After a challenging year, cricket star Hardik Pandya seeks solace with his family before the T20 World Cup. When renowned romance novelist Avni Dixit moves into the flat across from his, her quiet world of books and his high-profile life unexpectedl...
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The first light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains of Avni’s bedroom, casting a soft glow across the room. Avni stirred awake, her usual reluctance to leave the comfort of her bed momentarily overshadowed by a feeling of restlessness. She had always been a night owl, preferring the quiet hours of the evening to the early morning hustle. Today was different—she found herself wide awake far earlier than her usual routine.
Yawning and stretching, she glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It was just past six, an ungodly hour for someone who had never been a morning person. Avni sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be able to drift back to sleep. Instead, she decided to make the most of the early start and step out onto the balcony connected to her room.
Slipping into a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a hoodie, she shuffled across her room, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. She opened the sliding glass door to the balcony, the cool morning air hit her face as she stepped outside, providing a welcome contrast to the stifling warmth of her apartment. A small, enclosed space that overlooked the gardens and the neighboring apartments.
As she stepped out, she took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, hoping it would invigorate her. Avni leaned against the railing, gazing at the peaceful garden below. The tranquility of the morning was a sharp contrast to the busy, chaotic day before. She liked the solitude of these early hours; they provided a rare moment of quiet before the world woke up.
“Alright, new apartment, new day. Let’s see how this goes,” she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t believe I’m actually living here now. It feels surreal. Everything’s so different. No more familiar coffee shops, no more usual strolls. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. Fresh start, right?”
She took a deep breath, savoring the quiet before the city fully awoke. “I hope today goes well. Pankhuri seems really nice, and Hardik—well, Hardik seems like a whole different story. It was a bit awkward last night, but I guess that’s to be expected. I mean, he’s a celebrity cricketer. It’s not every day you meet someone like that.”
She paused, her thoughts drifting. “I wonder how he’s handling everything. I heard about his recent divorce and the IPL season. It must be tough for him. I hope he’s doing okay. He seemed a bit distant, though. Maybe he’s just not a morning person like me.”
Just as she turned to her right, she got an unexpected shock. Hardik was standing on the adjacent balcony, his posture relaxed but his expression amused. Avni’s heart leapt into her throat as she let out a startled squeak.
“Fuck!” she yelped, gripping the railing for support. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized who it was. “Oh my God, Hardik! I didn’t expect—”
Hardik, clearly struggling to contain his laughter, gave her a sympathetic smile. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the figure emerging from the adjacent balcony until she turned around. Her heart skipped a beat as she came face to face with Hardik Pandya, who was standing on his own balcony, directly connected to hers. He had clearly just woken up, his tousled hair and casual attire suggesting he was still in the early stages of his day.
