*In The Evening*

"And here they come, the dynamic opening duo of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, striding confidently onto the field." Commentator said

The roar of the crowd is deafening. urged their team to victory. It's moments like these that make cricket truly special.

"The craze of India vs Pakistan is unbeatable" co- commentator said. "Indeed it is" the commentator replied

***************

Ever so focused Shubman who was standing on the strike end, focused on the game. The tension in the stadium was palpable. He could feel the hopes and pressure on him. Shubman gripped his bat as his focus on the bowler

Just then, the big screen showed kainaat who was talking to her dad and laughing. radiant and carefree as always. Her laugh filled the stadium with her infectious joy. Her eyes sparkled with mirth, her smile dazzling as she enjoyed a moment of levity amidst the tension of the match.

Shubman's focus shattered, his mind momentarily pulled away from the task at hand. In that split second, he lost the unwavering concentration that had carried him so close to his goal.

"Ohh unfortunately shubman gill got out on 91 again after gabba and rajkot" the co-commentator said. "it's a familiar tale for Shubman. This isn't the first time he's been dismissed on 91. It's almost as if that number is cursed for him." The commentator added

As Shubman trudged back to the pavilion, his frustration and disappointment were palpable, tugged on his face like a shadow. Despite India's victory, the missed opportunity weighed heavily on his mind.

******************
In the dressing room as the team was enjoying the win, shubman couldn't help but feel disappointed in himself because of a missed century but still managed a smile to hide bis inner turmoil.

"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself, Shubman. It happens to the best of us. What matters is how you bounce back from it. You'll get that century soon, mark my words." Virat said keeping a hand on his shoulder and tapping his back. "Thanks bhai i appreciate it" he replied with a weak smile as he was still disappointed about the missed century

"Hey let it out" ishan whispered him. " there is nothing to let out ishan." He replied and Ishan narrowed his eyes and shubman began "Its like so freaking unfair she gets to laugh there and i am here in such a pressure batting and you know what really gets me that she's everywhere, in the papers, on social media, and now, even on the damn big screen. It's like she's haunting me or something."

His teammates exchanged a knowing look and shubman ended as he sighed and said "Sorry for ranting like that"

Hardik Pandya grinned, clapping Shubman on the back. "No worries, mate. That's what teammates are for. Now let's focus on celebrating this win and getting ready for the next match."

"You know hardik thats the most sensible thing you ever said" rohit quipped to light up the mood. Hardik continued " by the way we can hire someone to stand next to you on the boundary and hold up a big cardboard cutout of Virat Kohli every time Kainaat's face pops up on the screen." . "And thats the weirdest" virat said earning few chuckles from his teammates

"Hey my idea made shubman laugh and either way it wasn't that bad". Ishan thought to add the fuel in the fire "Yeah, and maybe we can get a recording of Virat giving you a pep talk".

They continued to talk and make shubman laugh constantly trying to light up shubman's mood

********************

The BCCI manager approached kainaat who was about to leave the stadium

"Kainaat, would you consider going to congratulate the Indian cricket team for their stunning victory?" he asked, a note of urgency in his voice.

Kainaat hesitated, her thoughts immediately drifting to Shubman. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she replied, her expression conflicted.

But the manager persisted, his plea sincere. "Please, Kainaat. It would mean a lot to the team, and your presence would be greatly appreciated."

Reluctantly, Kainaat sighed, realizing the importance of the gesture. "Alright, I'll go," she conceded, her resolve firm yet tinged with apprehension.

With a grateful nod, the manager led Kainaat towards the dressing room, where the Indian cricket team awaited their congratulatory visit. As they approached, Kainaat couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves, unsure of how Shubman would react to seeing her after his disappointment on the field.

As Kainaat entered the dressing room, her presence elicited mixed reactions from the players. While some greeted her warmly, others shot her curious glances, their expressions betraying a hint of resentment.

Shubman's mood, already soured by his near miss on the field, darkened at the sight of Kainaat. "What's she doing here?" he muttered under his breath, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

Kainaat, sensing the tension, tried to diffuse the situation with a friendly smile. "Congratulations on the win, everyone," she said, her voice tinged with genuine warmth.

But Shubman, his emotions running high, couldn't contain his frustration any longer. "You think this is some kind of joke?" he snapped, his tone sharp and accusatory. "You show up here after distracting me on the field, and now you expect us to welcome you with open arms?"

Kainaat's smile faltered, her own frustration mounting in response to Shubman's accusatory tone. "I didn't ask to be put on the big screen, Shubman," she retorted, her voice tinged with defiance. "I'm here to congratulate the team, just like everyone else."

Oh please, spare me the innocent act," he shot back, his voice laced with bitterness. "You didn't ask to be on the big screen? Well, maybe you should have thought about that before you rode your daddy's coattails straight into Bollywood."

Kainaat's eyes flashed with anger at the jab, her temper flaring in response to Shubman's accusation. "And what's that supposed to mean?" she countered, her voice trembling with indignation. "Just because my father has connections doesn't mean I didn't work hard to get where I am."

Shubman scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh please, Kainaat. We all know how things work in your world. Daddy pulls a few strings, and suddenly you're the next big thing in Bollywood."

"You know what, Shubman?" she retorted, her voice sharp with indignation. "At least I don't get distracted while I'm working. I don't let a pretty face on a screen throw me off my game."

Shubman's jaw clenched at the jab, his anger flaring at the implication. "Oh, so now it's my fault?" he shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I suppose you've never been distracted by anything in your life, have you?"

Kainaat's eyes flashed with fury, her patience wearing thin. "I'm not the one who missed out on a century because I couldn't keep my focus where it belongs," she countered, her tone cutting like a knife.

Kainaat's eyes widened in disbelief as Shubman's cold hands gripped her bare waist as she was wearing a crop top.His touch sending shivers down her spine.

"Shubman, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.

Shubman's gaze was steely as he pulled her closer, his grip tightening on her waist. "Listen carefully, Kainaat," he said, his voice low and threatening. "If you ever dare to come near me or cross my path again, you'll regret every single decision of your life."

Kainaat's heart pounded in her chest as she stared into Shubman's eyes, the intensity of his words sending a chill down her spine. She knew he was angry, but she never expected him to act so aggressively.

Before she could respond, Virat Kohli intervened, stepping between them with a stern expression. "That's enough, Shubman," he said, his voice commanding. "We don't solve problems with violence. Let her go."

Reluctantly, Shubman released his grip on Kainaat, his gaze never leaving hers as she stepped away, her heart still racing with adrenaline. As the tension in the room slowly dissipated, the players exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the confrontation lingering in the air.

With a heavy sigh, Virat turned to Shubman, his expression grave. "We'll talk about this later," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

With a mixture of anger and disbelief coursing through her veins, Kainaat stormed out of the dressing room, her heart still reeling from the encounter with Shubman. Each step she took was fueled by a whirlwind of emotions, her mind unable to reconcile the image of the talented cricketer she admired with the man who had just lashed out at her with such venom.

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One of the biggest chapter i wrote

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-Aanya