Shubman's matches in Lucknow hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped. Coming back from an injury made it tough to perform at his best, but despite the challenges, it was still better than the worst-case scenarios he had feared.

Though the games were challenging, Shubman found small victories in every match—whether it was regaining his form or feeling his confidence slowly returning. Each day on the field felt like a step forward, even if the progress was gradual. He knew that his best performance was still ahead of him, and that thought kept him motivated.

As they were on their way to Vizag for the next matches, Ishan expressed his frustration on the plane. “You’ve given Noor all your attention in Lucknow. At least you should be here with me now.”

Shubman rolled his eyes and said, "Stop being dramatic, Ishan. Noor and I went through a tough phase, and I wanted to be there with her afterward. It’s not like I abandoned you."

Ishan sighed and nodded, then asked, "How is she now? How's her health?"

Shubman looked over to Noor, who was goofing around with Sammy, and said, "She's healthy right now, but we need to make sure she doesn’t do too much. No more exertion for a while."

Ishan smiled and asked, "You love her so much, don't you?"

Shubman glanced back at Noor with a soft smile and replied, "Yeah, I do. She means the world to me."

Ishan’s eyes twinkled as he said, "You know, when we first met at 17 during those tours, and you two were always on the phone, I honestly thought Noor was your girlfriend. I was so shocked to find out she was just a friend."

Shubman chuckled, "Yeah, we were pretty inseparable back then. Noor and I had a strong bond, but it was all about friendship. Things changed over the years, and now... well, here we are."

Ishan scoffed and said, "But you’re dumb, man. It took you years to recognize it."

Shubman narrowed his eyes and said, "Well, maybe I needed a little more time to figure things out. Not everyone sees everything clearly right away."

"That's why I said you’re dumb, man," Ishan said, smirking.

Shubman huffed and said, "Yeah, yeah. Keep rubbing it in. Just remember, you were pretty clueless yourself about a lot of things back then."

Ishan narrowed his eyes and said, "Oh really? And what exactly are you implying?"

Shubman smirked as he met Ishan’s gaze and said, "What about Aditi then?"

Ishan’s expression shifted to one of surprise and defensiveness. “Aditi? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Shubman leaned in slightly, “You were so wrapped up in your own world back then, and Aditi was right there. If anyone was clueless, it was you.”

Ishan's face flushed slightly. “Well, maybe I didn’t see it, but that doesn’t change the fact that we all missed things in our own ways.”

Shubman nodded, still smirking. “True. We all have our blind spots. At least now we can laugh about it.”

"But you’re still more dumb than me," Ishan laughed.

Shubman scowled and replied, "You will never stop, will you?"

Both of them started bickering, with Ishan teasing, “Come on, admit it. I’m the smarter one.”

Shubman shot back, “Oh, please! You were always the one getting into trouble and needing rescuing.”

Ishan grinned, “Yeah, but at least I was fun. You were just the serious guy.”

Shubman rolled his eyes, “And you were the one who could never keep track of your stuff. Remember that time you lost your passport?”

Ishan laughed, “Hey, that was one time! And who was the one always getting lost on trips?”

Shubman groaned, “Alright, alright. Maybe we’re both a little dumb in our own ways. Can we just agree on that?”

“No,” Ishan said, shaking his head. “Can’t agree. I’m definitely the smarter one.”

Shubman rolled his eyes. “And here we go again. Some things never change.”

Ishan was ready to argue when Noor’s voice cut in from the seat next to them. “Shh, you two. I didn’t sit you together just to watch you fight.”

Noor, her face in mock anger, said, “If you want to fight, let me have my seat back.”

“Okay, okay, darling, we won’t fight,” Shubman said, calming her down. Noor nodded and turned her attention to Sammy.

Ishan chuckled softly and said in a low tone, “Oh ho, scared of bhabhiji, huh?”

Shubman smirked and replied, “Yeah, well, someone’s got to keep the peace.”

Ishan and Shubman laughed, their faces turning red as they continued to playfully back-bitch about Noor.

Shubman whispered, “Seriously, she acts all tough, but she’s soft as marshmallow inside.”

Ishan grinned, “Yeah, and she knows exactly how to play the ‘I’m-in-charge’ card.”

Noor, with a fake smile, turned towards them and said, “You know, Shubman, you can sleep on the couch tonight.”

Shubman's smile faltered as he tried to come up with an excuse. “Oh, come on, Noor. I was just—”

Noor cut him off with a firm tone, “No excuses. You brought it on yourself.”

Ishan quickly admired the scene out of the window, trying to avoid the tension, as Shubman looked at him with a glaring expression.

“Enjoying the view, are you?” Shubman muttered, clearly annoyed.

Ishan grinned and said, “Just trying to stay out of trouble.”

Shubman sighed, rubbing his face. “It’s gonna be a long night. No matter if a woman is your best friend, at the end of the day, she’s still a woman—and it’s hard to convince one.”

Ishan chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re in trouble, man. Good luck with that.”

Once they arrived at the hotel, Shubman received some pats on the back from his teammates as he headed toward his room. They chuckled and offered words of encouragement, teasingly saying, “You’ve got this, man. You can win this battle.”

Shubman forced a smile, appreciating the support but knowing deep down that convincing Noor would be no easy task. As he reached the door, he took a deep breath, preparing himself for the challenge ahead.

