A/N : An awaited scene, dramatized, with a twist in it!

" I'm flying to London tomorrow."

" For?"

" Work."

" Can I come along?"

" Don't you have a T20 tournament in two weeks?"

Scratching his nape, Shubman nodded.
" I do, but I can always join."

" You gotta focus there Shub."

" It's in two weeks! I'm prepared! Please..." His tone softened towards the end, and she sighed.

" I can't say no to you can I?"

" Just let me come along. Please."

" But...but I don't want to become a hindrance or a distraction." She mumbled and he frowned.

" Distraction? You? Definitely not! Sara....have you been reading those stupid comments again? Y'know they're not true. If anything, you help me perform better. You can never be a distraction baby, never. Please don't pay attention to those comments."

" No...they don't affect me. I'm used to that criticism by now. Really am. But...from my side, I don't wish to do anything that would end up being a distraction for you. I want you to perform well, I want you to be upto the mark and perform like the Prince they call you."

" My love...you can never do anything that distracts me or hinders me away from my goal. Trust me. And...I promise you, that this upcoming tournament, I will perform like the Prince they call me, I will do what I'm supposed to, what you want me to."

He smiled as he could almost see her nod over the other line as she hummed.

" Alright! Two tickets for London then?"

Chuckling, Shubman hummed too.
" Yes. See you at the airport tomorrow?"

" Yup. I gotta go now, there's lot of pending work."

" Alright. Bye, I love you!"

" Bye!"

Shubman smiled as she hung up.

He knew he would've to wait for an I love you too.

And he was willing to.

No matter how long it took.

He'd wait.

♡•♡

" You look pretty!" He murmured with awe and she giggled.

" You look quite good too!"

" Thank you Miss Tendulkar." He welcomed a crimson hue on his cheeks.

" C'mon! Where's Seb? He's here too isn't he?"

" You think he'll let me fly alone? Of-course he's here!"

" Good! C'mon now!"

" Are our seats next to each other?" He asked tugging her top and she bit back a smile at how adorable she looked.

" No...unfortunately, there were no more seats available next to me." She feigned sadness and his face fell

" What do you mean by no more?"

" Wellllll...Chaya's sitting next to me."

" Oh. Why can't she sit somewhere else?"

" I'm sorry Shub, that's not possible. There are some things we really gotta discuss."

Nodding with a dejected sigh, he sat down next to her.

" Um...excuse me?" A meek voice softly demanded their attention and they exchanged alarmed glances before turning towards the girl.

Were they recognised?

Clearly, the mask was of no use.

Were they going to get papped?

" Are you Sara Tendulkar and Shubman Gill by any chance?"

Their eyes widened.

They were indeed recognised.

" Uh..."

" No don't worry! I won't tell! My mouth's zipped. It's just that...I was pleasantly surprised to see the two of you together. I really like the two of you together." She said coyly in her soft voice.
" I think you're adorable together. I've always rooted for you! You've no idea how glad I'm to see you together!"

" Thank you! You're really sweet. You made my day!" Sara smiled back warmly at her.

" I was afraid we were about to get caught...but you really surprised me. And I really thank you for giving us the privacy."

" I get how important it is." She nodded her head.
" And you're really very sweet. I'd heard from many people, that you were a very very sweet person, and I experienced it today."

Sara smiled, not having anything to say.

" She might as well be the cutest and sweetest person one can meet, steal hearts away like that, and act like she did nothing." Shubman chimed causing the girl to chuckle.

As the air hostess made the announcement, and requested for those in priority to start walking in, the two got up and Seb and Chaya followed.

As Sara sat down after loading her luggage in, Shubman frowned when Chaya sat down behind them.

" What're you going behind for? Aren't you supposed to sit next to her?"

Chaya chuckled.
" Sir, you're probably mistaken. That's your seat. Not mine."

His face lit up as he looked down at her, she already had a smile on her face.

" You lied to me!" He pouted and she chuckled.

" You looked so adorable like that I couldn't help it."

" Stop." He mumbled cutely, coyly.

" Stop what?"

" Stop making me blush! I have a reputation to uphold!"

She giggled, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek.

He pushed forward the other cheek as well, elicting another giggle from her as she gladly gave him a kiss.

She made him sleep for most of the flight, excluding when their food came,

And he appreciated that, given how sleep deprived and worn out he was due to jet-lag, constant matches and practice.

As they finally reached, they went home first.

" I'm not going to stay there." Shubman stubbornly shook his head, jutting his chin towards the guest room.

" Where do you plan on staying then?"

" In your room?"

She sighed with a smile.

" You could've just said that. You take the bed, I'll take the cou-"

" Why? I'm sure the bed is big enough to fit in two people?"

" It is...but...."

" Relax Princess, I'm not going to eat you....unless you want me to?" He murmured playfully, earning a whack from her as her cheeks tinted a furious red

" Shut up!" She said walking over to the kitchen.

Chuckling, he took the suitcase to her bedroom.

And as he turned to leave the room, his gaze flickered towards a piece of paper fallen from her bag.

Frowning, he picked it up, but before he could unfold it, his phone rang.

He walked over to the balcony,

" Did you reach?"

" Just did."

" Call kyun nahi kiya?"

" Karne hi vala tha, tune saamne se kar diya? Tu kahan hai?"

" Aditi ke saath?"

" Thought so." He nodded his head.

Ishan chuckled.

" Well, enjoy your time in London!"

" I will. Enjoy your time with Aditi."

