Noor's eyes were fixed on the screen as her hands moved efficiently over the cloth. Her lips were caught between her teeth as she watched the match intently.

The workload was overwhelming, leaving her little time to spare for watching the match at the stadium. Despite this, she made sure not to miss it even from her boutique. On the screen, she saw him, sweat dripping from his face beneath his helmet. He seemed to be having a tough time on the field, evident from the struggle in his eyes as he tried to regain his form against Sri Lanka, even in their home series. Although the team had secured victory at the Gabba, his performance didn't quite live up to the standards befitting the title bestowed upon him.

With each stitch, a prayer escaped Noor's lips as she watched him taking singles while the other batsmen were sending balls raining into the stands. As he returned to the crease, she looked at him, focused as he prepared for the ball. Just as she was about to put the needle inside, it poked her hand, and then... **THUD!** ...he was bowled!

She winced in pain, quickly putting her finger into her mouth to stop the blood, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on him as he walked back to the pavilion. He had managed to score only twenty runs off thirty balls in the T20I match.

She leaned her head back against the shelf, sucking on her injured finger, her thoughts drifting towards the topic their parents had been incessantly pushing. Maybe his already faltering form worsened due to the pressure of an arranged marriage. Even though they had managed to diffuse the situation last time, agreeing they could only be friends, they simply walked away without listening to their parents. However, her parents had been persistently pressuring her to convince him, and she suspected he was facing the same from his side.

She removed her finger to see that the bleeding had stopped. Wishing the topic of marriage would fade away, she couldn't bear seeing him stressed. She longed for his goofy self to return, the one who used to be with her, not this serious version he had become since last week. She just prayed to Waheguru to give him someone he truly deserved, because deep down, she knew he deserved nothing but the best.

While one longed for his return to normalcy, the other, stood in the posh office of couture, already contemplating ways to escape the chaos. Ghazal stood tall in her 3-inch heels, her green eyes darkening with disappointment as she leaned back on her office desk, watching him make his way back to the pavilion. She had been eagerly awaiting his resurgence since last year, but it had been nothing but a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. The only reason she refrained from making it public.

She looked at the screen, muttering "stupid" through her clenched teeth before moving towards her chair, the click of her heels echoing against the posh floor of the couture. As she spun the chair and settled into it, she leaned her head back, hands clasped, with her index finger poking her chin as she waited for the match to conclude, also hoping to be done with a certain someone.

With a sigh, Ghazal glanced at the clock, silently urging for time to pass quickly. She had deadlines to meet, designs to finalize, and a plethora of distractions she needed to escape from. As the minutes dragged on, she found herself lost in a mix of frustration and anticipation, both for the match to end and for her matters to be resolved.

Ghazal decided to distract herself with work. Immersing herself in the creative process, she lost track of time. When she finally glanced at the clock, it was already midnight. A surge of realization swept over her as she knew he would be awake and at the hotel by now.

Typing his name out in her contacts through her long, manicured nails, Ghazal didn't hesitate. With a flick of her hair, she confidently initiated the call, then comfortably leaned back, waiting for him to pick up. Her frustration grew as the call rang into the third ring. Ghazal had a rule - either pick up within two rings or don't bother at all. Just as she was about to end the call, a cheerful voice on the other end exclaimed, "Hey, love!"

Ghazal rolled her eyes at his cheerfulness. She had waited for a year for his form to improve, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Lucky for him, she had borne with him for a year, or else she wouldn't have let anyone stand in her way if they didn't benefit her. But she guessed he must have some value stored in him, like the social circle she moved in. Standing by him brought her respect, but it seemed that his continued poor performance was no longer serving that purpose, except for inviting taunting laughs.

Taking a deep breath, Ghazal set her glasses aside and answered, "I have something important to talk about."

Her tone was firm, betraying none of the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She wasn't one to beat around the bush, especially not with matters as pressing as this. There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then she heard him respond, his tone more serious now, "Of course, Ghazal. What is it?"

Despite her desire to end things with him, she knew she had to do it in a way that wouldn't burn bridges. What if he still proved to be an asset in the future? So, trying to infuse sweetness into her voice, she spoke, "Darling, I think I may have been a distraction to you."

She could almost hear his puzzled expression through the phone. "A distraction? What do you mean?" he asked his tone a mixture of confusion and concern.

She could sense his confusion and concern through the phone, and her inner conflict intensified. Her true feelings, her "evil" self, were making it difficult to maintain her composed façade. Despite this inner turmoil, she knew she had to proceed with her plan for her own sake. She didn't care about anything else at that moment; she just wanted to sever ties with him for the time being.

Summoning all her resolve, Ghazal pushed aside her inner turmoil and focused on the task at hand. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her voice and replied, "I mean, perhaps my presence in your life has been diverting your focus from your priorities," she explained gently. "And I wouldn't want to hinder your progress or success in any way."

Ghazal could hear the desperation in his voice as he tried to convince her otherwise. "No, Ghazal, you're not a distraction," he insisted, his voice cracking with emotion. "You're my strength, my motivation. Please, don't break up with me. I need you."

