Shubman's PoV

"Hello, everyone and welcome to this escape room!" The elderly man in front of us announced. "Please do note that you have to go in as pairs."

I glared at Kamlesh, I can't believe I agreed to this. Kamlesh smiled, "Relax, it'll be fun."

"As we have dozens of people here for the opening of our cricket world cup escape room." The guide continued, "But we have two IPL players here in our presence!"

"Give it up for Shubman Gill and Kamlesh Nagarkoti!" The guide called out, there was some scattered response.

Wow.. I'm honored right now

I brushed past a girl who was complaining to her friend, "I don't know anything about cricket! Let's just go to the murder mystery escape room, please!". I chuckled, someone else was dragged by their so-called friend as well.

"Amreen, come on, expand your horizons!" The other girl scoffed, she let out a groan. I was out of earshot and couldn't hear the rest of their conversations. Kamlesh looked at me with an arched eyebrow, I looked back and forth making sure everyone was occupied. "Dude, there's a murder mystery room, let's check that out!" I offered, he scoffed.

"Nah, let's do the cricket one-"

"No."

"Yes,"

"No,"

"Yes,"

And so our bickering continued, this is why we're best of friends. The cricket escape room was opened, I rolled my eyes. Giving in to Kamlesh, I entered the room and saw two girls already inside. It was that 'Amreen' girl.

"Hi," Kamlesh grinned and greeted smoothly with a wink. Amreen rolled her eyes, and continued bickering with her friend.

"Still ain't too late to try murder mystery, Aru!" She groaned, Aru raised her eyebrows. "Dude, I get it, your a police officer but this is going over-board!"

Kamlesh choked on air when he heard that Amreen was a police officer, I whispered to him with an amused smile, "You'll be in jail by the end of this."

Amreen Nanda, was a SI (Sub-Inspector) in Punjab in Amritsar. The four of us did brief introductions and the escape room began with an announcement.

'Shubman Gill and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have been kidnapped,' it said, I burst out laughing.  "Yep, my kidnapper is right in front of me." I pointed at Amreen, she suppressed a smile. "A police officer kidnaps cricketer." Aru exclaimed dramatically, Amreen rolled her eyes, "Get your journalist instincts in the game."

I loved the little dynamic duo of Amreen and Aru, Police Officer and Journalist. 

'To rescue them, you must look through the room and solve puzzles and clues.' The announcer continued, Amreen rolled her eyes. "Typical Psycho Move,"

"Calm down, Police." I joked, she returned the retort with a glare. The next few hours were hilarious, Amreen who claimed she knew nothing about cricket, knew everything about cricket.

"Hm, I'd say the Man-Kad incident!" She exclaimed as the last riddle flashed on a screen. I nodded, and typed it in "A" for Ashwin.  The next part came onto the screen, "What is the name of the Mumbai Indians Coach,"

Aru snapped her fingers, "Mahela Jayawardene."

Kamlesh typed in a "M". 

"The muscle of KKR, " I read out loud, Kamlesh looked at me. "S, for Shubman?"

"No," Amreen shook her head, "Russel. Andre Russel."

"R, for russel or A for Andre?" I quizzed, Amreen typed out an R. 

I grinned, "it's your name, Amreen!" I exclaimed. Her eyes widened, "Oh come on, Dad.."

Dad?

"Oh, my dad designs this stuff." She explained, I nodded. The door unlocked, and there was an elevator. We could only go two at a time, Amreen stepped in and I was right behind her. 

"Wanna check out the murder mystery escape room?"

"...Sure?"

*

Who knew escape rooms come in handy?

Amreen was on solving the last riddle, she was smiling. I'd set up an escape room for her, we'd been friends for over two years now. And honestly, I was ready for the next 'step'. She unlocked the door with a key, and saw me with a bouquet of roses.

"Date?"

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "You could have just asked me directly instead of locking me in a room."

I grinned, and shrugged, "I can't do anything properly, can I?"

"Alright, date." She smiled.

For once in your life, you did something well Kamlesh! You introduced me to Amreen.