12/03/22

Dear Diary,

Why does the room heat up with her arrival every time?

It might be the coldest temperature, enough to make people quiver and then she arrives, heating up the temperature each time, making heads turn to stare at her.

With admiration, with desire, with awe.

And I hate that.

I hate the way people stare at her.

Most men have the most disgusting expression planted on their ugly faces each time she arrives,

It makes me want to pluck their eyeballs out

" Slightly to the right please, yes, yes right there! And that's perfect!"

Shubman looked to the right towards the entrance, his face poker, just the way it was expected to be.

The glass door of the studio was pushed open as Sara gracefully glided in, her secretary following her.

And he suddenly straightened up.

" Oh that's perfect! I didn't even have to tell you. Look at the camera now please."

But he was unable to look away.

She looked just divine.

" Mr.Gill? If you could please look at the camera?" The photographer requested.

The spot boy nudged him, jutting his chin towards the brunette who was engaged in a conversation with Vogue's magazine editor.

Jim, the photographer frowned, halting his work as he turned to take a look at who he was nudging him towards and his eyes' enlarged, nodding, mesmerised by her.

" Is she his girlfriend?"

" No idea mate. But they've got rumours together."

" Who is she anyway?"

" Founder and CEO of Allure, and the God of Cricket's daughter."

" She's Sachin Tendulkar's daughter?"

" I thought cricket never intrigued you Jimmy, but you seem to know a lot."

" Who hasn't heard of him? Cricketers all over the world would fear facing him. A terror with his bat on field and an extremely sweet personality off field."

" He's truly admirable."

" Wait wait wait, She is the founder and CEO of Allure? Ohmygod! I've always wanted to meet her in person!"

" Nancy...focus on the touchup for now. He needs it."

Nancy grumbled as she walked over to Shubman.

" You need a touchup sir."

Shubman nodded, not taking his eyes off Sara.

" Sir...we need to get to the vanity room."

Shubman let out a low groan, and tore his gaze away from her with great difficulty as he strode away.

Nancy looked at Seb, flabbergasted.

" He's just frustrated."

" Because I interrupted his staring session?"

" You can say that."

" What is she, his girlfriend?"

" Don't say that in front of him. But she will be. Soon."

" Then why should I not say it before him?"

" Unless you want to die an early death....."

" What?" She asked, taken aback and he shook his head.

Jugnu followed the two in.

" Toh? Sunli gal?"

" Ki gal?"

" Girlfriend bula rahe hai woh usko teri." Seb told him

" Kya bakwas hai."

" Usse vi yahi laga hoga, jab tune rumours hatane se inkaar kar diya, ke kis gadhe naal pala pad gaya mera." Jugnu snorted.

" Bohot zubaan chala raha hai KP."

" Sach dasna kehnde hai isse. Vahi sach je tujhse dassa nahi jaata."

" Keda sach yaar? Phir bakwas."

" Sir please don't move."

Shubman sighed and looked back at his phone and found himself swiping through Sara's latest pictures on her instagram profile.

" Chalta phirta Majnu hai, bass admit nahi karna hai." Jugnu muttered to Seb who chuckled.

" Paaji, admit karne keliye dam lagta hai. Woh hai isme?"

Jugnu nodded.
" Fair point."

" What're you two on about?" Shubman arched a brow at them, looking up from his phone.

" Nothing. Just as to how good Sara looks today, isn't it Seb?"

" Ye-yes." He gulped as Shubman shot him a glare.

" Stop glaring at him! There's nothing wrong in admitting how pretty she looks in pink."

" I said nothing." He grumbled.

" All done!" Nancy told him and he got up, thanked her, and walked out of the vanity room.

" Ready Mr.Gill?"

He nodded, posing for the camera, suddenly self aware as her head lifted up from the magazine to look at him.

He tried his best to not let her affect him.

Jim groaned shaking his head.
" Not a good shot, do one thing, face the camera but let your gaze be on your girlfriend."

" His girlfriend?"
" My girlfriend?"
The two echoed and he frowned.

" Yes please we've got many more things left."

" But she's not—"

" Not now please."

" Alright." Shubman's gaze flickered towards Sara, his orbs boring into hers intently.

" Perfect! Two more like that."

Once the shots were done, Jim turned to the Vogue Editor.

" I say Mrs.Williams, what about a collaboration?"

" Collaboration?"

" Yeah! I mean just take a look at both of them, they're already a perfect blend! How about a photoshoot with them?"

" Hold up! I was here to meet you Mrs.Williams, not...for the shoot."

" Dekho....idea acchi hai. Ek baar consider karlo!" Jugnu suggested and Shubman shoved his elbow in his stomach.

" Rascal!" Jugnu grumbled glaring at him.

" I think that's a fantastic idea. Everyone will be extremely pleased to have you two together as Vogue's cover page."

Sara and Shubman exchaned perplexed glances, helpless as they tried talking the elderly woman out of it, silently cursing the photographer for coming up with the very suggestion.

——Present Day——

" And you still have the magazine safely kept with you!" Shanaya exclaimed with awe.

" He does. In fact, he got two copies  for himself the very day it got published and cut out all the photos with her, kept them neatly stored and kept the magazine too. And he claimed to hate her." Shahneel chuckled.

