her phone onto her lap and leaned back in her seat, trying to push away the whirlwind of emotions. 

She'd have to focus on her new life in the US, on her music, and make the best of this opportunity. But every plan she made felt empty without Shubman by her side.

Hours passed, the plane cruising steadily, and as they approached Los Angeles, the cabin lights brightened, signalling the descent. 

Ira felt a knot of anxiety settle in her stomach. She was excited, yes, but there was an overwhelming fear of the unknown.

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in approximately 15 minutes. Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened and all your belongings are secured," the captain's voice announced.

Ira took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly. She needed to pull herself together. She could do this. She was strong. 

But a part of her longed for Shubman, for his presence, for his laughter, for everything they had shared.

As they landed and the plane taxied to the gate, she felt the familiar jolt of excitement mixed with anxiety. She grabbed her bag and prepared to disembark, but before she stepped off, she sent one last text to Shubman: 

"Landed in LA. Wish you were here."

The moment she stepped into the airport, the vastness of it all hit her. The bright lights, the bustling crowds, the foreign sounds—all of it was exhilarating and terrifying. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was the start of something new.

After collecting her luggage, she navigated through the terminal, feeling more lost than ever. Her phone buzzed again, and her heart raced as she glanced at the screen. It was from Shubman: 

"I'm proud of you, Ira. Make the most of it. We'll talk soon."

"Yeah, right," she murmured under her breath, feeling the sting of tears at the corners of her eyes. 

Would they really talk soon? Would they still be the same when they did?

She stepped outside into the California sun, the warmth wrapping around her like a blanket. But even the sunshine couldn't lift the weight of her heart.

 She had so much ahead of her, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of loss.

As she waited for her ride, she glanced around, trying to take in the sights and sounds of her new beginning. But her mind kept drifting back to Shubman—the way he had smiled at her, the moments they had shared, and the regrets that now haunted her.

Just then, her phone vibrated again. It was a call this time. A familiar name lit up the screen—Riya.

"Hey, girl!" Riya's cheerful voice boomed through the receiver, instantly brightening the moment. "How's it going? You in LA yet?"

"Just landed," Ira replied, forcing a smile even though Riya couldn't see her. "It's... overwhelming."

"You'll be fine! Just think about all the fun we're going to have! And those cute guys in your music classes?" Riya teased, and Ira couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head.

"Right, sure," she said, rolling her eyes, grateful for the distraction. "Just trying to get used to everything."

"Listen, once you settle in, we're going out! You need to get out of your head, girl! It's a new city, a new adventure, and we are going to have the time of our lives!" Riya's enthusiasm was infectious.

"Yeah, you're right," Ira said, her spirit lifting slightly. "Thanks for being my hype woman, Riya. I need that."

"Always! Now, let's plan our first girls' night! Drinks, dancing, and maybe some cute boys?" Riya laughed.

"Sounds like a plan," Ira replied, feeling the tension in her chest ease just a little.

As they chatted, a car pulled up, and Ira waved at the driver, a friendly-looking woman in her 40s who smiled back. She stepped away from the call, the excitement bubbling up in her again as she approached the car.

"Ready for your new adventure, Ira?" she murmured to herself, forcing her lips into a smile.

Maybe she could make this work. Maybe, just maybe, Shubman would be a part of her life still, even if it was from a distance. 

With a deep breath, she opened the car door and climbed inside, ready to embrace whatever came next, even if it meant leaving a part of her heart back in Chandigarh.

He didn't like it, he went home.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

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

- why am i breaking my heart and theirs also?

- 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 🫶