Note: if the text is written in italic, it is shubman's or Kainaat's thoughts or something they are thinking in mind...ya basically thoughts. You will know whom thoughts it is....it will be pretty clear. But this chapter only has shubman's thoughts

The next day

As shubman woke up, he saw kainaat still sleeping beside him. He couldn't help but marvel how beautiful she looked even in her sleep.

Her face peaceful and serene under the gleam of the morning light coming from the window. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear

His thoughts broke by a call from shahneel.  Of course she calls at the best moment.

Shubman answered the call knowing if he doesn't in next two seconds , she will think he is dead or selling drugs.  Don't judge me, overthinking badi beheno ke rag rag mai hai

"Kithe aa, tenu idea hai mai tujhaade baare kitne tension vich thi"  told you

"Are mumbai mai hi hu, mai kaha hunga" ya i lied. What the hell am i supposed to tell her? I flew to new york two nights ago without telling anyone with my girlfriend. Nahi aaj heart attack nahi dena.

"Ok then open the door,me and mama papa are in front of your apartment" she said.  His heart skipped a beat. He didn't said anything for a while. "What happened" she asked, concerned.

"Kuch nahi"  he said instantly. "I was thinking something" He continue with a nervous laugh that died in his throat

"Shubman where are you?" Her patience wore thin. He could hear his parents saying something in frustration.

I think i should tell them the truth. I then looked at myself and saw my perfectly fit body that wont be the same after telling them the truth.

"One second" he said, scrambling to come up with a plan. He kept the phone on his chest to muffle the noises.

He turned to kainaat, who was still asleep beside him. He gently shook her awake. She snuggled more into him.

Baby, i also wanna cuddle par jaisa time chal raha hai ma cuddle toh chodho aaj zinda bach gaya toh badi cheez hogi.

" Love, wake up! My parents are outside my apartment in Mumbai, and I told them I was there!" he whispered urgently.

Kainaat blinked sleepily, trying to process what he was saying. "What? How are you going to get out of this one?"

"I have no idea," he admitted. He unmuted his phone and spoke quickly. "Mom, Dad, there's, uh, a little problem with the lock. Give me five minutes, okay?"

"Alright, but hurry up," his father replied, sounding impatient.

Shubman hung up and racked his brain for a solution. "Okay, think, think... I got it! I'll tell them I'm stuck in the bathroom and that the maintenance guy is on his way."

Kainaat snorted a laugh. "That's your plan?

"You have anything better?" He asked sarcastically. She shook her head.

Shubman called his parents back. "Mom, Dad, bad news. I'm, uh, stuck in the bathroom. The door won't open. I've called the maintenance guy; he should be here any minute."

There was a brief silence on the other end before his father spoke. "Stuck in the bathroom? How did that happen?"

"I don't know, Dad. These things happen," Shubman replied, trying to sound convincing.

"Well, we're not leaving until we see you," Kirti said firmly. "We'll wait right here. We came here to meet you from all the way from Punjab"

Shubman muted the phone again and groaned. "They're not leaving."

Kainaat grinned mischievously. "Time to use those lying skills, Mr. Gill."

"I am not a good liar" i also knew how much lie there was in the line. I was a brilliant liar. Um..not something to be proud of.

"You just lied baby" she said, running a hand through his hair softly.

Shubman pressed the phone against his ear again. " Mom, Dad, the door is not opening.The maintenance guy is coming in few minutes."

There was a brief silence on the other end before his father spoke. " alright just do it fast"

"It is gonna take some time, I can book a hotel for you guys" Shubman replied, trying to sound convincing.

"Well, we're not leaving until we see you," Kirti said firmly. "We'll wait right here."

"Yes give me five minutes" he said and cut the call.

"What do i do? They really wanna to meet me. Should i make ishan act as a maintenance guy?"

Kainaat stiffed a laugh. "Baby, so just a new flash, ishan is not just your wife but a cricketer and a public figure. Your parents know him"

"Ohh...hey ishan is not my wife" he said in mock indignation making her laugh.

"I don't know, I think you should say the truth" she said in an "obviously" tone.

"Why don't you tell your dad about our relationship" he said as she just pressed her lips together in a thin line thinking for a comeback. "Ya that's what I thought"

He sank more into the bed. "Ok, so apparently, my parents and sister is out of my Mumbai apartment. Waiting for me to open the door. And i am here enjoying in new york with my girlfriend and I can't tell them that or they will kill me"

Kainaat laughed. The same old habit of laughing at serious moments. Shubman too tried hard not to laugh at the situation but ended up laughing himself, finding her laugh endearing.