" I will thank you, by the way, Shubi, I was thinking...if we could go to Bali?"

" That's a fantastic idea! You, Me, Aditi and Sara?"

" Yes! We could go after the tournament?"

" Definitely! I'll talk to Sara about it."

" Great!"

" And-Goddamnit!" He groaned as the piece of paper fell off from his hand.

" What's wrong?"

" Something fell. It's important. I'll call you back Ishu. Bye!"

" Bye!"

" Where're you going?" Sara frowned.

" I..uh...something fell off."

" Huh?"

" I was in the balcony and accidently dropped something, my grip wasn't too firm. I'll be back!"

" Shub! Hey-" She sighed as the door shut after him and shook her head.

He fortunately found it right where it was dropped.

Picking it up again, he finally unfolded it, curious as to what it really was.

A diary entry.

18/06/17

Dear Diary,

I really like him.

Arjun's friend, Shah's brother.

Shubman Gill.

He's cute, he got a good sense of humor, he's a gentleman-and a narcissist as well but most of his good qualities covers that up.

Who wouldn't like him?

But...I don't think he likes me.

I mean...forget liking, he ain't even civil with me.

He hates me.

I snapped at him once....probably that's why?

He'd been getting on my nerves, I had my periods going on, I tried being patient with him, but when I could no longer take it, I snapped at him.

Ever since, he hates me.

Hmph, what a rude person!

Annoys me and blames me for it?

Shubman Gill, just you wait, one day, I'll get into your head the similar way you got into mine, and you'll know how it feels!

Shubman froze, unable to comprehend a thing.

2017?

She liked him since 2017?

And he never had the slightest hint about it, let alone know about it?

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't seem to realise as the harsh silver pitters came pattering down, drenching him from head to toe.

He didn't hear Sara call him out to come back up.

He didn't see her sigh, and walk down herself with an umbrella.

All he could think about was, Sara liking him.

" Shub? I called you so many times, you didn't respond. A penny for your thoughts?" Sara stood before him with an umbrella, frowning, appearing concerned.

And all he could say was,
" You liked me since 2017?"

She froze, her eyes widening.

" Wha-You-Shub....Where...where did you find this?"

" That's not important. You liked me since 2017?"

" It...it was a stupid crush."

" Was not! If anything, I was stupid!"

" Shubman..."

" Why didn't you tell me? Did anyone else know? Why..why didn't I?"

" I thought...you'd think I'm desperate."

" You weren't! Who else knew?"

" My friends, Arjun....KP...."

" Jugnu knew about this?" He asked incredulously.
" And he didn't tell me?"

" I told him not to!"

" Why?" His voice was a mere whisper, an earnest look in his gaze that tugged her heart.

" I wasn't sure you would ever reciprocate....."

Yanking the umbrella away, he pulled her closer, barely any air to go through the two.

" I was in denial....for five whole years. Things would've been so much easier if I knew."

" Shub.."

Locking his forehead with hers, their noses brushing against each other, his gaze flickered down towards her lips and her breath hitched at the intimacy.

Sighing, he placed his lips on hers, claiming them as he kissed her in the rain, languid and slow, his hands roaming around her body, and finally settling on her waist he pulled her even closer.

He cupped her cheek, and the other hand went upto her nape in order to deepen the kiss, her hands were in his hair.

He could barely get any of her, and he held onto her, and kissed her like someone was about to physically rip her away from him.

When they finally pulled apart due to lack of breath, her fingers traced his lips, and he placed a feathery kiss on her fingertips, making her toes curl.

" Promise me. Promise me, the next time, you shan't hide your feelings. Do whatever you want, slap sense into me, yell at me, but you're not going to hide your feelings or push me away even further."

" Shub..." She rasped.

" Promise me." He demanded.

" I promise." She murmured as he sighed, their foreheads locked, and he cupped her face.

" Mine." He said fondly as he entrapped her in his arms and she nodded.

" Yours."

Placing a soft peck on his lips, she let out a murmur.

" And mine. All mine." She said, tugging him close as he smiled between the kiss.

" All yours." He said as he pulled her in for another toe-curling kiss.

♡•♡

" Don't." Sara said as she wiped his head with the towel.

" Huh?"

" Don't over-think and guilt-trip yourself."

" How do you know?" He murmured.

" Because I know how you think Shub. And I'm well aware that you're guilt-tripping yourself for not having realised your feelings earlier."

He sighed.
" I regret it. If I'd have realised it earlier, I'd have you in my life way before. Instead, I claimed to hate you, and I hurt you. I'm-"

" Shubman! We were so young, we're bound to have a different perspective, perspective doesn't change overnight, it changes with time and experience. So stop it. Don't you dare berate yourself over the past-"

" But it's true Sara. I wasn't-" Before he could complete his sentence, she held him by the collar of his t-shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.

Smiling, he gladly gave in to the kiss and pulled her on his lap, unable to keep his hands to himself.

As they pulled apart, he trailed kisses on her face, her jaw, down her neck until the doorbell rang and she pulled away in alarm.

Groaning at the interupption, he pulled her back.

" Shub, someone's at the door."

" So what?"

" Shub..."

" No. I'm not letting go."

" Shubman."

" Fine..fine! Don't get mad at me like that. But I want you all for myself later, I deserve you all for myself later." He grumbled and she pecked his nose and left the room with a giggle.

" HEY! IS THAT A YES OR NO?"

" Figure out yourself." Came her answer and he sighed