The Rhythms Of Her Dreams✨️

23. The Media Fuss✨️

It had all started innocently enough. Kaira Malhan, sitting comfortably in her room, had been scrolling through her Instagram feed when Shubman Gill's latest post appeared. It was a simple photo of him in the middle of a cricket match, smiling as usual, his dimples accentuating his charm. But today, she felt different. There was something in the way he looked in that photo that made her feel like it was time to act. She’d admired him for so long, silently, from afar. Maybe it was time to step out of the shadows and do something bold.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, her thoughts racing. She didn’t want to comment from her personal account — that would be too obvious. She’d created a new account, one that no one knew about, one where she could be a ghost in the digital world. She typed out a comment, her heart pounding. It was simple, a little playful, something that could easily be ignored. But it wasn’t. Not by him.

"Looking good on the field, Shubman. Keep smashing it!" she wrote, clicking send before she could second-guess herself.

She leaned back in her chair, waiting for the anxiety to subside. What had she just done?

Not even an hour later, her phone buzzed with a notification. Shubman Gill replied to your comment. Her breath caught in her throat. She hesitated, then opened it.

"Thanks! Always a pleasure seeing fans support. You keep smashing it too!"

A part of her was giddy. He had replied to her. But she knew better than to let it go to her head. It was probably just his polite way of responding to everyone. Still, there was something about it, the casual tone, the way he’d acknowledged her.

The next day, Kaira’s phone was buzzing incessantly. She had no idea why, but as soon as she checked the notifications, her heart sank. The media had already picked up on the interaction. Headlines blared across social media: "Shubman Gill’s Secret Girlfriend Revealed?" The comment section exploded with speculation. Who is this mysterious fan? Is she the one?"

Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t supposed to go this far.

Shubman, meanwhile, sat in his hotel room, scrolling through his Instagram feed. He saw the comment — the same one he’d replied to yesterday — and then he saw the flood of speculation that followed. There was no hiding it now. The rumor mill was in full force, and it wasn’t just about a comment. It was about a new relationship.

It didn’t take long for the media to latch onto the name that had everyone talking: Sara Tendulkar. The media was relentless, posting pictures of Sara with Shubman from events years ago, digging up old friendships and public moments. The internet was certain they were back together, reigniting old flames. #ShubmanSara was trending.

But here’s the thing: Shubman knew exactly who was behind that account. He didn’t need to see the name; he recognized the tone, the subtle playfulness. Kaira. Of course, it was Kaira. She had no idea that a harmless comment would lead to this media frenzy.

He laughed to himself, shaking his head. I’m not going to let this ruin my day, he thought, brushing it off. But deep inside, he knew he had to act. This was no longer just about one silly comment. It was about his reputation, his relationship — or rather, the lack of one.

The next few days were a blur of rumors and questions. Kaira had tried to ignore it, but the pressure was building. The media wouldn’t let go. Everyone was looking for answers, and the longer Shubman stayed silent, the louder the speculation grew.

Finally, the day came. Shubman was invited to a popular reality TV show, "The Truth Behind the Headlines". The cameras rolled, the host smiled at him, and the questions began.

"So, Shubman," the host began, grinning widely, "The world has been abuzz with rumors about your personal life. There’s been talk of a mysterious woman commenting on your Instagram, and well, people are starting to think that someone special might be in the picture. Care to clear the air for us?"