All you need is love

chapter 16

Shubman and ishan approach the small table.

As they stood before the cake, Shubman felt a pang of guilt in his heart. Despite his genuine affection for Ishan, he was a detective undercover with a mission to complete.

He squeezed Ishan's hand gently, silently cursing his situation and the weight he bore. "Ready?" he asked, a forced smile on his face to hide his inner turmoil.

Ishan, blissfully unaware of the true nature of Shubman's presence, beamed widely. "Yes, let's do it!" he replied enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.

Shubman's heart ached at the innocence in Ishan's smile, but he couldn't help but be drawn to it.

Ishan, unable to contain his excitement, gleefully took the knife from Shubman and began to cut the cake with a broad smile plastered across his face.

With the cake portioned out, Shubman took a deep breath, steadying himself. He looked into Ishan's expectant eyes, his heart aching at the depth of his deception. He started to sing the birthday song, his voice cracking slightly with the weight of his secret.

"Happy birthday to you..."

Shubman felt the lump in his throat grow as they continued to sing, each word a dagger to his heart. Despite his mission, he couldn't help but wish he could be there purely as Ishan's boyfriend, untangled from his duplicitous life.

"Wait"

Shubman watched curiously as Ishan rose from his seat, his heart racing in anticipation. He leaned forward to see where Ishan was going, but the dim lighting in the room made it difficult to discern.

"Where are you going?" he called out, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

"Just wait here" Ishan replied.

As Ishan returned, camera in hand, Shubman's heart skipped a beat. He plastered a smile on his face, masking his anxiety.

"What's the camera for?" he asked casually, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I wanna capture this moment" Ishan said.

Shubman forced a chuckle, his mind racing. "Ah, of course. The important moments, right?"

Ishan nodded enthusiastically, setting up the camera to take a picture of the two of them. Shubman swallowed hard, his palms sweaty. He knew the picture would capture more than a simple memory...  it would immortalize a lie.

Ishan's gaze flickered to the two glasses on the table, each filled with juice. He looked up at Shubman, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Did you pour these?" Ishan inquired.

Shubman's gut clenched as he saw Ishan's questioning gaze. He was all too aware of what was in the juice.

"I did," he replied, his voice a perfect blend of casual nonchalance and artificial calm.

"Hope you don't mind." he added with a forced smile, trying to brush off any suspicion. Shubman watched Ishan closely, his heart pounding in his chest, waiting to see if the tranquilizer would take effect quickly.

Ishan, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking in the juice, looked up at Shubman with a smile. "Of course not," he replied. He reached for his glass, a hint of trust in his eyes, and took a sip.

Shubman watched as Ishan drank the juice, a mixture of relief and guilt washing over him. He knew the tranquilizer was working - Ishan's movements becoming slower, his eyelids drooping.

"Feeling sleepy?" Shubman asked, feigning concern. He leaned forward, trying to hide the anticipation in his eyes.

Ishan nodded lazily, his head drooping slightly as the tranquilizer took hold. "A little," he mumbled, his words slurring slightly.