The One Person I Hate

The sun spilled over the narrow lanes of our Ahmedabad colony, warm but not comforting. I clutched my bag tighter, hoping to avoid him. Of all the people in the world, why did Shubman Gill have to be standing there, bat in hand, leaning casually against the cricket net with that maddeningly confident smirk? My chest tightened, my stomach twisted. Why him? Why always him?

“Hey, troublemaker,” he called, voice teasing, casual, like he owned every inch of the colony.

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped, crossing my arms, though my cheeks betrayed me with a faint flush.

He only grinned wider, that infuriating smile that had haunted my teenage years. Fourteen-year-old me flashed before my eyes, standing humiliated as he said the words I’d never forgotten: “Are you always going to be this pathetic?” That day had left a mark, a wound I had carried silently ever since. I had avoided him, ignored him, and yet here he was, unbothered and annoyingly confident.

A neighbor accidentally bumped into me, nearly spilling my bag. Shubman’s hand shot out instinctively. “Careful! Don’t fall, or I’ll laugh.”

“I said I don’t need your help!” I snapped, glaring. My heart raced, though I hated that it did. Why did he always have to look at me that way, as if he could read my thoughts?

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Shubman’s cricket friends hanging around—Rishabh Pant juggling a bat, Ishan Kishan teasing him about missing a shot, and Shreyas Iyer laughing softly. Even Hardik Pandya was leaning against the fence, smirking like he knew exactly how this would play out. They exchanged glances, amusement clear on their faces, but none interfered. Typical Shubman, I thought. Surrounded by friends, but somehow still managing to annoy everyone—including me.

The neighbors whispered, smirking at our bickering. “Fighting is your love language,” one teased, chuckling.

“I don’t love him! I can’t stand him!” I muttered under my breath, though I hated that my pulse betrayed me.

Shubman tilted his head slightly, smirk unwavering. “Love or hate, seems like I’m unforgettable.”

I wanted to disappear, to melt into the crowd and vanish, but my feet refused to obey. Little did I know, life had other plans. Our paths would cross in ways I couldn’t imagine—thirty days under the same roof, awkward proximity, and situations that would unravel old grudges.

From the balcony of his house, I glimpsed his mother peeking out, warm smile on her face, oblivious to my inner turmoil. Perfect, I thought. Everyone around him thinks we belong together. Great.

Even Shubman’s younger cousin appeared behind him, waving, calling his name. He ignored them, gaze fixed on me, teasing, challenging. I felt an odd mix of irritation and… something else I wasn’t ready to name.

I turned sharply and stormed toward my house, ignoring the stifled laughter from a few neighbors. My hands balled into fists around my bag strap, my mind racing. For now, I clung to one certainty: I hated him. I hated the way he made me feel. I hated the way he could smirk and make me question myself. And I intended to keep it that way.

But fate has a funny sense of humor. Little did I know that soon, I wouldn’t be able to avoid him—even if I wanted to.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***