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A few weeks later, after a gruelling training session, Shubman came home feeling completely drained. His body ached from hours of intense practice, and the exhaustion was evident on his face.
Kamari was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when she heard the front door open and Shubman step inside. She immediately stood up, sensing his weariness.
He dropped his gym bag by the door, loosening his collar as he walked toward her. "God, I'm dead," he muttered, collapsing onto the couch, letting his body sink into the cushions with a groan.
"I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
Kamari chuckled softly, walking over to him with concern in her eyes. "Poor thing. You really pushed yourself today, huh?"
"Don't even ask," he replied, looking up at her with a tired smile. "I've been running drills for hours, and my legs feel like they're gonna give out."
He winced as he rubbed his shoulder. "But, it's all for the game, right?"
She sat beside him, gently taking his hand. "Of course. But right now, you need to relax. Let's get you out of these sweaty clothes, yeah?"
Shubman looked at her with tired eyes, his lips curving into a faint smile. "You're too good to me, Kamari."
"I know," she teased, her voice light, but her gaze soft. She helped him sit up, tugging gently at the hem of his shirt.
"Come on, let's get this off. You're gonna be sore if you don't unwind."
With a mix of exhaustion and relief, Shubman raised his arms, letting her pull his sweaty t-shirt over his head.
His skin was slick with perspiration, his muscles still tense from the long practice. Kamari's hands brushed against his skin as she carefully undressed him, her touch soft but purposeful.
"You're such a mess," she muttered, though her voice was filled with affection.
"You should've seen me this morning," Shubman replied, closing his eyes as he leaned back, enjoying the brief relief.
"I couldn't even get out of bed. My body was like, 'Nope, not today.' But I had to push through. Coach wouldn't let me off the hook."
Kamari shook her head, her fingers running down his back, working out the tension in his shoulders.
"You really need to listen to your body sometimes, Shubman. Pushing yourself so hard isn't always the answer."
He exhaled, letting his head fall back against the couch. "I know, I know. But it's hard not to. I keep thinking about the upcoming matches. If I don't give it my all now, I might fall behind."
"I get it," she said, her voice steady and comforting. "But don't forget about yourself in the process. You're not a machine, you know."
Shubman smiled softly at her concern, his hand finding hers. "You're right. It's just hard to switch off sometimes. You wouldn't believe the pressure, Kamari. Every day, it's more drills, more practice. It's like my whole life is one big training session."
She nodded, understanding. "I can only imagine. But you're doing great. Just... let me take care of you for tonight, okay? You've worked so hard. Now it's time to relax."
She helped him slowly slide out of his shorts, revealing his tired, muscular frame.
She moved to grab a fresh towel from the bathroom, but he stopped her with a lazy hand on her arm.
"Kamari... I'm really sorry if I've been distant lately," he murmured, his voice low.
She looked at him, pausing her movements, her expression softening. "You've been busy. I understand."
"No, I mean," he began, his voice almost like a confession, "I've been so wrapped up in everything that I forgot to just... be with you. I don't want to take you for granted."
Kamari's heart softened. She placed the towel aside and sat down beside him, brushing a strand of hair out of his face.
"You never take me for granted, Shubman. You're here with me right now, aren't you?"
He smiled, his exhaustion mixed with gratitude. "Yeah, I guess I am." He took a deep breath, letting the moment settle between them.
"You really don't know how much this means to me, Kamari. Just... having you here when I need to unwind. I've got so many people around me, but it's different with you. You make it all feel... worth it."
Kamari's heart fluttered, and she leaned in, kissing his forehead softly. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. You don't have to thank me, Shubman. We're in this together."
Shubman looked up at her with soft eyes, his heart full. "I don't deserve you."
"You already have me," she replied, her voice gentle, "and that's more than enough."
With her comforting presence and hands working on his back, Shubman felt the weight of the day start to melt away.
For the first time in a while, he let himself fully relax, focusing on the quiet, tender connection between them.
Kamari glanced at him, catching the peaceful expression on his face. "Now, let's get you into bed. You need your rest."
Shubman let out a lazy laugh. "You're not letting me off easy, huh?"
She shook her head with a playful grin. "Not even close. Now, up you go. We've got some rest to catch up on."
As they moved to the bedroom, Shubman wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
"Thanks for taking care of me, Kamari. You're my favourite person in the world."
Kamari smiled, feeling her heart swell with love. "And you're mine."
The rest of the night was spent in quiet comfort, Shubman drifting off to sleep with Kamari curled up beside him, both content in the knowledge that, no matter the pressures of the world outside, they had each other.
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