Arshita's Pov

It had been two weeks since we had came back from our trip, and I can't deny the fact that I had been finding one or the other ways to meet Shubman always! We would just sometimes sneak out which the recess time or sometimes just bunk some classes after much persuasions because Shubman isn't someone who would skip classes just like that.

Our groups also many times gave us some suspicious looks to some questions we had now gotten habitual of making these excuses. Manish would be the most curious one every time I would disappear to meet Shubman and it was actually pretty hard to make excuses in front of him sometimes, he knows me too well.

But the thing that I was actually glad about was the our groups were eventually coming closer to each other day by day as sometimes we even used to eat together in the cafeteria, but Manish and Shubman would sometimes become too obvious for their hatred for each other. I don't know what's wrong with them.

Anyways it was finally the day for the football match between the The Nobles and The Royals, who are our long time rivals!

The boys had been practicing really hard all this while and I just hope that we win the game today and so that Kiaan gets this defeat in his face to teach him a lesson for all that mess he had created on our trip.

I was walking through the corridors while the whole college was up roaring with the chatters and excitement of the game which was about to start just in half an hour. I slowly walked towards the changing room where all the boys were present as I had already texted Shubman to come out, as we hadn't been able to meet since yesterday because of his practice.

I reached the entrance of the changing room but before anyone could see me I saw Shubman coming towards the door and so I immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him to the corner of the corridor where no one was present at the time.

"What are you doing? Do you want to get punishment even today for going into boys changing room?" Shubman asked me slowly and I smile cheekily saying, "That's why I pulled you out of there, so that I didn't had to go in! Don't you miss me?"

"Do you even need to ask that, my day feels incomplete without meeting you" Shubman said placing his hands on my waist and I smiled while my hands went upto the back of his neck as I said, "There you go, I like you this way and not the serious, rule adamant, studious Shub"

"Liar! That's the personality you actually fell for! Because you saw my romantic side after becoming my girlfriend" Shubman said pushing a strand back from my face and I smirked saying, "Someone's getting smarter"

"I was always smart!" Shubman said and I laughed slightly as I spoke up, "Btw the reason I wanted to meet you was to wish you luck, it's your first match in the college and I really hope you play amazing today"

"I won't disappoint you" Shubman said and I smiled widely as I took his hand and pulled out a bracelet from my pocket that I had bought for him, I tied it on his hand saying, "This who'll be your lucky charm!"

"Really I thought my lucky charm would be sitting in the stands cheering for me" Shubman said smiling and I grinned looking at him as his smile was one of the best things in the world, it's just so genuine and perfect with those dimples!!

"Yeah well that too, I guess then now you have two lucky charms" I said and he nodded his head saying, "Yupp, this is beautiful thank you!"

"All the best Shub! Bye now" I said as I turned to leave hurriedly so that no one catches us for being gone for too long but Shubman held my arm as he pulled me pushing me towards the wall as he kissed me and my eyes widened but soon I kissed him back. He pulled back after a moment and I looked at him still shocked as I said, "We're still in college"

"I know, I just needed this with that wish" He said winking at me as he finally walked back to changing room and I couldn't help but smile widely.

I finally composed myself as I also turned to go back to the stands as all the girls were present there already ready to cheer for the boys but I suddenly bumped into Manish on the way back as he was coming back after talking to the coach.

I took a deep breathe as I came back on right time or he would've seen me and Shubman on his way back to the changing room, "What's wrong?" He asked me and I immediately shooked my head in denial saying, "Nothing! Nothings wrong"

"You look like you're the one gonna be on the field in some minutes, why so nervous" Manish asked while keeping his arm around my shoulders and I once again shook my head saying, "Nope! I was just nervous for you guys. You really need to beat the Royals today, they've been bugging at us since last year's game which they had won"

"OH sure! Don't you worry when I'm here! Captain Manish will take care of everything" Manish said making a proud face and we both laughed.

Manish's Pov

"Okay then captain Manish! Go and get ready, I'll be cheering for you" Arshita said and I nodded and when she started going back I suddenly stopped her again asking with a straight face, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Am I? What is it? Did I had to do something before the game?" Arshita asked confused as hell and I just stared at her face for a moment but then just shooked my head asking, "So you weren't coming to look for me?"

