29/05/22

Dear Diary,

We won the IPL finals today and I'm happy

It was one of the happiest moments of my life, being able to win GT the cup.

I think Hardik Bhaiya was proud, he kept saying it and nothing made me happier.

But who'd think a phone call would make me happiest?

" Congratulations!" Sara's voice chimed over the other line and Shahneel bit back a smile as she saw Shubman's face light up.

" Th-thanks! You saw the match?"

" We all did. Arjun was glued to the television ever since the match started, Baba was also pretty much into it. In-fact, he wanted to talk to you, I think you should talk to him and Arjun."

" What a match Shubman! You played extensively well! So so well played! Congratulations!"

" Thank you so much sir! You calling me means so much!" He was smiling wide.

" Well played Shubi! Congratulations!" Arjun's voice echoed over the line.

" Thank you so much!"

After exchanging a few more words with him, Sachin and Arjun handed back the phone to Sara.

A tranquil hush spread over for a while till Shubman hesitantly spoke.

" W-what did you call for?" He asked, inwardly cursing himself for stuttering and Shahneel smacked her forehead.

" Paagal!" She cursed under her breath.

" Gadha hai yeh."

" Dimaag se paidal."

" Jesus why is he so stupid?" Seb sighed.

Shubman sighed as they continued to curse him.

" To congratulate you? You won the match, you got the player of match award, and the player of the tournament. I called to congratulate you, can I not?"

" N-no...I thought you called for work or something-"

" Shubman, I called to congratulate you. That's it and that's all. Should I have not? Am I only supposed to contact you for work?"

" No no no no no! That's not what I meant! I...you...um...you're so busy, so...so I thought..."

" I'm not so busy that I can't spare time for a call." She said softly.

" Y-yeah. I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. Thanks for calling, it means a lot to me!" He said and immediately regretted it.

To me?

How stupid! Ab woh kya sochegi?

What were you thinking when you said this?

His conscience berated him as he awaited a response.

" I had to call! Baba and Arjun really wanted to talk to you and I wanted to congratulate you as well. Anyway, I'll hang up now! You must be busy, Shah was saying you're having a dinner party. So talk to you later! Bye! Enjoy!"

" Bye!" He breathed out before she hung up and broke into a wide grin.

" What did she say?"

" Why did you say that?"

" Why are you so stupid?"

" Arey yaar I was nervous okay? You don't have your idol speaking to you everyday to tell you that you played well or have the the girl you love congratulate you. Vaise bhi tujhe koi pasand nahi, tujhe kya hi pata hoga?" He tsked and Jugnu scowled.

" Zakhmo par namak mat chidak!"

" Arey jaane de jaane de. Aajke din jaane hi de usse."

Jugnu grumbled but said nothing.

" I feel like a teenager getting excited because he spoke to his crush." He shook his head with a sigh.

" Because you did talk to the girl you love." Agni chuckled.

" Yeh sab theek hai, par tum usse batayoge kab?" Seb asked.

" Kya?"

" Yahi, ki tum usse pyaar karte ho! Yeh kab tak ek tarfa hi chalega aur tum usme hi khush rahoge?"

Shubman smiled.

" Ek tarfa pyaar itna khubsoorat hota hai, ki usme har choti badi cheez mein khushi milti hai."

" Aur gum? Uska socha hai?"

" Abhi iss wakt khush hu, toh khushi ke baare mein sochte hai." Shubman patted Seb on his shoulder, walking out of the room.

" Woah, he's changed!"

" Love changed him." Shahneel said.
" And he fell for someone so lovely in every aspect, he's bound to change his ideology Seb. Don't fret much about it okay?"

♡●♡

" Take a look at our Prince, he's already a blushing mess! Ayeeeee! It seems a certain Princess called. And the God too."

Shubman blushed harder and laughter and hoots echoed in the room.

" Who'd believe that the very guy who makes girls swoon over him is so down bad for a pretty Princess, that too the God's daughter."

" Guys guys guys! C'mon! We have to admit, Shubi has guts! Before this, only Rohit Bhai has made an attempt to do something like this by wooing Yuvi Paaji's rakhi sister. But that's nowhere close. This is literally the God of Cricket's daughter, biological daughter! Kaha se aati hai yeh himmat Shubi, hume bhi dede thodi!"

" I've met Sara. And she's the perfect blend of everything combined! As a girl, I have no shame in admitting that if she wasn't straight, I'd steal her away from Shubman faster than any delivery app." Tanvi grinned unabashedly and he gaped.

" Tum straight ho!" He reminded her causing her to shrug.

" Toh? Tumne dekha hai usse? Itni khubsoorat hai, ki straight ladkiya bhi gay ban jaayengi, aur gay ladke bhi straight."

A smile bloomed on his lips and he agreed.

" My God, he's soooo down bad for her!"

" God knows what will happen when they start dating?"

" Shubi, have mercy on us singles here okay?"

" Yes please! Harry Bhai and Nats Bhabhi, Milly and Camilla often make singles like us question our existence. You won't do that right?"

" I don't know whether he'll do that or not, but what I do know, is that once they start dating, they're going to be absolute goals!"

" Hashtag ShubSara!"

" You are late with that Joshua, it's already out ever since they had rumours about celebrating Valentines together!"

" Wait what? You guys spent Valentines together?"

" You're not even dating! How did you spend Valentines together!"

" Forget that, they even had rumours about vacationing together in London."

" That's nothing! They even stayed under the same roof for those days!"

" THIS IS NEW? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?"

As further chaos ensued in the room, Shubman was left a speechless blushing mess by the end of it.

And he could only sigh with a smile recalling those memories.

Because they were sweet enough to be cherished.