"Tujhe kaise pata mein yah huin?" Ishan questioned, his eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of disbelief.
Shubman, with a solemn expression, began to narrate the flashback. "Vo..."---In the flashback,
after a heartfelt conversation with Ishan, both Rohit and Virat decided to check in on Shubman. Shubman picked up the call, "Ji bhaiya, boliye."
"Kaise hai tu?" Virat inquired.
"Main thik hoon bhaiya," Shubman replied, his voice carrying a subtle warmth. "Aap log kaise hai, aur selection process kaisa raha? Ishan hai kya team mein?" he asked, his curiosity evident.
"Hum thik hai, bacha. Selection process hectic tha, aur Ishan ne abhi tak availability nahi di iss baar," Virat explained.
"Kyun bhaiya?" Shubman questioned, his tone carrying a childlike pout.
"Shubman, Ishan ki halat kharab lag rahi hai. Humne usse baat ki, vo kahi Delhi mein hai. Tu baat karle, tera ghar pass mein hai na," Rohit suggested.
Shubman's expression shifted from anticipation to sadness, and hurt seemed to cloud his eyes. He looked as if he was on the verge of tears. "Bhaiya, vo jhoota bohot bada jhoota. Usne bataya nahi... ki... ki uski halat kharab hai... " The weight of his words carried the burden of a broken trust and the realization that Ishan had concealed his struggles.
Shubman's eyes welled up with tears as the weight of Ishan's undisclosed pain sank in. He could no longer contain the emotional turmoil within him. In a moment of vulnerability, he broke down, tears streaming down his face as the realization of Ishan's silent suffering tore at his heart.
As Shubman sobbed for his best friend, his mentors, Virat and Rohit, remained on the other end of the phone, their voices a comforting presence. "Shubman, tu strong hai. Hum tere saath hai," Virat assured, his words a soothing balm to Shubman's wounded soul.
"Bacha, humein bharosa hai tere par. Ishan ki bhi tere par bharosa hai," Rohit added, the camaraderie between the cricketers extending beyond the field.
After the call ended, Shubman wiped away his tears, a newfound determination in his eyes. He couldn't let Ishan face this battle alone. Clutching the key to Ishan's apartment that his friend had given him in a moment of trust, Shubman decided to pay a visit.
The scene shifted to Delhi, where Shubman stood outside Ishan's apartment, the key in his hand a symbol of the bond they shared. As he entered the silent abode, memories of their friendship flooded his mind.
In a quiet room filled with echoes of untold stories, Shubman sat down and let the emotions flow. The apartment seemed to hold the essence of Ishan – the laughter, the shared dreams, and the unspoken moments of support. As he glanced around, he noticed the little things that made it uniquely Ishan's.
In this intimate space, Shubman felt a mix of emotions – love, concern, and an overwhelming desire to be there for Ishan. The realization that he had fallen in love with his best friend lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable.
The flashback ended, leaving Shubman sitting in the silent apartment, grappling with his emotions. The decision to be there for Ishan, no matter what, was etched in his heart. The journey of untangling their shared pain had just begun.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Shubman, still processing the gravity of the situation, felt an overwhelming responsibility to be there for Ishan. He knew that mere words wouldn't be enough to pull his friend out of the dark pit he found himself in.
"Shub, tu tension mat le. Main theek hoon," Ishan tried to reassure, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil within.
"Nahi, Ishu. Tu theek nahi hai, aur main is sab ko ignore nahi kar sakta," Shubman asserted, his voice determined.
The two friends sat down, the room filled with a heavy silence. Shubman, taking a deep breath, gently questioned, "Ishan, ye sab kyun? Tujhe kyun lagta hai ki tu akela hai?"
Ishan, after a moment of hesitation, began to share the weight that had been burdening him. He spoke about the pressure, the constant scrutiny, and the expectations that felt like shackles. He bared his soul about the mental fatigue that had settled deep within him.
Shubman, his eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and concern, listened intently. He realized that Ishan wasn't just a teammate; he was a friend battling unseen demons. The realization deepened the bond between them.
"Tu phir se apne aap ko hurt karega?" Shubman questioned, a sense of protectiveness evident in his voice.
Ishan, looking down, whispered, "Pata nahi, Shub. Bahut thak gaya hoon."
Shubman, determined to be the pillar of support Ishan needed, placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ishan, hum ek team hain. Tere saath hoon main, teri har mushkil mein. Tu akela nahi hai."
The room, once enveloped in darkness, began to feel a bit lighter. Shubman understood that this was a journey they had to navigate together. The unspoken promise to be there for Ishan echoed in the room, creating a glimmer of hope in the face of despair.As Shubman continued to console Ishan, the weight of the moment lingered in the air. It was then that Ishan, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, made an unexpected yet vulnerable move. He gently put his head on Shubman's lap, seeking solace and comfort.
Shubman, caught off guard for a moment, instinctively adjusted to this new position. His fingers gently ran through Ishan's hair, a silent reassurance that spoke volumes. The room, filled with the echoes of shared pain and unspoken words, became a sanctuary for the two friends.
Ishan's action wasn't just an acknowledgment of physical exhaustion; it was a symbolic gesture of trust and vulnerability. In that moment, the boundaries between teammates blurred, making way for a deeper connection that transcended the roles they played on the cricket field.
The rhythmic sound of Shubman's fingers combing through Ishan's hair created a soothing melody, offering a momentary escape from the harsh realities that both of them faced. It was a silent understanding between two souls, communicating more profoundly than any spoken words could convey.
For Shubman, the weight of Ishan's head on his lap felt like a silent pact, a commitment to stand by his friend through thick and thin. It was a gesture that went beyond friendship, a testament to the unspoken bond that had formed between them.
In that quiet room, where vulnerability met compassion, Shubman Gill embraced the role of not just a teammate but a trusted confidant. The uncharted territory of emotions unfolded, and the promise of unwavering support echoed through the room.The room enveloped in a serene silence, Ishan's plea echoed in Shubman's heart. With Ishan's head nestled on his lap, Shubman felt an overwhelming surge of emotions. He gently stroked Ishan's hair, providing a comforting touch, as Ishan's vulnerable words lingered in the air.
"Shub, tu kabhi chhod ke nahi jayega na," Ishan's words carried a deep sense of yearning, a desire for unwavering support. Shubman, moved by the intensity of Ishan's plea, whispered, "Main hamesha yahin rahunga, Ishu. Tere saath."
As the room embraced the hushed exchange of emotions, Ishan, on the brink of sleep, softly murmured, "I love you." The weight of those three words reverberated, carrying the unspoken truth of a bond that surpassed mere friendship.
Touched by Ishan's vulnerability, Shubman leaned down, placing a tender kiss on Ishan's forehead. His heart swelled with love and concern, and though tears welled up in his eyes, Shubman held them back, not wanting to disturb Ishan's peaceful sleep.
The room stood witness to a moment where unspoken sentiments formed an unbreakable connection. As Shubman continued to cradle Ishan in his arms, he whispered, "I love you too, Ishu." The room, now bathed in a gentle tranquility, bore witness to a bond that transcended the ordinary, a bond fortified by love, understanding, and an unspoken promise to weather the storms together.