"Should I say yes?" Arshita asked and I looked at her with a blank look on my face as for the first time in all these she was forgetting something that meant a lot to me.

"No.... I mean....it's nothing, you should go and join the girls in the stands! I'll go back and get ready!" I said shaking my head whereas this thing was eating me up from inside. How could she forget this? My good luck charm gift!! She brings it for me every single year before the football match!

Arshita went back to the stands while I just stood frozen on my spot while trying to process the fact that for the first time ever since I started playing football there wasn't a single time when Arshita didn't for me my lucky charm which is an armband with an M inscripted on it! She just always brings me a new one every year and by now I have literally a drawer full of them but surprisingly she didn't this time.

I didn't even knew how I should be reacting because she never forgot about this ever before, what is so different this year? And if state it clearly I might admit that Arshita has been kind of distant lately, I don't even know why?! It's like she's skipping classes without anyone of us knowing and sometimes she's just hanging out when I try to call her.

While the thing that still bugs at me is the I couldn't just tell her how I feel about her back on our trip because of that mess and now I don't know what to do! But the fact that she's acting different lately still doesn't clear up!

"Manish! Manu! Bro! Manish Pandey" Hardik shouted straight into my ear and I jumped in surprise as I turned to look at him as I had been standing on the same place since the last few minutes going deep into my trance!!

"Kya hai?" I asked him and he gave me a weird look, "Match hai! Yaad hai ya bhool gya?" Hardik asked me and I sighed while running a hand through my hair, "I was just thinking about it only" I said looking down and he hitted my head while I looked up glaring at him, "What the hell?"

"Thinking about match or your undying love for Arshu? I saw you two talking earlier! Is something wrong?" He asked me and I just made a face saying, "Shut up, it's nothing like that, ab chal ready ho jae warna coach will kill us all"

"Hey guys what's up?" Ishan asked as he came upto us and patted Mt back smiling widely, "Why are you coming for the backside of stands?" Hardik asked him raising an eyebrow while Ishan looked here and there as he said, "Just went for some fresh air, kind of a lucky charm before match you know"

"Don't even mention lucky charms right now" I said annoyed as I started waking towards the changing room while they both gave a weird look coming behind when Hardik said, "Btw Ishan maine tujhe kal recess me Shriya se baat krte dekha, you guys looked really close, why do I feel like somethings going on with you guys?"

"What....the hell are..talking about Harry!" Ishan said and I just shooked my head while I turned to both of them suddenly and they looked at me as I said, "That's bullshit.! Although I know ki hum log ki unse jyada fights nhi hoti but that doesn't mean we start dating in their group right?"

"Absolutely, Harry kuch bhi bolta hai" Ishan said nodding his head and I sighed as I was still annoyed about that lucky charm thing, how could she do this to me??

"No don't! Just shut up with these nonsense talks and get ready, we have to be on the ground in ten minutes" I said showing my hand to Hardik who once again spout some nonsense but I wasn't in the mood. He just nodded as we went back into the changing room and started getting ready.

I went upto my locker when to get my things and fortunately it had my last year's armband which Arshu had given me, so I just shooked my head and wore it, I turned around closing my locker when at the time Shubman turned too and I looked at him as he was smiling looking over his wrist which had a bracelet on it.

And that's when I was hitted with the sudden thought that reminded of the same bracelet which Arshita had brought just on the day before our trip ended, we had gone for some shopping while being there and she had bought this stating it was for her dad.

"Where'd you get that?" I asked staring at his wrist while Shubman looked at me confused when I added, "The bracelet!!"

"Ohh....its...umm... I got it for myself! Why?" He said looking confusingly as me and I just sighed while shaking my head saying, "Nevermind then"

What the hell is wrong with me today?? How can I even doubt Arshita for something like this? Why would she give it to him? He might have bought the same one maybe, he was present in Kasol too!!

I need to stop!!

"Focus on the game Manish!" I murmured to myself as I turned to go out of the changing room as we all were ready when the Royals team also came out from the opposite room and Kiaan was the first one to speak..

