Stay With Me

1

Four years ago; 2019,January

Today the weather was nice. Not a single cloud in the sky, and the sun was shining. All in all, it was a perfect day.

Or it would have been, if Shadab was free to do what he wanted to, but instead he had to take care of his media duties, as they were 'one of the most important part in the life of an athlete', at least according to Babar. The only good thing was that he had been paired together with Shaheen, so it was a bit less boring. The key word here being 'a bit'.

It was like there was nothing interesting going on anymore in the world. Or so it seemed through the questions of the journalists, they were asking the same, boring questions over and over again, so Shadab lost interest in the interview after just 10 minutes and spent the next half hour with watching the sun and envying it's freedom. Shadab knew he was being ridiculous, but who could blame him - after all, there were better things a 20 years old boy could spend his time with, like gushing about a certain Indian player or better yet, by talking to him.

That was why he startled, when he heard his name, before he composed himself and sat straighter in the chair.

"Shadab, so I wanted to ask what the deal with you and Virat Kohli was?" He could have laughed out at that if his heart wasn't racing crazy, like it was about to jump out of his chest.

Of course, they would ask such questions. They were the media, after all. Preying rumours wherever and whenever they could. And that just because they saw them both a couple of times together.

Yes, and it had nothing to do with the fact that after almost every Pakistan-India match, the two of you talked and you hugged him like your life depended on it and didn't even try to hide your appreciation for him. A sarcastic voice said in Shadab's mind that reminded him awfully lot of the Pakistani captain, aka Babar, but he ignored it because it always seemed to disagree with everything. No matter what he said.

Before he could come up with an answer that won't have their PR manager's panties twisted, Shaheen decided to speak up. "Well, to be honest, we're still waiting for Virat to propose to our boy."

The teasing was evident in Shaheen's voice, and so everyone besides him - meaning Shaheen and the three journalists - started to laugh at that, and Shadab couldn't help the blush creeping his face.

God, have mercy on me.

After a few seconds passed, Shaheen continued - but this time with a serious voice. "But now, for seriously, they're good friends. A lot of people think that we players hate the respective other team and therefore their members, but that's not the case. I, myself, am also good friends with a few of the Indian players." Patting Shadab on the shoulder, the younger added. "It's actually nothing extraordinary, but what this man and Virat have, that's friendship on an entire other level."

Shaheen went on, his voice rising as he spoke."I remember the last time we were playing there, and pre-game Virat was teasing him - calling Shadab's name the whole time. I just say that when it comes to matters of heart, nationalities and rivalries don't matter."

Shadab looked at Shaheen, chucking nervously along with everything the latter said, although he was cursing the younger in his head and wanted to kick him hard for not letting the topic with Virat come to an end.

"Shadab?" The bald journalist in the front looked at him as if to confirm Shaheen's statement.

"Exactly, what Shaheen said. We're good friends."

Shadab hoped that the topic of Virat was closed for now after his response, but of fucking course the idiot next to him chose this moment to speak up.

"But now thinking about it, maybe we should stop letting them meet, until there's an official proposal from Mr. Kohli's side".

Shabab's head turned toward Shaheen so quickly he feared he would get whiplash.

Remember, if Pakistan lost a good bowler tonight, it would definitely be the fault of said bowler.

__

Later that night, after Shadab finished his workout, the phone rang and he picked up without looking at the caller ID- a treacherous habit he inherited from his father.

"Maybe it's really time for me to propose  you." Shadab knew the deep voice teasing him very well, and it nearly caused him to drop his phone.

"Hey, V... You know Shaheen, he was just joking." He gave an awkward laugh from himself.

"Sure? We wouldn't want you to not to be able to meet me, would we?"

Shadab's ear turned red at the tips, and he was about to say something when there was noise being heard in the background before the news came Shadab knew would come, and he was not wrong.

"I've to go now, Anushka's calling." Virat said, sounding remorseful.

Shadab managed a strained smile, "Yeah, no problem. Goodnight. "

"Goodnight Shady, and say hi to Aunty." Maybe it was just his imagination, but Virat's voice was much softer than usually.

Shadab nodded at that but then realized that Virat couldn't see him so he made a noise of agreement but it was too late. Virat had already hung up.

He closed his eyes, and leaned back against the wall.

What a way to ruin your mood.

That night Shadab dreamed of Virat proposing him at a candle light dinner and he accepted it. It felt so real that when he woke up in his cold room to an empty bed, it came crashing upon him that it was nothing but a dream.

'Well, at least I've Virat in my dreams' Shadab laughed bittersweetly at his thoughts.

-
𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚋 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙽𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖, 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚅𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙽𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚗 (𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠) 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎.

♡ Hayat