TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -18

After a moment, Rahul broke the silence. "I'm so afraid after seeing that Shakchunni near us," he confessed, his voice trembling.

Hardik nodded, holding him close. "I’m scared too, Rahul. I don’t know if I have the physical strength to fight it."

Just then, there was a knock at their door. Rahul got up and opened it, revealing Krunal standing there, holding two cups of Maggi.

Krunal walked in, giving one cup to Rahul. "Here, I thought you might need this," he said with a small smile. He then sat on the edge of the bed and started feeding Hardik the other cup, just like he used to when they were kids.

Hardik took a bite and then asked, "Why did you suddenly come in?"

A tear slipped from Krunal's eye as he replied, "I was afraid about this whole mess." He paused, his voice catching. "But mostly, I missed my baby brother who used to get scared watching horror movies. And now, here he is, fighting a real one."

Krunal hugged Hardik tightly, tears streaming down his face. Hardik hugged him back, feeling the strength and warmth of his brother's love.

"I’m so proud of you, Hardik," Krunal whispered. "We’ll get through this. You’re not alone."

Rahul, watching the brothers, felt a pang of emotion. "We’re all in this together. We’ll protect each other."

Krunal nodded, pulling back from the hug but keeping a hand on Hardik’s shoulder. "Exactly. We’ll fight this Shakchunni together, as a family."

Hardik looked at both Rahul and Krunal, feeling a renewed sense of hope and determination. "Thank you. I needed this."

Krunal smiled, wiping away his tears. "Anytime, little brother. Now, let’s finish this Maggi and get some rest. We’ve got a long day ahead of us."

💞💞💞

As Ishan entered the room, he found Shubman sitting on the bed, looking a bit lost.

"Hey, why haven’t you freshened up yet?" Ishan asked, concern evident in his voice.

Shubman glanced up at him, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I’m afraid to bathe alone."

Ishan’s heart softened. "I can wait right in front of the door while you take a shower. How does that sound?"

Shubman nodded, appreciating the offer. "Okay, that sounds good."

As Shubman stepped into the shower, the sound of running water filled the small room. Ishan stood just outside, keeping his promise.

Suddenly, Shubman’s voice echoed from the bathroom. "Ishan, who was in the way of the petni getting me?"

Ishan’s voice wavered slightly as he responded, "I really have no idea, Shubman."

There was a pause, then Shubman asked, "Then why did you get hurt?"

Before Ishan could formulate a response, the bathroom door opened, revealing a dripping-wet Shubman who suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Ishan was stunned, but he quickly melted into the kiss, his heart racing.

Shubman pulled back, a soft smile on his face. "I know you like me, Ishan. And I like you too. I’ve liked you since the moment you punched me in front of Hardik and Rahul’s dorm room that night."

Ishan chuckled, recalling the incident. "That was a memorable night."

Shubman’s expression turned serious as he looked at Ishan’s back. "Do the scratches hurt too much?"

Ishan hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest. "Yes, they hurt a lot."

Shubman’s heart clenched with concern. "Let me help you with the ointment Dhoni gave."

As Shubman gently applied the ointment to Ishan’s back, Ishan felt a wave of gratitude and affection wash over him. He knew he couldn’t keep his feelings hidden any longer.

Once Shubman was done, Ishan turned to him, his eyes searching Shubman’s face. "Shubman, will you be my boyfriend?"

Shubman’s eyes sparkled with happiness as he replied, "Yes, Ishan. I’d love to be your boyfriend."

Ishan smiled, feeling a sense of relief and joy. He pulled Shubman into a hug, holding him close. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Shubman hugged him back tightly. "I think I do, Ishan."

Ishan felt a newfound strength as he held Shubman. They had a lot to face, but with Shubman by his side, he felt ready to take on the world.