I woke up to Shubman's message, 'care to join me at the Nokia party tomorrow evening?'

I called him right away.

His voice was sleepy as he protested, "Allie, it's only 9!"

"Only nine..." I said sarcastically. "What do you do all night!"

He grunted something about late practice.

"Oh, shut up. Tell me about this party."

"Yeah, will you come?"

"But what's it like? It's not like I attend parties on a regular basis!"

"So, your first party," he said, now sounding properly awake. "I'll be honoured to take you."

I grinned. "Right."

----------------

Shubman picked me up from my hostel in the evening. I had finally found a place to wear my new black gown.

Shubman looked like he wanted to say something when he saw me, but he didn't.

We reached a hifi looking place in half an hour.

"Our entire team will be there. The media might also be there," whispered Shubman.

"I love it when you do this," I said, laughing.

"Do what?" Shubman looked confused.

"Pretend like everything is a mystery thriller!"

Shubman's eyes lit up like a child's, that made me want to kiss him suddenly.

I love him SO MUCH!

The party was in full swing when we entered.

Kuldeep waved at me and Nitish bhaiya gave me his typical wicked grin.

Shubman and I sat down somewhere away from the crowds.

"Hey, I know I was kind of unsocial yesterday," he began, rubbing his nose like he always does when he is uncomfortable.

"Doesn't matter," I assured him. "It's understandable after a loss."

"Ummm..." he said absent-mindedly. "It seems understandable to you."

"You don't have to hide anything from me."

He stared at me. "You're right," he said. "You see, there was this girl in my school called Nita...we were...kind of... You know, close.." He seemed really awkward.

I considered taking his hand. Just as I decided against it, he reached over and took my hand.

I tried to stop myself from smiling like crazy.

He continued. "Then I got into the school cricket team, and we won the tournament that year. Nita was all sweet and nice and acted like my..."

"You can say the word girlfriend. I'm not going to kill you," I told him.

He smiled a little sheepishly. "Yes, but the next year, we lost a lot of matches, and she was still expecting me to be as cheerful and happy as I was last year, and she used to fight with me all the time because I was getting moody or whatever..."

"She doesn't sound like a very pleasant person," I said honestly.

"Actually she wasn't," he said. "We broke all ties soon after--she did it, to be honest." Shubman grinned. "But I can't say I wasn't glad."

I found myself grinning back.

Suddenly someone rushed up behind Shubman and put her hands over his eyes.

"Guess who?" she shrieked loudly.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"Uh, hi, Suhana," he said.

"Long time no see! I missed youuu," she went.

Shubman turned to look at her. "Yes, I...I missed you too..."

I was furious to see him blushing.

Then who should come up to the scene but SRK himself. He ruffled Shubman's hair-- my Shubman's hair-- and said in a father-in-law like tone, "How's our Shubi doing?"

"I'm fine, sir, I hope you're well too," said Shubman, awkwardly polite.

"Dad," said Suhana.

"Oh right...sorry." SRK grinned and went away.

"He's just--" Suhana shook her head. Her hand was still on Shubman's shoulder.

I glared at her.

Her dress was so vulgar that it made me feel right out of the 90s.

"Come on, Shubi, I wanna show you something," she said.

"Actually Alisha is here with me...she doesn't know anyone else here so..." Shubman tried vaguely.

"Oh, hi, Alisha," said Suhana in a over friendly tone. "Could you look after yourself for a few minutes?"

"Yes, sure. Go on, Shubman," I said coldly.

Poor Shubman looked desperate as Suhana took him across the floor.

I was watching them sourly when I felt a hand on my head.

I looked up. It was Kuldeep.

"Don't mind her," he said. "She's always like that. She likes him, you know, but... Look at him, Alisha, he doesn't seem like he's enjoying himself, does he?"

I had to admit he didn't.

"You have to play along with your team's owner's daughter," said a voice on my other side--Nitish bhaiya's voice.

I laughed. Shubman was right, no one could be dull with him around.

------------------

Kuldeep and Nitish bhaiya left my side only after Shubman rejoined me after a long time.

"I'm really so--" he began.

"It's nearly time for me to go," I told him, annoyed.

"I couldn't help it, Allie..."

"Yeah, whatever, let's go."

I tried to talk normally with him in the ride back home, but I couldn't help a little bit of coldness.

Just as I was getting down from the taxi, Shubman grabbed my hand and said quickly, "You look really beautiful today, you know. I've been meaning to tell you that all evening."

I felt my face going red. "Er...thanks."

Somehow, Shubman could make everything right with a few words.

He's perfect.