As Shubman continued to scroll through Ira's post, his teammates were still buzzing with excitement over the revelation about his childhood friend. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Virat got up to open it.

In walked Anushka Sharma, looking stunning in a casual yet chic outfit that radiated her signature style. 

She was followed by Athiya Shetty, Natasa Stankovic and Ritika Sajdeh. Trisha Kulkarni and Aditi Hundia followed closely behind, both brightening up the room with their infectious energy.

"Hey, what's up, team?" Anushka greeted, her eyes sparkling as she noticed the vibe in the room. "You guys look like you're up to something."

KL Rahul smirked at Shubman, "We were just talking about how our very own Mr. Gill here knows the famous Ira Deus."

Hardik added with a teasing grin, "Yeah, and he let her slip right through his fingers!"

"Seriously, Shubman! What were you thinking?" Anushka exclaimed, her tone playful. "Ira's a superstar now! She won five Grammys, for crying out loud!"

Rohit chimed in, "And she wrote 'The Breakup Song' for Anushka's movie! You know that, right?"

Ishan's eyes widened. "Wait, what? She did? I had no idea!"

Shubman felt a rush of embarrassment. "Yeah, I didn't even know that either until now. It's just... she's been on my mind a lot lately."

"Bro, you seriously need to reach out to her," Shreyas said, nudging him with a grin. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

"Exactly!" Athiya said, leaning closer to Shubman. "Imagine how epic it would be if you both got together! Two stars from different worlds. It would be a love story for the ages!"

Aditi, who had been listening quietly, smiled. "And she's so talented. You'd be a fool not to go for it. Besides, you know how much she likes you."

"Yeah, but it's been so long since we've spoken," Shubman replied, feeling a wave of uncertainty. 

"What if she's moved on? What if she doesn't feel the same way anymore?"

Ritika placed her hand on his shoulder, comforting him. "Look, you won't know until you try. You've got to put yourself out there, Shub. We're all rooting for you!"

Shreyas chimed in, standing with Trisha, "And just think of how amazing it would be to reconnect. Plus, with all of us here, you can totally use us for support."

"Hell yeah!" Hardik added, grinning. "I mean, look at us—everyone in this room is either married or in a relationship. We know a thing or two about love, right?"

"Except for Shubman, who's still stuck in the past," Ishan joked, and everyone laughed.

"Shut up, man," Shubman replied with a mock glare. "You're not helping."

"Okay, okay," Anushka said, trying to get everyone back on track. "But seriously, Shubman. If you like her, say something. The longer you wait, the harder it'll be."

"I can't believe she's doing so well," Shubman mused, shaking his head. 

"I've been following her journey secretly, you know? I just didn't think she'd get this far. It's like she's living my dream but in music."

"You both had your dreams, and they didn't stop you from supporting each other back then," Natasa said, leaning against Hardik. "You owe it to yourself to talk to her again."

"I know I should," Shubman sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just that... I had my career to focus on. My parents made me promise that I wouldn't get distracted."

"Forget that," Aditi said, stepping forward. "You're an adult now. You can make your own choices. And it sounds like you need to chase after what you really want."

"Damn right!" Rohit shouted, fist-pumping in the air. "We all deserve a happy ending, bro. Plus, you're turning 25 soon! Don't waste time thinking about what could have been!"

The room filled with encouragement, and Shubman felt a rush of warmth. His friends were right. He needed to stop overthinking and just act.

"I guess I'll just have to figure out a way to reach out to her," he said finally, a determined glint in his eye.

"Just do it," Trisha said with a supportive smile. "You've got this!"

As the excitement settled, Shubman noticed Ishan sitting at the corner of the room, intently focused on his laptop. He was clicking away, completely absorbed in whatever he was doing.

"Yo, Ishan! What are you up to over there?" Rohit called out, curiosity piqued.

Ishan turned his laptop around, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Guys, you won't believe what I just booked!"

"What? Another round of video games?" Hardik teased.

"Even better," Ishan replied, leaning back triumphantly. "I just secured two VIP tickets for Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS concert on opening night in LA! And guess what? Ira is opening for her tour!"

The room erupted in excitement. "No way!" Shubman exclaimed, his heart racing. "Ira is opening for Olivia Rodrigo?"

"Hell yeah!" Ishan nodded, clearly enjoying the attention. "The concert is literally in a week. It's going to be epic! I can't wait to see her perform live."

Athiya squealed, "That's amazing! I've heard her songs are even better live."

"Dude, you've got to take Shubman with you!" Natasa chimed in, nudging Ishan. "He's been thinking about Ira non-stop."

Ishan raised an eyebrow, looking at Shubman with a smirk. "You coming, man? You can't pass up this chance. It's a perfect opportunity to see her again!"

Shubman felt his pulse quicken at the thought of attending the concert. "You think I should? I mean, what if she doesn't want to see me?" he said, anxiety creeping in.

"Come on, she's going to be excited to see you! You two have history!" Ishan reassured him. 

"Besides, this is your chance to talk to her and see where things stand. It's the opening night of her tour. She'll be buzzing with energy."

"Exactly!" Virat encouraged, leaning in closer. "And it's not just a concert. It's a chance for you to reconnect with her. Don't let this slip away."

"Plus, if you don't go, I'm totally taking your ticket!" Hardik teased, winking. "Imagine me in the VIP section, soaking up the music while you sit at home sulking."

