One month of friendship had slipped into five years of love as easily as breathing. Every memory with her felt like a splash of color, filling in the gray areas of my life I hadn't even known were there. She was my rising sun, my anchor, my constant, and every day with her had been its own small, perfect adventure.

For five years, I lived wrapped in a bubble of happiness so complete that heartbreak seemed like a distant, unreal concept. It felt as though we'd created a world of our own-a place where laughter outweighed worry, and love was the answer to every question.

I can still hear the hooting from my teammates when I blew her a kiss during my first IPL match. Many thought it was for the crowd, but those close to me knew it was meant for someone special behind the screens-the one who made my life more meaningful.

As the cheers roared around me, all I could think about was her watching from afar, sharing in my excitement. She'd been there through every late practice, every bruise, every doubt-never asking for anything except for me to keep believing in myself. That kiss wasn't just a moment of celebration; it was a thank you, a promise that no matter how far I went, she'd be the first person I'd celebrate with.

But promises? No one ever kept them. They were just stupid, empty words meant to give a fleeting sense of hope for a moment. I learned that the hard way.

Present:

Pashmina ran her fingers through Shubman's hair as his cheek rested on her chest, his eyes shining with tears from distant memories as he looked into the night.

"What went haywire then, Shubman?" she asked, gently holding his cheek as he sobbed softly.

Taking a deep breath, he curled against Pashmina, wrapping his arms around her as he spoke. "For a while, my career went downhill, and her parents didn't want a struggling cricketer in their daughter's life."

Shubman chuckled sadly and whispered, "I didn't care what they thought. I knew I was ready to fight them and the world for our love. But how can I do that when it wasn't reciprocated?"

Pashmina bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she listened to the man in front of her. He didn't deserve this-no one did.

A bittersweet smile formed on his lips. "I thought love was enough. I believed that if I just showed her how much I cared, everything would work out. But when it came down to it, their expectations mattered more to her than what we shared."

“It’s not your fault; you did everything you could,” Pashmina said, gently wiping his tears. “You poured your heart into that relationship, and that shows your strength. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it just isn’t enough for the other person.”

Shubman looked up at her, gratitude mixed with sadness in his eyes. “I thought love could conquer all. I thought if I was just persistent enough, I could change their minds and make her see how much we meant to each other.”

Pashmina shook her head, her expression softening. “Love isn’t about changing someone or proving your worth to their family. It’s about mutual respect and understanding. If she couldn’t see that, then maybe she wasn’t the right person for you.”

He sighed, the weight of her words settling over him like a comforting blanket. “I wanted to believe that. I wanted her to fight for us too, but it felt like I was the only one putting in the effort.”

“I remember the legs that were trained to reach the crease on time were running behind her car as she moved to another city,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, a distant ache resonating in his chest.

It was a bright afternoon, the sun casting long shadows on the asphalt as he sprinted after her vehicle. The world around him blurred into a haze, filled with the echo of his own desperate heartbeats. He could see her through the tinted windows, her face illuminated by the sunlight, but she was just out of reach, moving farther away with every passing second.

“I almost ran after her, begging her to stay,” he continued, his voice breaking slightly. “Every ounce of me wanted to scream, to tell her that I loved her, that we could make it work. But she didn’t look back; she never tried to stop the car.”

Pashmina felt her heart twist as she imagined the scene: Shubman, breathless and panicked, pouring all his hopes into a fleeting moment. She could almost see the determination in his eyes morph into despair as he realized he was chasing a dream that was slipping through his fingers.

“It felt like my entire world was crumbling,” Shubman confessed, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “In that moment, I knew I was fighting for something that didn’t want to be fought for. I was just a fleeting thought in her mind, not someone worth holding onto.”

He paused, taking a shaky breath as the memories flooded back, each one a stab of pain. “The final confirmation came last year, shattering whatever little we had left. It was a wedding card—her name printed with someone else’s.”