" In my defence—"

" I was too stupid, too blind and too confused." Jugnu chimed as he walked into the room.

" Chachu!" The kids squealed as they rushed towards him.

" Did you miss me?"

" Very much!" Sharvil nodded.

" How much?" He asked arching a brow and Sharvil spread his arms widely making him chuckle.

" And did you miss me, Miss Gill?"

Shanaya shook her head.
" Nah. I missed chocolates! Where are my chocolates?"

" She's exactly like you." Jugnu told Shubman, shaking his head with a sigh.

" But I look like Mumma!"

" I'm talking about your personality! You've inherited everything from him! His sarcasm, his aggressiveness, while Sharvil is more calm like Sara, but looks more like Shub. Luckily you've not taken his obliviousness."

" What's that?"

" What's what Little Prince?'

" Obvious-no oblig-no what is that big word you used? What does it mean?"

" Oblivious means....means being unaware or not knowing something that is happening."

" So Dadda didn't even know he loves Mumma?" Sharvil frowned as Jugnu and Shahneel chuckled.

Shubman groaned.

" Jugnuuu! Maine tujhe maar daalna hai kasam se!"

" But why Dadda?" Shanaya arched a brow.
" Chachu did nothing! Why do you want to kill him?"

Jugnu smiled slyly.
" And there's the little lioness to defend me. That's right, I did nothing Shubi, why do you want to kill me?"

Shubman glared at him.

" Accept it that you were stupid." Shahneel chuckled and he sighed with a nod.

" Fine. I was stupid to not realise the fact that I had always been in love with Sara."

" I miss Mumma." Shanaya suddenly declared with a sigh and Sharvil immediately nodded.

" I miss her too Princess." Shubman nodded, his gaze trailing towards the photograph that hung on the wall and he smiled.

" I miss her too. And I'm sure she misses us too." Shahneel said with a smile.

Jugnu nodded in agreement and Shubman's head snapped down as his phone began ringing.

Sara ♥️ wants to FaceTime...

" Me first Me first!" Sharvil immediately rushed towards Shubman, sitting on his lap while Shanaya shook her head, attempting to take the phone away.

" No! Me first!"

" None of you first, let me talk to my wife!" Shubman grumbled.

" She's our Mother too!"

" My wife first!"

" Baad mein ladh lena, phone toh utha lo!" Jugnu and Shahneel echoed incredulously in sync, shaking their heads at the Father-daughter-son trio.

As he received the call, everyone surrounded around him.

" HI MUMMA!" Sharvil and Shanaya echoed together excitedly.

" Hi Babe!" Shahneel waved at her.

" Mai bhi toh hoon! Hatto! Hi Sara!"

" HI! It's so good to see all of you!"

" I miss you—" Sharvil cleared his throat as he cutely scowled at his older sister who grumbled with a sigh.

" I mean, we miss you Mumma!"

" I miss you both too sweetheart!"

" Mumma, do you know, today in school....." Sharvil began and Shanaya joined in.

Shubman scowled.
" She didn't even ask about me." He mumbled as Shahneel chuckled.

" She's a Mother and a wife Shubi. You've stayed away from her before but the kids haven't. It's equally difficult for them. And she misses you too, let them finish with their daily chronicles and she'll ask about you. Just you wait."

" And then, I won the quiz!" Shanaya finished.

" See? Didn't I tell you so ? You've got a habit of fretting a lot. You just need to take it calmly and you'll do perfect darling. You excel at whatever you do Shanaya, you just need to believe in yourself baby. I'm so so proud of you!"

Shanaya nodded at her.
" Yes Mumma!"

" So, I see someone's missing from the screen. Where is he?"

" He's sulking." Shanaya and Sharvil snickered.

" I am not! Hand over the phone to me and go and finish your homework! Chachu and Shah Boo will help you."

" But—"

" Go!" Shubman looked at them firmly and they grumbled, as they got off the bed, dragged their feet and left the room stomping their feet.

" Enjoy your time lover boy." Shahneel grinned at him as she and Jugnu left the room too and he finally shut the door with a sigh.

" Why were you sulking?" She asked, a bemused expression spread across her face.

" Was not! And I'm not talking to you!"

" Why?"

" You don't even miss me." He frowned rather adorably and she chuckled at him.

" What on earth are you on about? I miss you so bad!"

" No you don't!"

" I do miss you Shub! Had I not, I wouldn't have texted or called at all. And I've been texting after every other meeting."

" Whatever, I'm not talking to you!"

" Shub! Babe I do miss you so so much! If I could, I'd actually teleport there this very minute!"

Shubman tore his gaze away from the phone and she sighed.

" Fine, I'll hang up then since you don't want to talk to me!"

" What? No! No don't hang up! I'm sorry. I just miss you so bad and selfishly want you all for myself. But it isn't exactly possible I do get it. I was sulking because I've been waiting for your call since morning and then the kids wanted to talk to you first. Once you come back, I'm having you all for myself!"

Sara chuckled.
" You know that's not exactly possible."

" It is! Shahneel or Jugnu can take them along! I want all your time for myself!"

" A week after I return."

" Alright a week after you return it is. But all mine!"

She giggled, shaking her head.
" All yours Babe, all yours!"

" I love you and I miss you so so bad!"

" I love you too! And I miss you a lot as well!"