"Not happening," Shubman replied with a laugh, shaking his head. "I guess I really should go. It's now or never."

Aditi grinned at him. "Just think about it, man. You'll be there cheering her on while she performs. You could tell her how you feel after all these years!"

"I can't believe Ira is opening for Olivia," Shubman said, still processing the news. "She's come so far. I'm really proud of her."

"Then let's make this happen!" Ishan said, his excitement infectious. "We'll have the time of our lives. And who knows, maybe she'll want to hang out afterwards."

"Dude, if you play your cards right, you might end up backstage!" Rohit added, raising his glass as if to toast. "Here's to reuniting with your childhood crush!"

Everyone laughed, and the room filled with a sense of camaraderie and excitement. Shubman felt a mix of nerves and anticipation. Maybe this concert was just what he needed to finally express everything he had kept inside for so long.

"I guess I should book my ticket then, huh?" Shubman said, already reaching for his phone.

"Hell yeah!" Ishan replied. "Let's do this! Gonna be the best night ever!"

iradeus has posted

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this bitch istg @louispatridge

comments

olivirodrigo how could you 2 leave me and go shopping :(

anirudhofficial  when are you coming to India 
                        i don't know, you call me, I'll come

conangray AHAHA

username THESE 2 😭😭

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Meanwhile, in a trendy boutique in downtown Los Angeles, Ira Deus was browsing through racks of clothes, her thoughts swirling with excitement and nervousness about her upcoming tour. 

She had been dragged here by her best friend, Louis Patridge, who was on a mission to find a perfect gift for his girlfriend, Olivia Rodrigo, as she prepared to kick off her tour next week.

"Come on, Ira! Help me out here!" Louis pleaded, pulling her toward a display of sparkling jewellery. 

"Olivia is going to need something special for the opening night, and I have no idea what to get her."

Ira chuckled, shaking her head. "Louis, she's already a star. What more could she possibly need? Just get her a card and a cute note!"

"That's the bare minimum, and you know it!" Louis shot back, rolling his eyes dramatically. "You know how much she loves thoughtful gifts. I want her to feel like the queen she is!"

"Alright, alright," Ira relented, scanning the store. "How about a cute bracelet or something? Something that she can wear on stage?"

Louis's face lit up. "That's the spirit! You always have the best ideas!"

As they wandered deeper into the store, Ira's mind drifted back to Shubman. She hadn't spoken to him in nearly seven years, and she often found herself wondering how he was doing. 

After their emotional goodbye, she buried herself in music, using it as an outlet for her feelings. But now, with the tour approaching, the thought of seeing him again made her heart race.

"Hey, you okay?" Louis asked, snapping her back to reality. "You look like you're a million miles away."

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about the tour and everything. It's a big step."

"True, but you're going to crush it! Everyone loves your music," Louis said, rummaging through a pile of accessories. 

"And who knows, maybe this tour will give you the chance to run into someone special."

Ira raised an eyebrow. "Like who? My long-lost love from India?" She laughed lightly, but deep down, the thought of Shubman stirred something inside her.

"Maybe!" Louis grinned, pulling out a delicate silver bracelet adorned with tiny charms. 

"What do you think about this one for Olivia? It's cute and subtle."

Ira nodded, examining the bracelet. "It's perfect! She'll love it. Now you just have to write a sweet note to go with it."

"Of course," Louis said, already envisioning his heartfelt message. "I'm going to tell her how proud I am of her and how much I love her."

"Just don't make it too mushy, or she might cringe," Ira teased, nudging him playfully.

As they made their way to the checkout, Ira's phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, her heart skipped a beat when she saw a notification from social media: 

Shubman Gill liked your post.

"What's that look for?" Louis asked, peeking over her shoulder.

"Nothing, just... a notification," she said, trying to sound casual.

"Who is it?" Louis pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"Just someone from my past," she replied, feeling a twinge of nostalgia.

"Someone special?" Louis teased, waggling his eyebrows.

"Shut up," Ira laughed, swatting at him. "Just an old friend, okay? Let's focus on Olivia's gift."

With their purchase completed, they stepped outside into the sun-soaked streets of LA. Ira took a deep breath, letting the warm breeze wash over her. 

The upcoming tour felt monumental, and part of her hoped she'd cross paths with Shubman again. It was a thought that both thrilled and terrified her.

As they strolled, Louis suddenly paused, looking at Ira with a serious expression. "You know, it's been ages since you talked to him. Are you ever going to reach out?"

Ira shrugged, glancing down the street. "I don't know, Louis. We left things so... unfinished. What if he doesn't want to talk?"

"Or what if he does?" Louis replied, crossing his arms. "You've both grown so much. Maybe it's time to put the past behind you and see what happens."

Ira considered his words, her heart racing with the possibilities. The tour was just starting, and maybe she could find a way to reconnect with him.

"Alright, maybe I will. But for now, let's celebrate Olivia's upcoming tour!" she declared, shaking off her nerves.

Louis grinned widely. "That's the spirit! Let's go grab some coffee and toast to new beginnings!"

As they walked down the bustling street, Ira couldn't shake the feeling that this tour was going to change everything—not just for her career, but for her personal life as well. 

And maybe, just maybe, she'd get the chance to face her past and the feelings she had for 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!

- our babies are gonna meet soon!!

- louis is crazy, we love him

- 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 🫶