As the second innings began, the atmosphere in the Chepauk Stadium shifted dramatically. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, eager to see how the Indian batting lineup would respond after a shaky first outing. Shubman Gill was in the thick of it, his mind focused solely on making amends for his earlier performance.

The first innings had been a rough ride—an unexpected duck that had sent waves of doubt through him. But now, standing at the crease, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. 

He had spent the break between innings reminding himself that this was just a game, that he played not just for himself but for the team, for Thalia, and for every fan who cheered for him.

As Shubman walked to the crease, he noticed the familiar figures of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal sitting in the dugout. 

All three were out, and now it was up to him to stabilize the innings. The pitch had flattened out a bit, and the conditions were ripe for batting.

"Hey, Gill! You got this!" Rohit shouted from the sideline, giving him an encouraging nod.

"Yeah, man, show them what you're made of!" Yashasvi added, his excitement palpable.

Shubman smiled, feeling the weight of their belief in him. With every step towards the crease, he channeled the energy from his teammates, and the anticipation of the crowd washed over him.

As the first ball of the over was bowled, Shubman was ready. He focused, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The bowler released, and Shubman timed his shot perfectly, sending the ball racing to the boundary. The crowd erupted, and he felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him.

With every run, Shubman found his rhythm. The crowd cheered louder as he built his score, notching up boundaries and turning singles into twos. Every shot was a testament to his resilience and determination to prove the naysayers wrong.

Rishabh Pant joined him at the crease after a solid innings of his own. As Rishabh settled in, he and Shubman began to form a strong partnership.

"Let's make them pay for doubting us," Rishabh said, grinning widely. "What do you say?"

Shubman chuckled. "Hell yeah! Let's show them how it's done."

Rishabh's aggressive style complemented Shubman's more composed approach perfectly. They picked apart the bowling attack, and as the runs continued to flow, Shubman felt the pressure of the first innings melt away.

Rishabh reached his century first, celebrating with a triumphant fist pump towards the crowd. The fans roared their approval. But just as the excitement peaked, Rishabh fell to a lazy shot, edging the ball to slip for 100 runs.

"Fuck!" Shubman exclaimed under his breath, shaking his head. "We needed you to stick around longer."

Rishabh flashed a thumbs-up as he walked back, and Shubman took a deep breath, knowing he had to carry the innings forward.

With renewed determination, Shubman found his footing again. Each run felt sweeter, and as he approached his century, the crowd grew electric with anticipation. After a beautifully timed shot through cover, the scoreboard ticked past 100.

He stayed calm, and removed his helmet, before looking at the crowd, with his bat raised. He then did his signature move: the bow, before standing upright. In the middle of his celebration, his mind flickered to Thalia, who had always believed in him. 

He imagined her smiling face, her eyes shining with pride. That thought fueled him, pushing him to continue batting with intent.

"Keep it going, Gill!" Rohit shouted again, clapping enthusiastically from the sidelines.

Shubman was now in his groove, timing every shot with precision, hitting boundaries and rotating the strike effectively. Each run felt like a step towards redemption, each ball an opportunity to silence the doubters.

As Shubman pushed the score to 119 not out, the Indian innings wrapped up. He stood tall, basking in the applause of the crowd, the thrill of his performance washing over him. He had turned the narrative around, showcasing the player he knew he could be.

"Fucking nailed it, Gill!" Virat yelled, his voice booming across the dressing room as Shubman walked back to the pavilion.

Shubman couldn't help but grin. The confidence from the team surrounded him like a warm embrace. He had fought through the storm, and now, as he walked off the field, he felt lighter, unburdened.

As the Indian bowlers began to warm up, the atmosphere shifted once again. The crowd's attention turned to the Bangladeshi batsmen, who were set to chase down a target that now loomed larger after Shubman's innings.

Shubman settled down in the dugout, a sense of accomplishment radiating from him. He couldn't shake the excitement bubbling inside. He grabbed his phone, eager to message Thalia again.

Shubman: Hey, babe! Just scored 119 not out. Feeling on top of the world! Wish you were here!

A moment later, the reply pinged back.

Thalia: OMG, I SAW! that's amazing, Shubs! I'm so proud of you! Can't wait to celebrate later!

His heart swelled with happiness. Just then, the first ball of Bangladesh's innings was bowled, and the crowd erupted again. Shubman's focus shifted back to the game. He leaned forward, watching as the Indian bowlers prepared to take charge.

Jasprit Bumrah, with his unique bowling action, was up first, and Shubman could feel the tension building in the stadium. 

Each delivery was crucial now. The players on the field were a mix of excitement and focus. They knew that Bangladesh would come hard, but India was ready to defend their ground.

"Come on, Bumrah!" Shubman shouted, joining his teammates in the cheer.

