Two years had passed since that memorable night in Punjab, and life for Preethi and Shubman had settled into a comfortable rhythm in their shared apartment.

 It was a modern space in Mumbai, with a mix of sleek, contemporary design and cozy, personal touches that made it feel like home. 

The living room, where they spent most of their time, had a large couch facing a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, a coffee table littered with magazines, remote controls, and the occasional mug from a hurried morning.

Preethi, now 24, was seated at the dining table, her laptop open in front of her, fingers flying across the keyboard as she booked tickets for Virat, her boss. 

As his personal assistant, her days were filled with organizing his schedule, managing his travel, and ensuring everything ran smoothly, a job she'd mastered with efficiency and dedication. Despite the demands of her job, she loved it—especially since it kept her close to the world Shubman and her brother Sai thrived in.

Shubman, now 29, was sprawled on the couch, engrossed in a cricket match on TV. He was dressed casually in sweatpants and a faded T-shirt, his hair slightly tousled from a lazy afternoon. Every so often, he glanced over at Preethi, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched her in concentration.

"Babe, you're gonna burn a hole in that keyboard if you keep typing like that," he teased, his deep voice cutting through the sound of the match. 

He shifted his position on the couch, his eyes gleaming with playful affection.

Preethi didn't look up immediately, focused on getting the details right. "Just a second, Shub," she muttered, her tone distracted. 

"Virat needs these tickets by tonight, and I swear, if I mess this up, he's going to lose his shit."

Shubman chuckled, muting the TV and rolling off the couch to walk over to her. "Virat can chill for a minute," he said, his voice dropping to a low, endearing murmur as he leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. "You've been at this all day. Take a break, baby."

She finally looked up at him, a smile tugging at her lips despite the stress. "I'll take a break when I'm done," she insisted, but there was a softness in her eyes as she gazed at him. 

"You know how he gets, Shubman. I love the guy, but damn, he can be intense."

Shubman grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. 

"Yeah, he's a bloody perfectionist, just like someone else I know," he teased, his tone affectionate as he gently pulled the laptop away from her. 

"But you're off the clock now. Virat's not gonna fire you if you take five minutes to breathe."

Preethi sighed, leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms above her head. "Fine," she relented, her voice tinged with mock exasperation. 

"But only because you're being annoyingly persuasive."

He smirked, leaning down to capture her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. "That's my girl," he murmured against her lips, his hand sliding to the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss. "You work too damn hard, you know that?"

She smiled into the kiss, her hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. 

"I have to keep up with you somehow," she quipped, her voice soft as she pulled back slightly to meet his gaze.

"Fuck that," Shubman replied with a laugh, his tone a mix of seriousness and affection. "You're amazing at what you do, but don't let it run you into the ground, okay? I need you in one piece, Preethi."

She nodded, her heart swelling with the love and care in his words. "I promise, Shub," she said softly, her fingers tracing the outline of his jaw. 

"I'll take it easy. But you've gotta help me unwind later."

He grinned, his eyes darkening with a playful edge. "Oh, I plan on it," he murmured, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "You're not getting out of that, sweetheart."

Preethi laughed, the sound light and carefree. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Only for you, baby," he replied, his lips brushing against hers once more before he pulled back, his hand still lingering on her shoulder. 

"Now, let's finish up this work so I can steal you away for the rest of the night."

She rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't hide the smile that spread across her face. "Fine, fine. Just let me wrap this up." 

She reached for her laptop again, but this time with a lighter heart, knowing that Shubman was right there with her, always ready to support and love her, no matter how crazy life got.

As she finalized the ticket bookings, Shubman hovered nearby, a comforting presence as he watched the match on his phone. 

When she finally hit the 'confirm' button, she let out a relieved sigh and closed the laptop with a satisfied click.

"All done?" Shubman asked, glancing over at her with a grin.

