Love on the Pitch

Homecoming

It had been just four days, and Shubman wished he hadn't come home. Everything seemed so boring, though at the same time, he really wanted to be here with his family. He didn't get chances like these often now, guess he was just missing playing. It was a hot summer afternoon, when he was in his room, sitting and leaning against the bed's headboard while scrolling on his phone.

"Oye, shh, hero," Shahneel, who was lying on her stomach on the opposite side of her brother, whistled, prodding Shubman's stomach with her feet, who flinched a little, shoving her leg off of himself but didn't look up from his phone.

"Kya hai?", Shubman boringly exasperated.

"Kuch bta yaar, phone mein hi laga hua hai," Shahneel said.

Shubman sighed and finally put his phone down as he looked at his sister, "Kya batau? Kuch hai hi nahi batane ko"

An impish smile spread on her lips as she excitedly sat up before she raved, "Sara k saath sab kesa hai?"

Her smile dimmed watching her brother's monotonous expression unlike before, he used to blush like a madman upon hearing Sara's name but now all she could read was agitation.

"Ladai chalri hai humari jo majority of times chalti hi hai", Shubman spiritlessly answered.

Shahneel chuckled lightly, "What do you mean by ladai chal rahi hai? Bache ho kya tum dono? Sort it out."

Shubman sighed, seemingly frustrated, "I'm done sorting it out again and again."

He dejectedly announced making Shahneel a bit stunned, was her brother really so tired from the love of his life aka Sara Tendulkar.

Shahneel - "Problem kya hai lekin?"

Shubman rolled his eyes, gathering the heart to say it again, he had done this so many times in the past few months, explaining his perspective again and again that he was honestly whacked.

"She wants our relationship to be public but I don't,", he briefed as Shahneel understandingly nodded.

"It's one of those issues jo kaafi relationships ko barbaad kar deta hai, but I'm damn sure you guys will soon find some common ground."

Shahneel consoled, patting her brother's shoulder who smiled a little and gave her a nod.

"Chal ab muhh mat latka", she beamed to pacify her brother's distress, tugging at Shubman's chin who winced getting it out of his sister's grip, her sharp nail almost scratching his face but only succeeded to scrape his jaw a bit as he grimly stared at her, causing her to laugh even louder.

"Acha chal, challenge kar mere saath ek", she eagerly proposed.

Shubman - "Mai nahi kar raha"

Shahneel - "Please na, please"

She pleaded, harshly pulling at Shubman's cheek who again hissed swatting her hand off, "Hatt na yahan se!"

"Toh tu challenge kar mere saath" Shahneel stubbornly demanded as Shubman sighed clicking his tongue before helplessly agreeing, "Fine, chal!"

"Yayyyy" Shahneel cheered as she dragged Shubman out of the bed to proceed with their shenanigans.

************************************During the night time, after being done with dinner Shubman had just gotten out of the bathroom, dabbing his hairs dry with a towel when his phone rang as keeping the towel down on a nearby shelf he moved toward the nightstand where his phone was.

A wide smile immediately forming on his lips seeing the caller Id, he received it before bringing the phone closer to his ear.

"Hello, Ishu", he lowly squealed while walking into the balcony, hearing Ishan chuckle on the other side.

"Shubi, udas toh tu aise ho raha tha jaise agle din hi mere pass ajayega aur Chandigarh jaate hi bhoolgya sab" Ishan taunted, not being able to cease his smile, he was leaning back against the railing as he too was in the balcony, wind gently caressing his face as if bringing Shubman's touch to him.
.
"Bhoola nahi hun, but mai chahta tha ki iss baar pehle tu call kare, mai hi zyada desperate hun kya?" Shubman pouted, resting his hands on the railing, softly laughing as well when he heard Ishan giggling in response.

Ishan's laugh soon converted into a warm smile, he was dying to hear Shubman's voice, both going silent for a few seconds, feeling at ease.

"Kesa hai?" both asked at the same time, sharing another chuckle as Shubman shook his head before replying, "Mai theek hun"

"Mai bhi theek hun, Shubi," Ishan said fondly.

Shubman again went quiet for a while, suddenly feeling the urge to hug Ishan, hold him and touch him, his heart yearning to see him. Why does this keep happening to him?

"Ab kab milega mujhse?", Shubman innocently blurted out.

Ishan's heart abruptly thumped. Does this boy even listen to himself? Why does he have to talk in that tone?"

Ishan gave it a thought before speaking up, it's nothing, nothing at all, "Abhi toh chaar hi din hue hain, Shubi. Abhi kese mil lunga?"

Shubman realised as his lips upsettingly pursed, "Hmm, wo toh hai", he uttered.

Ishan sensing other's sadness pushed his own thoughts away as he smiled before brightly asking, "Aur kese jaa rahe hain tere din?"

The question made Shubman smile, and he then went on about his routine, Ishan shared his own as well. Both talked non-stop about various things, forgetting the whole world, which was followed by both of them lying in their beds, but they still couldn't stop blabbering. They always enjoyed each other's company like they did with no one else. Soon, they ran out of topics. Shubman lay silently, fiddling with his thumb, downhearted knowing that now Ishan would soon hang up the call.

Ishan - "Acha chal fir mai rakhta-"

"Call par hi rehte hai na" Shubman urged cutting him off causing Ishan to go mute for a second in confusion.

Ishan - "Are par-

Shubman - "Nahi, please, call par hi reh"

Ishan- "Par, Shubi, sab baat batadi maine, neend aa rahi hai mujhe ab"

Shubman - "Toh soja na, mai konsa tujhe pareshan karunga"

Ishan - "Are par-

Shubman - (clicks his tongue) "Kuch par var nahi, call pe hi reh" (whines)

Ishan - (defeatedly sighs) "Theek hai baba, yahin hun, nahi jaara kahi"

Both turned off their room's lights before settling into a comfortable position.

Shubman - (smiles turning on the side) "Chal sojaate hain ab"

Ishan - "Kitna pagal hai tu, ajeeb ekdum"

Shubman - "Hmm, tera pagal hun" (smiles)

Ishan - (blushes) "Kuch bhi mat bola kar han"

Shubman - (laughs) "Good night, Ishu" (comfortingly closes his eyes)

Ishan - "Goodnight"

Shubman - (snaps his eyes open) "Tune mujhe Shubi kyu nahi bulaya?"

Ishan - (groans clicking his tongue) "Shubi, ab zyada ho raha hai han"

Shubman - (smiles) "Ab theek hai"

Ishan - (Furrows his brows) "Pagal"

Ishan muttered as both soon fell into a peaceful slumber.

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