And so, the second act of the test match began, with Shubman Gill watching intently, ready to back his team as they aimed to seize control of the match. The moment he had been waiting for had arrived, and he was determined to make it count.

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the sprawling mansion that Thalia now called home. She walked around the living room, the soft light from the chandelier illuminating the elegant décor, but somehow, the beauty felt hollow without Shubman by her side. 

She had been watching the match earlier, her heart racing every time he struck a boundary, and when he finally reached his century, pride swelled within her. She leapt from her seat, cheering and clapping as if she were in the stadium.

But as the match ended and the celebrations rolled out on the screen, Thalia felt a strange emptiness. She had expected Shubman to call her, to share that electric moment with her. 

They usually spoke right after a match, but the phone remained silent. She dismissed her disappointment, convincing herself that he was likely lost in the chaos of celebrations with his teammates.

After a light dinner filled with half-hearted conversation with herself, she wandered to their bedroom. As she moved around the room, her gaze landed on the framed photo from their engagement, capturing the moment when he had proposed under the twinkling lights. 

They looked so happy, and the memories flooded back, filling her with warmth yet deepening the ache of missing him.

With a sigh, she climbed into bed, the cool sheets a stark contrast to her racing thoughts. Sleep found her eventually, but it was a restless slumber, filled with dreams of matches and laughter, of moments they had shared, and the undeniable bond they were building.

At around 3 a.m., a soft shuffling noise stirred her from her dreams. Thalia opened her eyes, the dimness of the room making it hard to gauge what was happening. Her heart raced as she listened, the noise growing louder, the sound of something heavy being set down.

Curiosity overtook her sleepiness. She flicked on the bedside lamp, the sudden brightness illuminating the room and bringing the familiar figure into focus. There stood Shubman, his face flushed with exertion, tousled hair a testament to the long journey he had just made.

"Shubman!" she gasped, the relief washing over her like a wave. She sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. He looked exhausted, his clothes crumpled and his bag hastily tossed on the table, but to her, he was the most beautiful sight.

Without a moment's hesitation, she sprang from the bed and rushed toward him. "You're home!" she cried, wrapping her arms around him tightly, her heart swelling with emotions she could hardly contain.

He stumbled slightly from the force of her embrace but quickly regained his balance, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her slightly off the ground. 

"Thalia!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of surprise and affection. "I missed you."

"I missed you too!" she said, burying her face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of him, a blend of fresh linen and something uniquely Shubman. 

"I was worried you wouldn't make it back tonight."

"I couldn't wait another second," he replied, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. There was a glimmer of joy mixed with exhaustion in his gaze. 

"We won the match, and I couldn't celebrate without you."

Tears welled up in Thalia's eyes, but this time they were tears of joy. "I saw you score! One hundred nineteen not out!" she exclaimed, her heart racing at the memory of him playing so fiercely. "I was so proud of you!"

"Thanks, babe," he said, his voice low and sincere. "It felt good to score, but it feels even better to be home with you."

Thalia pulled away slightly, glancing at the clock, realizing how late it was. "But you must be tired. Did you drive all the way from Chennai? Why didn't you take a flight? You should get some rest," she suggested, concern creeping into her voice.

"Rest can wait, also uh, there were no flights available so I just drove," Shubman said with a playful smirk, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. 

"I want to hear about your day. And besides, I couldn't resist coming home to my beautiful fiancée."

A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she felt her heart flutter at his words. "You're unbelievable," she teased lightly, stepping back to let him move into the room fully.

Shubman let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "And you're the best part of my day, every day."

As they sat down on the edge of the bed, the fatigue from his travels momentarily forgotten, Thalia reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. 

"I just... I wanted to hear your voice after the match. I wanted to share that moment with you."

"I know, and I'm sorry for not calling. It got a bit crazy with the celebrations, but I promise I'll make it up to you," Shubman said, his tone genuine. 

"Next time, I'll call you from the field right after the match, okay? You deserve to be part of every moment."

"Deal," Thalia replied, her heart warming at his words. They talked for a while longer, sharing stories and laughter, the world outside fading away. 

She could see the stress of the match and the travel lift from his shoulders as he settled into their shared space, the love they had blossoming anew in the quiet of the night.

As the hours passed, Thalia leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his breath. Eventually, he began to yawn, the adrenaline wearing off, revealing just how tired he truly was.

"Let's get some sleep," she suggested gently, glancing at the bed.

Shubman nodded, and they both climbed under the covers. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her protectively. "Thank you for being my lucky charm today. I needed you."

She smiled, snuggling deeper into his embrace. "Always. Now get some rest. You'll need your energy for the next test."

As they drifted off together, the worries of the outside world faded, replaced by the warmth of their love, knowing that they were in this together, come what may.

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soup rants!

- hello everyone!

- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

- his 119 at the stadium he is hated the most >>

- i love them, they're so cute

- also comments on the chapter?

- I hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