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Two years had passed since that memorable night in Punjab, and life for Preethi and Shubman had settled into a comfortable rhythm in their shared apartment.
It was a modern space in Mumbai, with a mix of sleek, contemporary design and cozy, personal touches that made it feel like home.
The living room, where they spent most of their time, had a large couch facing a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, a coffee table littered with magazines, remote controls, and the occasional mug from a hurried morning.
Preethi, now 24, was seated at the dining table, her laptop open in front of her, fingers flying across the keyboard as she booked tickets for Virat, her boss.
As his personal assistant, her days were filled with organizing his schedule, managing his travel, and ensuring everything ran smoothly, a job she'd mastered with efficiency and dedication. Despite the demands of her job, she loved it—especially since it kept her close to the world Shubman and her brother Sai thrived in.
Shubman, now 29, was sprawled on the couch, engrossed in a cricket match on TV. He was dressed casually in sweatpants and a faded T-shirt, his hair slightly tousled from a lazy afternoon. Every so often, he glanced over at Preethi, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched her in concentration.
"Babe, you're gonna burn a hole in that keyboard if you keep typing like that," he teased, his deep voice cutting through the sound of the match.
He shifted his position on the couch, his eyes gleaming with playful affection.
Preethi didn't look up immediately, focused on getting the details right. "Just a second, Shub," she muttered, her tone distracted.
"Virat needs these tickets by tonight, and I swear, if I mess this up, he's going to lose his shit."
Shubman chuckled, muting the TV and rolling off the couch to walk over to her. "Virat can chill for a minute," he said, his voice dropping to a low, endearing murmur as he leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. "You've been at this all day. Take a break, baby."
She finally looked up at him, a smile tugging at her lips despite the stress. "I'll take a break when I'm done," she insisted, but there was a softness in her eyes as she gazed at him.
