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ITS A DETAILED FLASHBACK CHAPTER.

3 months ago.

The car ride to the awards function was a heavy blanket of awkward silence.

Yana sat beside Dhruv in the plush seat, her hands neatly folded on her lap, trying her best to seem composed.

The soft hum of the car engine filled the void as her mind raced with thoughts.

She adjusted her black blazer for the umpteenth time, brushing off invisible crease.

The silver earrings she wore sparkled faintly, but she felt anything but dazzling.

Dhruv glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, sensing her discomfort. He decided to break the ice. 

"You look beautiful tonight, Yana," he said softly, his voice genuine. "I know events like these can be overwhelming, but you’ll be fine. Just be yourself."

She hesitated before nodding slightly, murmuring a quiet, "Thank you."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. Dhruv smiled, though the response felt mechanical.

He could sense her awkwardness but didn’t know how to reassure her further.

As the car pulled up to the venue, the flashes of paparazzi cameras lit up the evening sky.

Yana's stomach churned with nervousness at the sight of the photographers, their lenses trained on the arriving guests.

She clutched the seatbelt tightly for a moment before stepping out. 

Dhruv walked to her side, offering his arm. She hesitated briefly before linking hers with his, her fingers cold against his sleeve. 

"It’s okay," he said in a low tone, leaning slightly toward her. "Just keep walking. I’ve got you."

She  nodded and forced a smile as they entered the venue.

The buzz of chatter and the glint of crystal chandeliers greeted them, and she finally allowed herself a breath of relief. 

Inside, Dhruv introduced her to a few BCCI officials. Yana greeted them politely, keeping her tone steady and respectful, though her mind was elsewhere.

She wasn’t here for Dhruv or the awards ceremony. Her heart was waiting for a glimpse of someone else—the man who unknowingly owned her soul. 

"Shubman..." she whispered internally, her heart thumping wildly at the thought of seeing him in person.

She hadn't met him yet, but the idea of being in the same room as him filled her with both exhilaration and dread. 

And then she saw him. 

Dressed impeccably in a tailored blue suit paired with a crisp white shirt, Shubman looked nothing short of ethereal.

His hair was styled perfectly, his sharp jawline catching the light as he spoke to someone at his table.

The air seemed to shift around her, her eyes refusing to leave his figure. 

She felt her pulse quicken, and a warmth crept up her neck. "He’s way more handsome than I imagined" she thought, her heart hammering in her chest.

But she quickly lowered her gaze, reminding herself of the reality. 

"He’s not mine. He can never be mine."

What she didn’t know was that Shubman had already noticed her. 

From across the room, his eyes landed on her, and for a moment, he forgot where he was.

The black blazer, the understated silver earrings, the way she carried herself with a quiet elegance—it was all captivating. 

"Who is she?" he wondered, unable to look away. But then his eyes shifted to Dhruv, standing protectively beside her, and his thoughts came to a screeching halt. 

"Wait... is she with him?" His stomach sank slightly. Dhruv Patel, co-owner of Gujarat Titans, had been rumored to have a fiancée, but Shubman had never cared enough to find out who.

Now he did. 

The ceremony began, and everyone took their seats.

Yana sat stiffly beside Dhruv, trying her best not to glance at the table next to theirs.

But every now and then, her gaze betrayed her, stealing quick glimpses of Shubman. 

And then something happened. 

A stunning woman in a flowing brown dress approached Shubman and threw her arms around him.

Shubman stood to greet her, smiling warmly as he hugged her back. 

Yana’s breath hitched. Her fingers curled into fists, and her jaw tightened.

She didn’t even realize how fiercely she was staring until Dhruv leaned over and whispered, "Are you okay?"

She nodded curtly, swallowing her emotions. But inside, her heart burned with a jealousy she had no right to feel.

"How dare she?" she thought bitterly. 

She looked away, blinking rapidly to suppress the sting of tears. "What am I doing?" she scolded herself. "He doesn’t even know I exist."