"Hey guys! We're now looking at the to-be-losers" He said to his teammates and I just rolled my eyes as he turned back to us asking, "How does it feel to hear that guys?"

"Like a lie! I'm pleased to tell you Kiaan that score is 4-1 since the last five years, how does it feel to hear that?" I asked and he just made a face.

"Oh to be a brag! Be prepared because it's gonna becomes, 4-2 today!" He said and we chuckled while Rishabh said, "Daydreaming is good but not too much"

"Yes and you won't win by using your mouth, get on the ground and show us what you got" Shubman said while Kiaan just scoffed as his friend said, "Oh the studious guy got nerves"

"Ohh and you haven't got the balls!!" Manjot said from behind and we all couldn't help but laugh as the Royals stared at us, while we all finally walked onto the ground.

Third person's pov

The match was going to start and before that Manish and Kiaan went on ground for the toss .... The refree tossed the coin and it outcame in Manish's favour.

Manish chose the side and finally the whole team was on the field taking there position "Shubman you'll go with the first pass!" Manish said while pointing Shubman to go in the center where the football was.

"Hardik, Ishan left wing and Abhishek, Manjot right wing and Rishabh, Manjot midfield" Manish said while he was adjusting all the players on the ground.

Being the captain of the team he was managing everything quite smoothly and after seeing all the field adjustments he went in the center where Shubman was.

"Come on guys" Tanya shouted frok the stands where all the girls were sitting together cheering for the boys while Arshita hitted her arm saying, "I know you're excited Tanu, just don't make me for deaf"

"Guys it's starting, I'm so excited!" Shriya said smiling ear to ear, "Didn't I told you guys, we gave the best matches every year" Arshita said grinning and Nikita nodded while saying, "For the first time I agree, and I just hope we win"

"Ofcourse! Nobles are the best" Tanya said happily and they all chuckled while on the other side the match was just about to start.

"Criss ,cross, dribble and goal" Manish said and Shubman nodded while glancing towards the goal "Criss, cross, dribble and goal" Shubman said while he fist bumped with Manish.

The refree blows the whistle and Shubman passes the ball to Hardik on the left, the game started well as from the starting only the possession was high for the Nobles.

The Royals boys were starting to face threat as the Nobels were really good in dribble and were not letting the ball in there grip.

Manjot passed the ball to Rishabh who passed the ball to Abhishek as he was near the goal and Abhishek kicked the ball towards the goal but unfortunately the goalkeeper catches it.

Abhishek groaned in irritation while Rishabh pat his back from behind "Good effort Abhay!" Rishabh said and Abhishek nodded.

Around the 35th minute Kiaan was near his goal side and Manish and Shubman were infront of him trying to defend there goal and before Kiaan could hit the ball towards the goal Shubman successfully caught hold of the ball and kick it towards Ishan who was on the left side.

This triggered Kiaan's anger and he blubbered something to Shubman.... Shubman was going to react when Manish stopped him "Not the right time" Manish said shaking his head and Shubman stopped.

Around the 40th minutes Royals boys started to possess over the Nobels and one wrong pass by Manjot led to a goal by the Royals.

The Nobels sighed while looking at each other while The Royals celebrated ... Kiaan was showing more aggression triggering the Nobels anger.

The first half was done and it was half time all the players walked out of the ground and the Nobel were looking quite frustrated "I'm sorry guys... Due to my mistake they scored a goal" Manjot said sounding a bit off.

"It's okay Manjot.... Just make sure you don't make the same mistake in the second half" Hardik said and Manjot nodded "They are intentionally mocking us by giving fake passes" Mayank said angrily.

"I agree and that Kiaan is irritating me more, he just put a wrong blame on me by pretending that I twisted his foot" Ishan said in an irritated voice.

"Due to them I got a yellow card too" Abhishek said "Then let's play in there style only" Shubman said while he keeps the energy drink bottle aside.

"Shubman is right... Let's play in there way only" Manish said with a confident grin on his face "Let's gift them some yellow cards boys" Hardik said while giving a mischievous smile.

"And earn some penalties" Mayank said while all the boys nodded to each other with a confident smile.

The second half started and the Nobels were totally in revenge mode ... They were intentionally dribbling against the players just to earn the penalties which was irritating the Royals.

