The Rhythms Of Her Dreams✨️

10. The Ticket Story✨️

Kaira walked through the door of her home, her mind still buzzing from the coffee with Shubman. The evening had been perfect—calm, easy, and filled with the kind of conversation that made her feel like maybe this wasn't just a fleeting moment. She was still caught up in the warmth of the evening when her mom called out from the kitchen.

"Kaira, is that you?" Her mother's voice echoed through the house.

"Yeah, Mom, I'm home!" Kaira called back, slipping off her shoes by the door.

Her mother appeared in the living room a moment later, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "How was the match? You looked so happy when you left. Did you have a good time?"

Kaira froze for a second. She hadn't prepared for this. She hadn't exactly told her parents about the invitation from Shubman. The whole thing had been spontaneous, and she didn't want to get into details—especially not now.

"Yeah, it was great. Really fun," she said quickly, trying to sound casual. She leaned against the doorframe, hoping she could brush past this without too many questions.

Her dad walked into the room, noticing the subtle shift in her expression. "What's this about a match? I didn't even know you were going," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Did you get a ticket?"

Kaira's heart beat a little faster, but she forced a smile. "Oh, yeah. One of my friends from college gave it to me last-minute. They couldn't make it, so I got lucky."

Her mom gave her a knowing look, one that Kaira knew meant she was being skeptical. "A last-minute ticket? From a friend? We don't even know anyone who works at the stadium."

Kaira scrambled to come up with a reason, a cover story that sounded plausible. "Well, you know, it's just one of those things. A friend of a friend knew someone who was giving away a ticket. I didn't even plan on going, but it seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up." She laughed nervously, hoping her parents would buy it.

Her father raised an eyebrow but didn't press any further. "Alright, alright. Just don't make it a habit of disappearing without telling us where you're going next time."

"Of course not," Kaira said, letting out a small sigh of relief. She quickly changed the subject, wanting to move away from the topic before her parents dug any deeper. "Anyway, I ran into a few of my classmates there, so it wasn't like I was all alone."

Her mother seemed satisfied with the answer, though she still looked a little curious. "Okay, well, I'm glad you had fun. But next time, let us know if you're going to something like that."

Kaira nodded enthusiastically, her smile a little too wide. "Definitely. I will. I promise."

As her parents turned back to their evening routines, Kaira exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The last thing she wanted was for them to start asking questions about how exactly she'd ended up at the match—and with Shubman, no less.

But the whole thing felt like a secret she was eager to keep, at least for now. After all, she wasn't sure what it all meant yet—just that something was definitely beginning, and she didn't want to complicate things with too many questions.

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A Month later,

Kaira sat at her desk, the dim glow of her study lamp casting shadows over her textbooks. She should have been studying—her exams were just around the corner, and the pressure was starting to build. But every time she tried to focus, her mind wandered back to Shubman.

She had spent the last few days replaying their conversations in her head, each interaction leaving her with a different feeling—excitement, curiosity, even confusion. It wasn't just the thrill of meeting a famous cricketer anymore. It was something deeper. Something she couldn't quite put into words.

Kaira stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over the screen. She had gone over their messages a dozen times since he invited her to another match. She had to admit it—it was starting to feel like there was a real connection forming. But the uncertainty lingered, like a fog she couldn't shake.

Is this just a casual thing to him? she wondered. Or does he feel the same way?

The little bubble of doubt gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the fact that he had reached out to her, not once, but twice now. He had made an effort, and that meant something. Didn't it?

She glanced at her clock—only an hour before she needed to get back to her studies. But the thought of studying was just as overwhelming as everything else on her mind right now. She knew she couldn't put off her exams forever, but she also couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of seeing Shubman again.

With a sigh, Kaira turned her attention to her phone once more, scrolling through the messages they'd exchanged. She smiled at one of his replies—his usual mix of humor and sincerity. It felt so natural, the way he'd opened up to her about his life and his career. He had a way of making her feel like they were in the same world, despite the fact that their lives were so different.

Should I message him again? she thought. But then, almost immediately, she stopped herself. No. I need to focus on my exams first.

She wasn't going to let anything distract her—not now. She had worked so hard to get to this point in her degree, and she wasn't about to let a new friendship or whatever this was with Shubman derail that.

Still, there was something undeniably exciting about the idea of seeing him again, of continuing the conversations they'd started. And, honestly, the way he made her feel—like she mattered, like she wasn't just some fan—was unlike anything she'd experienced before.

Kaira set her phone down with a quiet resolve. Later. She would have time to think about this later. Right now, she needed to focus on her exams.

But as she looked out the window, the cool night air brushing against her cheek, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger than she could have ever expected. And that thought, more than anything, kept her awake as the night stretched on.

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-Miss. Fable.

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