🔞Someone to Love [Ishman One Shots]✓

☁️Broken Fireflies [Short Story]

Whatever Ishan could see around him was complete vagueness. His life, his family and his conscience were all vague. The place he stayed in felt like a prison. 

The school he went to was oppressive and cramped. Often he would argue with himself if his life was even worth living. He was not willing to live when the surrounding did not want him to. 

Fireflies. Fireflies fascinate everyone. So was Ishan enamoured by the beauty of those fireflies. Every night, he would go sit on the grassy bank of the lake. The death of the night would cease when one by one the alluring insects would show up. 

And he would keep looking. Just keep staring at those glowing bodies and forget the day's sorrow. He could spend the entire night looking at them. So deep was his love for those small insects. 

Fireflies were his friends, his only friends. He was glad that they illuminated his night after he was tired of the dark day. 
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School felt confining. As if there was no way out of that hell called 'school'. The attitude his classmates would give him always disheartened Ishan. He felt like an unwanted being in that entire place.

He was poor. His family was poor. No matter how handsome he was, friends only befriend you for money. That is why he had no friends. He never tried making it clear that they weren't interested.

The girls might swoon over him once or twice but then again his shabby clothes would remind them of his status. He was a part of this unfamiliar class, not sure if he was actually. Teachers paid less attention to him.

He couldn't care less. He had gotten adapted to the situation he was in. Call it experience or decision, he did not want anymore unwanted sympathy.
Ishan wondered why the society always judged him when the fireflies never did.

Sitting in front of the lake, witnessing its beauty at night and seeing the fireflies was a scene from the dream. He could not express what extreme bliss he felt seeing that. The grassy bank was always lonely at night. He had it all to himself and honestly, he wanted some peace.

But his loneliness was not going to last long.
"Can I come join you?"
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Ishan noticed the white shirt which stopped almost above his knees and the edge of the pants was patterned with yellow flowers. The boy walked towards him while smiling and sat down beside him. 

"Who are you?" He asked while seeing how his hair strands were blowing in the air, silky. The boy never stopped smiling. "Shubi." 

Ishan narrowed his eyes at him as he felt that he was invading his privacy.

"Could you share this place with me?" Shubi asked.

"Why would I?" Ishan looked back to see the fireflies. 

"I promise to be your friend." Shubi had a bright smile. His bare feet were resting on the grass while the insects glowed up. Ishan nodded. 

"Okay you can stay."

"So what is your name?"

"Ishan." He replied quickly.

"Do you come here every night?" 

"Yes. Every night. To see these insects."

 "It's late. You won't go home?" Shubi asked while pulling his knees closer to himself and placed his face on top of them.

Ishan realised how late he was and hurried home.

His dad stood outside, his eyes showing signs of fury.

"You are late. Where were you?" Ishan gulped before answering. "I was near the lake." 

"I spend my money for you and you worthless child spend your time playing? You are a burden on us." He hit Ishan hard with the belt he was holding while Ishan stood still, enduring.