After a few minutes of talking with Shalu about the argument with my parents, we go up to the cricketers.

"Adi, you wanted to go to trafalgar right? Let's go. Hardik bhaiya is taking us." Shalu says cutely.

"I am?" Hardik chokes on his doughnut.

Shalu gives him a glare.

"Oh. Yes. I am. Leggo." Hardik jumps up and they go.

"Jasprit, can I talk to you for a minute?" I say.

"Areyyy bhaiii, jao jao jaldi." All the other boys make fun of him and he shakes his head with a laugh.

"Boliye"

"Actually err..."

However much I decided to tell him about the wedding, I couldn't muster up the courage.

"Err, I wondered if..."

He looked at his watch

"It's been 3 minutes 24 seconds and you've just said err, oooh, umm... aage bhi kuch bologi ya..?" He chuckled.

"Actually tum... would you like to go for a coffee?"

JASPRIT's POV:

Did she just ask me out on a date?

"Sure..." I grinned. She somehow looked nervous.

"Okay then." She said with a sigh, "see you at 5 in the Bubble."

"Gotcha."

~💗~

I arrived at the cafe in jeans with a casual navy blazer over my white v-shaped tee.

I glanced around the room until I saw a beautiful girl, none other than Shanaya.

Her long dark brown hair was blowing gently in the wind, over her petite face. I just stood and watched until I saw Yuzi chuckling nearby.

"Abey tu yaha kya kar rahahe?"

"Tu bata, date kaisi hain?" Yuzi nudges me.

"Hi Jasprit" Shanaya spots me and makes her way over.

"Err, you have friends with you?" Shanaya smiles awkwardly at Yuzi.

"Arey nahi, he just -"

"I just wanted some bowling advice." He adds.

I am not convinced.

"Good luck bro" Yuzi chuckles as he walks past, leaving Jaspreet beaming.

"So tell me more about you?" He says.

"No, lets talk about you."

"No, you!"

"No! I know everything about you." I argue.

"Like?"

"You are the fastest bowler in the world, debuted in 2016, once took 7 wickets in one match, you have a sister, you were born in Ahmedabad...."

"Woah woah woah, chill beta. How do you know so much?" He trails me off, taking a sip of his cappuccino, still looking at me.

"Don't think I was stalking you. I just... heard. Things. From Shalu..." I quickly add

"Achaaa, Shalu..." Jaspreet reiterates with a big nod although clearly not convinced.

"Btw ek baat kahu." I start

"Nahi."

"Matlab"

"First listen to me"

"Accha. Batao."

"I have a match tomorrow. Please come to watch."

"Of course baby!"

I choked on my coffee.

"What did you just call me?" Jaspreet leaned in with a huge gleam on his face, highly amused.

"Dialogue tha... ek movie se"

I cringe at myself.

"Hmm..." he still has a huge smile plastered across his face.

We finish our coffee, and Jas begins to fish in his pocket for his wallet.

"Hey I'm paying. I invited you to this."

"It's fine, I'll pay."

"Dekhiye mister, I know your bank balance is twice as much as mine, but please let me pay. And anyway, I'm not like those other girls who need their date paid for them."

Jas shakes his head as if to show his disappointment but gives in after many protests.

~💗~
Shanaya's POV:

"Thanks for the date." I say as we are standing outside the restaurant. It is evening as we stand in the warm summer air, slowly transitioning from light to dark.

"You're the one who paid." He says slightly dismally.

To his surprise and my own shock, I find myself wrapping my arms around his neck.

He's much taller than me, so I'm almost on my tiptoes, rubbing the back of his neck gently.

"Shanaya- someone will see." Jaspreet is obviously enjoying yet amused by my behaviour.

"Dekhne do" I whisper gently.

"But-"

"Ssshh."

I bring my face closer to his, and lean in to his lips.

We both close our eyes and as he expects the feel of my lips on his, I push him away gently and laugh.

"Oh so you wanna play this game?" Bumrah stands pouting with his hands on his hips, unsatisfied with my yet-to-be-given kiss.

I laugh whole-heartedly.

"Some other day!" I shout, as I walk away from him.

Just as I turn to go, I spot Abhi the creep smoking a cigarette and kissing a girl by a door.

He sees me and pushes the girl away, sending shivers down my spine.

Now Hardik isn't here to save me like last time.

I stand there, frozen. I couldn't cross immediately, there was traffic.

Just before he could reach me, Jaspreet comes in between us, acting as a barrier between me and Abhi.

I am so thankful for this man.

"Hi sir, want anything?" Jas asks Abhi sarcastically.

Abhi gives him an evil look then breaks into a smirk, but only to stop as the realization hits him.

"Bumrah?!" He says in shock.

Jas just stands, blinking at Abhi without responding.

"Sir, I'm a huge fan sir, can I have an autograph.

"Sorry yaar, my girlfriend and I don't have time, sorry." Jas replies savagely leaving Abhi fuming secretly.

Jas grabs my hand and clasps it in his tightly. He hasn't said a word.

"Jasprit?" I ask quietly.

"Don't talk to me." He says.

"Hey! What did I do?" I ask, scared.

"Why couldn't you just come in my car? I would have dropped you back at the hotel?"

"Jas, the hotel is 2 minutes from here, I would have reached by now."

"But what if that man did something to you? I don't know what you would have done if I wasn't there." He looks at the sky in concern.

I smile at his care for me.

"Awhhhh." I say, grabbing his cheeks.

He is still upset but cheers up at me pulling his cheeks into a smile. I rest my head on his shoulder.