2024

On set, the chaos of preparations buzzed around them as Shubman and Navya settled into their respective roles. 

The crew was rushing to finalize everything: cameras were being adjusted, lights were being positioned, and stylists were making sure his outfit was perfect. 

He had changed into the outfit provided for the shoot—a sleek, black leather jacket over a crisp white t-shirt, dark jeans, and boots that gave him a slightly rugged yet polished look.

Shubman stood in front of the mirror backstage, fixing his hair one last time. His eyes flicked to the time on his phone, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of nervous excitement. 

He hadn't expected to see Navya again in such a professional capacity, but the sight of her walking onto set as the ad's director, looking every bit as stunning and poised as ever, made his heart race.

He exhaled deeply, trying to shake the nervous energy coursing through him.

"Shubman!" a voice from across the room snapped him back to reality. He turned to see one of the stylists motioning for him. "We're ready for you, come on!"

Shubman gave a final glance at Navya, who was overseeing the placement of the camera. She was in her element, her eyes sharp with focus as she directed the crew. 

 There was something so effortlessly beautiful about her, and as much as he tried to stay focused, he couldn't help but get lost in the way she looked.

When he stepped onto the set, the crew quickly went quiet, giving him space to settle into his position. 

Shubman gave Navya a small nod, his eyes lingering on her for just a second before he turned his attention back to the shoot.

"Alright, Shubman," Navya said, her voice cutting through the silence. "We're ready to roll. Just like we talked about, remember to play with the watch and keep it casual but confident."

He nodded, trying to suppress the urge to smile at how much she had grown. 

The woman who had been his childhood friend, the one who knew him better than anyone, was now in charge of the entire shoot.

As the cameras rolled, Shubman did his best to concentrate, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the moments they had shared earlier. 

The way her touch lingered when she helped him with the kajal, the intimacy that had almost been too much to handle, but also too comforting to ignore.

"Cut!" Navya's voice rang out again, and Shubman snapped back to reality.

She walked over to him, clipboard in hand, her eyes flicking to the monitor and then to him. "That was perfect, just a little more confidence in the pose. Make it look effortless like you own the world."

Shubman's lips quirked up at the corner. "I can do that."

"I know you can," she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly in that trademark, determined way he remembered so well from their childhood. 

"Let's do another take. Same pose but this time, try to relax a bit more. You're looking a little tense."

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I'm just a little distracted."

Navya shot him a knowing look, and he quickly realized what he'd said. "Uh, not what I meant," he quickly added, a sheepish grin forming on his face.

Navya raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "Alright, let's take five," she called out to the crew, before turning back to Shubman.

As the break began, she walked up to him, her eyes softening as she spoke quietly, "You okay?"

He nodded, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I'm fine. Just... glad we're here. You know? After everything."

Navya's expression softened, but there was still a hint of wariness in her eyes. "Yeah," she replied, voice almost a whisper. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment, the tension thick between them. Neither of them spoke, but the air was full of things left unsaid. 

He longed to reach out, but the professional distance between them kept him at bay.

"Alright," she finally said, stepping back and looking at the crew. "Let's get back to work. I'll see you in a minute."

Shubman watched her walk away, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but everything in him screamed that things were about to change. Again.

As the shoot wrapped up later in the day, the set buzzed with a sense of accomplishment. The crew was congratulating each other, packing up equipment, and exchanging quick hugs and handshakes. 

Shubman stayed back for a few moments longer, watching Navya as she spoke to one of the production assistants. 

She looked completely in her element, poised and commanding respect with every word.

He couldn't help but admire her—her grace, her confidence, and the way she'd built a life so far removed from the one they'd known as kids. 

Yet, despite all the years and distance, she was still unmistakably Navya, the girl who had stood up for him against bullies, who had laughed with him under the banyan tree, who had been the centre of so many of his best memories.

When Navya finally turned her attention back to him, she smiled faintly and motioned for him to follow her.

"Walk with me?" she asked simply, her voice soft but steady.

"Always," Shubman replied, his heart skipping a beat as he followed her out of the studio.

The evening air was crisp, the city alive with sounds of traffic and distant chatter. 

They walked side by side, the silence between them comfortable but charged. Shubman finally broke it.

"You were incredible today," he said, glancing at her. "I mean it. Seeing you work... it's like watching magic happen."

Navya laughed lightly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "You're just saying that because you're biased."

"Biased? Of course I am," he replied, grinning. "But I'm also right."

She shook her head, but her smile didn't fade. They walked for a few more minutes before she stopped and turned to him, leaning against the railing of a small park bridge. 

The lights from the nearby buildings cast a soft glow over her features, making her look even more ethereal.

"I'm proud of you too, you know," she said, her voice quieter now. "Seeing you out there, doing what you love... it makes me happy. Even after everything."

Her words hit him harder than he expected. He stepped closer, his hands gripping the railing beside hers. "Navya, I—"

"Don't," she interrupted gently, her eyes meeting his. 

"Not tonight. Let's just... enjoy this. Being here, together. No past, no baggage."

He swallowed hard, nodding. "Okay. No past, no baggage. Just us."

They stayed there for a while, the noise of the city fading into the background as they talked about lighter things—her recent projects, his upcoming matches, the little quirks of life that made them laugh.

When it was time to part ways, Navya turned to him at the door of her flat, her fingers hesitating on the doorknob. 

"Shubman," she said softly, looking up at him, "thank you. For today."

He smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Always, Navya."

As she stepped inside and closed the door, Shubman stood there for a moment longer, his heart heavy with everything he still hadn't said. 

But for the first time in years, he felt like they were finding their way back to each other—slowly, cautiously, but surely.

soup rants!!!

the twenty-fifth chapter is here!
did we like it?
do comment your favorite part
what do you think will happen in the next chapter?
until then
yours lovingly,

soup <3