"All done," she confirmed, standing up and stretching again, this time with a sense of accomplishment. "Now, what did you have in mind for unwinding?"

He smirked, pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I've got a few ideas, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice full of promise as he led her toward the couch. 

"But first, how about we order some dinner? Then we can talk about those other plans..."

Preethi laughed, leaning into him as they settled onto the couch together. "That sounds perfect," she agreed, her heart full as she rested her head on his shoulder, grateful for the man who made every day feel like an adventure, filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.

Later that evening, the scent of their favourite takeout wafted through the apartment, filling the air with the comforting aroma of warm spices and sizzling flavours. 

Shubman and Preethi were curled up on the couch, the coffee table in front of them laden with containers of food. The TV was on, playing a movie they both loved, but their attention was mostly on each other.

As they dug into their dinner, Preethi leaned back against the cushions, feeling the tension of the day melt away. She looked over at Shubman, who was focused on his plate, a contented smile on his face.

"You know," she began, a playful tone in her voice, "I could get used to this. You, me, good food... no work stress."

Shubman chuckled, glancing at her with a twinkle in his eye. "I could too, but let's be real, babe. You'd get bored in a week. You thrive on that chaos."

Preethi smirked, nudging him with her foot. "Maybe you're right," she admitted. "But it's nice to pretend otherwise for a bit."

He grinned, setting his plate aside and turning to face her more fully. "Speaking of chaos, you know my family's been asking about when we're visiting again. They miss you."

Preethi's heart warmed at the mention of his family. "I miss them too," she said softly, remembering the warmth of their home in Punjab. "We should go soon. It's been too long."

Shubman nodded, reaching out to take her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. 

"Maybe we could make a trip next month? I've got some time off, and it'd be good to spend some quality time with them. Plus, I think Shahneel has some big news she wants to share."

Preethi's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Big news? What do you think it is?"

He shrugged, though his grin suggested he had a pretty good idea. "Could be anything, knowing her. But I'm sure it's something she's excited about. And I know she'll want you there to celebrate."

Preethi smiled, feeling a sense of belonging and anticipation at the thought of returning to Punjab. "Then it's settled," she said, squeezing his hand. "We'll go next month."

Shubman's gaze softened, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than usual. "You know," he said quietly, "I love how you fit into my life so perfectly. With my family, my friends, everything... it's like you've always been there."

Her heart fluttered at his words, the sincerity in his voice wrapping around her like a warm embrace. 

"I feel the same way," she whispered, leaning in to press a tender kiss to his lips. "You've given me so much, Shub. A life I never imagined, with a man who's more than I ever dreamed of."

He pulled her closer, his hand resting at the small of her back as he deepened the kiss, pouring every ounce of his love and gratitude into it. When they finally broke apart, his forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling in the space between them.

"You're everything to me, Preethi," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm never letting you go."

She smiled, her eyes misty with tears of happiness. "And I'm not going anywhere," she promised, her voice steady despite the emotion threatening to spill over. "You're stuck with me, Mr. Gill."

He laughed softly, kissing her again, this time with a mix of affection and playfulness. "Good," he said, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. "Because I'm not letting you out of my sight."

They spent the rest of the evening wrapped up in each other, the outside world fading away as they talked, laughed, and simply enjoyed each other's company. 

The love they shared was evident in every glance, every touch, every word spoken between them.

As the night wore on, they eventually drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, the warmth of their connection a comforting constant in the quiet of their apartment. 

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. Preethi stirred first, waking up to find herself nestled comfortably against Shubman's chest, his arms securely wrapped around her. 

His steady heartbeat was a soothing rhythm beneath her cheek, and for a moment, she simply lay there, content in the warmth and comfort of his embrace.

She shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, and glanced up at his face. His features were relaxed in sleep, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, and she couldn't help but smile herself. Gently, she reached up and traced a finger along his jawline, marvelling at the peacefulness that radiated from him.

