𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐫 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Shubman POV:
I walked in with Dev, my eyes scanning the café before stopping at Akshara. Our gazes met for a brief moment.
I felt my heart skip a beat after seeing her, in simple kurti, hair clutched up, face devoid of any makeup. She looked natural, naturally so attractive, I gluped at my thoughts. I schooled my expression into one of composure.
"Hi," she said first, her voice steadier than she expected.
I offered a small nod, my lips curving into a slight smile. "Hi."
Aditi glanced between the two of us before her phone rang. "I have to take this," she said, stepping away.
Prarthana caught Dev’s gaze and subtly tilted her head towards the farthest corner. Picking up on her unspoken cue, Dev stretched his arms. "Let’s grab a seat, Prarthana. I want to talk about something."
Akshara narrowed her eyes. So obvious.
Still, she didn't stop them. Within moments, the café felt quieter, the only noticeable presence being the man now seated at the far end.
I cleared my throat. "Umm... How are you"
Akshara blinked, but nodded "I am good, you?"
I gave a small nod, running my fingers along the edge of the table. "Yeah… I am doing good" He exhaled a soft chuckle. "I wanted to talk alone, the other time but, to be honest I didn't know what to talk."
Akshara folded her arms, leaning against the counter. "You’ve figured it out now?"
"Not entirely," I admitted, meeting her eyes. "But I do know one thing—I don’t want to keep avoiding this."
A flicker of emotion crossed Akshara’s face, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. "Then let’s not avoid it," she said, wiping an imaginary speck off the counter. "You want coffee?"
I offered a small smile before nodding. "Yeah. I’ll have whatever you recommend."
Akshara raised an eyebrow. "You did that the other day too."
I leaned slightly forward. "I trust you."
Author POV:
That made Akshara pause. For the first time in a while, her heart didn’t sink in disappointment but instead fluttered—just a little.
Maybe, just maybe, we could make this work.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the soft background music that played through the café speakers. Akshara poured two cups of coffee, sliding one toward Shubman.
"Thanks," Shubman said, taking the cup and stirring it absentmindedly.
Akshara, leaning against the counter, studied him quietly for a moment before speaking. "So, what’s been keeping you busy, apart from avoiding me?" She said it with a light tone, her attempt to ease the tension.
Shubman laughed softly, the sound a little nervous but genuine. "I wasn’t avoiding you... just figuring things out." He took a small sip of his coffee. "I didn’t know how to make things right after everything that happened."
Akshara raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "How to make things right?"
"Yeah," Shubman continued, setting the cup down and looking at her seriously. "When I said 'I want to try. I want to give us a chance,' I meant it, Akshara. I didn’t say it like it was some casual statement. I meant I want to try, really try. It wasn’t just words."
Akshara’s heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice, and she had to look away for a moment, trying to hide the smile creeping onto her face. She shifted slightly, then looked back at him. "I’m glad to hear that."
Shubman noticed the shift in her expression, and the corner of his lips twitched. "I... I know I’ve been a little distant, and I’m sorry for that."
"You don't need to apologize for everything," she replied quickly, trying to ease his guilt. "But... it’s nice to hear you say that. It's just... a lot has happened."
He nodded, his gaze softening as he leaned forward slightly. "I know. And I get that things might not just magically fix themselves, but... I'm here, Akshara. I’m really trying."
Akshara felt a warm rush of emotions, butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she met his eyes. She didn't expect it, but hearing him say that made something inside her stir. She hadn't expected this side of Shubman—the one that was willing to open up, to admit his mistakes. It felt like a quiet promise.
"I’m glad you’re here, Shubman," she said, her voice softer now. "It’s... it’s a good feeling, knowing you’re trying."
Shubman shifted in his seat, watching her for a beat before speaking again, his tone more serious now. "I know we’ve both been carrying baggage from before. And I know you probably don’t need this, but I’m asking for a chance. Not because I have to, but because I want to. To really see where this can go."
Akshara felt the air between them shift, the playfulness replaced by something deeper. She leaned in slightly, her smile faltering as she searched his face. "It’s funny," she said, her voice tinged with emotion. "How just... talking like this, it makes me feel... something I wasn’t expecting."
Shubman’s gaze softened, and he let out a small breath. "I’m glad you feel that way."
Akshara bit her lip, feeling the weight of the moment settle around them. There was still uncertainty, but there was hope too—hope she hadn’t expected to find so soon.
"You don’t have to feel pressured to figure everything out right now," she said, her voice steady despite the flurry of emotions inside her. "But it’s... nice to know we’re at least talking. That’s a start, right?"
Shubman nodded, his lips lifting in the faintest of smiles. "Yeah. It’s a start."
There was a brief pause as they both took in the moment, the awkwardness slowly fading as they sat there in the soft, shared silence.
Akshara couldn’t help but smile, feeling something shift between them. And for the first time, she wasn’t afraid to believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something real.
Prarthana and Dev stood up from their seats, exchanging a few words as they prepared to leave. Prarthana glanced at Akshara and Shubman before speaking.
"Dev, can you drop me off?" she asked, her voice light but with a knowing look in her eyes.
Dev nodded with a smile. "Sure, no problem. Shubman, can you manage?"
Shubman glanced up and nodded. "Yeah, I'll manage. You guys go ahead."
"Alright then," Dev said with a wink, and he and Prarthana walked out together, leaving Akshara and Shubman in the café.
The atmosphere between them felt more relaxed now, the awkwardness replaced by a comfortable silence. Akshara took a sip of her coffee, watching Shubman as he adjusted his seat, before breaking the silence.
