Reethu's POV
We had arrived at the hotel just a few minutes ago, and to my dismay, due to some last-minute arrangements, Shubman and I had to share a room. Of course, this brought immense joy to Ishan and Abhishek, for reasons known only to them.
"Do you like the room?" Shubman's arms wrapped around my waist from behind, his warmth sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. "Yeah, it's nice," I replied, offering a smile over my shoulder.
"God, that was such a long flight," he groaned, nestling his head into the crook of my neck.
"If you're tired, you should sleep. Ishan and Abhishek already did," I suggested, tilting my head slightly to glance at him.
"You should come too," he urged, pulling me towards the bed. I didn't resist, knowing he would just pull me closer anyway. His arm wrapped around me, and before I knew it, I could feel his breath against my skin as he drifted off to sleep. Smiling softly, I closed my eyes, allowing the rhythm of his breathing to lull me into slumber.
But my peaceful sleep was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a ringing phone. Blinking my eyes open, I reached for my phone to answer the call, only to realize it was just an automatic spam call. Glancing at the time, I groaned inwardly—it was already 9 am.
Attempting to sit up, I found myself unable to move, pinned down by the cricketer who was practically sleeping on top of me. I was teetering on the edge of the bed, and any slight movement from him would send me tumbling to the floor.
Sure enough, he shifted, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor with the blanket draped over my head. Peering out from beneath the covers, I saw Shubman sit up, rubbing his head in confusion.
"Why are you on the floor?" he asked, his voice laced with sleep.
"Because you pushed me," I retorted, tossing a small pillow in his direction.
"Stop, that didn't even hurt," he protested, rubbing his shoulder. With a sigh, I got up, resolving to freshen up. "I'll go freshen up and come back," I announced, grabbing a towel and my toiletries.
"Yeah, okay. I'll use the other shower," he agreed, stretching lazily.
It struck me as rather odd that the hotel room came with one bed but two bathrooms—a perplexing arrangement indeed. Nonetheless, I made my way to the shower, eager to start the day afresh.
After a refreshing shower and a quick change into a comfortable grey t-shirt and black sweatpants, I emerged from the bathroom, expecting to find Shubman still occupied with his shower. However, to my surprise, he was already out, sitting on the bed shirtless, messing with his tshirt.
But as my eyes landed on him, a blush crept onto my cheeks, and I quickly averted my gaze."Um, can you please wear a shirt?" I mumbled, feeling flustered under his scrutinizing gaze.
"I thought you'd like to see me without one," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he moved to sit beside me.
"Anyway, did you sleep well?" he asked, changing the subject and easing the tension between us.
"Yeah, until a spam call interrupted me, and you pushed me to the floor," I chuckled, grateful for the change of topic.
"Sorry about that," he apologized again, his smile genuine. "It's fine," I reassured him, pushing aside the lingering embarrassment from earlier.
"You wanna head for breakfast?" Shubman suggested, and I nodded in agreement.
"I guess we can have breakfast and then figure out our plans for the day," I replied, falling into step beside him as we made our way out of the room.
As we entered the dining area, we noticed Abhishek and Ishan waiting, with Abhay looking a bit glum.
"You okay, Abhay?" I inquired, concern evident in my tone, as we approached the elevator.
"I forgot the camera at home," he muttered dejectedly, his disappointment palpable.
"It's alright. I brought mine along," I offered with a smile, hoping to cheer him up.
"Oh, thank god," he exclaimed, relief washing over his features as we stepped into the elevator.
Once we had grabbed our food and settled at a table, I felt my phone buzz with a notification.
Curious, I glanced at the screen to see an article pop up. "What's up?" Ishan asked, noticing my distracted expression.
"Just an article," I replied, setting my spoon down before opening it to read.
"Indian Cricketer Shubman Gill spotted with rumoured girlfriend, Reethu Charan, best friends Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma at the airport. It is heard that Shubman Gill is going to be engaged with Graphic Designer, Reethu Charan who happens to be a childhood best friend of Ishan Kishan."
"Bakwas log hai re. Kisi ko chodthe nahi," Abhay grumbled, shaking his head in frustration as he stuffed a spoonful of food into his mouth.
"Sorry about them," Shubman murmured sympathetically, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze mine in reassurance.