But her slight movement stirred him, and Shubman's eyes fluttered open, blinking against the light. 

When he saw her, his smile widened, and he tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer. "Morning, love," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

"Morning," Preethi whispered back, her fingers continuing their gentle exploration of his face. "Did you sleep well?"

"With you in my arms? Always," he replied, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "How about you? Any dreams?"

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not that I remember. But waking up like this feels better than any dream."

He grinned, clearly pleased with her response, and kissed her again, this time on the lips, the kiss slow and tender. 

"You make every morning worth waking up to," he said softly, his forehead resting against hers as they lay there in the quiet of their room.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, savouring the slow, peaceful start to their day. 

Eventually, though, Preethi sighed and gently disentangled herself from Shubman's embrace. "As much as I'd love to stay here all day, we've got things to do," she said with a hint of reluctance.

Shubman groaned, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. "Why do we have to adult today?" he complained, though the teasing tone in his voice softened the words.

Preethi laughed, sitting up and stretching. "Because someone has a match coming up, and someone else has a very demanding boss who will freak out if things aren't perfectly organized."

Shubman sighed, rolling over to watch her as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "Yeah, yeah," he grumbled good-naturedly. "But seriously, you're amazing, you know that? Managing everything and still putting up with me."

She turned back to him, a playful smirk on her lips. "Oh, I know I'm amazing. You're just lucky I love you enough to keep you around."

He chuckled, getting up as well and pulling her into his arms once more. "Lucky doesn't even begin to cover it, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice turning serious as he gazed into her eyes. 

"You're my everything, Preethi. I hope you know that."

She softened at his words, her heart swelling with affection. "And you're mine, Shubman," she replied, her hands resting on his chest. "We're in this together, remember?"

He smiled, kissing her gently before pulling back. "Always," he promised, letting her go with one last squeeze before heading toward the bathroom. 

"But you know what? We've still got a few minutes before the day really starts. How about a quick shower together to kick things off?"

Preethi laughed, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"

Shubman winked at her. "That's why you love me."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face was undeniable. "Fine," she relented, following him with a playful grin. "But only because I'm curious to see if you can actually behave yourself."

He chuckled, his voice echoing off the bathroom tiles as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her under the warm spray of the shower. 

"No promises, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear, his breath sending a shiver down her spine. "But I'll try my best."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of shared laughter and stolen kisses, the two of them falling into an easy rhythm as they got ready for the day. 

Preethi's work was waiting, and Shubman had training to attend, but the warmth of their connection lingered, making the mundane tasks of the day feel lighter and brighter.

As they finally left the apartment, heading off to their respective duties, Shubman paused at the door, catching Preethi's hand before she could step out. 

"Hey," he said softly, drawing her attention back to him. "Let's make tonight special, okay? Just you and me, no work, no distractions. What do you say?"

Preethi smiled, squeezing his hand. "I'd love that," she replied, her eyes shining with affection. "It's a date."

He grinned, leaning down to kiss her one last time before they parted ways. "See you tonight, then, baby."

"See you tonight," she echoed, watching him walk away with a fond smile before heading off to her own busy day, already looking forward to the moment they'd be together again.

The day passed in a blur of meetings and emails for Preethi. Virat's schedule was packed, and she navigated through a maze of requests and urgent tasks with her usual efficiency. 

Despite the busyness, her thoughts often drifted back to Shubman and their plans for the evening. The promise of a quiet night together kept her focused and motivated.

As the afternoon wore on, Shubman finished his training and headed back to their apartment. He had a few errands to run before their evening together, including picking up a special bottle of wine and a surprise gift for Preethi. 

The idea of making their night special had him in high spirits, and he was eager to see her reaction.

When he arrived home, he found Preethi still at her laptop, deeply engrossed in her work. He quietly set the wine and gift down on the kitchen counter and crept up behind her. 

The faint glow from the screen illuminated her face, and he couldn't help but admire how focused she looked.

