Y'all made me sob with your comments in the previous chapter.
I had never imagined so much response and love to my work. This means so much, so grateful.
I know I don't reply to the comments, but life is hectic, so -
anyways, update is hereeee!!!

It wasn't much eventful after the ICT gupshup day.

And it was time for the two to give their decisions.
The D-Day, decision day was here.

Although their parents have sensed (read know) what their answers gonna be, they want them to answer.

The mothers were already ecstatic deep down and had started planning, sending the fathers in a frenzy.

Few hours were the two to give their decisions, but that didn't lower the enthusiasm.
The families are going to have a video conference at night.

"Wake up, wake up, Shubi!" Ishan mumbled, wrapping himself up with the blanket totally.

"You wake up first, then tell me to." Shubman groaned and turned to the side, with half of his body hanging from the bed.

The Indian Cricket Team was on a Home Tour Of New Zealand.

They were currently in Delhi, for their first Test, which was going to take place 2 days later.

Like most times Shubman and Ishan were sharing a room and like always, the two were being just themselves.

Also, even when they're given seperate rooms, Shubman just drops in his and sleeps. No different from his first days of doing so.

"Abey uth Jaa."

Shub picked his ringing phone and had to jump up thanks to Abhishek's scream and KL's voice from behind, " No breakfast if you don't come here in 20 minutes."
And the sleepyheads had to run for their life for it.

Legit clowns, aren't they?

The ICT came to the designated stadium for practice after doing their morning routine.

"Steady, Shubi, steady. Don't dance around the stumps." Vikram Sir, the batting coach, yelled from the nets, where he was scrutinising the young brigade.

Shubman and the prime batters were in the open.

"Soch Sia is in the stands, and you have to get the ball above her head, straight outta here, to earn her clap and smile." Hardik patted his back.

"Are you helping or trying to tease me?" Shubman scoffed at Hardik.

"Shoe fits the Cinderella." Shardul walked past the bickering duo, with a smirk.

"This is Test Series, btw, not ODI or T20 that Shub need to get the ball above heads! Aur waise bhi, we know you want Sia to be in the stadium, but why bire her in Test matches?" Siraj raised his brows, cockily.

"Arrey yaar!" Shubman whined like a kid.

"That this monkey is getting married for real is a tough thing to ponder upon." Dilip Sir, the fielding coach said aloud.

"Thanks for the compliment, Sir!" Shub yelled back.

Poor Shubman was getting teased for the nth time.
Ever since the news came out amongst the ICT, he has been the hot sauce and topic.

After almost 2 hours of batting, came the fielding practice, and as expected, Shub aced. He was always been good at fielding, at the slips.

The sun was about to set, and it was time for the team to pack up.
The Punjabi munda was just shoving his stuffs in the kitbag when Virat walked towards him.

"Shubman?"

"Haan Virat Bhai?" Shubman replied, looking up, at the man standing in front of him.

"Be a real man. Don't be the man who gets appreciated for doing something for his lady. All those things a man is supposed to do is the bare minimum. Being the emotional support, being there for her at her vulnerable moments, without judging is what you need to do, and is the basics. The more you spend time with her, the more you'll get to know her. Eternity seeks much more than love. Love isn't the thing in a relationship. Trust comes first." Virat tried his best to explain to Shubman.

He had noticed his favourite boy getting lost in his own world. And had to step up for him.

"Thank you."

Shubman really  meant it as needed the advice.

Shubman retired to his room and lying down on the bed, after freshening up, decided to call her.
Thry need to have a chat before sitting with their families.

Something in him is wanting to talk to her, to hear her voice, which will, for sure, be his to hear for a lifetime.

"Am I disturbing you right now, Sia?"
He asked, as soon as she had picked the call up.

"Nope. Bolo..." Sia pressed the phone to her ear and replied in a voice as low as she could.

"Why are you whispering? Shoot, did I-"

"I was in my friend's room. Going back to mine right now. Don't worry." She replied, walking in the corridor.

"I don't know what I'll be in future, but I can guarantee that I'll not judge you. Never ever."

Something shifted in her.

"I know the real you, Shubman. We bicker, we annoy each other and am sure that it won't lessen soon, if not never. What I also know is the Shubi you are you to your loved ones. You're insane, arrogant , egoistic, but deep down -"

He just smiled to himself before saying, "And you're annoying, quite a test of patience but-"

"I know am awesome, Mr. Shubman Gill." She chuckled as she closed the door behind her.