"Toh, practice kaise chal rahi hai? World Cup ki tayari?" Akshara asked, leaning in slightly, her voice curious.
Shubman leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Achha chal raha hai. Thoda pressure hai, par practice mein maza aa raha hai. Aapke ghar waale kaise hain?"
"Sab theek hai," Akshara replied, her voice warm. "Anika bhi kaafi excited hai match's ke liye."
Shubman raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, she can come to stedium whenever match's are in Mumbai, I will give her passes."
Akshara smiled and shook her head. "Nahi, semester exams ke liye prepare kar rahi hai. Distract ho jaayegi"
Shubman chuckled, a little relieved. "Haan, sahi kaha. Agar wo match dekhne aayi, toh poora focus hi chala jayega."
"Exactly," Akshara agreed, then changed the topic with a hint of excitement. "Waise, Prarthana ne mujhe wedding reception ka invitation diya hai. Tum bhi jaoge?"
Shubman nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "Haan ICT ke saare members bhi wahan honge."
Akshara smiled. "Oh yeh toh bohot acchi baat hai, sab se milna bhi hoga. It'll be nice to catch up with everyone."
There was a brief silence before Shubman leaned forward slightly, his voice low and sincere. "Agar tumhe koi problem na ho, tum mere sath chal sakti ho Benglore"
Akshara’s smile softened, and she felt a flutter of excitement at his words. There was something so genuine in the way he said it, something she wasn’t expecting.
"Thankyou, mujhe pata nhi tha akele kaise jaana, Aditi nhi aa sakti." she said, her voice teasing but warm.
Shubman smiled, feeling both nervous and excited at the same time. "Thik hai, toh tume mere sath chalogi, Benglore."
The conversation took a more comfortable, easy tone, both of them realizing that even if things weren’t perfect yet, they were making progress. And for the first time in a while, Akshara felt good about where things were going with Shubman.
Akshara was laughing softly at something Shubman had just said when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen—home. A sudden realization hit her; it was already nine at night. Her café should have been closed by five or six.
She quickly picked up the call. "Hello?"
"Aree Akshara, beta tu ab tak ghar nahi aayi?" her mother’s voice carried a mix of concern and strictness.
Akshara’s eyes widened as she looked at the clock behind the counter. "Arrey! Mummy, mujhe bilkul time ka pata hi nahi chala," she said, her voice slightly panicked.
Shubman, who had been observing her reaction, immediately realized the situation. "Oh damn," he muttered, standing up. "I am sorry, Akshara. Baat karte karte time ka pata hii nhi chala."
Akshara ended the call and shook her head, offering him a small smile. "Nahi, Shubman. Isme maafi ki koi baat nahi hai." She took a deep breath, her voice soft yet sincere. "Sach kahun toh... I am glad that we atleast talk without hesitation."
Shubman looked at her, something warm stirring in his chest at her words. But before he could say anything, she quickly walked towards the entrance to shut down the café.
As she locked the doors, he stood beside her. "Main tumhe drop kar doon? Mera driver bahar hi hai," he offered casually.
Akshara quickly shook her head. "Nahi, Shubman, I will manage"
"Lekin raat ka waqt hai, Akshara," he said, a slight frown forming on his forehead. "Akele mat jao."
"Main manage kar lungi—"
"I insist ," he cut her off, his voice firm but gentle.
Akshara sighed, knowing he wouldn’t take no for an answer. "Theek hai," she murmured.
As they sat in the car, the atmosphere was quiet, yet it wasn’t awkward. Shubman found himself stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye, a strange but pleasant flutter in his stomach.
Akshara, on the other hand, tried to play it cool, looking out of the window, but her heart was doing somersaults. Shubman Gill was actually dropping her home.
As the car stopped in front of her house, she turned to him with a small smile. "Thanks, Shubman."
"Goodnight, Akshara," he said, his voice softer than usual.
She stepped out of the car, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in her chest as she walked toward her house. Before unlocking the door, she smiled like a complete fool, shaking her head at herself.
As she entered, the house was mostly dark. Her parents had already gone to sleep, but in the living room, her bhabhi, Meera, was sitting on the couch with a knowing smile.
"Madam, badi der ho gayi aaj," Meera teased, raising an eyebrow.
Akshara plopped down beside her, grinning. "Bhabhi, aapko pata hai aaj kya hua?"
Meera crossed her arms. "Kya?"
Akshara took a deep breath, excitement bubbling in her tone. "Shubman aur maine pehli baar itni lambi baat ki bina kisi awkwardness ke!"
Meera’s eyes twinkled. "Ohho, waah! Kya baat hai!"
Akshara leaned forward. "Aur jaane se pehle, usne insist kiya ki mujhe drop kare kyunki raat ho gayi thi!"
Meera clapped her hands together dramatically. "He actually cares for you Akshu, maybe love–"
Akshara rolled her eyes. "Bhabhi, aap phir se shuru ho gayi, we are just trying to give eachother's chance, trying to understand each other."
Meera smirked, leaning in. "Haan haan, tum log bas try kar rahe ho, par teri chamakti aankhein aur gulabi gaal kuch aur hi keh rahe hain."
Akshara’s eyes widened. "Bhabhi!" She touched her cheeks, realizing they were indeed warm.
Meera grinned mischievously. "Sharam se laal ho rahi ho, Akshu!"
Akshara groaned, covering her face. "Uff, aap na!"
Meera just laughed. "Maine kaha tha na? Jab waqt aayega, pyaar chupke se apna raasta khud bana lega!"
Akshara shook her head, smiling to herself. Maybe, just maybe, bhabhi ki is right.