"It's alright. This is usual. I'll show you," I replied, opening my phone's gallery to pull up similar articles.
"Listen."
"Number 1. Hollywood Actor Dylan O'Brien was spotted with Reethu Charan at the store. She is rumoured to be his girlfriend.Number 2. Bollywood sensation SRK was spotted with Reethu Charan, the graphic designer of his movie.""There are so many like these," I sighed, feeling a mixture of annoyance and amusement at the ridiculous rumours.
"They even thought of you doing something with Shahrukh Khan, god," Abhay groaned, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"Yeah, but our girl has eyes only for Shubman," Ishan teased, winking playfully at me.
"Anyway, where are we going first?" Shubman interjected, steering the conversation back to our plans for the day as he took a sip of his coffee.
"The first stop is the Colosseum, and then we can decide where to go from there," Ishan replied, prompting nods of agreement from the rest of us.
"Let's go change, and then we'll meet back here," I suggested, glancing around the table before we all headed off to our respective rooms.
"Honestly, I have no idea what to wear," I confessed, sinking onto the edge of the bed as Shubman joined me. "Why don't you wear a dress? Tomorrow you can wear a shirt and pants. Alternate days," he suggested, his practicality earning him a smile from me.
"You're so smart," I remarked, grateful for his helpful suggestion making him smile. "I'll go get ready then," I announced, rising from the bed and heading towards my bag.
Shubman's POV
As I sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling absentmindedly through my phone, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me. Reethu had disappeared into the bathroom a while ago, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I wondered what she would choose to wear, what kind of dress would accentuate her beauty today.
Lost in my musings, I barely noticed the sound of the bathroom door opening until I heard the soft click of heels against the floor. Glancing up, I felt my breath catch in my throat as Reethu stepped out, a vision of elegance and grace.
She was dressed in a knee-length dress, the fabric draping perfectly over her curves. The dress was backless, the spaghetti straps crossing over her bare back in a tantalizing display. My eyes traced the delicate lines of her silhouette, taking in every detail with rapt attention.
Her hair was swept up into a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her face in a way that was both casual and alluring. Dangly earrings adorned her ears, catching the light and adding a touch of sparkle to her ensemble. She looked effortlessly beautiful, radiating confidence and charm.
"Wow," I breathed, unable to tear my gaze away from her. "You look amazing."
A faint blush tinged her cheeks as she smiled shyly, the warmth of her expression sending a surge of affection coursing through me. "Thanks," she murmured, her voice soft yet filled with warmth.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, I rose from the bed and crossed the room to stand before her. "Seriously, you take my breath away," I confessed, reaching out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was an unspoken connection between us, a silent understanding that transcended words. In that moment, all I wanted was to hold her close, to savour the feeling of her presence next to mine.
But before I could act on my impulse, she spoke, breaking the spell that had enveloped us.
"Ready to go?" she asked, her voice pulling me back to reality. "Yeah, let's go," I replied, reluctantly tearing my gaze away from her to grab the room key.
As we stood by the door, ready to embark on our day's adventures, I felt a surge of emotion welling up inside me. It was as if the world around us had faded into the background, leaving only Reethu and me in our own little bubble of intimacy.
Unable to resist the pull any longer, I reached out and gently pulled her closer, my hand finding its place on the small of her back. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she made no move to resist as I leaned in, my lips hovering just inches from hers.
And then, with a rush of courage, I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to hers in a soft, lingering kiss. Time seemed to stand still as we melted into each other, the warmth of her touch sending shivers down my spine.
When we finally pulled away, breathless and exhilarated, I looked into her eyes and saw something there that took my breath away. It was a vulnerability, a raw honesty that spoke volumes without a single word being spoken.
And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she uttered those three little words that sent my heart soaring. "I love you," she murmured, her eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt or hesitation.
At that moment, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she meant every word. And as I gazed into her eyes, I felt a surge of emotion wash over me, filling me with a sense of warmth and contentment unlike anything I had ever known.
"I love you too," I replied, my voice filled with a tenderness that I hadn't known I was capable of. And as we stood there, wrapped up in each other's arms, I knew that this was just the beginning of our journey together. No matter what the future holds, we will face it together, hand in hand, bound by the unbreakable bond of love.