Noor's face was buried in Shubman's shoulder, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist as they laughed together. Ishan had just cracked a joke, sending the entire team into fits of laughter. The night in Dharamshala seemed even more beautiful with the team's cheerful voices blending with the crackling bonfire in the hotel lawn.

Their laughter was abruptly interrupted by the ringing of Noor's phone. She pulled away slightly from shubman smiling and excused herself from the team, stepping away to answer the call. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone, bringing it to her ear. "Hello, who's this?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady from laughter she had.

Noor's breath quickened as she listened to the ominous voice on the other end of the line.

"Tick, tick, tick," the voice repeated, "the clock strikes when it's his innings time. Your boyfriend should play right, or else..."

Her heart pounded in her chest as she asked, "Or else what?"

"Or else you'll see, the price you'll pay,
A cage awaits, if he goes astray.
Watch closely now, every move in the game,
One slip, one miss, and it's you I'll claim."

Noor's hands trembled as she hung up the phone, her mind racing with fear.

Noor felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned around, startled. Seeing Shubman, she relaxed a bit as he cupped her face and asked, "What's wrong, Noori? You're sweating."

Noor chuckled nervously, trying to hide her fear. "Oh, it's nothing," she said, forcing a smile. "Just a little overwhelmed by all the excitement tonight. I guess I’m not used to being around so many people."

Shubman looked at her intently, not entirely convinced. "Are you sure that's all it is? You can tell me if something's bothering you."

Noor nodded, trying to reassure him. "Really, it's fine. I just need a moment to breathe. Let’s get back to the others and enjoy the evening, okay?"

Shubman hesitated, then nodded, wrapping an arm around her as they walked back to the group. But the unsettling call lingered in Noor's mind, a shadow that refused to be ignored.

As Noor sat back down with the group, her phone buzzed with a notification. She discreetly glanced at it, her heart sinking as she read the message from an unknown number

"Tell your boyfriend to play properly tomorrow, or else you'll face the consequences. If you breathe a word of this to anyone, you’ll regret it. I’ll make sure he knows just how fragile your happiness is."

She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure as laughter and chatter filled the air around her. Her mind raced, thinking about what she should do. Should she tell Shubman, despite the threat, or try to handle it herself?

She forced a smile and joined in the conversation, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease and the ominous warning hanging over her.