"Love or a bullet—what hits you harder? 'Alcohol,' Noor sighed inwardly. Two days were not enough to get over the hangover because there were still some lingering effects, making it hard for her to think clearly. She was still wondering whether the third ball in the last over was a leg-bye or if it hit the bat. Don't get her wrong—she loved all formats of cricket, especially watching her man in test matches.

However, the lingering hangover made her drowsy. She took a sip of water and rubbed her temples to calm herself down, which helped a bit. Fortunately, the sun wasn't too harsh, and the weather was pleasant for both the game and herself."

Her eyes drifted to the big screen, and a smile appeared on her lips. There he was, tanned but still the most good-looking guy to her. He had completed his 50 runs while she was contemplating the leg-bye. Now, she eagerly awaited his double century. She didn't want him to settle for the bare minimum because she knew he had the ability to achieve greater things.

Ball after ball, he inched closer, and when he completed his test century, he performed his trademark celebration. He was on his way to do another one for her. His legs halted in their tracks when he saw her making a peace sign.

A double century is what she needed. "What a selfish woman," he thought. The next second, he smirked. This is what he craved—the selfishness of wanting to achieve more and more. Anyone can score a century, but when you earn twice as much, that's what makes you more promising and reliable for the team.

Sweating and huffing while running his 150th run, he looked towards the stands, only to find his chubby best friend, who was also his girlfriend, stuffing her mouth with ice cream. She raised the ice cream halfway in the air to acknowledge him. This is what happens when you date your best friend. There was more teasing than acknowledgement as she ate the chocolate ice cream laden with chips.

"Just wait and watch," he muttered to himself, pouting as he watched her eat their favourite ice cream alone.

It didn't take him long. In the next twenty minutes, he was punching the air as he registered himself in the double centurion club. Huffing, he licked his lips and thought, "Let's sweep the lady off her feet." Kissing his bat, he maintained eye contact with her, then with a smirk, blew a kiss towards the stands.

She almost coughed on her spit as she watched him announce it to the world. She felt a few bumps on her shoulders as she was teased by the other WAGs. Squinting her eyes, she suppressed her blush and thought, "The boy needs some love tonight."

A promise is a promise, and Noor made sure to keep it when they returned to the hotel. Pinning his hands to the sides, Noor blushed and questioned Shubman, "Well, you could have dropped some hints. That flying kiss took me off guard."

"If this is what I get for it, I'm scoring in every match," he said, leaning closer and kissing her chin. Smiling, she pressed her lips softly against his cheek and cuddled on him. "I wish to have this even after years."

"Manifest it. The universe always shifts something in your favour when you do," he said, kissing her forehead, feeling content to have the best part of his life in his arms.

She looked up at him, scrunching her nose slightly, and asked, "Do you really believe in that?"

He chuckled softly, running his fingers through her hair. "Yeah, I do. Call it superstition or whatever, but every time I've set my mind on something and truly believed in it, things somehow fell into place."

She smiled, tracing circles on his chest with her fingertips. "I guess I can't argue with results," she said playfully.

"Exactly," he replied, pulling her closer. "And you know what else I believe in?"

"What's that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I believe in us," he said sincerely, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "No matter what the universe throws our way, I believe we'll always find our way back to each other."

Her heart swelled with warmth at his words, and she nestled closer against him. "I believe in that too," she whispered, pressing a gentle kiss against his lips.

She looked back at him, her blue eyes now a shade darker with concern. "Okay, I have this question, and I know it might sound clingy and silly, but what if you forget me while you're on cricket tours? How do we cope with that?"

Shubman rolled his eyes playfully and countered, "Have I ever done that till now?"

Noor sighed softly, trying to explain. "What I mean is, sometimes when people enter into a relationship, there's this unspoken understanding. Like, if I don't call, the other person will wait because we have that bond. But before, when we were best friends, it was different. If you didn't call, it was okay because we didn't have that kind of romantic connection."

Shubman frowned slightly, processing her words. "What do you mean we didn't have a connection?"

"No, no," she hurriedly clarified, seeing his expression. "I mean, we did have a connection, a great one as friends. But this... this is new, different. It's deeper, more intense."

He nodded slowly, his hand caressing her lower back gently. "I understand," he murmured, looking into her blue eyes with sincerity. "Noori, I can forget myself, but I could never forget you. Wherever I am, you will always be there, in the people I call first, in the moments that matter most."

Noor pressed her cheeks against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, and whispered, "I love you, Kaake."

Shubman smiled tenderly, his arms pulling her closer as he savoured the nickname she used only for him. "And I love you, Noori," he murmured in reply, brushing his lips against her forehead.

He held her tightly, his voice barely above a whisper, "If I ever lose my memory, you will always be the one in my heart."

Noor angrily looked up at him, her eyes flashing with emotion. "You need to stop talking like that," she insisted firmly, her voice tinged with frustration. "I hate it when you do."

Shubman sighed, feeling remorseful for upsetting her. He gently cupped her face in his hands, searching her eyes for understanding. "I'm sorry, Noori," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me."

Noor exhaled sharply, trying to reign in her emotions. She knew he meant well, but his words often stirred up her fears about their future. "I know," she replied tersely, avoiding his gaze. "But talking about losing memories or uncertain futures—it's too much sometimes."

Shubman nodded slowly, realizing his attempts at reassurance sometimes backfired. He moved closer to her, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "I hear you," he murmured, his voice gentle. "I won't bring it up again, I promise. Let's focus on today, on us."

She finally looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, she nodded in acknowledgement. "Okay," she said softly, feeling a bit calmer. "Let's enjoy the moment."

They stood there in silence for a moment, content in each other's embrace, their minds quiet and hearts full. But deep down, Noor couldn't shake the lingering fear—the fear of losing these precious moments, of losing the memories they were creating together.

She glanced up at the moon, its ethereal light casting shadows on the windows. The thought lingered in her mind like a haunting melody, reminding her of the fragility of time and memory.

Little did she know, their journey together was about to face a twist—one that would test their love and the depths of their commitment in ways neither of them could have imagined.