The next morning dawned bright, and Shubman was both excited and nervous. He needed to reach 200 runs without getting out, a milestone that had him eager yet tense. Noor, on the other hand, had to make the difficult choice of staying back to catch the room service person, despite wanting to be at the match cheering him on.

In the bathroom, both of them stood close, sharing a lingering kiss. Shubman believed it was for good luck, a sweet moment to carry with him to the match. Noor smiled softly against his lips, knowing they were each facing their own challenges that day.

Both of them stepped out, ready to head to the stadium. Noor hadn't briefed Shubman about her plan to stay back; she knew he wouldn’t allow it if he knew. So, she acted as though she was heading to the stadium with him.

Just before he boarded the bus, she gently pulled him back and kissed his cheek. His dimples appeared as he smiled, muttering softly, "Thank you." He gave her a warm look before heading off, none the wiser about her real plan.

Noor boarded the bus, heading to the stadium despite her initial plan. She knew the stalker must be keeping a close eye on her movements, and staying behind might raise suspicion. As she took her seat, the excitement of the match buzzed around her, but her mind was elsewhere. Her every move had to be calculated—she had to keep playing along until the right moment presented itself.

As Noor entered the stadium, she made her way halfway up the stairs before stopping. She glanced over at Anushka and said, “Bhabhi, I really need to catch up on some urgent work, so I can’t stay. Please let Shubman know for me.” With a nod of understanding from Anushka, Noor turned back, heading out discreetly.

Noor quickly descended the stairs, her heart racing as she wished she could hurry things along and somehow still make it back in time to see Shubman reach his double century. She rushed out of the stadium and stopped an auto, waving her hand frantically.

"Paaji, Hotel Pavilion!" she called out, jumping in as soon as the auto pulled over. The urgency in her voice and her anxious glances out the window showed just how much she wanted to get this over with.

The auto rickshaw sped through the busy streets, the sound of traffic blending with the buzz of her thoughts. Noor tapped her fingers impatiently on her knees, her mind racing with everything she needed to do. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not being there to watch Shubman reach his milestone, but she knew catching the room service person was just as important for their safety.

Noor glanced at her watch and realized there was still some time left before the match would start. She silently prayed to Rabji, hoping she could finish this task quickly. Her heart was pounding with the pressure of the situation, but she kept her focus, determined to get back to the stadium in time to witness Shubman's big moment.

Noor dashed toward the lift as soon as she paid the driver, her urgency overriding any concern about how she might look. She didn't care if she appeared flustered or hasty—her only focus was completing her task as swiftly as possible so she could return to the stadium. As the lift doors opened, she stepped inside.

Noor bit her lip and clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

As the lift dinged and the doors slid open, Noor dashed down the hallway toward the room. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the door slightly ajar. She approached cautiously, her eyes scanning for any signs of disturbance or someone inside. The open door meant she had to be extra careful, knowing that any misstep could jeopardize her mission.

When Noor entered the room, her heart raced as she saw a man inside, who was likely in disguise. He was pretending to be a room service person but didn’t seem to actually work for the hotel. He was intently scanning the bedside clock, oblivious to her presence. Noor took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and figure out her next move.

Noor took a deep breath and moved swiftly toward him. With a burst of adrenaline, she grabbed him by his collar and yanked him towards the couch. The man’s eyes widened in shock as he was suddenly yanked and thrown onto the couch. His surprise deepened when he realized it was a girl who had overpowered him, revealing the seriousness of her resolve.

Noor landed a few hard punches, her anger and urgency fueling each strike. Between blows, she demanded, “Who the hell are you, and who do you work for?”

The man, wincing in pain, whimpered, “Leave me, and I’ll tell you!” His pleas were punctuated by the relentless force of Noor’s punches, each one more fierce than the last.

Noor backed off, breathing heavily as she glared at the man. “Speak!” she demanded.

The man, wiping blood from his face, looked up with a pained expression. “I don’t know who he is,” he admitted. “I just worked for the money he offered.” His voice was shaky, clearly frightened and desperate.

The man’s eyes darted nervously as Noor's knuckles cracked ominously. “I swear,” he stammered, his voice trembling. “I don’t know who he is. I was just hired to monitor you and report back.”

Noor narrowed her eyes, her anger still simmering. “Who hired you?” she pressed, determined to uncover more.

The man, wincing in pain, added hurriedly, “He came with his face covered with a shawl and handed me the money. He had a tough voice but would cough at the end of each sentence. It seemed like he was wearing something on his head, but that’s all I know. Please, just leave me.”

