Destined

First Time For Everything

July 2018

London, England

Sara held up two different dresses to her chest, analyzing the reflection in the mirror. One was white and flowy while the other was short and indigo coloured.

"Hmm the white is classic, but the other is hotter.."

She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. Was she seriously thinking like that?

Truth was she was beyond nervous, anxious, and totally on the edge.

He would be reaching soon and she was nowhere near ready. Her anxiety had led to a lot of pacing and wasted time overthinking.

Friends from India had visited her many times but she had never been scrambled like this.

The tug in her chest felt how different this was.

She was eager to impress him, eager to plan the perfect schedule, eager to make the best of their time.

Shubman had crept into her life quite unexpectedly. He was playful, fierce, witty, and just plain addictive to talk to. She hoped the trip would be enough for him.

She didn't yet understand her presence itself was enough.

Sara slipped into the simple white dress, knowing it suited her best.

There was a knock at her bedroom door.

"Dude I'm ordering lunch, do you want me to get something for you and your man?" Alya yelled.

"No, we're going to meet at a cafe for lunch. Also- he's not my man."

Alya chuckled. Sara always teased about her Tinder dates so she relished being on the other side. And she did have to take revenge for the nights Sara would be up all night loudly chatting and laughing with that Punjabi boy.

Sara stepped out, and Alya raised her eyebrows.

"Wow looking too pretty babe. All dressed up for your non man?"

"Dudee we're really just friends!"

"That blush on your face says otherwise. But go on, enjoy your very friendly date."

As Sara rolled her eyes and began looking for her purse, Shubman peered out the taxi observing the gloomy London skyline.

He was heading to his hotel room to freshen up before seeing Sara. He had left Leicester right after a morning training session, and he did not want to show up haggard to his first solo meeting with her.

His phone rang, and the caller id raised his blood pressure.

"Hi papa, just reached London."

"Acha beta, drive teek hai?"

"Haan, little sleepy that's all."

"Okay, okay. Stay safe and don't be out late. Anywhere go with Suveer."

Shubman shot a glance to his friend Suveer, who suppressed a laugh.

Shubman had convinced his family that in between his cricket training camps, he and Suveer were going on a boys trip to London and attending some sport events.

The reality was Shubman had planned for a few days of uninterrupted time with Sara while Suveer was driving out to Brighton to meet his girlfriend separately. They wouldn't even be in the same city.