Obsession 💌

𝟔 | 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

At the after-party, the chatter filled the room with excitement. Shubman, Ishan, KL, Hardik, and their wives strolled in, exchanging laughs and compliments.

"That dress Rhea wore at the beginning? Absolutely breathtaking," Anushka said, still in awe.

Ritika nodded enthusiastically. "It was such a statement piece. She looked like she owned the runway."

Athiya, who had been listening quietly, smiled subtly. "Yeah, she has great taste," she remarked, a knowing glint in her eye as KL chuckled beside her. They exchanged a glance, but neither revealed the connection they shared with Rhea. To everyone else, she was just another striking model—no one knew she was part of the Rahul family.

Meanwhile, the guys had moved on to their conversation. Hardik leaned in and joked, "Man, that opening girl was fire. No doubt about it."

Ishan laughed, chiming in, "Yeah, but don't get your hopes up. She looks like she could take you down if you tried anything. She's not just pretty, Hardik—she's fierce."

Shubman sat quietly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Ishan's comment hit a little too close to home, but he remained silent. His mind raced back to Rhea on that runway. He hadn't told anyone about his feelings for her; no one knew about the history they shared. To the world, she was just another model—but to him, she was so much more.

He nudged Shubman with a playful smirk. "Bro, come on, admit it. You've been staring at the runway like it's a batting pitch. What's going on?"

Shubman rolled his eyes, brushing it off. "You're talking nonsense, Ishan. Focus on your own business," he said, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

Ishan wasn't backing down. "Yeah, right. I saw that look, Shubman. You were more focused on her than you are on the ball during a match."

Shubman gave him a half-smirk. "At least I don't miss my shots," he quipped, leaning back, eyes sharp.

"Ohhh, shots fired!" Hardik chimed in, laughing as Ishan feigned a dramatic gasp.

"Okay, okay, Shubman, but seriously," Ishan said, grinning. "If that was your batting face, we'd all be bowled out."

Shubman chuckled, finally giving in a little. "I was just watching the show. Can't a guy enjoy a runway without you making a whole story out of it?"

"Sure, sure," Ishan shot back, winking. "Just know we've got our eyes on you, Romeo."

Shubman laughed, shaking his head, but the way his lips twitched hinted there was more to the story than he'd admit.

Hardik laughed, adding fuel to the fire, "Haan yaar, har jagah news mein tu hi tu hai! 'Shubman spotted with this actress, Shubman rumored with that influencer.' Bhai, kya ho raha hai?"

Shubman rolled his eyes, clearly amused but trying to keep his cool. "Arey, bas media ka drama hai. Main toh sirf coffee peene jaata hoon, aur headline ban jaati hai."

Anushka smiled knowingly. "Welcome to the life of a cricket star and heartthrob, Shubman. Par haan, media waale kuch zyada hi exaggerate karte hain."

Ishan leaned in again, not letting Shubman off the hook. "Par tu bhi na, bouncers field pe chhod aur yeh bol, kya chal raha hai? Sach bata!"

Ishan laughed loudly. "Arre, yaar! Tum toh bilkul boring ho gaye! Lekin dekhna, ab runway wali ke saath tera naam zaroor aayega. Phir mat kehna warn kiya nahi tha."

Shubman chuckled, giving Ishan a playful punch on the arm. "Tum logon ki problem yeh hai ki zyada sochne lagte ho. Chalo, chhodo yeh sab. Aaj ki raat enjoy karo."