The Way I See You

Part 17 - Running to you with all I have (End)

IPL 2024

"Hello hello."

"Shubman? "

"Kya hua kya hua"

(what happened?)

Ishan walked out of the room in a hurry. He hoped his Mumbai Indians team mates were too busy to notice. Though he was sure Surya bhau and Tilak would later ask he just hoped they hadn't really heard who had called him. He knew instinctively that something was wrong with Shubman the way he had said hello. The lack of the languid, almost lazy way of saying Ishan or baby completely absent is what alerted Ishan in the first place.

Ishan went to his room and closed the door.

"Kya hua, meri jaan" (What happened, my love)

There was silence at the other end that did nothing to ease his escalating worries. He could hear ragged breathing on the other end of the line if he listened hard. He was starting to feel anxious. Shubman calling him but not talking just rang alarm bells in his mind.

"Kuch tho bolo" (say something) Maybe his voice sounded especially vulnerable and scared because Shubman spoke up.

"Mein teek hoon .. bas bohot kuch ho raha hai., mujhe nahi patah mein sambhal sakoonga"

(I'm ok..just a lot of things happening, not sure if I can manage)

"Kya hua.."

(What happened)

"Mein kya karoon Ishan" He could hear Shubman spiraling.

(What do I do, Ishan)

"Meri jaan tu bata na kya hua.." Shubman took a deep breath.

(My love, tell me what happened)

"Aise nahi ki kuch bada sa hogaya par kuch acha nahi lag raha hai. I miss you baby."

(It's not like something big happened, I don't feel good. I miss you baby)

"Acha ek ek karke bata ki kya pareshan kar raha hai tujhe"

(Ok tell me what's bothering you)

"Kuch khaas nahi" (Nothing specific)

"Tu batata hai ki mein gussa ho jaoon" (Do you want me to get mad?)

"Acha tho aaj match tha na.. dekha kya" (Did you watch the match today?)

"Haan.. tune acha khela.." (yes.you played well)

"Haan woh teek hai., par tune woh run out dekha"
(yeah, that's ok. Did you see the run out)

They talked for an hour before Ishan felt Shubman had calmed down a little. It wasn't easy. The unexpected burden of captaincy was doing a number on Shubman. He was doing a great job but Ishan was one of the only people to know the inner workings of Shubman's mind and he knew the amount of stress he was under.

Ishan made a quick decision. Shubman was in Bangalore for their match against RCB meanwhile Ishan was in Chennai for their match against CSK. Google had shown him that it was a 5 hr or so drive to Bangalore from Chennai. He could do that! Stay under the radar and visit his boyfriend who could do with some comfort and support.

He made a quick decision. He informed the team manager and captain that he would be gone for a day. Since there were still a couple of days for their match, they didn't ask him for an explanation. He wondered what he would've said if they'd asked! Since he wasn't in the habit of taking time offs, nobody thought to question him.

He slept all the way to Bangalore. He was grateful that when he reached it was almost 2 am and not many people were around. He was anyway suitably masked and covered, he didn't think anybody would spot him. However, that presented a problem when it came to accessing Shubman's room. It was when he wondered what to do that he heard a familiar voice.