Around the 65th minute Kiaan was passing the ball to one of his team mates when Manjot intentionally came infront of him and pretending getting hit on knee by him.

"The hell?" Kiaan said while looking towards Manjot who was acting crying in pain "The opponent has hurted our player" Manish said while coming towards the referee.

"What.... I have not even done anything" Kiaan said with a shocked look "Ohh really then why is he getting treated by physio?" Shubman said and Kiaan glanced towards Manjot who was sitting on the ground being attended by two physio.

"He himself came infront of me" Kiaan said whereas Rishabh shakes his head "We want the penalty" Rishabh said and looked towards referee who took out a yellow card and show it to Kiaan.

"Yellow card for the Royals and penalty for the Nobels" referee said and the Royals just groaned in frustration.

Kiaan glared towards Manjot who stand up just after the referee left and gave high five to his team "You pretended" Kiaan said grittering his teeth whereas Manjot shrugged his shoulders.

"Everything learnt from you!" Manjot said while winking making Kiaan burn more ... He stomped his foot and walked away from there.

"Good job Mandy!" Hardik said while patting manjot's back who was grinning widely "Okk soo we've got penalty and we are not wasting this okay!" Manish said and everyone nodded.

"Finally the penalty, this is gonna be a goal for sure" Arshita said grinning widely while the girls looked on hopefully, "I hope so" Tanya said taking a deep breathe.

"Who should go for the penalty" Manish asked looking towards Shubman who was looking at the team "Ishan.... Would be the right choice!" Shubman said and Manish nodded.

"Ishan you are going for the penalty" Manish said looking towards Ishan who nodded... The penalty time started and Ishan takes his position whereas the Nobels were standing behind him.

The Royals were standing infront of there goal in a queue preparing to save the goal ..... Ishan took a deep breath and glanced towards the goal and as the referee blew the whistle he kicked the ball with full force and it went straight for the goal. The whole college in the stands went into an uproar and the continuous chantings of THE NOBLES!!

Meanwhile Shriya's happiness knew no bounds as she almost jumped up from her seat  cheering for Ishan happily, "Yesss! He did it!"

"That's a goal!" Nikita also shouted while Arshita also clapped while getting up and then came closer to Shriya as she whispered to her, "You're being too obvious darling!"

"We'll see that later. I'm sure there's gonna be another goal, and nyahe my brother could be the one" Shriya said giving her a look while Arshita chuckled shrugging her shoulder saying, "Well then do me a favour and hold me back in my seat if that happens"

They both just laughed when they or the commentator was happily shouting over the speakers.

"Nobels equal the score" the commentators shouted while the Nobels jumped on each other congratulating each other "That was a good one Ishan" Shubman said while patting Ishan's back.

"Guys last 10 minutes are starting we have already equalised the score we just need one more goal to win the match" Manish said and all of them nodded.

The game resumed and the Nobels were trying really hard to score there second goal but the Royals were now quite aware of their trick.

"Last 2 minutes of the game .... Begins" the commentator shouted as the referee blew the whistle, the tension starts to arise as the scores were equal now and at the end everyone wants a result which is obviously a win.

The Royals were back in the game as they were dribbling equally good as the Nobels.... Abhishek was having the ball and he was running towards the goal when  Kiaan came in between and kicked the ball towards his partner but before it could teach his teammate Shubman came in between and ran with the ball back towards the goal.

"God! He's got the ball, I'm already hyperventilating" Arshita said almost crossing her fingers and Shriya just shooked her head while she also looked back hoping for the best.

Shubman was running with the ball towards his goal and Kiaan was running equally beside him  ..... His teammates started to cover the sides of Shubman so that he cannot pass to others.

Manish was only by his side who was running on his other side and before Kiaan could snatch the ball from Shubman he passed it to Manish who quickly hits the ball and it straightly went inside the goal. Manish smiled widely as he immediately ran upto Shubman and hugged him while stick would've been an understatement for Shubman but anyway he was happy so he just hugged him back.

"Time up and that's the goal!" the refree shouted as the Nobels score table turned from one to two and they won the game by 2 - 1!!

