A/N: No diary entry hehe, you'll get one regarding the dinner date in the next chapter for sure though

True to his words, Shubman was outside Sara's house at sharp eight.

Anjali and Sachin had smiled at each other when he arrived.

Shubman scratched his nape with an awkward laugh as Sachin praised him.

" You're always very kind Sir."

Sachin chuckled, shaking his head.
" Oh no no no! You yourself are such an amazing player, I cannot help but say things like these, in fact I believe I fall short of words when it comes to appreciating you youngsters, you're all too good!"

" Sir, you're embarrassing me. The God of Cricket saying things like these makes me feel too proud. If it'd be someone else, I'd probably take it as a compliment and move on, but you saying this boosts my ego. I'm not so good!"

" It's always good to be humble Shubman, but you're awesome young man, always keep that in mind yes? And always keep growing!"

A coy smile spread across Shubman's face, his cheeks reddening as Sachin patted his back.

" Yes sir. Thank you sir." He mumbled shyly.

" Come on in?" Sachin asked him for the nth time and he felt embarrassed at having said no repeatedly.

" I insist." Sachin said with a smile, noticing his hesitation.

Shubman gave in with a nod, and as they turned to walk in, Sara walked out.

And she was wearing red.

God, she was wearing red.

An off-shoulder red dress upto her knees, with a pretty frill, red pencil heels to go with it, with minimal jewellery and makeup on.

She was going to be the death of him someday, and he would gladly let her.

" Let's go?" She asked breaking the silence and he nodded.

" Bye Sir!"

" Bye. Enjoy yourselves!"

" Thank you Baba!"

As they sat in, he stared at her yet again, and when she seemed to notice, she furrowed her brows at him, as if silently asking what was wrong.

" You're wearing red." He mumbled.

" Yeah. What's wrong? Doesn't look good?"

" No no no! You look stunning! You looking stunning either way, but you look all the more alluring when you wear red."

" Do I now?" She arched a playful brow and he nodded.

He handed her a bouquet of Daffodils, Irises and Tulips.

" Thank you. They're beautiful!"

He smiled.
" Daffodils represent new beginnings and hope for the future, Irises represent hope, faith and wisdom, and Tulips...well Tulips represent..."

" Love." She whispered as she met his eyes and he nodded again.

They broke into silence for the rest of the ride.

As they reached Taj Wasabi, they walked towards the VVIP lounge which he'd reserved.

" It's so empty." She mumbled, surprised at finding no one there, especially with the day being a Friday.

He hummed.
" I reserved the entire lounge."

" You did what?" She looked at him, flabbergasted.

He shrugged in response.

" Why?"

" Privacy. Let's sit?" He said drawing a chair for her and she quietly sat down.

And as he sat himself, she eyed him suspiciously.

" You're too gentleman-like today. What's up with you? Is this where you kill me?" She asked, her tone light and his eyes narrowed at her.

" Very funny."

" I'm just being cautious. Why would you kill me anyway? You got nothing to take away from me."

" I do, but I wouldn't kill you for that."

" And that is?"

" Your heart."

" Something's definitely up with you." She nodded her head as the waiter walked over to them with the menu.

" What would you like to have Sir and Ma'am?"

" Ma'am decides that." Shubman grinned causing the waiter to chuckle.

" A salmon sashimi salad. Nigiri and sushi rolls with Miso soup. Make the soup one by two, If I have soup, I won't be able to have dinner, I hope you don't mind?"

" Nope. What else?"

" Why don't you order?"

" I want to try what you like."

Sara narrowed her eyes but gave in nonetheless.

" An Oh Toro-no hang on, A Chu Toro."

" Why not an Oh Toro?"

" It's fatty...if it hinders your diet.."

" It won't. Don't worry about it. Go on."

" One Seafood Kamemashi. That's all."

" No desserts?"

" Let's order it later?"

" Whatever you're comfortable with."

As the waiter left, she turned towards him.

" How was your day? Did it go well? Also, is your renovation done? Have you fixed the inverter?"

" Are you doing small talk with me?"

" Well...I am."

" You keep surprising me." She sighed.
" Thank you for asking Shubman, I had a rough day. Too busy, one of the clients, that man Arora who you saw? He was rude. Two of my clients cancelled the meetings last minute. Also two models are giving the staff a tough time. I really needed a break, and then you brought me here for dinner so I must thank you for that too. It was really needed. How was your day?"

" You've been working too hard, you deserve a break. Also, stop being so hard on yourself. You're doing awesome y'know?"

She smiled at him, and the way she nearly teared up told Shubman she really needed to hear it.

" And my day went fine, I had couple of recordings today, not all of them were good, I was rather unhappy with a few of them and how they sounded, so the director suggested we do that again tomorrow. I also had two photoshoots, they went well. In between I drove to your office, and now here am I, having dinner with you and I think my day got much better now."

" You're doing really great too Shubman. Not many can achieve what you have in such a young age. But you did. And you never stop. You keep growing. So be proud of yourself and don't be too hard on yourself either."

He smiled at her as well and nodded his head.

As the starters came, they had them in a tranquil hush, strangely un-awkward.

But as they headed towards the main course, Sara couldn't keep her curiosity to herself.

" Is this a dinner or a date?"

" Whatever you'd call it. For me, it's a date."

" How?"

" How what?"

" How is it a date? How did you know I'm fond of Japanese cuisine?"

Shubman shrugged with a twinkle in his eyes.
" I got my sources. And well, won't it be a date when the girl I love agrees to let me take her out for dinner?"

" What?"

" I love you Sara. I don't know when exactly did I fall for you, probably when you smiled for the first time in front of me, a smile so swooning that had my breath hitched or my heart race, or when you laughed, giggled, a giggle so musical that I kept wanting it to repeat, and for me to be a reason why it repeats. Or when you adorably scrunched your nose, annoyed by me and my antics, or when you snapped at me, in your highest pitch, but still in the lowest and most gentle tone I'd heard. I was too confused about my feelings for you from the very beginning, mistaking my love as hatred and putting up a reason as silly as you snapping at me and being rude, having no patience within you and it was absolutely wrong of me to do so.
Especially when you were patiently putting up with me for so long.
You were bound to lose your calm, you're human too. If you wouldn't be around, your absence would haunt me, if you'd be present, I wouldn't be able to comprehend it unless you talk. It'd put me at peace when you'd rather be annoyed at me, mock me, roast me, taunt me than ignore me. I'd smile when you'd be pissed at me, because you looked adorable to me. I'd love how you'd roll your eyes at every annoying comment I would pass or when I would act like the narcissist you call me. I realised I love you, after I returned from our trip to London. And the realisation was worth it."

" Shubman...."

" You don't have to accept it straightaway."

" It's hard for me to comprehend actually. You...you..like I said you'd keep acting confusing. If you were nice to me a moment ago, you'd switch back to hating me the next. It messed up my feelings. I was never so confused about anything in life as much as I was about this, and you. How would it be easy for me to comprehend the fact that a man who claimed to be stubbornly in hate with me months ago, is now saying he loves me? I didn't imagine it happen even in my wildest dreams."

" I know. I was a jerk, I admit it, accept that and apologise for it. I shouldn't have done that. Like I said, you don't have to accept it right away. You can take your time."

" What if I don't want to accept it in the first place?" She asked appearing solemn and his heart broke.

Tearing his eyes off her, he looked down.
" Then I'll respect your wish and go with it."

" And what if I say, I want you to woo me?" She asked and his head shot up, a soft smile on her face and the broken pieces were put back together as his face brightened.

" Then I'll woo you." He told her with a grin, determined to prove his love for her.