Ishan Kishan sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone. The recent trip to Ujjain to visit the Mahakal Mandir with his family had been a spiritual respite, a momentary escape from the turmoil in his mind. The T20 World Cup had been a rollercoaster of emotions, watching his friends shine while he was sidelined, but he had taken solace in their victories.
Today, the BCCI had announced the squad for the Zimbabwe tour. Ishan’s heart ached with a familiar pang as he scrolled through the names. He wasn’t surprised not to see his own, but the sting was still there. Then, his eyes lit up with joy as he saw that Shubman, his jaan, was the captain of the tour. Alongside him was Abhishek, another close friend. A surge of pride and happiness for Shubman overwhelmed him.
Without a second thought, Ishan dialed Shubman’s number. The phone rang a few times before Shubman picked up, his voice cheerful and warm.
“Hey jaan, kya kar raha hai?” Shubman’s voice brought a smile to Ishan’s face.
“Bas yaar, ghar pe hoon. Dekha announcement? Tu captain! I’m so happy for you, yaar!” Ishan’s voice was genuinely excited.
“Thanks, Ishu! It’s a big responsibility, but I’m looking forward to it. Abhishek bhi hai saath mein. It’ll be fun,” Shubman replied, his excitement palpable through the phone.
They continued to chat, sharing jokes and teasing each other, the familiarity and comfort between them evident. Ishan laughed, momentarily forgetting his worries. But Shubman, ever perceptive, sensed the underlying tension in Ishan’s voice.
“Are you okay, Ishu?” Shubman’s tone softened, genuine concern lacing his words.
Ishan’s laughter faded, and the question hit him harder than he expected. He had been holding up a facade, even to himself, but hearing those words from Shubman broke something inside him. His throat tightened, and he felt the sting of tears in his eyes.
“Kya bolu, yaar? Sab theek hai, but...” Ishan’s voice cracked, the weight of his emotions pouring out. “Mujhse nahi ho raha yeh sab. Watching you all succeed, I’m happy for you, really, but I feel like I’m failing. Mein koshish kar raha hoon, par...” He couldn’t continue as the sobs overtook him.
Shubman’s heart ached hearing Ishan’s pain. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He knew how capable Ishan was, how much potential he had, yet here he was, struggling and hurting.
“Ishu, listen to me,” Shubman said firmly, trying to convey all his love and support through his words. “You are an amazing player, an amazing person. Yeh temporary phase hai. You’ve led us so well in the past, and you’ll do it again. Trust me.”
Ishan wiped his tears, trying to regain his composure. “Shub, it’s hard. Seeing everyone move forward while I’m stuck. I feel like I’m letting everyone down, especially myself.”
“Nahi, Ishu. You’re not letting anyone down. We all believe in you, and you need to believe in yourself too. Tumhe yaad hai na, jab main dengue se recover kar raha tha, tumne kaise meri care ki thi? You made sure I was okay, you didn’t let me give up. Now, it’s my turn to be there for you.”
Ishan remembered those days vividly, how he had put all his energy into helping Shubman recover. The roles were reversed now, and he felt a sense of reassurance from Shubman’s words.
“Thanks, Shub. I needed to hear that,” Ishan said softly, his voice still shaky but with a hint of a smile.
“Always, jaan. I’m always here for you,” Shubman replied, his voice tender and filled with love.
They continued talking for a while, the conversation slowly shifting back to lighter topics, but the underlying bond between them stronger than ever. Shubman’s words had given Ishan a renewed sense of hope, a reminder that he wasn’t alone in this struggle.
After hanging up, Ishan lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The future was still uncertain, but with Shubman’s unwavering support and love, he felt a little more prepared to face it. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of their conversation wash over him, a small smile playing but..
Ishan had refused to eat his afternoon meal, retreating into his room. The room was dark, a silent testament to his emotional turmoil. His parents, deeply concerned, knocked gently on his door. When they received no response, they exchanged worried glances and entered.
Ishan was lying on his bed, staring blankly at the wall. His mother’s heart ached at the sight of her son in such despair. She slowly approached him and began to caress his hair. "Ladoo," she whispered softly.
Ishan’s eyes filled with tears upon hearing her voice. He turned his head and buried it in her lap, letting out the emotions he had been holding back. "Maa," he sobbed, his voice cracking with pain.
His father, who had been standing at the doorway, walked over and sat beside them. He placed a comforting hand on Ishan’s shoulder, his own eyes misty with tears. "Beta," he said gently, "we are here for you. Always."
Ishan clung to his mother, the tears flowing freely now. "I’m sorry, Maa. I’m so sorry, Papa. I didn’t mean to worry you."
His mother continued to stroke his hair, her touch soothing. "Shh, Ladoo. It’s okay. We are more worried about you. You don’t have to apologize for how you feel."
His father nodded in agreement. "Ishan, you’ve been so strong for so long. It’s okay to let it out. We understand how hard this has been for you."
Ishan’s sobs slowly subsided as he felt the warmth and love of his parents surrounding him. "I just... I feel like I’ve let everyone down," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No, beta," his mother said firmly. "You have never let us down. We are proud of you, no matter what. You’ve achieved so much, and we know you’ll achieve even more. But right now, it’s important to take care of yourself."
His father added, "You’re not alone in this. We’ll get through it together, as a family. And you have so many people who care about you and believe in you."
Ishan looked up at them, his eyes red but filled with a spark of hope. "Thank you, Maa. Thank you, Papa. I don’t know what I’d do without you."
His mother kissed his forehead. "You don’t have to go through this alone, Ladoo. We’re here, every step of the way."
His father squeezed his shoulder gently. "We love you, Ishan. More than anything."
Ishan hugged them both, feeling a sense of comfort and reassurance. The path ahead was still uncertain, but with his family’s unwavering support, he knew he could face it. Together, they sat in the quiet room, holding onto each other, the bond of their love and strength unbreakable.
...
Dear readers..our gill has become captain of india for the Zimbabwe tour but begging honest I love gill but I feel bad for ishan...and my first celebrity crush Abhishek Sharma tour got selected