The pain of reality hit her hard. Feeling suffocated, she abruptly stood from her seat. 

"Excuse me, I need some air"  she mumbled to Dhruv, who watched her leave with concern etched on his face.

He wanted to follow her but decided to give her space. 

Meanwhile, Shubman noticed her sudden departure. His brows furrowed as he glanced at her empty seat, wondering what had happened.

His curiosity piqued, and a strange sense of unease settled over him. 

"Who is she?" he thought again, glancing briefly at Dhruv. "And what is she doing with him?"

For the first time that evening, Shubman found himself unable to focus on the awards or the people around him.

His thoughts were consumed by the mysterious woman in the black blazer who had left an unexplainable impression on him. 

Shahneel, sat quietly beside him, observing the unfolding dynamics.

She noticed the way his gaze kept drifting toward a particular table—the one where Dhruv Patel sat with a stunning woman in a black blazer. 

Her eyes followed his, landing on Yana. The subtle glances, the softening of her brother’s expression were hard to miss. 

But it wasn’t just Shubman’s behavior that caught Shahneel’s attention.

Yana’s nervousness was obvious, the way she fidgeted with her hands or avoided looking directly at Shubman’s table.

Shahneel caught a glimpse of something in her eyes—a quiet admiration, maybe even a crush. 

A smile tugged at Shahneel’s lips. "So, someone has a soft spot for kake,"she thought, her heart warming at the idea.

It was rare to see Shubman so quietly intrigued by someone, and it was even rarer to see someone so visibly affected by his presence. 

Yana returned to her seat after a few minutes, her face calm and composed.

The chaotic emotions she’d felt earlier were now tucked neatly behind her polite smile.

She didn’t spare Shubman a glance, her focus entirely on Dhruv and the ceremony ahead. 

Shubman, however, couldn’t help but notice her reappearance. She looked as poised as ever, her demeanor almost regal.

A part of him wondered what had caused her to leave so abruptly earlier, but he chose to remain silent, his own thoughts clouded with curiosity. 

When Shubman’s name was announced as the recipient of the Cricketer of the Year award, the applause thundered through the hall.

Yana instinctively straightened in her seat, her hands clapping firmly. Her heart swelled with pride despite herself. 

As he walked up to the stage, he exuded confidence and grace.

But to Yana, he was more than just a cricketer walking up to accept an award—he was the embodiment of hard work, talent, and perfection. 

He delivered his acceptance speech with humility, his words laced with gratitude for his family, team, and fans.

Yana couldn’t help but smile softly, pride etched on her face. She glanced at Dhruv briefly, hoping he hadn’t noticed her lingering gaze on Shubman. 

Meanwhile, Shahneel caught the faint pride shining in Yana’s eyes. Her smile deepened as she nudged Shubman playfully when he returned to his seat. 

"You were great up there," Shahneel whispered, smirking. "Seems like someone else thimks so too"

Shubman frowned, his confusion evident, but Shahneel only shrugged, enjoying her role as the silent observer. 

Hours passed, and the energy in the room ebbed and flowed with each award and speech.

Finally, Ravi Shastri took the stage, his charismatic presence commanding attention. 

He began recounting the iconic Gabba match, his voice brimming with nostalgia as he praised Rishabh Pant’s stellar performance. 

Yana listened intently, expecting to hear Shubman’s name next.

After all, he had played a crucial role in that match—his resilience and grit had been pivotal to the team’s victory. 

But the mention never came. 

Shastri moved on, seamlessly shifting the focus to other players, completely overlooking Shubman’s contributions. 

From her seat, Yana saw the subtle shift in Shubman’s demeanor.

The smile that had lit up his face earlier was gone, replaced by a shadow of disappointment.

His jaw tightened slightly, and his eyes downcasted, though he remained composed outwardly. 

Her heart ached for him. "How could they not acknowledge him?" she thought angrily. 

Unable to watch him in such a state, Yana instinctively wanted to reach out and comfort him, but she knew her place.