Kainaat wiped off a tear and said "shubman can i be honest? It's better to say the truth than lying. You have to lie more just to hide your previous lies and i don't wanna do that. I wanna tell the world about our relationship. I just wanna shout ''meet my boyfriend you all'"

His expression got serious but a smile still tugging to his lips "I will surrender to your every desire, love, whatever you wish, I will do."

Her breath caught in her throat at his confession. She looked down blushing. Her heart throbbing in her chest, echoing in her mind.

He lifted her chin and kissed her forehead. He called his parents again.

Shubman took a deep breath, deciding it was time to come clean. "Mom, Dad, Shahneel, I need to tell you something."

His mother's voice was concerned. "What is it, Shubman?"

"I'm not in Mumbai," he confessed. "I'm in New York with Kainaat, my friend. I wanted some time away from everything, and she convinced me to come here." Ok it wasn't the complete truth. Kainaat was not my friend, but it was still a progress. I wasn't ashamed of kainaat or her being my girlfriend. I was just scared of them. Trust me, when i say this, i wanna show her off so proudly. Like here is my girlfriend, the most gorgeous and precious woman in the world for me, kainaat kapoor"

Kainaat shook her head with a smile as he mouthed a sorry.

There was a stunned silence on the other end. Then his father spoke, his tone stern. "Shubman, what are you talking about? Why would you lie to us?"

"I didn't want to worry you, i know how protective you are towards cricket" Shubman said, his heart pounding. "I needed a break, and Kainaat wanted to spend some time together without the media hounding us."

His mother's voice was icy. "Shubman, this is not acceptable. We trusted you, and you lied to us."

Shubman felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to deceive you. I just... I needed this. All this media, not giving us privacy, judging our relationship. I thought i was doing the right thing by for once putting my relationships before media attention always being on me or someone I love"

His eyes widened as he realized what he just said "umm...i mean someone i like" he quickly corrected himself.

His father's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "We understand you're under a lot of pressure, Shubman. But lying to us and running away is not the solution."

His mother nodded. "We're your family. We're here to support you, but you need to trust us."

Shahneel looked at her brother, concern in her eyes. "We just want what's best for you, Shubman."

Shubman sighed. "I'm sorry. I should have been honest. I just... needed to escape for a while."

His father nodded. "We understand. But next time, talk to us. We can work through these things together."

Shubman felt a wave of relief. "I will. I promise."

Shubman ended the call and quickly hugged her. She chuckled and kissed him "See? It wasn't so bad."

Shubman chuckled. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks for being here with me."

Kainaat grinned. "Always."

Just then, Shubman's phone buzzed with a message from Ishan: " which t shirt should i buy, the red one or white one" 2 images attached

Shubman smiled and replied, "the white one"

Kainaat saw it, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She swat his arm lightly "He is your wife, don't even lie to me at this point" She said chuckling.

She stood up and was about to leave, when shubman pulled her back by her arm. Making her land swiftly on his chest. She gasped and she looked up at him. He leaned in, inches apart from her lips

"So my girlfriend isn't jealous of my wife?" He asked

Kainaat's eyes widened in disbelief. She hit him playfully on the chest, laughing despite herself. "I thought you were going to say something romantic!"

Shubman grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I will," he said, pulling her even closer. "Just wanted to see that adorable reaction first."

Kainaat rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "You're impossible."

Shubman chuckled, leaning in to kiss her gently. "But you love it," he murmured against her lips, sealing the moment with a tender kiss that made both their hearts race.

As they stood there, wrapped up in each other, the world outside seemed to fade away. All that mattered was the connection they shared, and the promise of more moments like this to come.

As the night went on, Shubman felt grateful for the support of his family and Kainaat. No matter what challenges came their way, he knew they could face them together.

Thank you for reading. I didn't liked the picture anymore.

My exams are over.....huff. So, i will start posting more regularly

Please give feedback and if i should add or change something. I will try my best to consider everyone.

And Should i start writing in POV's.

Please vote and comment. I think I took the longest to make this chapter out of my all as i wanted it to be a little funny and romantic at the same time. I don't know if i got there though.

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Aanya ❤️