MINIMUM 20 VOTES!

AUTHORS POV: 

The soft hum of the AC filled the room as Shubman and Ishan sprawled on the bed, their phones in hand, aimlessly scrolling through social media. 

It was one of those rare days off, a chance to unwind, but the calm didn't last long. Ishan's mischievous grin broke the silence.

"So..." he started, drawing out the word, his eyes still glued to his phone. "Had an interesting fan meeting yesterday, didn't you?"

Shubman stiffened, his thumb pausing mid-scroll. "What?" he asked, feigning nonchalance. "What are you talking about?"

Ishan turned his phone off and gave Shubman a look, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.  "Shub, you really think I wasn't paying attention? I was in the lobby too, dumbass! I saw the whole thing! Saw you talking to her. Yana Zariwala."

Shubman blinked, his heart racing slightly. "How do you know her name?" he stammered, trying—and failing—to sound casual.

Ishan laughed, leaning back. "Anyway, word of advice—don't get your hopes up too high. She's Dhruv Patel's girl, man. One of the co-owners of Gujarat Titans. Everyone knows her."

Shubman frowned, his chest tightening uncomfortably. "She's not engaged yet," he said a little too quickly, his tone sharper than he intended.

Ishan raised his brows, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh-ho, someone's done their homework! What's this, Shub? Crushing on the professor already?"

Before Shubman could retort, the door swung open. In walked Meera Mathur, Ishan's girlfriend. The room seemed to brighten instantly with her presence. 

Meera was stunning—long wavy hair, impeccable skin, and a wardrobe that screamed elegance. She was one of the most sought-after fashion designers in India, and carried herself with a confidence that matched Ishan's energy perfectly.

Ishan's face lit up like a kid on Christmas. "Baby!" he exclaimed, pulling her into the room and making her sit beside him. 

Without hesitation, he pressed a peck on her lips, Meera smiled, her gaze softening as she slipped onto the bed beside him. She rested a hand on his chest, which quickly deepened into something more until—

Shubman cleared his throat loudly, shifting uncomfortably in his place. "Guys, I'm still here, you know."

Ishan and Meera groaned in unison, but she leaned back with a playful pout, resting her head on Ishan's lap. He immediately started running his fingers through her hair as if nothing had happened.

"What's the problem now?" Meera asked lazily, glancing between the two men.

Ishan grinned wickedly., clearly relishing the opportunity to spill the tea. "Oh, you'll love this. Shubman here met Dhruv Patel's 'fiancée' yesterday and—"

"She's not his fiancée," Shubman interjected firmly, making Meera sit up with interest.

"Wait, wait," Meera said, her perfectly shaped brows lifting. "Are you telling me you've got a thing for Yana Zariwala? The professor?"

Shubman groaned. "It's not like that," he muttered, but his ears turned a deep shade of red, betraying him.

"Then what is it like?" Meera pressed, leaning closer.

Shubman hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, okay? It's just... She doesn't seem happy. Like, there's something missing in her life. You know that feeling when someone looks fine on the outside but... they're not? She seems lonely."

Meera studied him for a moment, then exchanged a knowing look with Ishan.

 "Bhai" she said gently, "you can't just decide someone's unhappy based on how they look. But..." she paused, a small smile tugging at her lips, "you clearly care. That much is obvious."

Shubman shook his head vehemently. "No, it's not like that. I barely know her."

Meera gave him a pointed look. "Yet you're talking about her like you've known her forever."

For a moment, the room was silent. Meera and Ishan exchanged a glance, one of those silent conversations only couples could have. 

Then Ishan clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Okay, enough drama. Let's hit the pool. Chill vibes, good water, and no overthinking."

Shubman sighed but nodded. Meera seemed to approve, clapping her hands excitedly. "Perfect! Let's go."

The pool area was a vision of serenity. Lounge chairs lined the sparkling blue water, and a few guests were scattered here and there, soaking up the sun or wading in the shallow end.

 Shubman carried a towel over his shoulder, hoping the cool water would drown out the lingering thoughts about Yana.

But then he saw her.

Sitting on a chair by the pool, her hair tied in a messy ponytail, Yana was staring off into the distance. Her profile was illuminated by the golden glow of the setting sun, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.

 She wasn't dressed to swim—jeans and a simple white shirt clung to her petite frame—but she looked effortlessly beautiful. Her eyes, though, gave her away. They were distant, almost hollow, as if her mind was a million miles away.

Shubman's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't explain it, but seeing her like this, so alone and disconnected, tugged at something deep inside him.

Meera nudged Ishan and whispered, "Who's that?"

"That's Yana," Ishan replied, smirking. "You know, the Yana."

Meera's eyes lit up in recognition. "Ohhh." Then, grinning wickedly, she turned to Shubman. "Go talk to her, Bhai"

"What?" Shubman hissed, panic flashing across his face. "No, absolutely not."

Meera rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. She's just sitting there. She looks like she could use some company. Be a decent human."

"She's introverted," Shubman argued, his voice low. "She probably doesn't want to be disturbed."

"Oh, please," Meera shot back, already moving to stand behind him. "You're just scared."

"I'm not scared," Shubman protested weakly, but before he could stop her, Meera gave him a gentle but firm push in Yana's direction.

The commotion must have caught Yana's attention because she turned toward them, her brows knitting together in mild annoyance. Shubman froze, suddenly hyperaware of every move he made.

"Uh, hi," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Didn't mean to bother you..."

Yana blinked at him, her expression softening slightly as recognition dawned. "Oh. Hi," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Behind him, he could hear Meera and Ishan trying to stifle their laughter. Wonderful. 

