The Rhythms Of Her Dreams✨️

19. A Year, A Moment✨️

It had been months since the accident. Kaira was no longer confined to the sterile white bed of the hospital; her body, though still fragile, had begun to heal in ways that felt miraculous. She was no longer struggling for each breath, no longer fighting the pain with every move. But still, her muscles were weak, and her body wasn’t yet ready for the normal pace of life. Yet, she was smiling more often these days, and the twinkle in her eyes was brighter than ever.

Today, there was a feeling of calm in the air, something that felt almost sacred. The clock on the wall ticked away, marking the passage of time, and the calendar sheet hung on the wall in her room. Her fingers traced the date with a small smile. It had been one year since that day. That day when everything had changed. One year since she had met Shubman, the cricketer whose smile had ignited something in her heart. One year since their lives had intertwined in a way neither of them had expected.

She was ready for today. It had taken a lot of mental preparation, and it hadn’t been easy, but she had pushed through. She had always loved Shubman, but now—now it was about more than just love. It was about trust, the kind of trust that had taken time to build, the kind that had been tested and found to be stronger than ever.

Shubman had planned the day, and Kaira had only one request: simplicity. No extravagance, no spotlight, no over-the-top gestures. She wanted something different—something that felt real. No media attention, no fuss. Just them. And he had promised her just that.

Kaira slipped on her favorite blue dress, the one that always made her feel confident, yet it was simple enough for her to move in comfortably. She smiled at herself in the mirror, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over her. She wasn’t who she had been that day at the stadium, wide-eyed and unsure of what might come next. She had grown, learned, and healed—and now, she was ready to embrace whatever the future held with him.

As she was finishing getting ready, her phone buzzed on the table, and she quickly picked it up. It was a message from Shubman.

"Ready?"

She smiled, her fingers quickly typing back.

"Born ready."

Just as she sent the message, there was a knock on the door. Her heart skipped a beat, and she opened it to find Shubman standing there, looking effortlessly handsome in a simple T-shirt and jeans. His eyes softened when he saw her, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause.

“You look beautiful,” he said softly, his gaze lingering on her.

“Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself,” she teased, her smile playful.

He grinned, his dimples making an appearance, and reached out to gently take her hand. “Shall we?”

With a simple nod, they left her apartment together, the soft evening air cool against their skin. The streets were calm, and there was a quiet magic in the way the world seemed to slow down for them, as if time itself had decided to give them a break.

Shubman led her to a small, cozy café on a quiet corner of the city, far from the bustling crowds and flashing cameras. The kind of place that didn’t care who you were or what you did. It was simple, yet elegant. The soft hum of indie music floated through the air, adding to the atmosphere. It was exactly what she wanted: intimate and peaceful.

They sat at a corner table by the window, the evening sun casting golden light through the glass. Their conversation flowed easily, as if the months they had spent together had built an unspoken rhythm between them. They talked about everything—his tour in New Zealand, the little details of her recovery, the mundane things that made life feel beautiful in its simplicity.