All you need is love

chapter 22

Trigger warning ⚠️

FLASHBACK

The 16-year-old Ishan sat quietly in his room, diligently doing his homework. Meanwhile, a party was going on downstairs, specifically for adults and business men. He had been strictly instructed to stay in his room.

Ishan tried to concentrate on his work, the noise from downstairs being somewhat muffled due to the distance, thanks to the fact that he was on the second floor while the party was taking place on the ground floor.

After a few moments, Ishan was interrupted by a knock on his door. He turned to see who it was and was surprise to see his father's close friend, Varun Mishra, standing at the doorstep of his room.

"Can I come in" Varun Mishra said leaning against the door frame.

Ishan paused, taken aback for a moment, but then nodded politely and responded, "Yes uncle, please come in." He watched as Varun Mishra entered his room, closing the door behind him.

A little uneasy, Ishan shifted in his chair. Varun Mishra was a regular friend of his father, but he had never seen him in this state before - a slight sway in his gait and a hint of redness in his eyes, hinting at the alcohol he had consumed.

"Is there something you need uncle?" Ishan finally asked, trying to mask his discomfort.

Varun Mishra walked a few steps closer, a small smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be quite intoxicated, his movements unsteady and carefree.
"No, no, I just wanted to talk to you," he said, his voice slurred. "I was feeling a bit lonely downstairs, all those adult boring talks you know."

Ishan gripped the pen a little tighter. The last thing he wanted to do was engage in conversation with a drunken adult, especially one as close to his father as Varun Mishra. But he tried to remain polite.

"Oh," he replied, his voice a little tense. "Well, I was just doing my homework. If you need something to do, you could help yourself to some food or drinks downstairs."

Varun Mishra chuckled, the sound a little too boisterous for Ishan's liking. He shook his head and sat down on Ishan's bed, making himself comfortable as if he owned the place.

Ishan watched as Varun Mishra made himself at home on his bed, his discomfort growing. He tried to keep his focus on his homework, hoping that he would would leave soon. But the man had no such intentions.

Varun Mishra leaned back on the bed, his eyes fixed on Ishan. There was a gleam in his gaze that Ishan couldn't quite place. He shifted in his seat, the pen in his hand now almost digging into his palm.

"You know you look a lot like your mother," Varun Mishra said suddenly, his voice a bit too close for comfort. Ishan looked up, surprise mingling with the discomfort in his eyes.

"Thank you," he responded curtly, not knowing how else to react. He didn't quite understand where this conversation was going and wanted it to end as quickly as possible.

Varun Mishra seemed undeterred by Ishan's cold response. He continued to study Ishan, his gaze feeling almost predatory. The drunken haze in his eyes made Ishan feel even more uneasy.

"You're growing up quickly," Varun Mishra said lowly, his words coming out more like a statement than a compliment. He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up a bit.

Ishan's heart rate quickened, a mix of unease and worry filling him. He didn't like the way the man was talking, the way he was looking at him. Yet, he couldn't find the courage to tell him to leave, especially with how drunk he seemed to be.