You had just settled into your room after hours of mind-numbing legal theory. Your head ached, your fingers trembled slightly from the anxiety, and your dad’s voice still echoed in your ears — “Ninety-eight is a failure. Only hundred matters.”

The pressure never left.

You stared blankly at your notes when your door burst open.

“Get up! We’re going out,” Riya declared with that trademark smirk of hers.

“Riya, I have a mock tomorrow—”

“Mock-schmock. Get up, you need this.”

She was already digging through your wardrobe, tossing a denim jacket at you. You groaned but stood up. There was no winning against Riya’s stubbornness.

Fast forward thirty minutes, and you were not at the library. You were in a massive cricket stadium, surrounded by cheers and the electric buzz of an IPL match — Gujarat Titans vs. Kolkata Knight Riders.

You didn’t even know how she got the tickets. But there you were, watching Shubhman Gill walk onto the field, his bat resting on his shoulder, face glowing under the floodlights.

Your heart did something stupid.

You filmed a few clips on your phone — secretly, of course — capturing his cover drives and that small smile he gave after a boundary. No one would ever know.

After the match, Riya grabbed your hand and led you toward a guarded door.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“Riya, we don’t have a pass—”

She just winked. And the guard… let you both in. Just like that.

The air changed. Cooler. Quieter. You were in the VIP lounge.

And then he turned around.

Shubhman Gill, laughing at something one of his teammates had said, froze when he saw you both. His eyes scanned Riya first — and then you.

A beat.

Then suddenly, Riya ran into his arms.

You blinked.

Shubhman laughed and hugged her tightly. “You made it,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“I told you I would.”

You stood there, rooted. Disoriented. What was happening?

“Wait… you two… know each other?”

Riya turned back, her face glowing.

“Oh! Right. This is Shubhman… my boyfriend.”

Your heart plummeted like a dropped phone on concrete.

Shubhman's POV:

He noticed you the second you walked in. Something about you felt… off. Familiar, yet unreadable. You weren’t just another fan. You had that look — the look people have when they're trying to hide something.

He wasn’t sure if it was nerves or something else.

When Riya hugged him, his heart leapt, but his eyes kept darting toward you. Who was this girl?

Then it clicked. Riya had mentioned a best friend. Law student. Strict family. Always stressed.

You.

He extended his hand. “Hey. I’ve heard a lot about you.”