Instead, she focused on clapping enthusiastically for every mention of the team, hoping he’d somehow feel her support even from afar. 

As the event continued, she stole glances at him, noticing how he remained polite and gracious despite the clear sting of being overlooked. 

When their eyes finally met—just for a brief second—it was as if time paused.

Shubman held her gaze, and she swore she saw a flicker of something vulnerable beneath his usual calm exterior.

She gave him the smallest of smiles, one that spoke volumes. 

"I see you. I know what you’ve done. And I’m proud of you," her eyes seemed to say. 

Shubman blinked, momentarily startled by the silent exchange, but he gave a faint nod, his lips curling into a subtle smile of acknowledgment. 

Shahneel, sitting between them, noticed the interaction and couldn’t help but grin. 

"Oh, this is going to be interesting," she mused to herself, already anticipating the storm of emotions that was bound to come. 

Yana glanced down at her fingers, nervously fidgeting with them.

She was lost in a haze, her thoughts swirling like a whirlwind. Her name echoed in her mind, soft at first, and then louder. 

"Yana!" 

She jolted slightly, her heart racing as she blinked rapidly, trying to orient herself.

At first, the voice belonged to Dhruv, calling her as they walked through the gala hall. But suddenly, it shifted into a more familiar tone. 

"Yana! Hellooo, earth to Yana!" 

Present.

She was no longer at the award function. The gleaming chandeliers of Mumbai faded away, replaced by the plain yet comforting walls of the staffroom in Vadodara. 

“Yana!” 

Her head snapped up, meeting Hamnah’s curious gaze.

Her best friend and colleague stood in front of her, one eyebrow raised and her hands on her hips. 

“Where are you lost, woman?” Hamnah asked, her voice laced with concern but her lips twitching as though she was holding back a smirk. 

“I… uh…” Yana cleared her throat awkwardly, brushing her hair behind her ear as she tried to compose herself.

She could feel the weight of curious glances from other teachers in the room. Heat crept up her neck, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about him,” Hamnah teased, leaning closer with a mischievous glint in her eyes. 

“What? No!” Yana’s voice came out sharper than she intended, and she bit her lip, hoping no one else heard 

"Oh my God, you were!" Hamnah exclaimed, her voice a little louder than necessary, drawing the attention of a few other teachers in the staffroom. 

Yana glared at her, lowering her voice. "Can you keep it down? Everyone’s staring." 

Hamnah smirked. "Let them stare. I can’t believe you’re blushing! What happened in Mumbai that’s got you acting like a lovestruck teenager? Wait, don’t tell me—does this have something to do with a certain Shubman?" 

"Stop," Yana hissed, burying her face in her hands. 

Hamnah laughed, shaking her head. "Fine, fine. I’ll drop it. For now. But seriously, you’ve got to tell me everything later." 

Before Yana could respond, a soft knock on the staffroom door interrupted them.

Both women turned their heads to see Anahi Shah, one of their MBA students, standing hesitantly at the entrance. 

Anahi was beautiful, with an effortless elegance that made her stand out among her peers.

She always carried herself with grace, and her genuine love for learning made her a favorite among the faculty. 

"Good morning, ma’am," Anahi said, her voice polite yet warm.

"I’m so sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I could ask you a question about the assignment? I’m stuck on one part." 

"Of course, come in," Yana said with a kind smile. 

As Anahi approached, Hamnah couldn’t resist teasing. "Anahi, don’t you think it’s unfair to the rest of your classmates how easy you make everything look? You’re practically a genius!" 

Anahi blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Not at all, ma’am. I just really like studying... and, well, I’m lucky to have such chill teachers." 

Yana and Hamnah burst into laughter at the compliment. 

"Chill teachers? I’ll take that as a compliment," Hamnah said, grinning. 

"Honestly, though, where else would you find teachers this young and fun?" Anahi added, her tone genuinely appreciative.

Yana couldn’t help but think about Anahi’s aura of happiness.

