Shubman Gill, a young cricketer who just started his cricket debut faces a lot of humiliation during the initial days.
He feels solace in his best friend Avni Jadhav, a Marathi who shifts to Punjab with her parents and becomes the neighbour of Shub...
The morning sun had barely risen when the shrill ring of the phone pierced the silence of Shubman's room. Groggily, he reached for the device, his fingers fumbling before bringing it to his ear. "Hello?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
Anvi's voice, bright and clear, cut through the haze of his drowsiness. "Still sleeping?" she teased.
Shubman chuckled softly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Yeah. Practice is a bit later today. What about you? Heading to college?"
"Yes, I've got lab work to do, so I can't skip. But tell me, how are you feeling?" Anvi's concern was palpable even through the phone.
Shubman sighed, a twinge of discomfort throbbing in his temples. "I'm not sure. Had a slight headache last night, took some medicine and slept off. Now it feels worse."
"Could be the travel and stress catching up with you," Anvi suggested gently.
"Yeah, maybe." They continued to chat, their conversation meandering through various topics before they finally said their goodbyes.
As the call ended, Shubman's headache intensified, a relentless pressure that seemed to squeeze his skull. He stumbled to the balcony, hoping the fresh air would alleviate his pain, but it was futile. He paced back and forth, each step a hammer to his head.
Kamlesh, who had been observing his friend's discomfort, approached with a furrowed brow. "You okay?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Shubman shook his head, the movement sending stabs of pain through his head. "I don't know what's wrong. This headache just hit me out of nowhere, and it's excruciating."
Without hesitation, Kamlesh dialed for help. Moments later, Gautham Gambhir and Dinesh Karthik burst into the room, a doctor in tow. Shubman's eyes were squeezed shut against the pain, his face contorted in agony.
The doctor's diagnosis was swift. "It's stress-related. He should recover by tomorrow. Administer this medication," he instructed, handing over a prescription.
Gautham, looking down at his player with a mix of concern and frustration, asked, "Shub, why are you letting stress get to you like this?"
Shubman's response was barely audible, strained through clenched teeth. "Sir, it's Suhana Khan. She's been after me, causing me so much tension."
Gautham's shock was evident. "What has she done?" he pressed for details.
"She's been on my case ever since she laid eyes on me, threatening to kick me off the KKR team," Shubman confessed, his voice laced with weariness.
Gautham's expression hardened. "Rest now. I'll handle this," he assured Shubman before striding away to confront the issue head-on.
He found Suhana, her expression souring as he approached. "Ms. Khan, please refrain from adding to our players' stress," he said firmly.
Suhana's frown deepened. "What do you mean, sir?" she demanded.
Gautham didn't mince words. "Stop harassing Shubman. He's under enough pressure as it is, and your actions are only making it worse. He's suffering from a severe headache, and the doctor says it's all due to stress. I've also been informed of your threats to remove him from the team. Is this true?"
Suhana stammered a denial, but Gautham was unyielding. "I'll have to discuss this with your father," he warned.
"No, sir, I apologize. It won't happen again," Suhana quickly backtracked, fear evident in her voice.
With a nod, Gautham left her to her thoughts. Alone, Suhana clenched her fists, her mind a whirlwind of emotion. "I, Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, apologized to someone who owes his fame to my father. This is intolerable. And Shubman, why can't you see me? You're so handsome," she lamented to herself.
She exhaled a heavy sigh and made her way to Shubman's room, only to find him in the arms of sleep, oblivious to the world. Kamlesh's voice drifted to her ears, speaking to someone on the phone. "Yes, aunty, you and Shahneel di are welcome. We'll see you in two hours."
A plan began to form in Suhana's mind. If Shubman was beyond her reach, perhaps she could win over Keart and Shahneel. With renewed determination, she retreated to her room to prepare herself, to present the best version of herself to them in the next two hours.
As the clock struck the two-hour mark, Keart's footsteps echoed with urgency through the corridor. Bursting into the room, her eyes immediately found Shubman, and with a tender voice filled with concern, she called out, "Baccha?"
Shubman's eyelids fluttered open, and a wave of relief washed over him as he saw his mother's familiar face. Rising to embrace her, he whispered, "Maa..." It was a testament to the timeless truth that no matter one's strength, a mother's presence can unravel any facade of fortitude, revealing the child within.
Shahneel entered the room, her presence adding to the warmth of the family reunion. "Kake, you should rest," she advised softly. But Shubman, yearning for the comfort only a mother can provide, pleaded, "Maa, stay with me, please." Keart acquiesced, sitting beside him and cradling his head in her lap. Under the soothing influence of the medicine and his mother's touch, Shubman drifted into a peaceful slumber.
Observing the tender scene, Shahneel remarked to Keart, "Maa, he clings to you like a shadow in sickness, even though he pretends to be all grown up on other days."
Keart smiled, her eyes brimming with maternal love. "He'll always be my little boy when he's unwell," she said. Shahneel nodded in agreement, then offered, "Coffee?" Keart, appreciating the gesture, responded with a grateful nod. "Yes, that would be lovely."
As Shahneel stepped out to fetch the coffee, she seized the opportunity to video call Anvi, sharing updates and exchanging words of comfort. Later, she returned to Shubman's room, where Anvi, upon seeing Shubman's sleeping form through the video call, couldn't help but comment, "Arre, he looks so adorable in sleep."
Shahneel teased, "Adorable, huh?" Anvi, caught off-guard, quickly turned off her camera, her cheeks flushed with a rosy tint. "Di, he's my best friend," she clarified, her voice a mix of embarrassment and affection.
Shahneel chuckled, "I didn't say anything. Now, grab something to eat and head home." Anvi agreed and bid farewell.
When Shubman awoke, the doctor was there to greet him with good news. "Well, Mr. Gill, you're in fine fettle. Just keep the medicine handy in case the headache returns."
Shubman, feeling revitalized, requested, "Nagar, could you get me a coffee?" Kamlesh, ever the obliging friend, promptly placed the order.
The day unfolded with conversations and camaraderie. Abhishek inquired about Shubman's training, and they shared their experiences, the banter flowing easily between them. Shubman then took to the pitch for a light jog, adhering to the disciplined routine set by their diet chart.
Dinner brought a moment of levity when Dinesh Karthik's frustration over a broken practice stump provided a brief distraction. Shubman couldn't help but smirk at Kamlesh's predicament, though he wisely chose to remain silent.
The evening waned, and it was time for Keart and Shahneel to depart. Shubman's heart ached at their leaving, but he understood the necessity. Embracing them tightly, he watched as they made their way to the airport, while he retreated to the solitude of his room.
There, he found Kamlesh nursing his own woes, having been assigned a daunting task by their coach. Shubman's laughter filled the room, a moment of light-heartedness amidst the trials of their sport. Kamlesh's mock indignation was met with Shubman's apologetic grin, and as the night deepened, they both surrendered to the call of sleep, the day's events settling into memories.
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