" So tensed right now."

"Same. I just hope everything goes well."

Shub complained like a child, "Don't know about others, but our moms will cook up a storm for sure."

"No doubt in that." Sia chuckled as she dropped on her bed.
"Also, best of luck for the test series, Shubman."

"Thank you." The genuine in her tone filled his heart.

He's going to be a gone case.

Shubman and Sia logged into Zoom for the family meeting of theirs.
And the anticipation of their respective people sent them frenzy.
Oh gosh. What have we got ourselves into?

Oh yeah right, into a lifetime of things.

"What have you decided, Children?" Lakhwinder asked, after random chit chat.

"A yes?" Shubman said in a slight questioning tone.

"Are you saying your decision or asking us?" Shahneel scoffed.

"Well, it's a yes from me."
Shubman gave a glance to Sia's face on the screen and turned to his father to reply. To give his decision.

Let's get done with this as soon as possible and log off.

"Yes from me too." Sia exhaled a sharp breath, when the excited faces turned to her.

And the screams their families let out, Shubman was sure his eardrums have blown away.

Sia recoiled at the outburst, and her face made her "fiance" chuckle.

She gave him a look and flipped him off.
Shahneel sighed having noticed the interaction thanks to her eyes glued to the screen.
These two are going to be such a chaotic couple.

The happiest were the grandparents, though.
Ofcourse they would be, right?

Shubman entered the lounge to see everyone's attention and anticipation on him.
Giving them a look, understanding what they were asking, he replied, "Yes."
God damn his ICT Family.
Sometimes he thinks why he hasn't turned mad thanks to his teammates.

"Yes? Oh yeah!"

"Oye partyyyyyyyy!!!" Ishan hollered.

"Shubi, congratulations, brooo!" Abhay took him in a monster hug.

"Congratulations, Shubman!"

"Welcome to JKG Club, Shubi." Yuzi sniffed dramatically.

"Congratulations, Man!"

"Thank you."

Shubman thanked everyone of them.

"Congratulations, my boy." Dravid Sir gave him a small smile, and simultaneously patted his back.

His little boy is getting married.
Shubman has literally grown up infront of his eyes, has achieved and is achieving so much, not getting married, starting a new innings in life-
Everything is overwhelming for the coach.

"Brooo-"

" I have left all those, yaar. You know right?"
Shubman interrupted  Bishnoi, air quoting "those".

"Oh yes."

As much hard as it is to grasp, Shubman has left drinking and all.
Reason? Only he knows.

"Boys, no celebration now. Shubi will throw a huge dinner later on, Right Shub?"

Shubman nodded. He can't deny, can he?

Honestly he was overwhelmed.
If someone a year ago would have told him he'd see this day, Shubman Gill would have laughed and scoffed.

Were the stars conspiring against him or for him?

"Ready to bear me for a life time, Ahuja?"

Shubman texted her.
"Bring it on, Gill. I'll handle your clownery very well, like always." Sia typed back.

God bless these two and their sanity.

Also, it had to be the day only of Sia Ahuja getting noticed on her random post day.

( Alsoooo, did I mention she and Shubman follow each other on Instagram now?)

siaahuja

  Uhm, just Feeling pretty?

Liked by shahneelgill, sanjanaganesan, ishankishan and 53961 others.

shahneelgill : hi, beautiful 😍
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siaahuja : love ya 💕

ishankishan23 : did the one who should compliment the look complimented or not?
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siaahuja :  Haha, buzz off 🙄

anyaahuja : where? Where where where is he? Where is he and his comment?
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abhisheksharma4 : exactly my question ⁉️

anushkasharma : 😻🤍

dhanashreeverma : open WhatsApp, Sia 😤

username1 : wait wait, why are everyone following this lady? ishan, abhishek, shahneel, shubman, even anushka, sanjana, dhanshree etc etc

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username2: shahneel and shubman both follow her, and her old posts have the location of mohali, you have the answer there! 

sfnews : looks like we've finally found the Mohali girl! Looks like something is really cooking between her and Shubman Gill!
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username3: Fu*k off, wannabe news portal!

shubislove : don't know if the rumors are true or not, but she's gorgeous 🥰

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( PS - have changed usernames purposefully.)

Another update real soon if response is there in this one.