Destined hearts (Ishan x Shubman)

25.

Ishan and Shubman looked at each other, their eyes filled with tears, the shock clearly evident on their faces. 

“Oh, my God.” Shubman heaved a shaky breath, crouching down onto the floor. His legs felt too weak to keep standing. He looked at the pendant that was clutched in his hand, red diamond digging in his palm, the object was cold against his skin but it somehow radiated a strange warmth, perhaps the warmth of the love  it was made with. He gulped, a big knot forming in his throat as he looked up at Ishan.

Ishan immediately dropped down to his knees as well, pulling Shubman in a tight hug, clutching onto him tightly for he seemed to be the only one to ground him in this moment of uncertainty and the feeling of being lost in a maze with no way out. He closed his eyes, a few tears escaping through them. 

More than shocked and surprised, both of them felt devastated. Devastated for the fate their past selves had to endure, heartbroken for the way they were stripped off their love, the love they deserved. They loved with all their might, with the last ounce of strength present in them and still lost. How was the fate so cruel to them?

Shubman hugged him back just as tightly, seeking his warmth to even out the cold he felt in his heart by remembering the painful destiny of their past selves, so painful that his heart shuddered to even think of that.

Ishan pulled back after a while, cupping his face and gently wiping away his tears. That's when Shubman realised he was actually crying. Ishan's own eyes were filled with tears as well, threatening to spill any second. 

“So, it was actually written in the stars, huh.” Ishan mumbled with a weak chuckle, wiping away the tears that streamed down his own cheeks. When they first met, he used to joke that their coincidental meetings were meant to be. Seems like they actually were. 

Shubman let out a small laugh through his tears, pulling him in a hug again. His tight hold suggested he was afraid to let him go. Maybe he was, he won't be able to handle being away from Ishan. He was scared, very scared, feeling like the man would disappear if he loosened his hold.

“I love you.” Shubman said, burying his face in Ishan's shoulder, his voice a little shaky.

Ishan smiled, caressing his back gently. The words felt a bit different this time, perhaps a bit more nicer. Like a strange fear was wiped out of his chest, almost like a marham to the wounds that he didn't even know existed, like a warmth spreading through his heart, like a hand pulling him out of the darkness. Like a gentle voice whispering 'You'll be fine, everything will be fine.' It felt like home, warm and cozy and comforting.

“I love you too, Jaan." Ishan whispered, kissing the crown of his hair, his heart feeling like it will drown in this love but it won't regret it. This love will consume him but he will be happy to be consumed. “So damn much.”

They were just sitting there in each other's embrace, trying to process everything in the quiet of the night, in the comfort of one another's arms until Mayank and Abhishek came back and in a while, they were leaving back for their home. 

“Ish.” Shubman said when they were alone in their room the next day, in the comfort of their home and each other's presence.

“Hm?” Ishan opened his eyes, giving a smile to Shubman who was laying down with his head on Ishan's lap while Ishan was running his fingers through his hair.

“Do you believe it?” Shubman asked, his voice soft and low. “The past life?” 

Ishan paused, falling into his thoughts. All of it still felt too surreal, hard to believe. If someone had told them something like that before yesterday, they would've laughed and brushed it off. But how can you do that now? No matter how strange and hard to believe this was, the feeling, the memories were so persistent and vivid in their chests, it was all too real to not believe. 

And everything else made sense as well, the way they keep meeting again and again, the connection they felt with each other from the moment they met, those dreams. Everything made sense. How can you not believe?

“I do.” He mumbled after a while, smiling down at his beloved.

Shubman sat up straight, facing him. “I'm scared, Ishan.”

“Of what, Meri Jaan?” Ishan asked, his voice as light and soft as a feather, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he looked into Shubman's eyes, the same eyes he fell in love with in their past life, in this life and will always do in every other life that has to come. In every situation, in all cirumcstances, in any universe, beyond all odds and challenges. Even if he has to fight life itself. 

Shubman sighed, seemingly struggling to come up with words to describe what he was thinking. He doesn't know what else he was scared of but he knows that he is definitely scared of living a life in which Ishan wouldn't be with him. He wants Ishan in his life, and in his arms, not just his heart. He loves the man so much, more than he has ever loved anyone, more than he loves himself, more than he loves life. A life without Ishan would be more dark and scarier than any nightmare.

“I don't know, what if-”

“Shh.” Ishan gently covered Shubman's lips with his hand, his eyes soft, filled with love, overwhelming -in a good way- love. Shubman couldn't help the airy chuckle that left his lips, his heart skipping a beat at the touch. 

“There isn't a place for any what if's. Not anymore.” Ishan whispered, holding his face, gently as if he was the most precious treasure on the surface of this earth. For Ishan, he was. The most precious treasure, his love, his life, his everything. “I love you. I love you so much, and I'm not letting you go this time. Never letting you go.” 

He pulled Shubman in a tight hug, continuing, in a more softer voice if that was even possible, “You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I will be with you for this life and more to come.” He said, placing a kiss on Shubman's hair, and heard him exhaling a deep breath as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders, making him feel much, much more lighter. 

“Do you know how to read minds?” Shubman asked jokingly, pulling back a little to look at Ishan's face, his hands still on Ishan's back. 

“Maybe I know how to read your mind.” Ishan winked, bumping his nose, his lips spread apart in a big grin.

Shubman giggled, hugging him again, his face buried in the man's shoulder. "Bahut mohabbat karte hai hum aapse.”

"Hum bhi, jaan.”

-

And..... the end.

So, we're ending the story here. This is how I envisioned their ending to be. Their past not being a barrier but a fuel of determination for them to hold onto their love a little more tighter.

This story might not be perfect, not even remotely close to being perfect but it was a joy for me to write and I really hope it was a joy for you to read as well, even if just a tiny bit. I'm really grateful to all of you for reading, thank you so much for giving this a chance, and for your votes and comments and for just reading. I love you all.

Bye-bye 💖💌