In room, Shub was engrossed in playing with Viraj, who was nestled comfortably in his lap, watching something on Shub's phone. Ishan, with a faint smile, remarked on how children nowadays find joy in watching rhymes on mobile phones.
"Aaj kal ke bache mobile mein rhyme dekhe khush ho jate hai," Ishan said, his smile tinged with nostalgia.
Shub nodded in agreement, gently running his fingers through Viraj's hair.
"Haan, sach hai," Shub replied, his attention still on Viraj's gleeful face.
Ishan then inquired about Shub's practice, to which Shub responded affirmatively, mentioning that he would resume from the next day. However, his tone shifted when he mentioned that he had come specifically to meet Ishan.
"Tera practice tha na?" Ishan asked, sensing the change in Shub's demeanor.
"Han tha toh, par mein kal se karunga," Shub replied, his tone slightly distant as he glanced at Ishan.
Ishan, with a pained expression, warned Shub about the potential backlash he might face if seen meeting him, given the current situation.
"Shubie, tu jaanta hai na abhi situation kaisa hai, tu troll hoga agar tu mujhse milne aayega," Ishan said, his voice laced with concern.
Shub, visibly angered by the journalists and trolls targeting his relationship due to the ongoing saga with Mi, brushed off Ishan's concern, pointing out the hypocrisy of those who criticized him while ignoring their own faults.
"Par Jo tu be matlab ka trolled ho raha uska kya," Shub retorted, his frustration evident in his voice. "Aur tere liye khass Milne aaya hoon mein."
Ishan, placing a comforting hand on Shub's cheek, expressed his concern for Shub's well-being amidst the barrage of negative comments and articles.
"Shubie, tu khaas tu already bohut troll ho raha hai dekha na Tera kya haal ho rakha," Ishan said, his voice filled with empathy. "Mein nahi chahta tujhe dard ho."
Shub's demeanor softened, and he leaned into Ishan's touch, his voice trembling with emotion as he voiced his anguish over the relentless attacks on his character.
"Magar Tera kya itne saare negative comments, pr nikal rahe hai," Shub said, his voice breaking. "Roj naya article tere against. I don't like that tu dusro ke baarein mein sochte phir bhi log tujhe sunate hai."
Ishan, with a heavy heart, acknowledged the toll it was taking on Shub and speculated about the end of his own career as a possible solution to the turmoil.
"Shayad mera career hi khatam hoga, tabhi sab kuch shant hoga," Ishan said, avoiding Shub's eyes.
Shub, taken aback by Ishan's despair, vehemently opposed the idea, refusing to entertain the thought of Ishan sacrificing his career for their sake.
""Tu kya bol raha hai?" Shub asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Tu apne career ki baat kar raha hai?"
Ishan's gaze faltered, his eyes clouded with uncertainty and pain. "Shub, yeh sab kuch... yeh sab mere dimaag mein chal raha hai. Mujhe lagta hai ki mein... mein khud ko improve nahi kar paunga. Technical aspects mein mujhe kaafi kuch sudhaarne ki zarurat hai."
Shub's heart sank at the weight of Ishan's words, the fear of losing the game they both loved so dearly looming over them like a dark cloud. "Ishan, tu aisa kyun soch raha hai? Tere skills mein koi kami nahi hai. Tumhara talent sirf tumhare andar hai, aur hum saath milkar is musibat ko paar karenge."
Ishan let out a bitter laugh, the bitterness of disappointment and betrayal tainting the air around them. "Shub, mere saath dirty politics ho rahi hai. Log mujhe badnaam kar rahe hain, mujhe neeche dikhane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Aur ab BCCI ka contract bhi... agar woh cancel ho gaya toh mera career ka kya hoga?"