As Shubman entered the room, he found Noor already unpacking her clothes, completely ignoring him. She methodically placed her belongings in the closet, her focus entirely on the task at hand.

Shubman stood there for a moment, watching her, then cleared his throat and said softly, “Noori, come on. Are we really doing this? It was just some harmless fun.”

Noor continued to ignore him, neatly folding a shirt before placing it in a drawer. Shubman sighed, walking over to her. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

Still, Noor didn’t respond, her silence only making Shubman more anxious. He reached out and gently touched her arm. “Noor, please. Don’t be mad.”

Finally, she looked up at him, her expression calm but firm. “I’m not mad, Shubman. But I’m also not letting you off the hook that easily.”

Shubman gently pulled Noor closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She felt the warmth of his embrace, and for a moment, her resolve faltered. The firmness in her stance wavered as she leaned slightly into him, the familiarity and comfort of his hug tugging at her heart.

But just as quickly, she regained control, straightening up and pulling away slightly, though not completely out of his arms. “You think a hug is all it takes?” she asked, her voice soft but still holding a hint of determination.

Shubman rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered, “It’s a start. I know you can’t stay mad at me forever.”

Noor let out a small sigh, her tough exterior softening just a little. “Maybe not forever,” she conceded, “but don’t think you’re off the hook just yet.”

Shubman smiled, sensing he was slowly breaking through. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Noor. You know that.”

She finally turned in his arms to face him, her expression a mix of affection and lingering stubbornness. “We’ll see, Shubmam. But for now, just help me finish unpacking.”

Both of them sat on the balcony in Vizag, overlooking the sea. A cup of hot, steaming coffee sat on the table beside them. Noor was busy making calls to finalize orders, staff, and the new location for expansion, while Shubman aimlessly scrolled through reels on his phone.

His gaze frequently drifted to Noor, who was intently typing on her laptop, occasionally biting her lip in concentration. Shubman couldn't help but admire her determination and focus, his thoughts wandering as he took in her appearance.

"Hot she is, and glad she’s mine," Shubman thought as he looked at her, a contented smile spreading across his face.

He could see the mole on her throat moving slightly as she spoke, making him gulp. Quickly, he turned his gaze back to her eyes, trying to regain his composure.

“Ah, and her blue eyes,” Shubman thought, captivated. “I could go on forever about them and never tire of it.” The depth and clarity of her eyes fascinated him, making him appreciate every detail about her even more.

“Noori,” he called out, but she ignored him, focused on her work. He tried again, more insistently, “Noori,” but she continued to ignore him.

Finally, in a last attempt, he called out her name once more, and when she didn’t respond, he stood up and shut her laptop, making her look up, furious.

Shubman then settled himself comfortably on her lap, grinning up at her. “Your man needs attention,” he said playfully, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Shubman, you’re heavy compared to me. Get up, you giant,” Noor whined, trying to push him off her lap.

Shubman chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheeks, playfully puckering them. “Come on, Noor. Until you forgive me, I won’t get up.”

Noor looked at him, her frustration melting away as she met his eyes. “You’re really pushing it, you know.”

Shubman grinned, “I know. But I’m willing to keep pushing if it means making things right with you.”

Noor sighed, her irritation softening. “Alright, alright. I forgive you. But just for now—don’t make me regret it.”

Shubman caressed her cheeks, leaning in as if ready to kiss her. Noor closed her eyes in anticipation, but she groaned out loud when he only placed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth.

“Really? That’s all?” she teased, her eyes opening as she looked at him with mock frustration.

Shubman grinned, pulling back slightly. “Gotta keep you on your toes. Plus, I wanted to make sure you’re fully over it before I go for the big kiss.”

Noor rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

Shubman chuckled, enjoying her reaction. “Well, if being incorrigible means getting to see you smile, then I’m all in.”

Noor shook her head, smiling despite herself. “You always know how to get out of trouble, don’t you?”

Shubman shrugged playfully. “It’s a talent. But seriously, I’m sorry for being such a distraction. I just wanted to spend some time with you.”

Noor sighed, her expression softening. “I know. And I appreciate it, even if you’re a bit of a pest sometimes.”

Shubman leaned in, giving her a proper kiss on the lips this time. “There. Now, is everything forgiven?”

Noor kissed him back and nodded. “Yes, everything’s forgiven. Now go make that coffee before I change my mind.”

“No, I won’t get up, and you fatso need to start working out,” Shubman said, pinching her waist playfully.

Noor pouted but nodded, agreeing, “Alright, I gotta do it so I can hold my big man in my arms.” She leaned in and kissed his jaw.

Shubman looked down at her, his forehead touching hers as he sighed, “My Noori, my woman,” and kissed her forehead gently.

Noor smiled up at him, her eyes warm. “I love you, but please get up before my legs turn numb,” she scowled at the end, trying to maintain her serious tone.

Shubman laughed, giving Noor a playful kiss on the nose before getting up. Noor groaned in mock pain. “Khoteya,” she said, slapping his butt as he walked away.

Unbeknownst to Shubman and Noor, Ishan, from his balcony, had captured a candid photo of them through his phone.

ishankishan story

The sky rumbled, and Noor looked up as dark clouds loomed overhead. Another rumble made her shiver, and then, as if on cue, unpredictable rain started to pour down, drenching the ground below.

Her heart began to race as the unexpected rain felt like a persistent call ringing in her ears. The thunder seemed to carry an ominous tone, adding to her growing sense of unease.