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October 2, 2024
The crisp October air slapped Shubman Gill's face as he strolled along the sidewalk with his teammates, their breaths visible in the cold.
The streets were buzzing with festive lights, but the winter chill was unmistakable. Shubman pulled the collar of his jacket higher, trying to fend off the cold, but the warmth of his friends' laughter and banter made up for it.
Virat, Hardik, Rohit, Ishan, KL Rahul, and Shreyas were in high spirits, the weight of practice behind them as they revelled in a rare day off.
Hardik shoved Ishan playfully, "Abe, tu toh sabse chhota hai, but still can't outrun me!"
Ishan grinned, swatting him away, while Rohit chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Bro, this is nothing. Remember the time KL nearly face-planted at the airport?" Shreyas piped in, his voice carrying over the sidewalk as the group burst into laughter.
KL Rahul rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Shut up, man. That was a one-time thing!" KL shot back, grinning despite himself.
Amid the chaos, Shubman's attention was caught by something - or rather, someone - across the street.
A girl, sitting alone on a bench near the sidewalk, her mini skirt lightly dusted with the wind. She had a turtleneck on, layered under a fitted blazer. Her hair was swept into a messy bun, and a small bindi sat elegantly on her forehead, her face reflecting the soft light from the street lamps.
There was something about the way she sat, a book in her hands, but her eyes were distant, fixed on two people ahead of her - her best friend, he realized, and her boyfriend.
Her gaze was soft, filled with affection, but as Shubman watched her, he saw the glint of sadness in her eyes. It wasn't the obvious kind, but it was there - the kind of sadness that comes from watching others share something you yearn for.
