The Rhythms Of Her Dreams✨️

13. The Truth Unveiled✨️

Kaira's heart raced as she sat on the couch with her family, the soft hum of the TV filling the room. The match between India and New Zealand had begun hours ago, and the tension had been building all day. Shubman had already hit a few solid runs, and now, in the second inning, he was on the verge of something historic. Kaira, unable to focus on anything else, kept her eyes glued to the screen, occasionally glancing at her family, who were just as engrossed in the game as she was.

"Come on, Shubman!" Arjun, her younger brother, cheered, his eyes wide with excitement. Kaira smiled at her brother's enthusiasm, but her own heart thumped louder as she watched him take a stance, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

The ball flew in fast, and Shubman swung his bat, sending the ball soaring past the boundary for a glorious four. The stadium erupted in applause, and Kaira felt a mix of pride and admiration swell in her chest.

Then, the moment arrived. Shubman was close to the century. She could feel the weight of the crowd's anticipation even from her living room. The ball came at him once again, and with one clean strike, he hit it to the ropes for a perfect six, bringing his century to life. Kaira's heart stopped for a split second before it leapt in pure excitement.

She had been watching for this moment—the moment he would get the century that she knew he deserved. The iconic bow-down celebration followed instantly, Shubman bowing to the crowd as he raised his bat high in the air. The television commentator's voice echoed in the room, highlighting his flawless performance. Kaira could hardly contain her smile, her heart swelling with pride.

"That's my boy!" Her mother exclaimed from beside her, eyes wide as she beamed at the screen.

Kaira smiled faintly, but her mind was elsewhere. Her thoughts were already racing ahead to the inevitable conversation she knew she would have to have with her family, the one she had been avoiding for days now. As the match progressed, she leaned back into the couch, her fingers tapping nervously against her phone. She knew that once this match ended, there would be no more avoiding it. She had to come clean about everything.

As the match finally ended, Shubman's performance was lauded by both his teammates and the media. Kaira watched him celebrate with the team, her phone in hand, ready to face her family's questions.

"So, how are you feeling about the match?" her mom asked, glancing at Kaira, her voice filled with pride.

Kaira swallowed, her fingers tightening around her phone. She glanced over at her dad, who had been quiet up until now. He turned his head slightly, noticing her unease.

"Why don't you tell us, Kaira? What's been going on?" he asked gently, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.

Kaira took a deep breath, setting her phone down beside her. The words she had been holding back for so long finally spilled out.

"Okay, I need to tell you everything," she said, her voice soft but determined. "It's not just that I've been watching the matches. There's been something... someone."

Her parents exchanged a quick glance, their faces a mix of confusion and curiosity. Kaira could see the questions in their eyes. Her mother leaned forward, her expression gentle. "Someone? What are you talking about, Kaira?"

"I've been talking to Shubman... for a while now," Kaira confessed, her heart racing. "We've been in touch since the match, and well... he noticed me after I posted about him on Instagram. I messaged him a few times, and we started talking." She paused, her breath catching in her throat. "I didn't know how to tell you, but it's been going on for a few months."

Her parents stared at her in silence, their eyes wide with shock. Kaira continued before they could speak.

"And the tickets... for the match, that was... that was from him. I didn't know how to explain it, so I kept it to myself."