The New Boy (Ishman)

Chapter 21

Last night Ishan slept well. Although his head was mostly occupied by all the matches and how he would perform, his thoughts mostly occupied Shubman.

He kept thinking about how tomorrow would go. How and most importantly what he would practice, occupied his mind.

Next morning ~

Everyone got up a bit earlier than usual.

Ishan packed his kit as usual.

"Hope everything goes well..." he softly muttered as he closed up the chain of his kit bag.

He took his kit on his shoulders and advanced towards the door. Before he could, he heard a ring at his door.

Ishan blinked a few times. He slowly got closer to the peep hole and peeked out.

"What...on earth..—" the person standing outside his door was no one other than Shubman himself.

Ishan frowned a bit but immediately opened the door. Shubman turned around and looked at the shorter.

Ishan was clueless at this point of time. He was wondering if the person was really in front of him or not.

"Everyone is already down, waiting for you....and me." Ishan was kind of flustered hearing this.

"You... didn't go...?" Ishan asked, looking at the empty hallways as he slowly closed the door behind him.

Shubman sighed. No response.

"W—Wait!" Ishan said as he ran behind the tall figure who walked with a fast pace.

They entered the lift. Ishan's room was on the third floor and Shubman's on 2nd.

From the corner of his eyes, Ishan saw Shubman pressing the button of the ground floor. The taller shoved his both hands inside his pockets and stood quietly, not speaking a word.

It was very awkward for Ishan.

As soon as the lift stopped and the gates opened, Shubman was first to exit. Ishan exited too later awkwardly.

"Ishu!!!"

Ishan sighed deeply. That loud and excited voice belonged to Mayank. Ishan smiled widely. Though Mayank sometimes irritated him, he did like the other's company.

Shubman rolled his eyes and kept walking ahead. Ishan gave the taller a concerned look and walked towards Mayank.

Rohit bhaiya and Virat bhaiya kept continuously talking about the pitch and the coordination they need amongst the whole team and how.

Bumrah bhaiya on the other hand kept teasing Hardik bhaiya on some unknown topic, but it was very interesting as Hardik kept on getting angry more and more. It really entertained him.

They all had breakfast together. A bus had arrived before their hotel, ready to escort them to the field.

Ishan was absent minded the whole ride. Shubman would occasionally glance to his side, at the row beside his. Mayank sat beside Ishan and kept nonstop chattering. The other kept looking outside the window.

Shubman knew that Ishan was thinking about how this last practice would go. He knew Ishan needed more time to get adjusted with the whole team's pace.

But it is what it is.

They reached the field. Everyone slowly kept on getting off the bus.

"Abbe Jasprit aur kitna tease karega?! Bas kar!" Hardik bhaiya almost yelled at Bumrah who kept on laughing uncontrollably.

Ishan slowly got up as Mayank went away. Shubman was also getting up from his seat and was about to keep his foot on the walking pathway on the bus when they both clashed into eachother.