02/04/22

Dear Diary,

I think I'm in love,

With Gujurati food, dhokla, fafda, jalebi, gathiya, khakra, it's just so tempting.

On a serious note, I think I'm in love with Sara Tendulkar.

Everything about her draws me to her.

She's like a magnet.

The world always seems to light up whenever she's around.

I love how she laughs, I love her taunts and her sarcasm, I love her snarky replies, I find her adorable when she's mad.

I love how her eyes curve up like crescents every time she smiles.

And the way her nose scrunches up when she's mad, she looks absolutely adorable.

The way she pouts or cutely frowns when things don't go her way.

The way she giggles musically.

She is just perfect and ethereal in every way.

" Mumbai! Mumbai!" The cheers echoed throughout the crowd.

" Go for it Shubman!" Hardik nodded at him encouragingly, next to him Nehraji, Shami, Sai Su and the rest of the team too nodded at him, affirming him that he was capable of it.

And as Piyush Chawla bowled the last ball, Shubman's bat lifted up to hit.

The ball flew behind and Ishan lunged forward to take the catch, but unfortunately for him, it was too far and missed it.

" Aye pakad pakad!" Rohit groaned as the ball hit the boundary.

" Maine bola tha Bumrah ko last over do!" He muttered under his breath but Shubman heard him nonetheless.

" Hota hai Ro bhai!" Shubman grinned at him and he sighed with a fond smile, ruffling his hair.

" It's a nice feeling isn't it, having the woman you love watch you play?"

He flushed red, looking away with a coy smile and Rohit laughed.

" It's nice seeing you in love! Well played Shubi, we all know a reason why you did play so well today."

Shubman blushed harder and Rohit laughed yet again, clearly enjoying teasing him as he patted his back and moved ahead.

Ishan immediately rushed up to him.

" Aye Hayee! Koi shakal toh dekho inki! Aise sharma raha hai jaise kal hi shaadi hai!"

" Chup kar!"

" Mujhe lagta hai abse har match keliye Sara ko bulana chahiye, phir har match mein performance aisi hi rahegi!" Hardik grinned.

" Sara Tendulkar? The God's daughter? Damn Shubi, you got guts! No wonder you were blushing throughout."

" Milly not you too!" Shubman groaned.

" Well played Shubman! Very very well played!" Shubman immediately straightened up, his scowl faltering as his cheeks tinted pink as a coy smile spread across his lips again.

Sachin smiled at him, patting his back.

The boys as well stopped playing around as Ishan and Shubman fixed their hair in sync.

" Thank you so much sir! Honestly I felt I could do better."

" That feeling is always there my boy, but you were phenomenal on field. You're too good. No wonder every opposition team is shaking and quivering whenever you're batting."

Shubman mumbled a chain of thank you's like a mantra, leaning down to touch his feet and Sachin patted his back.

" Keep growing and shining!"

" Sorry sir, aaj accha nahi khel paya." Ishan mumbled.

" Arey kya baat kar raha hai? Itni acchi batting toh ki tune! Haar Jeet hote rehti hai, never let that affect you okay?"

Once he was gone, Ishan nudged him.

" Ab toh sasurji ke bhi aashirvad mil gaye! Rishta pakka samjhe?"

" Ishan mai maar daalunga tujhe!"

" They're calling you for the player of the match interview! C'mon!"

He nodded and walked away after bidding Ishan a goodbye.

By the time he was done with the interview and walked back into the changing room, everyone had mischievous grins planted on their face to greet him.

" I think Shubman will skip the after-match ceremony today coach!" Sai Su was grinning hard.

He frowned.

" Why?"

" Because a special someone is here to see and congratulate you." David told him and his frown deepened.

" Who?"

" Offo! Kitne sawal puchta hai! If there's something we girls hate the most, then it is to be left waiting." Tanya told him walking into the room.

" Sara's waiting Shubi!" Shahneel already appeared to be bubbling with delight and he dashed out of the room hearing her name and laughter echoed in the room.

" H-hi! You here?"

" I'd come for the match Shubman."

" No I meant...never mind. What's up? How was your trip to Boston? Did you have a good flight?"

She narrowed her eyes at him.
" Are you doing small talk with me?"

" I'm just being civil! Is it that hard to comprehend?"

" It is. You can be civil with everyone but me."

" People change..." he muttered under his breath and she pretended not to have heard him.

" What's that?"

" Nothing! Is it about the photoshoot?"

" One of the reasons, but not the main one."

" Then? What made you come to meet me?"

" You played well. I simply wanted to tell you that. I'm sure you had many people tell you that and it doesn't even matter—"

" It does!" He cut her off so loudly that she was startled.
" I'm sorry...but it does. I mean every appreciation matters. So, thank you. I thought you'd be upset?"

" Why?"

" I mean....MI lost."

She chuckled.
" Don't they always? They play shit half of the tournament and start getting in form once the playoffs are nearing and then qualify for finals. Sometimes, they don't. I'm used to it."

He nodded, agreeing with her.
" So...what..about the photoshoot?"

" Oh yes...I saw the pictures, they'll be published in Vogue. The editor seems quite happy to have frequent photoshoots. She was also insisting on another shoot of ours. By the way, I hope the staff was cordial and didn't cause you trouble."

" Oh no! They were really nice. It was all good, don't worry about it. So what did you tell Vogue's editor?"

" I told her I'd get back. I mean you're swamped with IPL, then I suppose you got T20 series coming up, besides I really don't have time either right now."

" I'll ask Seb to talk to her. We'll give them what they want but when we got time, what say?"

Sara hesitantly nodded.

" Oh by the way, I got some souvenirs for you from Boston—"

" Aren't you being too gracious with me today Miss Tendulkar? Did the sun rise in the west today?"

" Mr.Gill, wasn't it you who asked for souvenirs?"

" Me? Nah."

" But Shah said...." she trailed off and let out a sigh.

" Never mind. Keep it! I think a bear t-shirt would look cute on you."

" You think I'm cute?"

Sara smacked her forehead and dragged her hand down her face.

" I was thinking something's up with you today but nope! You're fine, there you go being your aggravating self again." She said and Shubman laughed, his beautiful, soothing laughter echoing in the hallways and a smile spread across her lips seeing those dimples.

Ah, that pretty laugh!