Dedicating this chapter to everyone who'll stumble upon. <33

If anyone asks Sia Ahuja and Shubman Gill the reason of the animosity between them, they would simply get death stares in return and scoffs.

The duo go way back in terms of the tension and despise between, reason unknown to everyone but them.

And it's better to just stay silent and let them bicker, even though one would get tired in minutes already, because they never stop.

They've never silent when in the same room.

If looks can kill, they both would have been reduced to ashes by their glares at each other.

The Gills and Ahujas have been friends for long, ever since the former had stepped in to the city to turn the dreams of their young lad into realities.

And even after all these years, after all those fine summers, the friendship is going strong, infact the bond is stronger.

"Hi, Lalita Aunty! Where's your dearie?" A certain someone asked, humorous, in a high voice, purposefully, to gain the attention of someone specific, as soon as he had entered the house.

"Mom, tell him to not yell and put the crows to shame!"

Shub's demeanour became a constricted balloon and his face fell, while Sia, descending the stairs, looked immensely pleased with what reaction she had got to her words.

Sia Ahuja. 26, just another common girl with big dreams in her orbs, yearning of having her own business, her own company.

It isn't that she hasn't got any generational wealth or a lineage. Each one in her family is well established, and has ample connections and fortunes to do as they pleased, but just like her words and thoughts, her will and determination was strong too, so no surprise she had turned down help in any form.

Shubman Gill. 28. The heart-throb of the nation. Makes everyone swoon to his tricks and records with the bat and fawn over his sharp jawline and dimples.

A nonsensical guy when not busy with cricket. Probably a measure to hide his inner self?

Lost in the world of glam and fame, in search of peace.

The two families were having another get-together, one after a long time.

"Heard you burnt the kitchen?"

"Almost. Almost, Neel Di." Sia smiled, sheepishly, trying to hide her embarrassment.

The young generation were having their own gathering aside, including Sia's sibling and cousins and Shub's too.

She has never been good in the cooking department, and was barred from entering the kitchen, but sudden midnight cravings of having some pasta resulted finally into a burnt pan and smoke, with the fire alarm blasting.

When the family arrived hastily, they were greeted with their darling Sia's flushed face trying to turn the alarm off with a broom while simultaneously trying to put the pan in the sink.

Lalita, having enough of her daughter's failed attempts at it, was having another rant with the Gill matriarch, and it was no surprise that the incident spread like wildfire.

"I pity the man she'll get married to."

" And I have my condolences with the woman who will have to hear your snores every night and bear your fangirls who drool over nothing."

"Atleast am having good looks. Unlike you." Shub scoffed, earning tired looks of everyone.

But who was he lying to? Every woman he had come across in life we're beautiful, and had their own charm.

Although Sia didn't fit the so called beauty norms, she was still pretty. He'll always admit it. More than her face, her heart and goodwill attracted always.

No way.

Why is he thinking all that?

Shaking his head, the batter tried to distract himself.

"And I thought these two would end up together one day." Jugnu, who had tagged along with the Gills, sighed exasperated, a little too loud.

"Me and him?" She gasped.

"Me and her?" He yelled.

"Are you mad?" They said aloud, in synchronisation, earning sighs and Shahneel's comment,

"Look, you two just synced. One reason to ship."

While Jugnu thought if he'll ever win this bet with Abhiskek over these two and get 5000.
And not speaking about Ishan's bet.
He literally bet that Shub and Sia will have a daughter first, then a son.
God, he'll surely go to heaven if he let's it out of his mouth, and Ishan surely will join, after getting minced.

"Bogus." Sia mumbled and getting up, went to the elders, taking the empty seat beside Keart.

" Here is she. Already tired of my son?"

"Eesh, Aunty, I swear I'll never get tired wondering why you're son is nothing like you."

"And I wonder why you're not a bit like Lalita Aunty, not even in looks." Shubman entered, with his nephew in his arms, who was trying to hold his stubble.

"Girls go after their dads, Dumbo. Look at Shahneel Di itself."

"Your pretty face masks your evilness really well, by the way."

"STOP STOP. We have a long night ahead. I don't want a headache. Shubi, if you continue your bickering, you're going to change Ved's diapers as long as we're in Mohali."

Veer, Shahneel's husband, was just left shaking his head at his wife and his brother is law.

"I smell Butter Chicken!"

Shubman and his love for Butter Chicken.

Sia can swear on her favourite, Lucifer aka Tom Ellis, that Shub probably loves food more than anything else.

And can ditch everything just for cheat meals.

The two families sat down for dinner, and like always, it was full of chaos and bickering, with Shubman pulling the plate first, which Sia aimed for, much to the amusement of the others.

"This plate is mine, Sia. Get the other one."
"Shub! Go to hell!"
"Table manners, Sia. Don't talk while eating."
"Argh."

Everyone else but the two were done with dinner, so had got up to keep away the plates.

"I still hate you, btw." Shub said, all of a sudden, earning her sigh in return.

Not this topic.

"Mutual feelings, Gill." She pointed her fork at him, eyes full of disdain.

" I wouldn't have had to hate you if ..."

" It was you, the root cause of the problem, Shubman. Not me. You're the one at fault."

" It's useless to talk to you." He scoffed, with a sad glint in his eyes, which went purposefully unnoticed as she dug into the food, trying to concentrate on the shape of the chicken pieces.

Letting a small sigh, he got up, with the plate, and went into the kitchen.

A while later, the elders called Shubman and Sia in the lawn, telling about having an important discussion.

"Well, now that we're done with everything, why don't we talk about it?" There was his unnatural gleam in Lakhwinder's eyes, which made Shubman weary.

"Listen to us carefully, children. Especially you, Sia. This applies to you too, Shubman." Rakesh added.

Keart and Lalita looked as if they're holding up something in them.

"Crap. We both are surely in trouble." Shubman mumbled, earning her nod.

The two had an eye lock. As if they're totally understanding something big and chaotic is awaiting them.

The parents, having noticed the interaction, were more happy about what they had thought, after a long talk and discussion. It's going to work, they know.

Here's the first chapter. Would mean a lot if you respond.

Love, S.