Rent Free

12.Divulgence

You were just entering the bedroom, holding the folded clothes from the laundry, when you heard the front door open and close.

The sound was followed by your daughter's cheerful ones, indicating what has been the routine for a couple of weeks now.

Placing the folded clothes in your wardrobe, you walked back to the living room where the rest of the laundry was.

"You're five minutes early," you said, looking at Shubman who was already seated by the play mat, his kitbag resting against the coffee table.

"So you were waiting for me," he smiled, showing you his dimples as he picked your daughter up in his arms.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself," you rolled your eyes playfully, moving to sit beside the father and daughter.

He leaned towards you, placing a kiss on your cheek before letting Nini play with her plushies again.

"Baby, I wanted to ask you," he started and you looked at him again. "Di wanted to stay in Fazilka for a while, before leaving."

"Leaving?" You perked up. "Why?"

"I asked her the same," Shubman replied. "She reminded me that she still has a job back in Canada and couldn't babysit me forever."

"Speaking of which," you said, proceeding to fold the laundry. "You do practice here but you haven't gone home in a long time, right?"

"I do have a home here," he mumbled, kissing the top of Nini's head as she sat on his lap.

"The apartment near the stadium," you said and he shook his head as a 'no.'

"Here," he held her tiny hands in his, cradling her while you felt like you could become diabetic.

Shubman stayed silent for a few more seconds, waiting for the right moment.

"My parents called," he started again and you dropped the t-shirt in your hand. "They want to meet you both."

He told his parents two days after he'd discovered it. They were too stunned to speak first.

And like you, said that it was too much to process. But they came around very soon.

Grandparents, you know.

Sometimes, having a grandchild does its own magic.

"Honestly, they're so excited," Shubman continued. "I was thinking that maybe the four of us could go together."

And were you even thinking of saying 'no?'

-

The flight was not as choppy as you'd expected it to be.

Your daughter fell asleep in her father's arms, and by the time she woke up, you'd landed already.

Shahneel helped you with the bag you usually used for Nini's essentials, while Shubman's bodyguard did the same with the luggage on the conveyor belt.

"She's fallen asleep again," you said in a low tone as her head rested softly over your shoulder.

After getting hold of the baby blanket, Shubman moved closer, taking her in his arms.

"We got through Ahmedabad without anyone getting prior notice," he spoke while covering her with the blanket. "But I'm not sure about here."

"What does that mean?" You asked, looking at him and Shahneel.

"Is it okay if there are a few people waiting outside?" She asked and you got it.

"Paparazzi?" You asked again and she nodded. "If we could just cover her-"

You paused because Shubman was already doing what you were about to say, adjusting the blanket to make sure her face wasn't revealed.

"Okay?" He asked and you nodded.

"Much better," you answered as your daughter's head rested on his shoulder.

"Good to go," Shahneel mumbled before taking the lead.

As you and Shubman followed, you didn't know why your heart was beating so fast.

Neither of you wanted your daughter's face to be out there, to pick apart or even be shown until she was old enough to make that decision for herself.

You both were assertive about making sure she had privacy in her childhood.

As lights flashed, you didn't look.

You held one arm of Shubman who held Nini's head carefully, made sure the blanket didn't fall off and remained.

All thoughts and voices were blocked from your mind until you reached the car waiting outside.

Shahneel got in first, holding your hand as she did, prompting you to get in too.

Once you were inside the car, you got your one year old on your lap, still covered in the blanket.

The door closed and your 6' 1" human got on the passenger's side.

"Now I get Virat bhai," he said with a small sigh of relief.

Finally letting out the breath you didn't know you were holding, you looked at your daughter's sleeping face.

You know what comes next.

As the car, thankfully having tinted windows, started moving, Shahneel wanted to hold Nini.

You let her, and Shubman was making sure that the car's temperature was perfect for your daughter.

After a long thirty minutes of silence and him turning back frequently to see how she was doing, you took your phone out of your bag.

Your mind is intrusive. You could prove it with the way you started googling only the cricketer's name.

Because now comes the crazier part, you thought, as you read the title of an article published less than fifteen minutes back.

'Shubman Gill has a love child?'