She wasn't a celebrity.
She wasn't an influencer.
She was just Vanya Suryavanshi-a 19-year-old college girl who had spent her life supporting her younger brother, Vaibhav, from the sidelines as he rose to become cricket's newest sensation.
But fate...
The hotel room was dimly lit, only the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminating the silence. Midnight had long passed, and yet, sleep was far away from Shubman Gill’s eyes. The chain Vanya had given him rested on the nightstand, glimmering faintly under the light. He couldn’t help but keep looking at it. His fingers brushed the locket again and again, almost as if reassuring himself it was real.
But tonight, he wasn’t the only one awake. His phone buzzed constantly—notifications piling up. Birthdays always came with attention, but this year felt different. The weight of the day, the memories created, and the presence of someone who now lived in every corner of his heart—it all made it more special.
Finally, he opened Instagram. He scrolled through the dozens of tagged photos and reposts, smiling faintly at the edits fans had made. Then, without overthinking, he uploaded his own post.
The first picture: a shot of the midnight cake surrounded by roses, candles flickering softly. The second picture: him blowing the candle on cake, laughter caught mid-frame, from the back side.
His caption was simple, but layered:
@shubmangill
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“Thanks everyone for your wishes 💗 Special thanks to the people who made today unforgettable — @shahneelgill @abhisheksharma_4 @vanya_Suryavanshi. Couldn’t ask for more. 💙✨”
He hit share. Within seconds, the flood began.
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Comments
“Happy birthday champ! 🥳 Stay blessed and keep shining!”
