Standing in front of the door after a month, Shubman felt himself blushing like a teenager in love. He giggled as he rubbed his hands together. The past month had felt like a piece of chewing gum, stretching endlessly. He had talked to Pashmina over calls and video chats, but nothing compared to holding her in his arms, her small frame disappearing into his stronger embrace.

He was excited, almost going mad from it, as he thought about the trip. He knew it was meant to be a healing trip, but the idea of having some alone time with Pashmina felt different. They always had special moments together, but being in Kashmir added a whole new feeling to it.

He had already asked Virat for permission for the trip, and Virat was more than happy that Pashmina would finally be coming out of her shell after so long. However, he was also worried that she might get sick since it would be her first time leaving her room in three long years. But after one reassuring statement from Shubman, Virat felt more at ease.

"I'll take care of her with everything I have," Shubman had promised.

As Shubman kept smiling and giggling to himself, he suddenly heard a voice from downstairs.

"Stop giggling to yourself, Shubman, and get inside, or else you'll be late!" Virat called out.

Startled, Shubman snapped out of his thoughts and quickly glanced at the time. He bit his tongue and rushed inside, only to feel his breath catch in his throat. There, sitting on the bed, was Pashmina in her pink kurti and palazzo—her usual style, simple yet graceful. And still, somehow, every time he saw her, his heart fluttered just the same.

She had her wrists resting on her knees, her fists opening and closing anxiously, likely trying to calm herself as she thought about not getting scared when stepping out of the room for the first time in years. Shubman could see the nervous energy in her every movement, her mind likely racing with doubts and fears.

He sat down in front of her, gently taking her hands in his and caressing them. Instantly, she relaxed the tension in her body easing. She looked up at him with red, teary eyes, and without a word, she launched herself into his arms. The sudden movement made him stumble slightly, but he quickly composed himself, wrapping his strong arms around her.

He could feel her heart pounding fast against his chest, but what surprised him was how his own heart fluttered just as wildly, not out of fear, but because of her—because of how much she meant to him. Holding her tightly, he whispered, "I've got you. We'll be okay."

Pashmina looked up at him, her eyes gradually losing their redness and returning to their usual colour. A smile began to form on her face, and she said softly, "Hi there, young man."

Shubman chuckled, his heart swelling with relief and affection. "Hi there, beautiful," he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Ready to start this adventure together?"

Pashmina bit her lips, her voice a whisper. "May...be," she said, taking small pauses in her response.

Shubman twirled a curl of her hair, gently tucking it behind her ear. "Well, I have an idea to change that 'maybe,'" he said with a reassuring grin.

Pashmina looked at him with curiosity, her nervousness starting to melt away. "What do you have in mind?"

Shubman reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses that had been dangling there. He gently placed them on Pashmina's face, adjusting them to fit comfortably. From the same pocket, he also took out two small cotton pieces and carefully placed them in her ears.

"The light and noise outside will be less daunting with these," he said, offering her a comforting smile. "Just a little extra help to make things easier."

Pashmina looked up at him with a grateful smile, feeling more prepared for the step outside.

"How do you manage to make things easier for me?" she whispered, holding onto his shoulder as they both remained seated on the ground.

"Well, you see, I'm smart," he said with a shrug, standing up and offering her a hand. "People say that if I weren't a cricketer, I'd definitely be in some profession that requires a brain." He gave her a playful grin. "But for now, let me use that brain to help you out."

Pashmina laughed softly, taking his hand. "I'll take that help gladly," she said, feeling a bit more at ease.

He picked up her bag, continuing to crack jokes to keep her distracted as she took those first, hesitant steps out of the room. With each step she took, Shubman's words filled the space, keeping the anxiety at bay.

As Pashmina crossed the threshold, Shubman quietly shut the door behind them. It wasn't just about closing the room—he was sealing off the darkness that had held her hostage for far too long. For now, that chapter was closed, and with it, the shadows that had kept her isolated.

Pashmina giggled at Shubman's silly jokes, taking each step down the stairs, moving farther from the dark room that had held her for so long. When she reached the last step, she paused, her eyes widening as she saw her entire family waiting for her at the bottom. Overwhelmed, she instinctively gripped Shubman's bicep tightly, her mind racing.

She turned back to glance at the room she had left behind. Did I really do it? The realization hit her—she had finally left it. Tears streamed down her face, not from fear, but from the overwhelming pride and relief of overcoming the barrier that had held her captive for years.

Her family looked at her with smiles, and she knew this was just the beginning of her new journey.

Mumma Kohli stepped forward, tears streaming down her face, and gently pulled Pashmina's forehead down to hers. "Mina, my Mina... you did it. I'm so proud of you," she cried, her voice trembling with emotion.

Pashmina closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her mother's love wash over her, the weight of the moment sinking in. For the first time in years, she felt free, surrounded by the people who loved her the most.

Virat pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to hold back his own emotions as he watched his sister and mother embrace. He had always been the strong one, but seeing Pashmina in any vulnerable moments never failed to tug at his heartstrings.