Noor looked at him, her expression hardening as she processed his words. The details about the man’s cough and the head covering might be useful clues, but they didn’t give her a clear lead on his identity.

Noor fixed him with a steely gaze. “I’m not handing you over to the authorities,” she said firmly. “But whenever I call you, you come and help me identify him. Got that? And when you leave here, you know exactly what to say about the camera. If I catch even a hint of you spying again, your face will be the least of your worries.”

Noor’s voice was icy as she added, “And don’t you dare tell him I know about the camera. When you get out of here, you’ll say the camera was malfunctioning. Understand?” Her threat was clear, emphasizing the consequences if he failed to comply.

The man nodded vigorously, his fear evident. “Understood,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

The man began to flee as soon as Noor released him, but her voice rang out sharply behind him.

“Room service! Please clean up the mess of your face,” she shouted. “And give me your number too. If you don’t answer when I call, you’ll vanish without a trace.”

The man froze, his fear renewed as he quickly handed over his contact information, knowing full well the consequences if he failed to comply. The man, clearly terrified, quickly cleaned up the room as best as he could. With one last, fearful glance at Noor, he bolted from the hotel.

Noor quickly opened the scoreboard on her phone and saw that Shubman was only 10 runs away from his century. With the match already in progress, she knew she had to hurry. Quickly, Noor cleaned her hands and left the room.

As Noor was on her way back to the stadium, she frequently patted the driver’s back, urging him to go faster.

“Can you drive any faster?” Noor asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

The driver glanced back, noting her impatience. “I’m going as fast as I can, madam.”

Noor nodded, trying to stay calm. “Please, I need to get there quickly. Just a bit faster, if you can.”

The driver sighed, glancing back at Noor. “I cannot fly, madam; it’s just an auto.”

Noor, frustrated, banged her leg against the ground and pouted. “I know, but please, just try to go a little faster. I really need to get there in time!”

The driver, seeing Noor’s frustration, gave her a sympathetic nod. “Alright, I’ll do my best,” he said, accelerating as much as the auto allowed.

Noor gripped the sides of the seat, her eyes scanning the road ahead. Each passing moment felt like an eternity. As the auto maneuvered through traffic, she checked her watch frequently, praying that they wouldn’t get stuck in any jams.

Finally, the stadium became visible in the distance. Noor’s heart raced with renewed hope. “We’re almost there!” she urged, her voice filled with determination.

The driver, noticing her eagerness, made a final push to get as close to the stadium entrance as possible. The auto came to a halt, and Noor quickly paid the fare, her fingers trembling with anticipation. She dashed towards the stadium, her pace quickening as she approached the gates.

Noor sprinted up the stairs, stumbling and huffing as she made her way towards the VIP stands. She flashed her pass to the security guard, who let her through.

As she entered the stands, she heard the crack of the bat meeting the ball. Instinctively, she ducked as the ball sailed past her, a sigh of relief escaping her lips.

Breathing heavily, she looked down at Shubman, who was glancing up at her with a worried expression. Her eyes then drifted to the broken glass nearby. A wide grin spread across her face, knowing she had made it just in time to witness the action.

As Noor’s eyes locked with Shubman’s from the VIP stands, they both let out a triumphant roar. The stadium erupted in cheers as Shubman achieved a remarkable milestone—scoring a double century in Test cricket, mirroring his earlier success in ODI match.

Shubman, beaming with pride, raised his bat high, acknowledging the crowd’s adoration. His smile was broad, a sign of his hard work paying off. Noor, filled with pride, clapped and cheered enthusiastically.

Noor bit her lip, a tear slipping down her cheek as she watched Shubman celebrate. She had been with him through every stage of his journey, from the days of nappies to the struggles and triumphs of his career.

Each success had come after countless nights of struggle, and seeing him achieve his double century felt incredibly personal.

In the midst of the crowd, the stalker clapped along with the celebration, his eyes scanning for Noor. Noticing her sudden appearance, he was momentarily confused but shrugged it off, assuming she might be sitting behind the WAGs.

He then checked his phone, where a message from his accomplice read: "The camera was malfunctioning." The stalker, satisfied with the update, turned his attention back to the game, blending into the jubilant atmosphere

As the series neared its conclusion, the stalker saw an opportunity for what he hoped could be his big break. In his mind, the upcoming moments could be his chance to finally secure his desired outcome. However, in reality, he was inching closer to being caught.