Pashmina’s heart sank as she watched the anguish wash over his face. She could see how deeply this wound still affected him. “Shubman, I’m so sorry,” she murmured, reaching out to comfort him. “That must have hurt so much.”

“It did,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought maybe she would realize her mistake, that she would come back to me. But seeing her getting married… it felt like I lost her all over again. It was as if my heart was being ripped apart piece by piece.”

He looked down, the weight of his emotions evident in the way his shoulders slumped. “All those dreams we shared, all those plans… they vanished in an instant. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was ever truly part of her future or just a fleeting chapter in her story.”

Pashmina felt a tear slip down her cheek. “You are not a fleeting chapter in my story for sure,” she said, her voice steady despite her emotions. “Even if you play domestic cricket tomorrow or work somewhere else entirely, I would be there for you any day, anytime. And I mean it, Shubman Gill.”

He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. The sincerity in her words wrapped around him like a warm embrace, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of comfort amidst the storm of his feelings. “You really mean that?” he asked, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

Pashmina nodded, wiping her tears. “With every fiber of my being, I mean it. I love you, Shubman, and I will make sure you never fall short of that love.”

Shubman gasped, sitting upright at Pashmina's confession. This was the first time since they had started dating that she had laid her feelings bare, and her words washed away every inch of darkness that his last heartbreak had left behind.

“Pashmina,” he breathed, his heart racing as he processed what she had just said. The sincerity in her eyes and the warmth in her voice filled the room with an undeniable light, pushing back the shadows of his past.

“I know this might be sudden,” she continued, her cheeks flushing slightly. “But I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. You mean so much to me, and I want you to know that you’re not just a part of my life—you’re a significant part of my heart.”

“Pashmina!” he squealed, his joy bubbling over as he pulled her into a hug. The sudden movement caught them both off guard, and they tumbled onto the couch in a fit of laughter.

“I love you too!” he said happily, grinning from ear to ear as they landed in a tangle of arms and legs.

Pashmina wrapped her arms around him, planting soft kisses on his cheeks. “That’s how you should be—smiling and showing those dimples!”

Shubman felt his heart soar as she peppered his cheeks with kisses, the warmth of her affection making him feel giddy. “You’re going to make me blush!” he protested playfully, trying to squirm away, but he only ended up pulling her closer.

“Good! You should blush,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with delight. “You deserve to feel happy, especially right now.”

Shubman sighed contentedly as he buried his nose in Pashmina's neck, enjoying the comforting scent of her. They sat in silence, both forgetting their pasts after her heartfelt confession.

He felt a sense of peace in Pashmina Kohli's arms. With her words still ringing in his ears, he realized he could finally let go of everything that had weighed him down before.

Pashmina gently ran her fingers through his hair, her touch soothing. “Are you okay?” she whispered softly.

“More than okay,” he replied, his voice muffled against her shoulder. “I feel... free. Like I can finally move on from everything that held me back.”

She smiled, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. “That’s all I want for you. To be happy and to know that you’re loved.”

Shubman smiled and kissed her nose, resting his forehead against hers. “Before you go home, there’s one more place I want us to visit to wrap up our trip. I’d really like you to come with me.”

Pashmina raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “Oh? Where are we going?”

“My home,” he said. “I want you to meet my family. They’re really eager to see you, especially since you’ve made me feel like a lovesick puppy again,” he added with a chuckle.

Pashmina's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. “Your family? Really? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” Shubman replied, his enthusiasm matching hers. “They’ve heard so much about you, and I think they’d love to finally meet the amazing person who’s turned my life around.”

She felt a mix of nervousness and happiness at the thought. “What if they don’t like me?”

Shubman shook his head, brushing off her worries. “They’ll love you! Trust me, my family is really welcoming. Plus, if they see how happy you make me, they won’t be able to help but adore you.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Pashmina bit her lip. “Let’s see what awaits at your home,” she said, excited yet nervous about meeting his parents.

Was it really his parents who would be waiting to meet the girl he had fallen in love with, or was there someone else waiting too?