It wasn’t forced or superficial—it was genuine, something Yana hadn’t felt in a long time. The thought tugged at her heart. 

What Yana didn’t know, though, was that Anahi carried a secret of her own.

The reason for her radiant happiness wasn’t just academic success. It was him.

Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

The rising star of the Indian cricket team. 

Anahi’s boyfriend. 

But no one in the college knew. Anahi guarded their relationship fiercely, tucking it away like a precious gem only she could cherish

As Yana helped Anahi with her question, her thoughts drifted back to Mumbai—to the poolside, to Shubman, to the way his voice had filled the silence between them. 

She had returned to Vadodara just two days ago, but her mind still lingered in the moments she shared with him.

The way he had looked at her—curious, gentle, and so full of life—was something she couldn’t shake. 

And now, sitting in the staffroom, back to her boring routine, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking about her too.

Shubman sat on the balcony of his Mohali home, a gentle breeze playing with his hair as he scrolled through his phone.

The IPL season was just a week away, and as the newly-appointed captain of Gujarat Titans, he had a mountain of responsibilities looming over him.

The calls from team management, strategies to discuss, and endless training sessions—it was overwhelming. 

But somehow, none of it occupied his mind as much as a pair of shy brown eyes did. 

Yana. 

The name brought a soft smile to his lips. It had been a week since they’d met at the hotel lobby and later by the pool.

A week, yet her quiet words and hesitant smiles lingered in his thoughts like a pleasant melody on repeat. 

He leaned back in his chair, staring up at the sky. "Why am I thinking about her so much?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. 

"You talking to yourself now?" a voice broke his train of thought. 

Shubman turned to see Shahneel, leaning against the balcony door with a knowing smirk. 

"Not really," he replied, trying to play it cool. 

Shahneel raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been smiling like an idiot for the past ten minutes. Care to explain?" 

"It’s nothing," he said, but the faint blush creeping up his neck betrayed him. 

"Oh, come on," she teased, sitting beside him. "Let me guess—this is about Yana, right? Meera and Ishan told me about her."

Shubman groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Why do they have to tell you everything? Inn dono ka muh band hi nai rehta."

"Because, as your didi, I need to keep updates about you." she said, laughing. "So?What’s her deal?" 

He hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal. "Nothing. She’s... beautifully different." 

Shahneel’s smirk softened into a curious smile. " beautifully Different how?" 

"She’s quiet," he said, his voice thoughtful. "But not in a boring way. It’s like... she listens to everything, absorbs it. And when she talks, it’s like she’s carefully choosing every word. I don’t know... there’s something about her." 

She tilted her head, studying her brother. "You love her." 

"I barely know her," he protested weakly. 

"But you want to know her," she pointed out. 

He didn’t respond, instead looking down at the phone in his hand.

The last conversation they’d had played in his mind—how she had talked about her love for dance and how life had steered her elsewhere.

There was a sadness behind her words, a longing that resonated with him. 

"She’s stuck in my head," he admitted finally. 

Shahneel smiled, patting his shoulder. "Maybe that’s a sign." 

Before he could reply, his phone buzzed with a call from the Gujarat Titans’ management.

He sighed, answering it and promising to finalize the strategies soon. 

As he hung up, Shahneel stood, giving him a mischievous grin.

"Well, Captain Kake, you’ve got a busy week ahead. But don’t let that stop you from thinking about your Yana" 

Shubman rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at his lips. As Shahneel left, he leaned back again, staring at the sky. 

The IPL season was about to begin, and he had a feeling it wasn’t just cricket that was going to make this year unforgettable.

Hey everyone, so this was the 3rd chapter of the book.

I seriously have no idea, yeh kya likh dala hai mene.

Also, Shubman and Yana had first saw each other at The BCCI award okay? Like, they didn't talk at all.

Then, they finally met properly and talked in the hotel lobby, 3 months later.

So, i wanted to clarify, should I make Dhruv a good character or a bad character?

Y'all, Shah di noticed everything.