Bade Sapne

◇ Part 3 ◇

Shubman’s POV

I lay on the bed, watching the fan spin endlessly. My life was like that fan. Going round and round in circles, the action never ending. Just most of the time, my action wasn't good.

I shut my eyes, hoping to get a wink of sleep, which I hadn't managed to get in a few days, and trust me, it SHOWED on my face. I felt a light vibration next to me, as I lazily turned my head towards the sound. My phone screen was lit up, and Shahneel didi's name was in bold, as I swiped to pick up the call.

"Hello?"

"Shubman! Kya ho raha hai?"

"Yaar, Di, aisa maat karo yaar, tu bhi mujh par chila rahe ho!"

"Shub, what's going on? Ye log kya ke rahe hai?"

"Di, I don't know! Kuch bhi backwash ke rahe hai."

"Inka mu band karna padega."

"Chod do. They have no sense. Thode din mein sab bhul jayenge."

"Give some statement or something! Are you going to take this?"

"Di, statement deke kya hoga? Ye aur bhi bad jayega."

"Tune sach mein aisa kuch kiya hai kya?"

"Di... I love her. Lekin... I would never ever make her choose between me and Ishan, and I definitely would break Ishan's relationship."

"Phir problem kya hai?"

"Problem hai ki logon ko lagta hai ki I've done this!"

"Log kya sochte hai, humko koi farad nahi padta."

"Ishan bhi mujh par ghusa kar raha hai, Di."

"Kyun? Usko sach lag raha hai, kya?"

"Yup. Meri baat maan ne keliye taiyaar bhi nahi hai wo."

"Sun, tu Gujurat aaja. Yahan sab log teri hi side lenge."

"It's not a question about support, Di."

"Phir?"

"Yaar, dono mere dost the. Aaj toh mujhse koi bhi baat nahi kar raha hai."

"Chod do, phir. Aise dost le kar kya karoge?"

"Aur Vira..."

"Tujhe... tujhe nahi lagta ki woh... she might have just told someone? For drama?"

"I don't know, Di."

"Dost thi na teri?"

"Di, I've only known her for a few days, yaar. Aur... she doesnt seem like the type to do something like this. Lekin, mujhe bhi kya pata."

"Tu meri baat sun, Ashish sir ne tumhare liye ticket book kardiya hai, 6 ghante mein. Tumhe bhejti hoon, tu jaldi aaja, hum saath mil kar dekhenge, thik hai?"

"Ok."

And with that, I hung up the phone and started to pack. Once I'd finished, I turned on the TV, wanting to find something interesting, but alas. My eyes slowly shut as sleep took over my body, and I pulled the duvet over me.
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SOME HOURS LATER

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the TV screen as some random news channel droned on. It was just background noise—anything to drown out the thoughts racing through my head. I’d packed my bags hours ago, ready to head to Gujarat. An early flight meant I could leave Delhi behind, at least for a little while.

I needed that flight. I needed to get out of here before the mess around me swallowed me whole.

The thought of being here—stuck—while everything fell apart was unbearable. With everything going wrong lately, I couldn’t wait to disappear into training, focus on the next match against SRH. No Vira. No endless whispers about the news articles. Just cricket.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out, seeing a number I didn’t recognize.

"Hello?" I answered, barely interested.

"Good evening, Mr. Gill," a robotic voice began. "This is IndiGo Airlines calling to inform you that your flight to Gujarat scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to operational reasons. We apologize for the inconvenience."

My heart sank.

"Cancelled?" I repeated, the word not quite registering. “You’re serious?”

"We are offering options for rescheduling—"

I hung up before the automated voice could finish. My flight, my escape route, just—gone. Cancelled. The word pounded in my head like a bad punchline to a joke that wasn’t even funny. I felt my grip tighten on the phone, my pulse quickening.

"Of course, it’s cancelled," I muttered to myself, throwing the phone onto the bed.

For a minute, I just sat there, hands clenched into fists. Everything was piling up. The articles, the questions from everyone around me. I could barely show up for practice without feeling the weight of a thousand eyes. And now, even leaving this place—this madhouse—was impossible.

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing around the room like a caged animal. How was I supposed to deal with this? Everywhere I turned, there was more chaos. The accusations in the media, the way Vira’s tear-streaked face haunted me after that interview. It was all a massive weight I couldn’t shake off.

The rage simmered. There was no escaping it. My best friend was pissed. Vira was in the middle of the storm. And me? I was spiraling, stuck, powerless.

I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside, stronger and stronger with every passing second. I wanted to throw something, to punch a wall, to do anything that could release this pressure building in my chest. But I knew that wouldn’t fix anything.

I needed to get out of here, to leave Mumbai. But thanks to IndiGo, I wasn’t going anywhere.

It felt like everything was conspiring against me. Everyone—the media, fate, the bloody airline—was holding me back from the one thing I could control: cricket.

I collapsed back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, the weight of it all pressing down.
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HEY EVERYONEEE

SO HOW WAS OUR (slightly late) ANNIVERSARY UPDATE??

HOWD YOU ENJOY THESE PAST THREE CHAPTERS? ID LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THEM IN THE COMMENTS

anyways

ASH RETIRED! I CANT BELIEVE IT! HE DIDNT EVEN GET A FAREWELL :(((

No more come on, Ash, come on, Ash from Rishu :(((

LOVE U ASHWIN 🙏