𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐫 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Shubman POV:
As I guided Akshara out of the medical area, a soft breeze brushed against us, but the tension in my chest didn't ease. I glanced at her again, my gaze lingering on her hand and waist, now bandaged and treated.
"Are you feeling better now?" I asked, my voice steady, but there was an undeniable layer of concern.
Akshara offered me a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine now. It's just a small burn. It'll heal."
I nodded, though the uneasy feeling gnawed at me. "If it gets worse or if you feel any more pain, let me know immediately. Don't keep it to yourself like this again, okay?"
She blinked up at me, surprised by the firmness in my tone. "I didn't want to worry you."
"Well, you did." My voice softened, betraying the calm exterior I was trying to maintain.
As we walked side by side, I found myself glancing at her again, this time feeling something deeper than just concern. The image of her in pain had been burned into my mind since I saw her expression on the big screen.
My heart had raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last. It was strange how protective I felt over her. From the moment I spotted her in the dugout, my chest had tightened, an unexpected surge of emotion I hadn't anticipated.
And now, seeing her up close, with her injured hand and reddened waist, I felt my heart burn. My mind kept circling around it, irrationally jealous of the doctor who had touched her to examine the injury. I clenched my jaw, shaking off the strange feelings that were bubbling up inside me.
Why did I feel this way? She was my fiancée, but this was an arranged engagement. I wasn't supposed to feel anything so intense, not this soon-if at all. It wasn't as if we had chosen each other. We were pushed into this by our families.
I'd promised myself I would stay detached, that I wouldn't let my heart get involved after what happened in the past. I couldn't afford another heartbreak. And yet, here I was, my emotions running wild just because she was in a little pain.
I needed to keep my distance. It was the only way to protect myself, to keep from getting hurt again. As much as I wanted to be there for her, to shield her from anything that might cause her harm, I had to remind myself that she was just my fiancée in name-part of an arrangement I never sought. I couldn't let my walls down, not yet, maybe not ever.
I took a deep breath, trying to rein in the emotions swirling in my chest. I looked over at Akshara again, forcing a smile as we neared the stands. "Just... take care of yourself, okay?"
She smiled back at me, unaware of the internal battle I was fighting. "I will. Thanks, Shubman."
But as we walked side by side, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe this was already more than just an arrangement-whether I liked it or not.
🍂
Akshara POV:
I walked near Aditi and Anika, who are still waiting for me. "Feel good now" Aditi asked with concern evident in her voice, I nodded with small smile.
Anika held my hand, we walked to the stands where Nitya and Nikhil are seated. soon second innings started, and the annoying cameraman turned camera every now and than on me which made me more irritated by passing time.
The players were playing good, and the match was in India's favore, Hardik Pandya was in full swing, with roaring of Bhumra and Siraj India won the match.
Walking out from the stadium Anika, Nitya and Nikhil celebrated with there goofiness. whereas me and Aditi walked out like we didn't understand anything which is partially true.
"Wasn't that the best match ever?" Anika exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. "I mean, Rohit Sharma was on fire!"
"And the way Shubman and Kohli handled the almost innings, absolute class," Nikhil added, carrying a small Indian flag in his hand.
Aditi smiled but shot a look at me. "Yeah, it was great. But let's not forget the real highlight-Akshara almost becoming part of the match!"
I gave her a playful glare. "Ha ha, very funny. I'm still nursing a sprained hand, you know."
"And don't forget the coffee burn!" Nitya added teasingly. "You're practically a match casualty."
"Great, rub it in," I said with a mock pout, making the others laugh. Despite the teasing, I felt warmth in the lighthearted banter.
As we reached our car, Nikhil opened the door for the girls, ensuring everyone was settled before getting in himself. "Alright, back to the hotel. Who's up for room service and a late-night chat session?" he asked as he started the car.
"Count me in!" Anika said immediately, her energy still boundless.
"Same here," Nitya chimed in. "But only if they have good desserts."
Aditi shook her head with a smile. "You two are impossible."
The car ride was filled with laughter and chatter about the match, their VIP experience, and the unexpected turn of events with me. I stayed quiet for most of the ride, my thoughts drifting back to the dugout, the doctor's cabin, and Shubman's concerned expression.
"Earth to Akshara!" Aditi waved a hand in front of my face. "What's with you? Thinking about someone?"
"What? No!" I denied quickly, my cheeks flushing slightly.
"Uh-oh, she's blushing!" Anika teased, earning a round of laughter from everyone else.
