Shubman paced back and forth in his room, feeling tense. Today's match would determine his spot in the T20I team, and he couldn't help but bite his nails as he thought about the game.

He received a call from the coach last night, emphasizing that it was now or never. He had to give it his all or risk losing his spot on the team.

The tension mounted so much that he stopped in the middle of his pacing. He blew out air several times in an attempt to calm his nerves, but it didn't help much. He tried listening to music to soothe his nerves, and while it did some of the work, he still didn't know how to fully calm himself.

Irritated, he pulled at the strands of his hair. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his actions. Rubbing his face in frustration, he went to open the door.

And there she was, as promised, holding a steel container. He knew exactly what it held-the aroma wafting through the closed lid made his mouth water.

Quickly pulling her inside, he took the container from her, eagerly opened it and started to eat so quickly that she had to intervene. "Eat slowly or you'll choke," she cautioned, her voice laced with concern.

Gulping down the morsel, he said, biting his lips, "I'm scared, Noori. I'm damn scared."

Noor sighed and said, "I understand. But that doesn't mean you panic. Where's the cool Munda I know?"

He held back his tears, looking up. "Coach called me last night," he explained softly. "He said it's now or never."

Noor rolled her eyes and said, "How much did you practice with Uncle before this?"

Shubman, looking at her, pouting, said, "The whole week before the series started."

Noor, putting her hand under her chin, asked, "And have you ever failed when you got Uncle's scolding and training?"

Shubman recalled his memories of training with his father, remembering the times he failed. Each time, he would go to his dad, seeking guidance and support.

He looked at Noor and answered, "No, I haven't. Whenever I faced setbacks, Dad was there to guide me through."

Noor shrugged and said, "Then why are you even thinking so much? Just go and put into practice what you've learned from those mistakes."

He smiled, pulling her into a hug and burying his face in the crook of her neck. "Thank you, Noori, for coming today," he murmured, his hot breath tickling her neck, making her shiver. She leaned into his touch, hugging him back and kissing the side of his head.

He pulled back and looked into her blue eyes. "So, what's your answer? Yes or no?"

She cupped his perfect face and smiled. "Not now. We'll talk after the match," she said gently. Before he could protest, pouting, she added sternly, "After the match, okay? Not now."

Sticking his tongue out, he started to protest, but she playfully kicked his butt, urging him to focus and get ready for the match.

Hours later, she sat in the stands, her gaze fixed on the ground as the players stood ready to chase the score. With fingers crossed and resting on her cheek, her ears seemed to cut out every other voice except for her heartbeat. She sat next to her family, who wore the same tense expression, but they maintained a calm exterior. For her, however, she couldn't manage that, no matter how much she tried to act like a tough cookie in front of him.

She wanted this to be his day. She wanted him to outshine everyone. She knew that what she was thinking might be considered selfish, but she couldn't help it. For him, she wanted to be selfish. She wanted him to score a ton and show everyone what his bat was capable of.

As the game progressed, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the field. Every stroke of his bat filled her with hope and anticipation. With each run scored, her heart soared, willing him to achieve greatness. She silently prayed for his success, knowing that his triumph would mean everything to him, and secretly, to her as well.

As the tension mounted and the match reached its climax, she found herself on the edge of her seat, her heart pounding in sync with every delivery. She clung to the hope that he would deliver the performance of a lifetime. With bated breath, she watched as he faced each ball, willing him to succeed. Deep down, she knew that his success would be the ultimate reward for all the hard work and dedication he had put in.

As his score stood on 97, she prayed fervently to any deity who would listen. She begged for his nerves not to betray him now, not when he was so close to his century. Unable to contain her anxiety, she couldn't even bring herself to sit. Instead, she paced back and forth in the stands, her hands clasped behind her back. All she wanted was for him to reach that elusive century, and she was willing to do anything to make it happen.

What she hadn't expected was the next moment when the ball went straight into the stands, headed directly to them. The ball came hurtling towards them, and even Shubman had a tense expression, knowing it would hurt. But with quick precision, she caught it. It was one of the perks of being best friends with a cricketer - her catching skills were top-notch.

As the ball landed in her hand, both best friends jumped in joy, along with the supporters. She was so excited that she even forgot to give the ball back until the announcement was made, causing her to blush. The crowd of supporters erupted into laughter, adding to the jubilant atmosphere of the moment.

When she turned towards the ground, she saw Shubman making a cute gesture for his family and her. With a smile on his face, he raised his bat and blew a kiss towards them.

As the match continued, she remained seated, still basking in the euphoria of his century. However, her blissful moment was interrupted by Shahneel.

Shahneel leaned over, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, and teased her about the catch. "Looks like you've got some competition," she said playfully, nodding towards the field where Shubman was batting. "But hey, at least my brother is marrying a real catch, right?" She grinned, enjoying her joke as she nudged her friend with a playful elbow.

Noor forced a smile and nodded, sensing that the conversation later in the evening might lead to some tensions. Shaking off her thoughts, she redirected her focus to the match, determined to enjoy the rest of the game without dwelling on potential conflicts.

The game was won, and his spot was sealed. Amidst hugs and exchanged smiles, everyone eventually dispersed back to their respective rooms. However, Noor found herself standing in front of his door, her fingers crackling with nervous energy. Hesitantly, she knocked on the door three times. She didn't know what awaited her on the other side; all she wanted was for the conversation to be over.

With each passing second, Noor's heart pounded louder in her chest as she waited for Shubman to answer the door. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she heard the lock click and the door creak open.

He opened the door, immediately pulling her inside and enveloping her in a tight hug. "We won, and it's all thanks to Dad's scoldings and our practice sessions, Mom's and Shahneel's support, and your Hawla's lucky charm," he exclaimed, his voice filled with gratitude and excitement.

She moved slightly, holding his face gently in her hands. "And let's not forget about your talent, Kaake," she said softly. "It needs to be appreciated as well."

He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead before resting his forehead against hers. "So, tell me, is the answer yes or no?" he whispered, his voice filled with anticipation and hope.

She took a deep breath before looking into his brown eyes. "Are you just making this decision in the aftermath of your breakup?" she asked, her tone gentle but filled with concern.

His expression became serious as he processed her question. Somewhere deep down, he knew she was right. Closing his eyes, he couldn't bring himself to meet hers before the words came out of his mouth. "Yes."

******

ᴄʜᴀᴘʟɪɴ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋꜱ

Hey everyone!

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! It was a blast writing it, especially diving into the tension of a high-stakes cricket match and the complexities of relationships.

Personally, I had a soft spot for the moments between Shubman and his Noori, especially their heartfelt conversations and the tension during the match. But hey, I'd love to hear which parts you liked the most!

If you enjoyed the story, please do consider giving it a vote and dropping a comment. Your feedback means the world to me and helps me grow as a writer. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more updates!

LOVE:

CSG228