Despite his heartfelt plea, Ghazal maintained her resolve. She couldn't deny the cringe she felt at his words, and though her voice remained sweet, her face betrayed her true feelings with a bored expression. "Sorry, darling, but I have to do this. Goodbye, " she muttered, ending the call abruptly.

Ghazal sighed a breath of relief as she tossed her phone gently onto the table. Leaning back against the chair, she muttered to herself, "Bala tali." She was thankful that it had been easier than she had anticipated, even though she had to endure some cringe

Shubman curled up in the hotel room, his emotions swirling inside him like a tempest. He refused to let tears fall; crying was a sign of weakness, a lesson he had learned from Ghazal herself. But his mind was a haze of confusion and hurt. How could she have ended things so easily, without considering his feelings even once? The pain of her decision cut deep, leaving him feeling abandoned and alone in the darkness of the room.

He loved her with a depth he hadn't known possible. In his heart, he believed she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, the one he yearned to hold in his arms when he returned home from tours, the one he envisioned being by his side in every aspect of life. The thought of her absence weighed heavily on him, casting a shadow over his hopes and dreams for the future. How could she have shattered his vision of their life together so effortlessly?

His phone rang once again, but he ignored it, unwilling to face another conversation that would only deepen his pain. Yet, the caller persisted, refusing to back down. With a heavy sigh, Shubman finally relented and picked up the phone, steeling himself for whatever awaited on the other end of the line.

Shubman hesitated before answering the call, but as soon as he heard Noor's voice on the other end, a wave of warmth washed over him. "Hey, Kudiye," he greeted softly, his voice betraying the turmoil within him.

"Kaake, are you okay? How's everything going?" Noor's voice rang with concern, her questions coming one after the other, each one filled with genuine care and worry. "Did you eat? Are you taking care of yourself? Please don't stress too much about the match. I know you're not doing well right now, but I believe in you. You have the ability to bounce back."

Shubman couldn't help but chuckle at her barrage of questions, feeling a flicker of light amidst the darkness that had consumed him. Wiping away the tears that had formed at her questions, he replied, "I'm hanging in there, Noori. And thanks for asking."

"Shush, Kaake," Noor interjected, her tone playful yet sincere. "What's this 'thanks for asking'? We're not just friends, we're best friends." She exaggerated her words, trying to lighten the mood, which succeeded in eliciting a chuckle from Shubman. However, his tears continued to flow, leaving him torn between the sadness of the breakup and the joy of seeing his Noori being her usual self, full of life and energy, even if it resembled that of a drunk woman at times.

Noor snuggled in her cosy blanket, and continued with determination shining in her eyes, "I'll complete all the orders for the boutique by tomorrow, Kaake. Then, I'm coming straight to your next match. And you know what? I'll even whip up that special moong dal ka halwa you love so much. Consider it your good luck charm."

Shubman managed a smile despite the tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't fathom what he'd do without this quirky panda in his life. It was as if a bolt of whimsy struck him as he blurted out, "Mere naal vyaah karegi?"

Noor sat upright, her surprise evident in her wide-eyed stare. She stuttered, struggling to find her words amidst the sudden revelation. "Kaake, we've always been friends," she began, her voice shaky. "I mean, this is..." She trailed off, unable to articulate her thoughts as she grappled with the unexpected turn of events.

Shubman repeated his question, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "Yes or no?" he asked, his voice unwavering as he awaited Noor's response.

Noor, clutching onto the sheets, sought clarification, her brow furrowed with confusion. "But you had a girlfriend?" she questioned, her voice tinged with disbelief as she tried to make sense of Shubman's unexpected proposal.

"I did," he admitted, his voice dropping momentarily. "But things have changed. And I realized that what I need... what I want... it's always been right in front of me."

Noor's lips parted, ready to question what Shubman meant by "I did," but before she could utter a word, Shubman interrupted her with a firm yet gentle tone. "Yes or no?" he repeated, his voice searching hers for an answer, his heart pounding with anticipation.

As Shubman waited for Noor's response, he heard only silence from her end. Faced with the lack of an immediate answer, he exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly with the weight of uncertainty. "Take your time," he said softly, his words carrying a hint of patience and understanding. "Answer me before the next match."

******

ᴄʜᴀᴘʟɪɴ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋꜱ

Author's Note:

Hey there! I hope you enjoyed reading the story. I'd love to hear your thoughts on which part resonated with you the most.

Did you find yourself rooting for Shubmam and Noor's friendship, or did Ghazal's boldness catch your attention? Maybe you found yourself swept up in the emotions of the characters as they navigated love, friendship, and personal struggles.

Your feedback means the world to me, so please don't hesitate to leave a comment and let me know what you think. And if you enjoyed the story, I'd truly appreciate it if you could take a moment to vote for it. Your support encourages me to keep writing and sharing more stories with you all. Thanks for reading!

LOVE:

CSG228