Through The Storm [ An Ishman Ff ]

Chapter 2

Evening fell softly as Ishan stepped out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam trailing him. He wore a plush bathrobe, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. Standing before the dressing table, he began to towel dry his hair. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, making him startle.
"Shub, you scared me!" Ishan exclaimed, catching sight of Shub's reflection in the mirror.
"Sorry, baby. Did I really scare you?" Shub asked, turning Ishan to face him, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"No," Ishan replied, his voice steady despite his racing heart.
"Ah, I missed the chance to join you in the bath," Shub said, licking his lips provocatively. "You know, you're such a pervert," Ishan teased.
"But only for you," Shub retorted, burying his face in the crook of Ishan's neck and inhaling deeply. "Baby, I love your orchid scent. It's so tempting." Shub placed a gentle kiss on the mole on Ishan's neck, causing Ishan to shiver and tighten his grip around Shub's neck.
Shubman pulled back, his eyes twinkling. "Just one kiss and you're already a mess. I love my sensitive baby," he teased, pinching Ishan's cheeks. Ishan blushed deeply in response.
"We're getting late, or else I'd devour you right now," Shubman murmured. Ishan, with a playful smile, lightly punched Shubman's stomach, then turned him around and gave him a gentle push towards the bathroom.
"Now go and take your bath," Ishan instructed, his tone both affectionate and firm.

While Shub was taking a bath, Ishan decided to prepare their outfits and gather the essentials for getting ready. Just then, Shub emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his hair.
"Shub, dry your hair properly, or you'll catch a cold," Ishan admonished gently.
"Baby, please do it for me," Shubman replied with a playful smile.
"You are such a baby," Ishan said affectionately, guiding Shub to sit on the bed. He picked up the hairdryer and began to dry Shub's hair with tender care.
Once they were both dressed, they looked incredibly handsome.
"Shub, do I look good?" Ishan asked, seeking reassurance.
"Baby, you always look beautiful. You don't need anything extra to be stunning," Shubman responded warmly. "But wait, I have something for you."
He reached into his bag and brought out a small box. "This is for you," Shubman said, handing it to Ishan.
Ishan opened the box to reveal a beautiful pearl necklace. "Wow, it's beautiful," he exclaimed, amazed.
Shubman took the necklace, turned Ishan around, and carefully clasped it around his neck. "Now, it looks even more beautiful," Shubman said, admiring the necklace against Ishan's skin.
"Okay, let's go. We're getting late," Shubman urged.
They walked into the hall. "Mom, Dad, come on, we're getting late," Shubman called out to his parents. By the time they entered the hall, Shub asked, "Where's Hardik Bhaiya?"
"Oh, actually something urgent came up at Rahul's house, so they went there," Mrs. Gill explained.
"Everything's okay, right?" Shub asked with concern.
"Yes, there's nothing to worry about," Mrs. Gill reassured him. "By the way, Ishu baby, you look endlessly beautiful."
"Thank you, Mom," Ishan replied with a shy smile.
"Abhishek will join us later," Mr. Gill added.
"Okay, Dad, no worries," Shubman responded.
Before leaving, both Shub and Ishan took blessings from Mr. and Mrs. Gill. "Sada khush raho," they blessed their children warmly. Mr. Gill patted Shubman's back and said, "I know, baby, you're nervous about today's award ceremony. Even though you don't show it, we know. But don't be nervous, okay? We already know you'll get the award, and even if you are not getting ,we're still proud of you no matter what."
These words made Shubman emotional, and he hugged his father tightly. Ishan watched this tender moment with a small, affectionate smile.

As they reached the venue, Shubman and Ishan, along with their parents, stepped out of the car. The media presence was overwhelming, with numerous flashes lighting up their faces. Walking on the red carpet, Shubman securely guided Ishan by placing his hand on his back, while Mr. and Mrs. Gill followed closely behind. They paused briefly to pose for the cameras, thanking everyone before heading inside.
As the award ceremony began, one by one, the awards were presented. It would be a lie to say Shubman wasn't nervous; he was shaking his leg continuously. Ishan noticed and placed his hand over Shubman's, saying, "Shub, don't be nervous. I know you'll definitely get the award, and even if you don't, it doesn't matter. I've seen how hard you've worked. Mom and Dad have seen it too. Just remember, I'm always proud of you, no matter what." Shubman responded with a small smile.
The host announced, "Now it's time for the Best Technology and Innovation Award. The nominees are..." After listing all the nominees, including Shubman, the host continued, "I would like Mr. Sharma to announce the result."
Mr. Sharma stepped up and said, "And the Best Technology and Innovation Award goes to the CEO of Pixel Wave Software, Shubman Gill."
Applause echoed through the hall as Shubman gave a tight hug to Ishan, his bright dimpled smile shining with pride. With a confident stride, he made his way to the stage to accept the award.
Host: "Mr. Shubman Gill, please share a few words with us."
Shubman took the microphone, his voice steady and warm. "First of all, thank you so much for this award. It's not just me but the entire Pixel Wave team who have contributed to this achievement. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support and blessings of my parents. And, of course, my lucky charm, my husband/wife Ishan, who stands by me through every step of this journey. Thank you. Thank you everyone.

