The next morning the ICT players Shreyas, Siraj, and Surya found them cuddled up together. Their deliberate effort at not making noise was obviously loud enough to wake Shubman who looked annoyed at the invasion of privacy. He put a finger on his lips asking them not to wake Ishan up who was fully lying on him.
"Inki shaadi kab hui. Dekho kaise ghoor raha hai" (When did these two get married. Look at how he is staring) Shreyas asked in a loud pretend whisper.
The others sniggered. It was not unusual to call them husbands or boyfriends seeing how attached at the hips they always were.
Ishan woke up at all the silent commotion and blearily stared around.
"Tujhe yaad hai mein kaun hoon??" (Do you remember who I am)
It was Siraj. Surya and Shubman facepalmed. Meanwhile Ishan's face split into a grin.
"Aap kaun si.. si.. Sikandar miya" (Who are you..si si Sikandar miya)
Everybody burst into random giggles.
"Acha hai Ishan, tu teek lag raha hai" (Glad you seem better, Ishan) Surya looked genuinely relieved.
"Mujhe kya hua hai! Mein tho mast hoon bhau" (What can happen to me. I'm doing great, brother)
"Woh tho dikh raha hai. Jaise tu Shubman ke oopar leta hai"
(That I can see the way you're lying on top of Shubman)
Ishan looked at his "bed" which was basically a human in the form of Shubman Gill. Instead of being embarrassed he decided to embrace it.
"Haan tho. Mera best friend hai." (So, he is my best friend) He hugged Shubman tighter sticking his tongue out.
"Kal ya parso hi bol raha tha ki woh tera bestie nahi hai. Ab kya hua" (You were saying the other day that he isn't your bestie anymore)
"Meine sach mein aise kaha??" (Did I really say that??) Ishan asked, head raised, eyes widened in shock.
"Nahi. Par dekh raha tha ki tujhe kuch yaad aaya ki nahi"
(No..but was checking if you remember anything)
"Oh" Ishan put his head down. Both relieved he didn't say such things about Shubman but also unhappy he still didn't remember.
Shubman caressed his head. "Tu tension mat le. Sab teek hojayega" (You don't worry. Everything is going to be ok)
Ishan snuggled into Shubman's chest. "Mmmhmm"
The team had the sudden feeling of being intruders between a loving couple. They all wished Ishan well and walked out of the hospital room muttering about sticky boyfriends.
"Good morning, meri jaan" Ishan was looking at Shubman through his eye lashes
And then giggled "I heard your heartbeat speed up. Itni teez hogaya ek dum se" (I heard your heartbeat speed up. It got so fast)
Shubman hid his eyes with the back of his hands, smiling. It wasn't the first time Ishan had pulled his legs over it.
" ye teri aadat gayi nahi abhi tak.."
(This habit of yours persists)
Shubman didn't say anything to it.
"Bol na" (Tell me) Ishan pulled Shubman's hands playfully.
"Nahi gayi. Mera dil humesha tere liye tez dhadkega"
(it's not gone, my heart always beats fast for you)
Shubman said it without batting an eyelid and Ishan felt a violent blush taking over his entire face. He buried his face in Shubman's chest. For all his bravado in front of others, Shubman can turn him into an incoherent mess without even trying.
Ishan was glad he remembered his feelings for Shubman despite the memory loss. But then he's had feelings for Shubman for way too many years for him not to remember.
He sort of knows Shubman has feelings for him too. It's something they don't openly acknowledge. Like accepting it would fracture the fragile equation they have. Ok, he walks back on calling their equation fragile, theirs was one of the strongest bonds and he strongly feels nothing can break what they have. They still tip toe around the subject of their feelings. Except when Shubman makes bold declarations like today.
When Ishan is discharged, Shubman takes it upon himself to make him comfortable and play nurse. He had learnt how to change bandages from the nurses and was all ready with timers and alarms to feed him medicines on time.
"Did you secretly go to medical school?"
"Haan yaar, cricket ke saat mein yehi kar raha tha. Tujhe nahi patah" (oh yeah, I was studying medicine alongside playing cricket, Don't you know?)
"Chup kar saale. Kitna bakwas karta hai"
(Shut up saale. You talk so much rubbish)
"Aur ye tu keh raha hai"
(And you are saying this)
"Mujhe tho laga meri baatein tujhe pasand hai" (I thought you like what I say)
Ishan looked straight at Shubman with the most innocent look in his eyes.
"Not fair haan Ishan" Ishan giggled as he settled down comfortably on the bed Shubman had set up for him.
"Tujhe chidane mein bada maza aata hai mere majnu" (I take great pleasure in pulling your leg oh Romeo)
Shubman stopped what he was doing and stared at Ishan. Ishan looked back at him confused.
"Tujhe kuch yaad aa raha hai kya .. tune ye mujhe 2 din pehle hi bola tha" (Do you remember anything, you said this 2 days back)
Ishan looked shocked. "Oh" he paused then said "par mujhe sach mein kuch yaad nahi."(But I really don't remember anything)
Shubman tried to compose himself. "Haan tho teek hai na. Mujhe laga ki kuch yaad aaya bas"(Yeah thats ok, I thought you remembered something)
Shubman knew Ishan was disappointed, so he decided to divert his mind.
"Chalo 12th fail dekhte hai" (Lets watch 12th fail)
"Oh haan mera woh dekhne ka bohot mann tha"(Oh yeah, I really wanted to see it)
Shubman laughed "tune pichli baar bhi yehi kaha tha. Aur ye picture hum phir se dekh rahe hai Mr memory loss" (You said the same thing the last time as well Mr memory loss)
"Wtf Shub. I hate this. I wish sab yaad aajaaye mujhe. Aise lag raha ki main bohot kuch bhool raha hoon. Matlab .. jaise important cheezein bhool raha hoon." (Wtf Shub. I hate this. I wish I could remember everything. I feel like I'm forgetting important stuff)
"Tu samaj raha hai na" (You get it right) he asked quietly, vulnerability obvious in his voice.
Shubman came and sat next to him.
"Mein nahi samjhoonga tho kaun samjhega" (If I don't get it, who will?)
"Tu yaad dilayega na mujhe?" (You'll remind me right?)
"Doctor ne mana kiya hai na.. zabardasti yaad nahi karna hai.. aaram se... sab teek hojayega Ishan" (Doctor has asked us not to be persistent about it..remember it at your pace. Everything will be alright Ishan)
"Mujhe aisi feeling aa rahi hai jaise mein koi bohot important cheez bhool raha hoon. Baar baar yehi khayal aa raha hai"
(I keep getting this feeling that I'm forgetting something very important. I get this thought again and again)
Shubman stared at him for a few minutes unsure how to comfort Ishan when he himself had a similar unsettling feeling in him. So he did the next best thing. Offered Ishan a hug which he took gratefully.
"We'll get through this, baby" he whispered. Ishan shivered then nodded his head, burrowing himself into the embrace. So familiar. So comfortable. Home.
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FanfictionA cricketing injury causes Ishan Kishan to lose a month's worth of memory. Shubman Gill is having a hard time coming to terms with it.
