Purrfect Neighbour (ShubmanGillxIshanKishan)

31

When Shubman woke up the next morning, Yashasvi was curled up by his side, fast asleep. He looked so peaceful and content next to him that it did tug at his heart a little. He hated doing this to Yashasvi. The guy who helped him to get on his feet when he first came to Mumbai. His loyal friend throughout the years. His willing lover for just over a year. If it had been anyone else but Ishan, he would've told them to take a hike, that he was committed to Yashasvi. But Ishan just held that part of him that no one else could reach.

Shubman eased slowly out of the bed, resting Yashasvi's head on the pillow and then pulling the blanket over him. As he made his way to the kitchen, he wondered if their friendship would survive this breakup. Even though it might be considered selfish of him, he really hoped that it would.

Yashasvi found him in the kitchen half an hour later, stirring a pot of aloo paratha and dal. "You're making breakfast?" He seemed surprised as he sat on one of the bar stools.

"Yeah," Shubman flipped the parathas with a spatula. "It's the least I could do, ya know, considering everything."

He glanced behind him at Yashasvi, who was just watching him with a somewhat remorseful expression. He turned back to the stove and turned off the heat underneath the dal. Breakups were always miserable things.

He plated the food and brought it over to Yashasvi along with some freshly made chai. The meal was quiet. Shubman watched as Yashasvi picked at the food. He couldn't really blame him if he didn’t have much of an appetite.

After ten minutes, Yashasvi pushed away the plate and got off the stool, heading back into the bedroom without saying a word to Shubman. So much for making it seem as normal as possible. Although he really couldn't fault Yashasvi for feeling how he did, he thought as he cleaned up the breakfast remains. He was basically told last night that he wasn’t good enough anymore. A sort of extended replacement until Ishan returned, if you will.

When Shubman finished in the kitchen, he decided to watch some television and give Yashasvi some space. As soon as he sat down on the couch, Sara jumped in his lap and curled right up, purring pleasantly. Shubman scratched the furry tummy and the cat purred even more contentedly. If only it was this easy to appease humans, Shubman thought.

"Well, I'm leaving."

Finally, Yashasvi took a step back from the embrace, wiping his face with his hand. "Um, I had called a friend to come and pick me up. He's probably outside waiting."

Shubman nodded slowly. "Okay." He watched as Yashasvi picked up his bags again. "Yash?"

Yashasvi looked at him, waiting.

"I know that I probably have no right to even ask or suggest such a thing, but do you think we can still be friends?" His voice came across a bit too hopeful and eager, but he didn't care. He didn’t want to lose Yashasvi completely, even if it was a bit selfish.

Yashasvi seemed to be considering the proposition carefully. "Just give me some time, okay?" He took in the crestfallen look on Shubman's face. "I'm not saying no; it's just that this is a lot of heavy shit to process."

"No, I get it. It's a lot of me to ask, but I don't want you out of my life completely."

Yashasvi shuffled a bit uncomfortably. "It really is a lot to ask."

"I know. Just give it some thought, okay?" Shubman didn’t want to push him. That would be the worst thing to do at this point.

Yashasvi nodded. "Okay."

He tightened his grip on his bags and continued to walk to the door. Shubman watched as he opened the door and walked over the threshold. Yashasvi waved goodbye to him, and he waved back. Then the door closed, and Yashasvi was gone.