Chapter Nine: Girls I Have Known Before

The match got cancelled due to the rain, but it didn't dampen the team's spirits. Instead, they decided to have a campfire. Sitting around the fire, they tried to warm up after the cold, windy day. They enjoyed the barbecue and listened to the musician playing on the porch. Despite the disappointment of the cancelled match, the team relaxed and loosened up. Shubman glanced around once more, searching for Nehmat, but she was nowhere to be found. He sighed, unable to comprehend what was going on with her. Earlier that day, she had opened up to him, but then she suddenly ran into the dressing room while he was grappling with his disappointment.

Leaning towards Jaiswal, Shubman asked, "Do you know where Nehmat is?"

"I haven't seen her for hours," Jaiswal replied with a shrug before turning his attention to Jurel.

Shubman then turned to his left, feeling a lump in his throat, before mustering up the courage to ask Virat about his sister. "Paaji, where is Nehmat?"

Virat looked up from his phone, glasses perched on his nose. "Why do you want to know?"

Coughing to control his nerves, Shubmanreplied, "Nothing, just... I mean, she's nowhere to be seen."

Virat nodded, looking back at his phone and scrolling through reels. "She's in her room. She has a cold and fever."

"Okay," Shubman said, nodding, not wanting to press the matter further. However, he was surprised by how cool and nonchalant Viraat seemed about it.

Feeling an inexplicable sense of boredom, Shubman excused himself from the company of his friends and teammates, citing fatigue. He bid them farewell and retreated to his room, feeling a need for solitude. As he walked through the long corridors of the hotel, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Nehmat and her sudden departure earlier.

Lost in contemplation, Shubman found himself standing in front of the room adjacent to his own, unknowingly drawn to it. He paused, wondering what had led him there. Was it mere coincidence or was something else pulling at his subconscious? Curiosity piqued, he hesitated, considering whether to knock on the door or simply return to his room.

Shubman finally gave in and knocked on the door. He heard faint, pitter-patter footsteps approaching, echoing through the silent corridor. The door creaked open, revealing Nehmat, huddled in a blanket with a red nose, watery eyes, and shivering from the cold.

Shubman's heart sank at the sight of her obvious discomfort. His concern for Nehmat overpowered any other thoughts that had been swirling in his mind.

"Nehmat, what happened? Why didn't you tell anyone?" Shubman asked, his voice filled with genuine worry as he reached out to gently touch her arm.

Nehmat looked up at him, her expression a mix of vulnerability and relief. "I... I didn't want to bother anyone. I thought I could handle it on my own," she admitted softly, her voice trembling.

"It's okay to feel like a bother when you're ill," he said softly, gently brushing a strand of hair behind Nehmat's ear. She closed her eyes, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her. It was different from the comfort her little Vami provided; that was cute and lovely, but this feeling was like coming home.

"So this is what people meant when they say it feels like coming home in love," she murmured, her eyes welling up with emotion. Shubman quickly withdrew his hands, apologising softly. "Sorry," he muttered. She shook her head gently. "No, it felt good... someone caring."

Shubman bit his lip, contemplating whether he should make the offer. However, when he looked at Nehmat, his heart took over and he spoke without hesitation. "You know cuddles make you warm and give you comfort when ill".

Nehmat couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment. Just a few days ago, Shubman seemed distant and uninterested in spending time with her. Now, here he was, offering her comfort and support as if they were close friends. It all felt strange and unexpected.

Her mind raced with questions and uncertainties. Was this a genuine gesture, or was there something else behind it? Could she trust him to be there for her when she needed him most?

Despite her hesitation, Nehmat couldn't deny the warmth and reassurance she felt in Shubman's presence. Maybe people could change, she thought to herself. Perhaps there was more to Shubman than met the eye.

Despite her suspicions, Nehmat couldn't shake the longing for that feeling of home, even if it meant accepting what might be false comfort from Shubman. With a determined nod, she motioned for Shubman to enter, closing the door behind them. The room suddenly felt smaller, more intimate, as if they were cocooned in their little world.

"Did you take the medicine?" Shubman asked, his hand resting on her forehead as he checked her temperature.

"No," she replied meekly.

"And why not?" he inquired, raising his eyebrows.

She bit her lip nervously before answering, "They're bitter."

"So you expect them to be in chocolate flavour?" Shubman scolded gently, his tone tinged with concern.

"Shubman, I—" Nehmat started, but her words trailed off. She realized she didn't have a valid excuse for not taking the medicine. Despite the bitterness, she knew it was necessary for her recovery.

Shubman sighed softly, understanding Nehmat's hesitation. "I know they're not pleasant to take," he said sympathetically, "but I have a little trick that might help."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small piece of chocolate. "Here," he said with a smile, handing it to Nehmat. "Take a bite of this first, and then quickly take the medicine. The sweetness of the chocolate will help mask the bitterness of the medicine."

Nehmat looked at the chocolate in surprise, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. Taking it from Shubman, she nodded gratefully. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

Nehmat followed Shubman's instructions, taking a bite of the chocolate before quickly swallowing the medicine. Surprisingly, the trick worked like a charm. The sweetness of the chocolate effectively masked the bitter taste of the medicine, making it much more bearable to swallow.

As she felt the medicine go down smoothly, Nehmat couldn't help but smile widely, feeling grateful to Shubman for his clever suggestion. "It worked!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine relief. Turning to Shubman, she beamed, "Thank you so much for your help. I appreciate it."

"Hmm, good. Now, let's... I mean, cuddle," Shubman said shyly.

Nodding slightly, Nehmat moved towards the bed, dimming the room lights. Shubman removed his jacket and shoes before joining her on the bed, slipping under the blankets.

Taking a deep breath, Shubman gently pulled Nehmat closer, allowing her head to rest on his chest. He then carefully tucked the blanket around them from all sides, ensuring that no chill wind could penetrate their cocoon of warmth and comfort.

She looked up at him, causing his gaze to shift downward to meet hers. With their lips mere inches apart, she whispered, "Thank you."

He moved in closer, pressing a tender kiss to her nose. Nehmat's fingers tightened around his shirt, her heart racing with unexpected emotions.

He continued to press soft kisses all over her face, planting them with tender affection. As he reached her lips, he paused, mere inches away, locking eyes with hers.

Nehmat's voice trembled as she spoke, her lips quivering with emotion. "Don't do anything you will regret later," she pleaded, her gaze unwavering. "It's okay if you find me annoying, but it wouldn't be okay if you find me desperate."

"If you were desperate like the girls I've known before, you would have already done something cheap. But you didn't, and that's what makes you different," he said, brushing his lips against hers gently. "Even though you annoy me, I'd rather have someone who annoys me for the rest of my life than someone who makes me uncomfortable."

"So, will you annoy me?" he proposed, pulling her even closer with a playful grin.

Nehmat chuckled at his proposal and the endearing way he asked her to be his girlfriend.

"Always," she murmured against his lips before claiming them as her own. His lips tenderly met hers, eliciting a smile as her hands encircled his chest.

As their kiss deepened, a gentle warmth spread through Nehmat's body, enveloping her in a cocoon of bliss. At that moment, it felt as though time stood still, allowing them to savour the sweetness of their connection.

Lost in the embrace, they were transported to a realm where only their love existed—a place where worries faded into the background and only the purity of their affection remained.

As they parted, he rested his forehead against hers. "My favourite annoying Kohli," he whispered affectionately.

She blushed at his endearing words, but a worried expression crossed her face as she looked at him. "What if you catch a cold?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Don't worry," he replied reassuringly, a playful grin on his lips. "I'm a sportsperson; I have a higher immunity, especially with your extra dose of love."