It was a sunny afternoon, and the pet store was bustling with activity. Shubman and Kyra had decided to stop by to pick up some food and treats for Coco, who was trotting happily beside them, wagging her tail as she sniffed around.

Kyra was at the counter, scanning through the various pet food options, her fingers brushing over bags and cans. 

Coco sat patiently at her feet, her eyes following every movement of her owner.

Shubman had his hands stuffed in his pockets, scrolling through his phone while chatting with Virat. 

The shop had a cozy, almost homely vibe, with wooden shelves stocked with pet supplies and treats.

"Yeah, Virat, I swear the guy's got a weak leg. Can't believe I'm having to carry him in the match next week," Shubman said, rolling his eyes.

Virat's voice came through the phone, slightly muffled. "You're complaining, but you're the one who can't let go of the ball even if you're deep in the shit, huh?"

Shubman chuckled, leaning back slightly against the shelf. His eyes wandered over to Kyra, who was now carefully reading the ingredients on a dog food bag, her brow furrowed in concentration.

But then, something caught his attention.

Across the aisle, just beyond a few other customers, a guy was standing, casually pretending to look at some pet toys, but his eyes were locked on Kyra. 

Shubman narrowed his eyes, instantly feeling a shift in his gut. He didn't like the way the guy was looking at her—there was something possessive and lingering in the way his gaze travelled over Kyra.

Shubman's grip on his phone tightened, and his voice dropped to a lower register. "Hold on, Virat," he muttered, hanging up before waiting for a response.

His attention was now fully on the guy, whose stare hadn't wavered from Kyra. Shubman took a step forward, trying to keep a low profile so Kyra wouldn't notice, but his presence was becoming more intense by the second.

He walked slowly, making sure his steps were silent, until he was just behind the guy. The man, still oblivious to his presence, was eyeing Kyra with an expression Shubman didn't like.

Shubman stepped forward, his voice low and cool. "Can I help you with something?"

The man jerked slightly, his head turning quickly to meet Shubman's gaze. His posture stiffened as he sized up the newcomer, but there was an immediate recognition in his eyes.

"Uh, nothing, mate. Just... checking out some stuff for my dog," the guy said, attempting to feign casualness, but Shubman wasn't fooled. 

He could see the nervousness in his eyes now.

Shubman didn't respond immediately. He just stared at the guy, his gaze hardening. "You know, it's a pet store. We don't stare at people's girlfriends like they're some kind of... commodity."

The guy's face flushed slightly, but he stood his ground. "I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, trying to back away.

But Shubman wasn't done. He leaned in just a little, keeping his voice low enough that only the guy could hear. 

"Listen, I'm gonna make this real simple for you, mate. I don't give a damn what your intentions are, but if I catch you staring at her like that again, I'll make sure you regret it."

The guy blinked, his face falling. He didn't say anything else, just nodded quickly before backing away, disappearing around the corner of the aisle.

Shubman took a deep breath, rubbing his jaw as he turned back toward Kyra, who was still engrossed in choosing dog food. His heart was still racing, but his irritation hadn't quite settled.

"Shubs? You good?" Kyra asked, glancing up from the counter as she noticed his tense posture.

Shubman walked up to her, his face softening as he slid his phone back into his pocket. "Yeah, I'm good. Just had to take care of something."

She tilted her head, clearly curious, but she didn't press him. "Okay... But you're acting like a grumpy old man right now."

He smirked, his eyes twinkling with affection despite the earlier tension. "I don't like it when people stare at what's mine," he replied simply, pulling her closer for a quick, soft kiss on her forehead.

Kyra frowned slightly, her fingers curling around the bag of dog food she was holding. "What's going on, Shubman? You seem... different today."

His smile faltered for a moment, and then he sighed, his eyes softening. "It's nothing. It's just that guy earlier. He had this look in his eyes... kinda pissed me off."

Kyra blinked, her hand freezing mid-motion as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. "A guy? What guy?"

"The one who was staring at you," Shubman said, his voice firm. "I didn't like the way he was looking at you. It felt... off."

Kyra's eyes widened slightly as the pieces started to fall into place. She glanced around quickly as if trying to spot the guy again, but he was long gone.

"Wait..." Kyra said slowly, her lips curling into a small, amused grin. "Was that... Kavin?"

Shubman froze, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Kavin?"

"Yeah," she said, a touch of disbelief in her voice. "My ex. The one who tried to get in touch a few weeks ago. I guess he's still lurking around."

Shubman's jaw tightened at the mention of the name, but he didn't say anything. He simply shook his head, unable to mask the irritation that was creeping back into his expression.

Kyra sighed, her lips twisting into a wry smile. "Don't worry, Shubman. He's just... not a part of my life anymore. He's harmless."

Shubman didn't respond immediately. He just pulled her closer again, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I don't care. He crosses that line one more time, I'll show him who's harmless."

Kyra laughed softly, the sound light and easy, but there was something reassuring in it. "You're ridiculous."

Shubman smiled, finally feeling some of his frustration dissipate. "Yeah, well, I'm ridiculous about you. Don't like people staring at what's mine."

Kyra rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips curled up. "I'm yours, huh?"

"Damn right," he said with a playful grin. "And anyone who thinks otherwise can deal with me."

She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You know, you're kind of possessive."

"I'm not possessive," Shubman retorted, pulling her toward the counter. "I'm protective. And there's a difference."

Kyra laughed softly again, her heart warming at his words. She leaned up and kissed him lightly, her hand resting on his chest. "I appreciate it, Shubman. But I can handle Kavin. And you."

His smile softened, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I know you can, baby. But I'll always be here when you need me."

soup rants!

- hello everyone!
- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
- POSSESSIVE SHUB >
- also comments on the chapter?
- i hope you guys liked this one!
- with lots of love, supraja 🫶