Night of 25TH

CHAP 73: Night of 25th

Past :

Shubman

She had seemed visibly tired and very weak all morning, but during the team gathering, she still managed to crack a smile. We were seated on the charpai, listening to the team joking around on the terrace after dinner. Chucky, who was covered with a blanket because she felt cold, was in my arms. It was just a few minutes before midnight when she looked up at me, prompting me to look down at her with a smile. I stroked her cheek as she managed to whisper a few words, "I want to tell you something."

"Me too, darling," I answered.

Pouting weakly, her eyes drooping, she whined, "No, let me go first."

I smiled and nodded, encouraging her to continue. She took a deep breath, gathering the last bit of her strength.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

My heart jumped, danced, and twirled—she had finally said it, after four years of waiting. I pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. What we didn't realize was that the background had gone silent. Our families and team were watching us with loving eyes, but we were too engrossed in our world to even notice.

Before I could utter my heart out, she leaned forward and brushed our noses together. "It might seem silly to the world, but now I can proudly say this fangirl got her chance, and I'll wait for you," she said, her eyes shining with love brighter than any star. Her body slumped in my arms, and I wasn't sure what happened, but I hugged her happily.

"I love you too, my love. I will love you always and forever," I whispered, holding her tightly.

As I hugged her tight, I couldn't shake off the feeling of something being off. Why wasn't she responding to my embrace? My heart raced with a sense of dread. My eyes drifted towards her mum, and what I saw made my blood run cold. She let out a gasp of horror, her expression contorted in shock, sending shudders through everyone on the terrace.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I gently pulled away from Chucky, hoping against hope that I was wrong, that everything was fine. But as I looked at her pale face, her still form, reality crashed down on me like a tidal wave.

"No," I whispered, the word escaping my lips in a hoarse, broken voice. Panic surged within me as I realized that Chucky wasn't just sleeping—she was gone. The world around me blurred as grief enveloped me, drowning out everything else. All I could do was hold her lifeless body, wishing desperately for this nightmare to end.

With a nervous laugh, I shook my head, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere. "Guys, relax, she's just messing around, like always," I said, my voice wavering slightly. "Come on, Chucky, wake up. Enough of the drama," I added, gently nudging her shoulder, hoping for a response, any sign that she was still with us.

Ishan held up a hand, his voice faltering as he struggled to find the right words. "Shubman... let her go, she's no..." He couldn't bring himself to complete the sentence.

Anger surged within me as I glared at him, my heart pounding with denial. "What?" I demanded, my voice rising with frustration. "Stop saying that! She's just asleep. I'll take her to the room. Goodnight, everyone," I said tersely, determination hardening my voice as I cradled  Chucky in my arms, refusing to accept the truth that threatened to shatter my world.

Ignoring the murmurs and concerned looks from the others, I held Chucky close to my chest and made my way through the silent terrace, my steps heavy with disbelief. Ishan's words echoed in my mind, but I pushed them away, refusing to entertain the idea that Chucky was gone.