Now he was the center of attention. But as Yana tilted her head, her curiosity piqued, he couldn't bring himself to care.

Shubman awkwardly stood by the lounge chair where Yana was sitting, his tall frame making him feel even more out of place. 

Yana, on the other hand, was frozen in her seat, her heart hammering against her ribs as if it wanted to leap out. She stared at him in mild confusion, though inside, she was overwhelmed with excitement.

Is he seriously standing here? Did I manifest this?

Realizing how awkward he looked standing there, she quickly scooted to the side of the lounge chair, silently offering him space to sit. 

He hesitated for a moment but then sat down, his movements a little too careful, as though he were afraid of disturbing her bubble.

Behind them, Ishan and Meera's muffled giggles caught his attention. Shubman turned to glare at them, but they were already walking away, leaving the two lovebirds alone.

Great. Now it was just the two of them.

"So..." Shubman began, clearing his throat. "What do you do? I mean, besides, you know... being Dhruv Patel's fiancée—uh, I mean..." His voice trailed off awkwardly as Yana blinked at him, her lips twitching in a faint smile.

"I'm not engaged," she said softly, her voice barely audible, almost swallowed by the sound of the water rippling nearby.

He nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him and tried asking her a thing he already knew. "Right. I mean, I know that. So, what's your career?"

"I'm... a professor," she replied shyly, her voice still low and hesitant.

Shubman leaned in closer, unable to hear her properly. His movement brought their faces much closer than either of them anticipated.

 Yana froze, her breath hitching as she looked up and locked eyes with his. His chocolate-brown eyes held her gaze, pulling her in with their warmth and sincerity.

 She felt her heart flutter uncontrollably, her mind racing back to the first time she had fallen for him—three years ago when she had watched him in Sonam's interview.

Shubman, on the other hand, felt an ache in his chest as he looked at her. Her shy demeanor, the way her eyes avoided his for too long, the faint sadness that lingered in her expressions—it all made him want to reach out, to somehow comfort her in a way words couldn't.

He cleared his throat after what felt like an eternity and leaned back slightly, giving her space.

 "So, a professor, huh?" he teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. "I bet you're the kind of teacher who makes everyone fall for you with just a glance."

she blushed, looking down at her hands. "Esa kuch nahi hai, Mr. Gill," she replied softly, the formality in her tone making him chuckle.

"Stop that," he said, shaking his head. "It's Shubman. No 'Mr. Gill.' Makes me feel like I'm sixty."

She nodded shyly, her lips curving into a small smile. "Okay... Shubman."

"So," she asked after a moment of silence, "how's practice going?"

The question seemed to light a fire inside him. Shubman's face broke into a wide grin, and he leaned forward, his hands gesturing animatedly as he began talking about his latest training sessions, his teammates, and how they were preparing for the upcoming India England test series.

Yana listened intently, her heart swelling as she watched him. He was so different from the composed and reserved public image she had seen on TV.

 Here, he was raw, passionate, and—dare she say—adorable. He reminded her of Geet from Jab We Met, his words flowing without a pause as he described the camaraderie on the field and the endless banter with his teammates.

Every now and then, he'd glance at her, as if checking to see if he was boring her. But she kept nodding, her smile widening as she hung on to every word.

"Wait," he said suddenly, pausing mid-sentence. "I'm ranting, aren't I? You're so quiet... Am I annoying you?"

Yana shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushing. "No, not at all," she said, her voice sincere. "I guess silence has always been my comfort. Words... sometimes they're too heavy."

Her response made him pause, his eyes softening as he studied her. She looked away, embarrassed by her confession, and softly murmured under her breath, "You're damn cute."

Unfortunately—or maybe fortunately—he heard her. His eyes widened slightly, and a deep blush crept up his cheeks. 

He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling shy. "Uh, thanks?" he said awkwardly, a small laugh escaping him.

She smiled, feeling a strange sense of ease despite the awkwardness. There was something about him that made her feel safe, like she could say anything and he wouldn't judge her.

"So," he said after a brief pause, his tone gentler now. "What about your family? What do they think about their intelligent daughter?"

Yana's face instantly shifted, her eyes narrowing as she rolled them slightly. "Let's not talk about them," she muttered, clearly trying to avoid the topic.

Shubman frowned, sensing the discomfort in her voice. But before he could press further, she added, "I wanted to be a hip-hop dancer, you know? But my parents... well, they had other plans. They forced me into economics because it's a 'better option.'" 

She sighed, leaning back against the lounge chair. "And now here I am. A professor. Teaching something I absolutely hate."

Her honesty struck a chord with him. He could feel the weight of her words, the quiet frustration she carried. "That's... unfair," he said softly. "You deserved to follow your dreams."

She glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. "Maybe," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But life doesn't always give you what you want."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, though. It was heavy with unspoken understanding, a connection neither of them could fully articulate.

From a distance, Meera and Ishan watched the two of them, grinning like proud cupids. Meera nudged Ishan. "They're adorable," she whispered.

"Yeah," Ishan agreed, smirking. "Took some pushing, though."

"Totally worth it," She said with a wink.

•all right everyone
This was the second chapter of the book.

•sorry for the short chapter, wrote it in 4 hrs.

•did y'all see the cute romantic moment between Yana and Shubman?
Its inspired by my 3 am delulu scenarios, hehe

• please please comment as much as possible. They're very precious to me

•what did you think of Meera and Ishan? They're cute as hell istg.

•any guesses for the next one?

•till then
With love
Yours author ♾️