t e n
celebrating life

"India, India,"

The cheers reverberated in the stadium as the team won. The team was still on the ground, as the post match ceremonies proceeded.

As the team returned, Shubman spotted his wife, sporting his jersey shirt, standing with a mischievous smile on her face and he instantly knew she had a playful remark for him. But instead of listening to it, he walked up to her, engulfing her in a hug, sweeping her feet away.

She softly yelped, but smiled, wrapping his arms around him.

"Congratulations, Shubman," he heard her faint voice and suddenly the win and his century became a thousand times better. He pulled away, and for a fleeting moment, the both seemed to be lost in each other's eyes, standing quite close but the tender moment was cut through as they heard Rohit's voice.

The couple tore their eyes away, as they now stood right beside each other, his arm still around her.

"Well played boys. Rishu, Shubi, congratulations for the centuries, play well in the next match too, izzat salamat rakhne ke liye. Let's talk more later, but we should celebrate today! My treat,"

"Ohho Rohit bhai, your treat?" Rishabh grinned.

"Do not underestimate him, Pant! Bohot ameer insaan hai woh!" (Do not underestimate him, Pant! He's a very rich man!) Virat was quick to comment as everyone in the room shared a laugh, the air buzzing with anticipation of tonight's celebration.

🪷

Sara pleated the silky fabric in her hand as she draped a saree. Team India had won the first test against Bangladesh today and everyone was going for a celebratory dinner.

But the best part for her was her husband's century in the second innings. After getting out for a duck in the first innings, he had been insufferable.

Not that she claimed that he was less insufferable after scoring well.

"Saraaaa," her husband called her out. "Jaldi karo na, I'm tired of replying to everyone's messages," (Do it quickly, I'm tired of replying to everyone's messages)

"Five minutes!"

"Alright," he mumbled, diving back into the screen.

"Oh, Aachal ka message, I'll call her!" He mumbled, pressing the little call button on the top of the chat.

"Bhaiyya?" The younger sibling was surprised as she received the call.

"I saw you were online so I just called you," he replied.

"Oh, congratulations bhaiyya. You played well today,"

"Thank-

"Also congratulate bhabhi, I heard about her promotion. I mean, I am going to call her but let her know I wish her,"

"Sure thing," he mumbled and then looked up at Sara. "Aachal congratulates you,"

"Thank you Aachal, I love you!"

"Tell her I love you too," but before he could convey the message, Aachal hastily added. "Okay bhai, I'll get going now, I'm out. Talk to you later,"

"Oh you're busy? I thought you were free since you received the call,"

"I'm not, I'm out right now,"

"Oh okay, take care. Bye,"

"Bye, take care. All the best for the next match,"

"Thanks,"

"Itni jaldi phone rakh bhi diya?" (You hung up so soon?)

"Yeah, she's out,"

"Oh," Sara said as she wore an earring. "She's okay?"

"Yeah,"

"And how's Vihan?" She asked the next question in a flow. Shubman's ears perked up at the mention of a stranger as he squinted his eyes.

"Who's that?" Sara froze at his question. He doesn't know!? She gulped, her heartbeat rising. What in the world did I just do?

"Sara, I asked you something," Shubman got off the sofa, walking to her.

"Uh...what?"

"Who's Vihan?"

"Vihan? Who's Vihan?" She tried to be evasive as she applied her lipstick.

"Sara," his tone was laced with seriousness. She shifted her eyes turning towards him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you don't know,"

"Is he her boyfriend?" He calmly asked, but Sara noticed how he rolled his eyes and grit his teeth. She awkwardly chuckled, nodding.

"Yes?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?" He asked. "And why haven't I ever heard of him? Like ever? Is he a school friend? A colleague? How come I don't remember the name Vihan?"

"Uh...they met a few years ago. He was the architect of the house and she was the interior designer," Sara hastily explained, trying to make things better. "Uh...maybe Aachal didn't tell you because they might be casual or something,"

"Casual?" He shrieked. "They've known each other for a few years and they're still casual?"

Did I just make this worse?

Sara gulped, shaking her head.

"Or maybe they broke up, I haven't gotten a chance to talk to Aachal in quite some time you know," she tried to pacify him again.

"Broke up? What, that punk thinks he can do better than my sister?" He scoffed, clenching his fists.

"Somehow whatever I say is making things worse," she muttered under her breath, looking at her pissed husband.

"Okay, I don't know why she hasn't told you," Sara breathed out. "But please; don't tell her I told you. No, just don't mention it to her, she'll tell you at the right time, I promise!"

She continued as Shubman stayed silent.

"Listen, when I was a child, I was never the cool relative. Never. I never knew about my cousin's relationships because they all thought I was some nerd who'd rat them out. But now, Aachal is the first relative to trust me, please don't mess this up for me, Shubman. Please," Sara said, clutching onto his arm.

"I mean, I did screw up, so I might not have cool relative potential, but I think I deserve a chance! So don't talk to her about this. Keep your mouth shut, please,"

"My sister has a boyfriend and I have to stay shut for your cool relative credibility?" He asked and she nodded.

"...Yes," he sighed, rubbing his forehead. "How could she, how could she hide something so big from me?" But before Sara could reply him, the necklace in her hands slipped and she yelped, crouching to catch it before it landed on the floor.

"Thank God," she muttered. "I nearly got an attack," she glanced at her husband, still rooted in his spot, deep in thought. She cleared her throat, showing him her necklace.

"Help me wear it na," he sighed, nodding.

"Why are you changing your mangalsutra though?" He causally asked. She turned around, making him stop.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"...No?"

"I was wearing the mangalsutra with the diamond pendant, but I wore golden earrings on this saree because that will look good with the saree. So, with gold earrings, I have to wear my gold pendant mangalsutra, right?"