"Hey there, workaholic," Shubman said with a grin, leaning over her shoulder. "How's it going?"

Preethi jumped slightly, her heart racing as she looked up to see him. "Shubman! You scared me!" she exclaimed, though her eyes lit up with surprise and happiness. "You're home early."

"I got everything done and wanted to surprise you," he replied, his smile widening. "But first, you need to take a break. You've been at it all day."

She stretched, rolling her shoulders with a sigh. "I suppose I could use a break. What's the surprise?"

Shubman's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You'll see in a minute. But first, let's get out of here. I've made reservations at that new Italian place you've been dying to try."

Preethi's eyes widened in delight. "Really? I've been wanting to go there! How did you—"

"Come on," he interrupted with a playful grin, taking her hand and gently pulling her up from her chair. "We're going to have a fantastic evening, and no arguing allowed."

As they arrived at the restaurant, the ambience was just as charming as Preethi had hoped. Candlelight flickered on the tables, and the soft hum of a live jazz band filled the air. Shubman had gone the extra mile, securing a cozy corner table with a view of the city skyline.

They were seated and soon had a bottle of their favourite wine in front of them, glasses clinking as they toasted to the evening. "To us," Shubman said, his voice filled with affection. "To making every moment count."

"To us," Preethi echoed, her heart swelling with love and appreciation. "And to never letting life get too hectic to enjoy these moments."

The conversation flowed easily as they enjoyed their meal, sharing stories, laughter, and plenty of playful banter. Shubman's eyes never strayed far from Preethi's, his gaze filled with admiration and warmth. 

Every so often, he reached across the table to hold her hand or brush a stray hair from her face, his touches tender and loving.

After dessert, Shubman surprised her again by pulling out the gift he had brought home. It was a small, elegantly wrapped box, and he placed it in front of her with a grin. 

"Open it," he encouraged, his eyes shining with excitement.

Preethi's eyes sparkled as she carefully unwrapped the box. Inside was a beautiful necklace with a delicate pendant that matched her style perfectly. 

"Shubman, it's gorgeous," she breathed, her voice filled with genuine emotion. "How did you know?"

He smiled, his hand finding hers across the table. "I pay attention, sweetheart. I remember you mentioning you wanted something like this, and I thought it'd be a perfect surprise."

She leaned across the table to kiss him, her lips brushing against his with gratitude and love. "Thank you, Shubman. This means so much to me."

He leaned back, his smile softening as he looked at her. "You deserve it all, Preethi. You make every day brighter just by being you."

The evening continued with more laughter and shared moments, their connection growing deeper as they enjoyed each other's company. 

As they left the restaurant and headed back to their apartment, the city lights sparkled around them, casting a romantic glow on their surroundings.

Back at their place, Shubman led Preethi to the living room, where he had set up a cozy spot with blankets and cushions. "I thought we could relax here for a bit," he said, his tone soft and inviting.

Preethi's eyes softened with affection as she took in the scene. "This is perfect," she said, settling into the blankets as Shubman joined her, wrapping his arms around her.

They spent the rest of the night wrapped up in each other, talking and laughing about their plans for the future. 

The world outside seemed to vanish as they lost themselves in their conversation and the comfort of each other's presence.

As the hours passed and the night grew quiet, Shubman and Preethi lay together, their hearts full of love and contentment. 

It was a night to remember, a testament to the strength of their bond and the joy they found in being together.

With the city lights twinkling in the distance and the warmth of their shared space enveloping them, they drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the many adventures and moments they would continue to share in the years to come.

soups rant

GUESS WHO FINALLY UPDATED SLUT
 AFTER NEARLY 2 MONTHS

AND YES MAGAR, NO ONE IS READING :(

LIKE LITERALLY

THEY'RE SO CUTE

ME WHEN?

ANYWAY DO COMMENT

DID Y'ALL LIKE IT?

- LOVE, SOUP <3