After the award ceremony, Abhi met shub and congratulate him and he returned back because he was having a urgent work to be done. Shubman and Ishan were chatting with their college friend Vikram. Alongside them was Shubman’s business partner, Sara. Shubman hadn't seen his friend Vikram in many years and was catching up when Vikram introduced his family.
Vikram: "Shubman, Ishan, meet my husband Riyan and our son, Vedh."
Riyan shook hands with both Shubman and Ishan.
Shubman: "Congratulations on becoming a dad, bhai! Can I hold him, please?"
Vikram: "Of course, yaar! You don't need to ask."
Shubman gently took Vedh into his arms and started to baby talk. The baby responded with adorable giggles.
Vikram: "By the way, tere to abhi tak 2 bacche ho gaye honge. Remember in college, tujhse majak main pucha tha ki tera dream kya Hain aur tune bola tha " I want to become a dad" Vikram said smiling.
The sudden question made Shubman and Ishan fall silent.
Shubman: "No, actually, we haven't decided to have a baby yet," Shubman replied in a low,  voice, handing Vedh back to Riyan.
Ishan glanced at Shubman, sensing his discomfort.
Vikram: "Oh, I see."
Sara: "Shubman is ready to become a father, but his husband probably isn’t. Being a cricketer, he’s more focused on his career," she said with a taunting tone. Sara couldn't hide her dislike for Ishan.
( Sara just hate ishan to the core)
Ishan could sense the taunt. It wasn’t the first time he faced such comments. Although Shubman and his in-laws never pressured him, whenever they visited Shubman’s relatives, the topic always came up.
Thay always taunted him for not having baby.
Shubman: "Sara, please don't interfere in our personal matters. It’s none of your business."
Sara (angry): "The truth is always bitter, Shub. The reality is that Ishan is selfish and only thinks about himself. He doesn’t consider others' feelings. You’re about to complete four years of marriage right  and still haven't decided about a baby."
Shubman: "Sara, just leave before I say something I regret."
By this point, Ishan had gripped Shubman's biceps tightly, tears welling in his eyes.
Vikram: "Guys, please stop. It's their personal decision whether to have a baby or not. Outsiders can't interfere in such matters."
Sara stomped her feet and stormed off.
Riyan: "It's okay if you haven't decided yet. You have plenty of time. Don’t let others' words get to you."
Vikram: "I guess that girl is just jealous of Ishan."
Shubman hummed in agreement. "Alright, we should go. Mom and Dad must be waiting for us in the car."
Shubman and Ishan hugged Vikram and Riyan, then said their goodbyes.
Shub and Ishan headed toward the car and settled inside.
Mr. Gill asked, "What took you so long, beta?"
"Nothing, Dad," Shub replied. "I just met a friend and was talking with him."
Mr. Gill hummed in response.
Mrs. Gill said, "Okay, let's go. I think we all must be very tired."
The car ride was completely silent. Mrs. Gill slept with her head on her husband's shoulder, and Mr. Gill dozed off beside her. They both sat in the back seat.
Shubman drove with a calm expression on his face, while Ishan's mind was in turmoil. He kept replaying the earlier incident in his head.
**Ishan's POV:**
Sara was right, though. I know how much Shubman loves babies. I’ve seen his eyes sparkle whenever he sees one, even if he never says it out loud. He wants a baby. And here I am, being completely selfish. But my career... I want to make a comeback, and I can't afford to get pregnant right now. No, no, I can’t let it happen now. I want to do my comeback this IPL.

Ishan's thoughts came to a halt when the car suddenly stopped. Looking out the window, they realized they had finally reached home. Mr. and Mrs. Gill got out of the car, followed by Ishan, while Shubman stayed behind to park it.
"Mom, Dad, you go inside. I'll come with Shub," Ishan said.
"Okay, beta," replied Mr. Gill.
After some time, Shub returned from parking the car. "Why are you waiting outside?" he asked.
"I was waiting for you," Ishan replied.
"Okay, come on," Shub said, and they both headed to their room. They freshened up and changed into their night clothes. Ishan sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Shubman, sensing his mood, approached slowly and cupped Ishan's face.
"Baby, what are you thinking about?" Shubman asked softly.
Ishan didn't respond immediately. Shubman continued, "If you're thinking about the incident earlier, please don't. You know Sara; she always looks for chances to say something negative about you. Don't let her words get to you. She has no say in whether we should have a baby or not."
"What about you, Shubi? Don't you want a baby?" Ishan asked suddenly.
Shubman remained silent for a moment, looking deeply into Ishan's eyes. After a pause, he replied, "Unless you want it, I don't want it either. It's your body and your decision."
For the first time, Ishan realized that Shubman wasn't good at hiding his true feelings. He could see the longing in Shubman's eyes. Shubman gently shook him. "Ishu, don't overthink it. Come on, let's sleep."
They both got into bed and covered themselves with the duvet. Shubman hugged Ishan tightly from behind, and they drifted off to sleep with half-heavy hearts.

Tbc...
I hope you all didn’t get bored reading the chapter.

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