~ TALE OF THE TANGLED HEARTS ~ [ISHAN KISHAN ONE SHOTS BOOK]

🤍 ALWAYS WITH YOU (1)

Place - Johannesburg, South Africa

Timeline - December 2023

~ Ishan's pov ~

The cool evening air hit my face as I stepped out, desperate for a long walk to clear the storm brewing in my mind. For weeks, I've been locked in a constant battle with my own thoughts.

The reason? Frustration burns within me - I'm not getting the chance to play for my country, despite traveling with the team nonstop for the past year.

I'm part of the squad, but not part of the playing XI.

Match after match, I watch from the sidelines as my teammates take the field.

The ache within me grows with each game; I yearn to serve my country, to contribute with everything I have, but that opportunity remains elusive.

When I do get a chance, I pour my heart and soul into my performance, giving it my all, striving to score runs and make my country proud. Yet somehow, it's never enough.

The doubts creep in, gnawing at my confidence.

Is BCCI doing this on purpose? Or am I simply not good enough?

The hardest part? I've kept this turmoil locked inside, hidden from my teammates and family. We're all still reeling from the World Cup loss, slowly piecing ourselves back together.

I don't want to add my burden to theirs. I want to be the one who lifts their spirits, who brings smiles back to their faces, no matter my own pain.

But the weight of this secret, of this constant frustration, has taken a toll on my mental health.

I'm surrounded by people I care about, yet I feel an emptiness, a loneliness that gnaws at me. I'm desperate for a way to break free from this cycle, to prove myself on and off the field.

Lost in thought, I walked through the streets, my mind consumed by the turmoil within. Suddenly, a firm grip closed around my arm, pulling me into a swift pace.

Panic surged through me - I was alone, without my bodyguards.

Before I could react, a low, urgent voice whispered in my ear, "Keep your mouth shut and don't look back! There are people following you. They might be planning to mug you!"

~ Author's pov ~

The girl shot Ishan a pleading look, then launched into a loud, over-the-top performance.

"Honey, I've been searching everywhere for you! What are you doing here, leaving me all alone at the store? I was so worried!" She clutched at his arm, her eyes darting around.

Ishan raised an eyebrow, playing along despite himself. "I got a call, had to step out."

"Oh, okay. Well, I've got everything we need. Let's go back." She waved several bags in the air.

Only then did Ishan notice the bags, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

They continued their swift pace, the girl occasionally glancing over her shoulder.

Finally, seemingly satisfied, she dropped her hold on his arm and stepped back, putting distance between them.

Ishan's expression turned stern. "What was that about?"

The girl looked at him awkwardly. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but...I saw those men following you. They looked suspicious, and when I passed them, I could have sworn I heard them talking about mugging someone. That's why I...I did that. I'm really sorry."

Ishan crossed his arms, skepticism etched into every line of his face. "And why should I trust you? You could be one of them for all I know."

The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Why would I risk myself to save you if I was in league with them?"

Ishan's laugh was bitter. "How am I supposed to know? Maybe this is just another trick, a way to lure me in with a pretty face."

Heat flared in the girl's cheeks, and her voice took on a sharp edge. "Excuse me? I said I was sorry for intruding, but you have no right to be so rude. I'm trying to help you here."

Despite himself, Ishan felt a spark of gratitude. "It's...thank you," he said finally. "But next time, a simple warning would do."

A pang of guilt stabbed through Ishan's chest. He was lashing out at the wrong person. " Also I'm.....I'm sorry," he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. "I just panicked. Everything happened so fast."

The girl waved a hand dismissively. "It's okay, I probably would have reacted the same way. I shouldn't have startled you like that."

Ishan shook his head. "No, I'm the one who should be apologizing. Thank you...for helping me. If not for you, they would have gotten away with it."

The girl smiled, a warm, genuine smile. "It's all right. I should get going, though. Nice meeting you, Mr. Stranger."

Ishan's eyes snapped to hers, a realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. She didn't know who he was. All this time, he'd been so paranoid, assuming she'd recognized him. Now he felt like an even bigger heel.

"Disha," she added, already turning to leave.

Ishan leapt forward, catching her arm. "Wait, what was your name again?"

She looked back over her shoulder. "Disha Chatterjee. And you are...?"

Ishan hesitated for a moment before answering. "Kishan. Kishan Pandey."

He wasn't sure why, but he still couldn't bring himself to reveal his full name.

But Disha just smiled again and nodded. "Nice meeting you, Kishan."

Ishan watched her go, feeling a strange sense of loss. He opened his mouth to call out again, to ask her to stay or.....or something, but his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out, his heart sinking as he read the message. A single tear rolled down his cheek, and he brushed it away, furious with himself. He had no time for this, not now when....

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To be continued!

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Alright guys this was the first part of the first story of this book. I know it was a bit boring but I didn't want to include everything in a single shot so kept it simple.

This story will have multiple parts!

Hope you all enjoyed reading this part😊

The next part will be updated very soon!

Till then, goodnight 😴

Sweet dreams 😴

Take care ❤️

Signing off 📴

miss-writer_