The Puzzle Of Love | Ishman

Ch.9

*Third Person's POV*

Shubman was fixing his tie in his room when Ishan came up from behind him, wrapping his hands around Shubman's back.
"Where are you going?"
"To the cafe, Darling. You want to join?"
"Yeah"
"Choose whatever you want to wear, Sunshine, we'll go for shopping too. I'll buy you new clothes"
"But I like yours more"
"Who said you can't wear them?"

Ishan smiled, lifting his face up to look at Shubman.
"You look so damn hot in formals"
"I look better without them, Darling" He winked at Ishan.

"I'll go and get changed, yeah?" Ishan said and went towards the wardrobe, his cheeks and ears red. Shubman smirked at him but continued, not wanting to trouble his Ishan anymore.

...

"How's everyone!"
"Good morning, Sir"
"Good Morning... Everyone, meet Ishan.."

Ishan looked a little shy. He waved to everyone and they got back to their work.
"Ishu, meet him, he's SuryaKumar, aka, Surya dada"
"Kaisa hai Shubman? Kaafi dino baad aaya hai" Surya said and smiled.
"Bhaiya, aap thodi si der Ishan ke saath rehna, main sab check karke aata hun, fir main aap dono ke saath baat karunga"

Surya was Virat's childhood friend. He wanted to help Shubman with his dream, so he is the CEO of the cafe.
"Hi Ishan, I'm Suryakumar Yadav" Surya said and Ishan greeted him back.
"How do you know Shubman?" Surya asked.
"I once visited this cafe, and to my luck, he was my waiter for that day. I didn't know anything about him and I believed he was just a waiter. The same night.. I um, I was lost, and he helped me."
"Oh..." Surya saw the hesitation and lies in Ishan's eyes. It was completely alright if he didn't want to share.
"So.. You're a college student, right?"
"Yeah, I'm studying art"
"Wow, that's awesome. Our Shubi loves art too"
"I know! I've seen his wall painting. It looks so beautiful... Just like him"

Surya smiled at the comment. His suspicions turned into beliefs.
"How would you describe your relation right now?"

Ishan looked at him with hesitant eyes, which Surya noticed instantly.
"It's okay, Ishan. You can tell me"

The surity and comfort in his eyes told Ishan to trust Surya. Of course, not believe, but trust enough to be able to describe what him and Shubman shared currently.

"It's.. complicated... Of course, it's more than friends, and it's very clear, but it's not boyfriends or any such thing right now... "
"That's okay.. take your time, Ishan. I know Shubman. He will never force you into anything. He'll keep you safer than any treasure and he'd love you more than his own life... And if he does that, you'll see it. You'll feel it. You'll just know ."

Surya's words reminded Ishan, how easily Shubman had managed to break down his walls, enough so he could walk inside. Shubman was slowly helping him heal, teaching him to let go, to accept the love, to understand that everyone deserves love.
He was teaching him that love isn't just a physical bond, it's a supernatural connection that only the people who are brave enough to accept and stand it get to experience.
And he wanted to be one of them. He wanted to have that connection with his Shubman.

"God will always help you, Ishan. Just remember to never lose hope"
Surya said, as if he could read his mind.

"I know bhaiya. Thank you"
"Apne baare mein aur bhi bata mujhe..."

They then continued talking like they've known each other since forever. Shubman reached the table they were sitting on, his eyes locked on Ishan.
Surya must have cracked a joke because he saw both of them laugh and Ishan was lightly hitting his hand on the table.

"Kya joke maar diya bhaiya?"
Ishan and Surya shared a look, trying to hold their laughter in.
"Kuch nahi"
"Batao na? Meri baat kar rahe the na?"
They burst out laughing. Shubman sighed, eye rolling.
Surya showed him a picture of him in his childhood. He was showing off his bony hands, as if flexing his muscles with a baby smirk on his face.