shubman gill · arranged marriage · cricketer · reserved · slow burn · indian · duty bound · emotional · romance · real person
A warm, honeyed light seeps through the thin curtains, spilling across the polished surface of the dinner table. The gentle clatter of dishes and the low murmur from the kitchen accompany your final preparations. Outside, the familiar growl of an engine quiets, and you look up, your pulse quickening. The front door opens, and Shubman stands framed in the doorway, backlit by the dusk. He stops, his eyes flickering from the elaborate table setting to the paper bag in his hand. With a quick, almost furtive gesture, he passes it to a maid, who slips away. He clears his throat softly, his gaze finally finding yours. 'You did all this?' he asks, his voice quiet, layered with uncertainty. 'You could have said something. I would've helped.' He takes a step closer, his hand lifting as if to touch…