"Yass and that's how yet again the Nobles have defeated the Royals, with the perfect tricks and the teamwork!! Cheer up for the Royalsssss!!!" Commentator shouted while almost all the students ran upto the group umd happily, whereas the Royals were left looking at each other's faces.

"Yaaass! They did it! This the best match ever!" Arshita shouted jumping up off her seat while shouting happily as the efforts of the two most important persons in her life that made the college reach this victory! Her happiness was on the could nine!!

"Well that's new" Shriya said looking at Manish and Shubman in shock and Arshita nodded while saying, "Actually, that's something very unexpected"

"Whatever I need to meet Ishu, I can wait to tell him how good he was" Shriya said happily when Tanya patted her back asking confused, "Did you just said Ishu? Why are you so happy for him?"

"Did I said that?" Shriya asked looking here and there while Arshita just shooked her head saying, "No... No I don't think so, no she didn't, you must be hearing things because you should probably congratulate your brother"

"Before that my boyfriend! RISHUUU" Tanya said as she almost ran upto Rishabh and they both sighed in relief.

Shriya immediately went upto Ishan who was between the crowd fortunately no one noticed as she hugged him tightly from the back saying, "You were amazing!"

"Ohh! Careful not to get caught! But thanks Chia! Maybe it's all because of that backstand good luck charm" Ishan said smiling widely and Shriya chuckled as she quickly planted a kiss on his cheek saying, "You mean this?"

Ishan just looked at her shocked skd them looked around to see if anyone saw them but the crowd was enough to hide their romance.

"You guys killed it!" Tanya said as they all had ran upto the boys along with the whole college onto the ground, "IL so happy right now" Arshita said squealing while looking at Shubman but he signalled her to compose herself as she was almost gonna hug him, so she just nodded smiling widely when Manish came and she hugged him tightly saying, "You were so good, as always, and that goal! I seriously had my heart stop"

"Dammit how are you still alive?" Manish asked her pulling back and she gave him a look asking, "Can't you reply with a thank you to a compliment?"

"Nope! Well I didn't thought it would be possible today because someone forgot something really big" Manish said, bringing his arm in front of her and she looked at his armband and that's when realization hit her, "Shit! What the hell? I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Manish, what the hell is wrong with me? How can I even forget that? Tell me you're not mad at me. Because I would be really mad if I were you! God! I'm the worst best friend ever"

"Ayee stop stop! I was a bit sad and I still am you know, but I know even if you forgot. Your good luck would always be with me, but then also keeping it aside, it's not gonna be easy making upto me for this m, you'll have to try hard for this" Manish said and Arshita looked at him still feeling guilty, it was like the most important thing she always used to do before the football matches.

"I promise you! I'll do whatever you ask me to, I just feel so bad, how can I?" she said looking down as she had already been feeling guilty for lying to him all this time about her relationship with Shubman and also when he asked if she was hiding something from him and now this, she didn't wanted to drift apart from her best amidst being busy in her love life!!

"Really! Well now I'll think of something really good and you'll have to agree" Manish said and she nodded her head with a blank look while Manish just held her by shoulders saying, "Ayee it's okay! Now get your pouty face off, we just won the game.i can't look at your whiney little face"

"Shut up, I'm not whiney" Arshita said hitting his arm while glaring him, "There that's your look, scary!" He said smd received another smack while they just ended up laughing.

After that the boys finally went back to the changing room to freshen up when the Royals were still standing outside their room angrily.

"Ohh and now we're looking at the losers! You guys wanna give your views now?" Abhishek said laughingly while they just kept glaring, "We don't need words like you guys, the outcome was just gonna tell, and here we are" Manish said smiling cheekily the Royals stood silent as they couldn't even find the words to fight back now.

The boys just laughed as they all started going in while Manish and Shubman were behind them all, when Kiaan murmured something and the next moment he was met with a punch on his face from Shubman!!!
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Heya guys!!

I'm back with the chapter after a long long time, and I know I've kept you guys waited for such a long time but I just had the worst writers block ever!!🤯🤯🤯

But I'm back with a bang and I hope you all liked the chapter! Don't forget to vote and comment!! ❤️❤️❤️