Maybe in this Lifetime (Short Fics)

Meeting again

Shubman was practicing, at least that was his outward appearance. In his mind though? He was waiting, excitement bubbling over. He was going to meet his best friend again. It had been only a month but every day without his bestie by his side was a day too many. How to keep him next to him forever? "Get married to him" His brain whispered. He forcefully pushed the thought away.

It had been something that he's been struggling with for a while now. With everyone else his brain gives normal solutions but with Ishan it's always romantic. He doesn't get it. (He kinda does get it but refuses to acknowledge it).

He was doing some routine drills while his dad was just shaking his head. His dad knows he's waiting to meet Ishan, he realizes, but is grateful that he doesn't say anything. Well, his dad likes Ishan way too much to interfere with their friendship or whatever else it's morphed into.

When he heard Ishan was now on the field it took him all his willpower to not run towards him like a mad man. The way his whole heart lit up on seeing his Ishan's face! He went towards him pulling the boy into himself. The wretched helmet coming in the way of him made him so mad. He wanted to dramatically pull it away and ki.. err.. he just wanted to hug his bestie comfortably. That's it! Yeah. Yeah. That's it.

If he whispered "kopche mein mil" (meet me alone) that's because they were besties and had the same ridiculous humor as proved by Ishan's laughter.

However, they did meet away from the cameras and team mates. "Kopcha" being the locker room. Shubman was waiting near the lockers knowing fully well Ishan would find him. He's pretending to check his phone when someone barges into him from behind enveloping him in a warm back hug. He turns smiling, hugging the tiny person so hard that he picks him up.

Their hugs were always intense but this one had a tinge of desperation to it. Neither of them let go. Shubman had an intense urge to find a bed. Ugh not for those reasons, you corrupted minds! He just wanted to cuddle with his Ishh. It's his favorite thing in the world and he missed it so much. Like just hanging out with Ishan, cuddling him, talking nineteen to dozen that's what he missed the most.

He looked around there was a bench on the side. He dragged Ishan there and settled down, arms around his neck and sitting so close he might as well have made Ishan sit on his lap. "That's the dream, isn't it?" His brain, it was always his brain messing with him.

Ishan elbowed him. "Ouch"

Ishan giggled. "Kaha Kho gaye meri jaan" (Where are you lost my love)

"Tumhare khayalon mein" (in your thoughts)

Ishan broke into his brand of Khi khi laughter that made Shubman's heart brim to the full. He had missed it so much. Of course he got a daily dose of it over phone calls and video calls but to have it so close by, it was everything. The feel the vibrations of that laughter caused was the kind of sukoon (peace) he sought in life. 

Shubman listened as Ishan filled him on events of over the past 24 hours which was the part of their lives they hadn't updated each other on. He was talking about the last match he watched and the travel and their training. Shubman was listening, he always does but he also couldn't help just staring at this feisty man and feeling the warmth of the cuddle. "You're so whipped" his brain snarks. Yeah, he knows.

He looks at Ishan's right hand wrapped around his left hand while their bodies are flush against each other. He loves this. He loves him. He has been smiling for the past half hour or so. Yeah, that's how long it's been, probably, but it did feel like a few seconds so he wasn't too sure.

"Gill, tu chalega na mere saat" (Gill, you're going to come with me right?)

"Haan" he had agreed without thinking before asking "par kaha" (but where)