From behind, he felt a gentle nudge. It was his wife, smiling softly, urging him to join them. She gave him a reassuring look as if saying, This is your moment too.

He moved forward, taking a deep breath, and pulled the one of two most important women in his life into a hug. He kissed their foreheads, his emotions overwhelming him as he held them close.

The three of them embraced, holding each other tightly as if trying to bridge the chasm of years spent apart. Despite living under the same roof, the emotional distance had been vast and painful. This moment was a poignant reminder that the hardest separations aren't always about physical distance. The three of them clung to one another, their embrace a desperate attempt to mend the rift created by years of separation. Though they had shared the same space, the emotional gulf between them had felt as vast as the ocean.

Virat composed himself, wiping his face as he looked at the mother-daughter duo, who were still wrapped in their emotional embrace. With a chuckle, he said, "Alright, that's enough crying for now. Let's get a move on, or she will miss the flight."

His light-hearted nudge brought a small laugh to the group, easing the mood and reminding them of the next step in their journey.

Pashmina quickly embraced her bhabhi, who kissed her cheek and whispered, "After the trip, we're going out for a long dinner. I want to have my moment with my first best friend here in this home."

Pashmina smiled as she looked back and nodded eagerly. "Sure, Nush," she replied. Then she turned to her niece and nephew, lifting them with a joyful laugh. Vamika grinned and kissed her cheek. "We can't wait to play with you, Bua!" she exclaimed.

Little Akaay, just seven months old, babbled and cooed, trying to catch Pashmina's attention. He looked up at her with wide, curious eyes and made playful sounds, his tiny hands reaching out.

"Boo-boo!" he exclaimed, his attempts at words mixed with giggles. His chubby cheeks were flushed with excitement as he wriggled in Pashmina's arms, clearly eager to engage with her.

Pashmina smiled warmly at Akaay and said, "Yes, yes, Boo Boo will play with you too when she gets back."

Akaay's face lit up with a happy gurgle, and he reached out for her, clearly thrilled by the promise of fun.

Anushka took her little ones into her arms one by one, causing Pashmina to pout. "Now go, or else you'll surely miss the flight," Anushka said, gently nudging Pashmina.

Pashmina, still pouting, replied, "Fine, Bhabhi, but I wanted to play a little more with them." She reluctantly began to head toward the door, her gaze lingering on the children with a mix of longing and affection.

Shubman gave Pashmina's shoulders a supportive squeeze and grinned. "Bhabhi's right, Mina. We've got to head out, or we'll miss our flight. Farwell, everyone!" he announced with a touch of theatrical flair, guiding Pashmina toward the door.

Pashmina cast one last, smiling look at her family, her hand waving as she stepped outside.

Though Pashmina was slim, her grip on Shubman's hand was surprisingly firm throughout the journey to the airport, almost as if she were afraid he might slip away. Shubman could feel the tension in her fingers, a slight tremor that hinted at her nerves kicking in again, even if not as intensely as before. Despite her attempt to stay composed, the anxiety was still there, subtly tugging at her resolve.

Shubman leveraged his fame to guide Pashmina through the quieter corners of the airport, weaving past the crowds with practised ease. Despite his best efforts, the situation remained tense. Pashmina, drenched in sweat and keeping her gaze lowered, struggled with the overwhelming environment. Shubman stayed by her side, constantly vigilant to prevent her from colliding with anyone. His protective presence and careful navigation aimed to shield her from the chaos, even as he could sense the strain in her fragile composure.

Once they were inside the plane and settled in their cabin, Shubman offered Pashmina a bottle of water. She took it hurriedly, spilling half of it onto her kurti in the process. Shubman quickly grabbed his handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her face, his touch soothing as he tried to help her calm down.

As Pashmina drained the entire bottle of water in one gulp, she let out a heavy sigh. "That journey was hard," she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "How will I manage the rest?"

Shubman closed the bottle and set it aside, watching as Pashmina dabbed her kurti with a napkin to clean up the spilt water. He gave her an encouraging smile and said, "Just like you managed the first half of the journey, I'm sure you'll handle the second half even more bravely."

Pashmina looked at him, exhaustion evident in her eyes. "How are you so confident in me? How do you do it? Don't you ever feel like giving up?"

Shubman smiled as he fastened her seatbelt, then gently held her hand, tapping it with his palms. "Because I didn't walk into that room to walk away from you," he said softly. "If God put us in that room together, then He's given me the strength to stand strong with you."

Pashmina rested her head against the seat, glancing at Shubman as the plane took off. She caressed his cheeks and softly muttered, "You know, your smile is my therapy, my unpaid therapist. Thank you."

Shubman kissed the back of her hand gently and said, "Well, Madam Pashmina, I am honoured to be your unpaid therapist.

As Pashmina laughed, her chest lifting with each joyous breath, Shubman gazed at her with a look of pure delight, as if he had just discovered something priceless. Even though Pashmina needed support, her laughter was unexpectedly enriching him. In her way, she was offering him a kind of comfort and happiness that he hadn't anticipated.

Shubman hid his blush by looking down and shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "Oh Lord, what is this girl?" he murmured to himself. "She doesn't even seem real."