"It must be difficult being you," he muttered and she looked him dead serious in the eye.

"It is," she blankly said, turning her face back, her hair falling on one of her shoulders. He leaned a little closer, helping her wear the nuptial chain.

His fingers brushed against her neck for a moment, and Sara gulped.

Why am I so affected?

Why am I so affected?

Help. I need help.

"There you go," he mumbled and she exhaled audibly.

"Yeah, thanks,"

"Let's go?"

"Let's go,"

🪷

"To ICT!" Glasses clinked at the toast. The air was joyous, the sound of conversations and music lingering.

"So Sara, when are we getting a party for the promotion?" Anushka asked.

"Yup, I'm waiting for it too," Ritika agreed, as she had a bite of her brownie.

"Uh...a party?" She seemed flustered. "I didn't...really think about it," her leg began to move unconsciously.

"Why not sweetie?"

"It's not that big of a deal, I mean, it's a regular promotion," she tried to explain. "Yeah, I mean hundred other people were promoted too, just very regular,"

"So what? You worked hard for it, party hard girl!" Ritika said, a little loudly and Anushka chuckled, nodding.

"Arey Jassi bhai!" The trio's heads snapped as they heard Siraj's loud voice. Jasprit held a slight smile on his face, as he entered the scene, his son in his arms. He placed Angad under the watchful eyes of the didis Nidhyana and Samaira.

"So girls, what are we talking about?" Sanjana asked as she sat beside Ritika. Athiya, who had stayed up with Sanjana sat adjacent to Sara, smiling.

"Sara's promotion!" Anushka quickly informed. "Excuse me, please repeat the starters," she said after a pause, turning her head towards a waiter.

The night ahead was charming with jokes and hilarious anecdotes. Virat and Ravindra having a knack for retelling hilarious incidents from Rohit's life owned the night as everybody listened to their fables.

🪷

( next day )

"He said what?" Sara angrily asked as she adjusted her earphone. Shubman's ears perked up at his wife's angry voice. She was quite dramatic and entertaining when she'd get pissed- at others, of course.

He sat on a chair, pretending to dry his hair while she talked animatedly on the phone.

"What does that Ajit think of himself? I swear to god," she groaned, as she removed her earphones.

"I didn't get promoted by kissing ass, I worked my ass off for this. It's his incompetency which led to his failure," she mumbled, flinging away her phone.

"SHUBMAN!" He flinched at her loud voice.

"Yes?"

"You don't have anything to say? Like someone's going around insulting your wife and you don't want to say anything?"

He got up, the towel in his hand now discarded on the floor. He walked over to his frowning wife, a soft smile of amusement on his face.

"Sara, you've worked hard for this, why do need to worry about what that idiot has to say?" He asked, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"You know what, I don't care what he thinks. I'm going to go and celebrate today!"

"Yes, you are, you are going with all the bhabhis,"'

"I am, yes," Sara nodded. "I'm going out tonight!" She sung, resembling a line from a Taylor Swift song.

"Aren't you going for lunch?"

"I was singing a song!" Sara explained, raising her hands and he nodded. "You know what, I'm going to show off my life, let that idiot see that I'm so much better than him!"

"That seems a little..."

"Petty? Well he's trashtalking a petty bitch!" Sara stomped out of the room, leaving a very confused Shubman.

What just happened?

Sara marched down the hallway, knocking on the door of the woman with one of the most exquisite wardrobes she'd ever seen.

"Sara," KL's voice was lazy as he opened the door.

"Hi bhaiyya!" She chirped.

"I assume you wanna come in?" He asked, yawning.

"Yes bhaiyya, because that is good Indian thing to do. Good Indians welcome their guests happily,"

"I hope you are understanding what you're saying," he smiled, as he walked in, Sara promptly following him. Wasting no time on the sleepy man, Sara approached his wife, the woman who was calmly reading a book.

"I have a proposal for you," Athiya smiled as she saw Sara, quickly keeping away the novel. She crossed her legs and crossed her arms over her chest and Sara grinned.

"Oo, very sexy and very business lady like,"

"Don't waste time in flattery, darling." Athiya said and Sara giggled at how she went along with the bit.

"Imagine me," Sara said, pointing to herself. "In your lavender dress,"

"Continue,"

"I would look like a vision,"

"You would,"

"Soo, can I wear it for our lunch today?"

"And what would I benefit from this deal?" Athiya asked, still maintaining a business like composure.

"You'll get to see me gleaming with joy," Sara paused for a second, "And that will make you happy!"

Athiya finally broke character as she giggled.

"Deal pakki!" Sara grinned, hugging her.

"Thank you so much, thank you so much,"

"You will look very pretty in the dress," Athiya nodded as she opened the cupboard, pulling out a lavender gown by a hanger.

"Just make sure it returns to me safely," she smiled and Sara frowned.

"Oh come on, I'm not a child, I won't spill anything on your dress," she said.

"Oh no no no, that's not what I meant. I hope no one rips it off of you," Athiya mischievously grinned and Sara scoffed.

"You're gross."

"I've been made aware of that," she replied as the two ladies laughed.

"I'll see you at lunch, di,"

"Yup!"

A/N: In this universe, he went to his wife after the match, but in an another universe, his girl was there, he forgot to meet her, then she came at the hotel to give his teammates besan ka laddoo.😭 No because I got the idea for Picture Perfect while watching that match, hehe.

This chapter honestly feels so scattered, but it had some stuff I needed to add😭 also some random ICT moments, yea. Hopefully you liked this chapter and will like the next chapter too! Let me know your thoughts!

P.S: Athiya and Sara's interaction, that was one part I liked ngl