"Okay, okay, enough!" I said, unable to suppress a smile. "I'm just tired, that's all."
We finally arrived at hotel, a cozy boutique property nestled amidst the serene hills of Dharamshala. The cool mountain breeze greeted them as we stepped out of the car.
As we walked into the lobby, Nikhil checked with the receptionist about our rooms keys while we girls lounged on the plush sofas, scrolling through photos and videos from the match.
"Look at this one!" Nitya said, showing us a picture she had taken of the stadium. "The energy was unreal."
"And look at this," Aditi added, flipping to a candid shot of me holding my bandaged hand. "Our very own cricket warrior."
I groaned. "Please don't make me a meme."
"No promises," Aditi said with a wink.
Once we got keys, we headed upstairs, where Nikhil insisted on carrying my small bag despite my protests. "You've had enough adventures for one day," he said, earning a grateful smile from me.
Inside the room, Aditi set down her things and turned to me. "Alright, rest that hand, and no overthinking, okay?"
"I'll try," I replied, sitting on the edge of my bed.
As the others headed to their rooms, I lay back against the pillows, my mind racing despite my exhaustion.
The day had been nothing short of eventful, and as much as I tried to brush it off, I couldn't stop my thoughts from lingering on Shubman's protective demeanor, but the conversation we had given me reality check, this not going to be any normal relationship.
Last day come to an end, we have early flight tomorrow morning.
🍂
The sky outside the airport was still dark, the faint hint of dawn just beginning to creep over the horizon. The chilly morning air clung to them as me, Aditi, Anika, Nitya, and Nikhil stepped out of cab and walked toward the small but bustling Dharamshala airport.
I adjusted the strap of my duffle bag on my shoulder, my scarf tightly wrapped around my neck to fend off the cold. I glanced over at my friends, who, despite the early hour, were in varying stages of liveliness.
"Coffee," Nikhil groaned dramatically, dragging his feet like a zombie. "I need coffee before anything else. This isn't humanly possible."
"You're not getting coffee until we clear security," Nitya said firmly, tugging his arm to keep him moving. "We barely made it on time. If you stop now, we're going to miss the flight."
"Why did I even let you people book such an early flight?" Nikhil grumbled, but he followed along nonetheless.
Aditi, clutching a thermos she'd brought from the hotel, smirked. "Some of us are smart enough to prepare in advance. Want a sip, Nikhil?"
He looked at her hopefully, only to watch her take a long, exaggerated sip of the coffee herself. "Cruel. Just cruel," he muttered, earning a laugh from the group.
Anika, who had been quietly observing the banter, chimed in, "At least it's quiet at this hour. The last thing I want is to deal with crowds."
I gave her a small smile. "You say that now, but wait until we're at security. Airports are never truly quiet."
We made their way through the check-in counter smoothly, the group bantering lightly to keep themselves awake. Aditi and Nitya kept exchanging glances, silently laughing at Nikhil's increasingly dramatic expressions as he complained about the lack of caffeine.
Once we cleared security, we found a small café near their gate.
"Finally," Nikhil announced, rushing to the counter as if he'd been rescued after weeks in the wilderness.
As he waited for his order, the others found seats nearby. I sat by the window, gazing out at the faint pink hues of dawn spreading across the sky. My thoughts drifted for a moment, replaying memories of the match, the lively atmosphere, and the moments of camaraderie I had experienced.
"Lost in thought again, huh?" Aditi asked softly, settling into the seat beside me.
I turned to her, startled. "Oh, just...thinking about the trip. It's been a whirlwind few days."
"It has," Aditi agreed, her gaze thoughtful. "But you've been unusually quiet. Are you okay?"
I hesitated, not wanting to burden her with my swirling emotions. "I'm fine, just tired, I guess."
Aditi studied me for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but she let it go. "Well, let me know if you want to talk. You've got a whole group of people here who care about you."
I nodded, my lips curving into a grateful smile. "Thanks, Aditi."
Soon, Nikhil returned, clutching his prized coffee cup like a lifeline. "Alright, I'm alive again," he declared, taking a dramatic sip. "Let's get this show on the road."
The group laughed, the sound cutting through the quiet hum of the airport.
As the boarding announcement echoed through the speakers, we gathered our belongings and made our way to the gate. I took one last glance out the window at the serene landscape of Dharamshala, letting out a quiet sigh.
The trip was over, but the memories-and the thoughts it had stirred-would linger with me for a long time.