The sterile white walls of the hospital seemed to close in, suffocating every bit of hope left in the hearts of those waiting outside Ishan’s ward. The silence in the corridor was broken only by the occasional beeping of machines and the low hum of distant conversations. Ishan lay unconscious inside, his body bruised, fighting a battle no one could help him with. Outside, his family and teammates were lost in their own worlds of grief and guilt.
Raj, Ishan’s elder brother, stood by the reception, his hands shaking as he signed the necessary forms. Every stroke of the pen felt like a dagger plunging deeper into his heart. He had to stay strong, but seeing his little brother, the once vibrant and lively Ishan, lying lifeless was tearing him apart. He glanced back at the room where Shubman sat, his eyes empty, staring at the floor, lost in memories that haunted him.
Shubman hadn’t moved since Ishan was admitted. He refused to leave the spot outside the ward, his mind replaying the moment he shattered Ishan’s heart over and over again. Everyone had tried to console him, to get him to rest, but Shubman was numb. His body was there, but his soul was locked inside that room, chained to the guilt that was slowly consuming him.
As Shubman sat there, a flash of memories overwhelmed him—their last conversation, the moment that had ripped both of their worlds apart.
---
**Flashback:**
Ishan’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he approached Shubman, holding something behind his back. Shubman was standing by the stadium, his heart heavy with a decision he had already made.
Ishan smiled widely, the kind of smile that could light up the darkest days. “Shubi, meri jaan, mujhe tumse kuch puchna tha...” He looked so hopeful, so full of love.
Shubman already knew what was coming. He had seen the signs, the glances, the touches that lingered longer than they should have. He knew Ishan was going to confess, and for a brief moment, he wanted to forget everything and just say yes. But he couldn’t.
Shubman smiled bitterly and said, “Ishan, I need to tell you something too.”
Ishan’s excitement bubbled over as he laughed, “Chalo phir sath mein bolte hain!” He knelt down, revealing a ring he had been hiding. His voice trembled with joy as he asked, “Shubi, will you marry me?”
At that exact moment, Shubman pulled out a card from his pocket—the engagement invitation with Sara. “Ishan, I’m getting engaged…to Sara.”
Ishan’s smile faltered, confusion washing over his face. “Stop joking, Shubman. I’m serious.”
Shubman’s voice was firm, his eyes void of the warmth they usually held for Ishan. “I’m serious too.” He handed the card to Ishan, whose hands shook as he took it, his eyes scanning the words in disbelief.
“Shubi, why are you doing this? You love me, right?” Ishan’s voice cracked, tears welling up as his heart broke piece by piece.
Shubman’s gaze turned cold. “I don’t love you anymore.” He turned and walked away, ignoring the gut-wrenching scream of pain that echoed through the empty stadium as Ishan crumbled to the ground, his sobs muffled by the deafening silence of betrayal.
---
**Present:**
Shubman snapped out of the flashback, his breathing ragged. He looked up to see Sara and her father, Sachin Tendulkar, approaching. Sachin’s face was lined with guilt, while Sara’s eyes were red from crying.
“We’re sorry, Shubman…” Sara’s voice quivered, but Shubman couldn’t hear her. His eyes were fixed on the door of Ishan’s room, where his love, his everything, lay fighting for his life.
Virat, Rohit, and Hardik exchanged looks of pain and anger. They had been there when Shubman broke down, and it tore them apart to see their youngest members in such a state. They stepped forward, determined to get Shubman away from the hospital, even if just for a moment.
Virat pulled Shubman to his feet, but the moment Shubman stepped outside, his breaths grew shallow, panic setting in. His body convulsed as he gasped for air, tears streaming down his face. They quickly rushed him into the room next to Ishan’s, his body wracked with sobs.
Inside the waiting area, the rest of the team sat in silent agony. Rohit stared at the ceiling, his voice breaking, “Yeh kahan aa gaye hum…humare bacche aise ho gaye…”
Virat nodded, his eyes filled with regret. “Hum unhe protect nahi kar paye…”
Hardik clenched his fists, his voice choked. “We failed them.”
Rishabh, usually so full of life, sat hunched, his face buried in his hands. “Ishu will wake up, right?”
KL Rahul placed a comforting hand on Rishabh’s shoulder, though his own tears betrayed his uncertainty. “He will. Use uthna hi hoga. Humare liye nahi toh Shubman ke liye... Woh mar jayega uske bina.”
Sachin stepped forward, his face heavy with sorrow. “I’m sorry... I never wanted this.”
Rohit’s voice turned sharp, his anger palpable. “Are you happy now? You forced this on them.”
Sara, already broken, whispered through her tears, “How can you say that? I care for him ”
Virat’s eyes were cold. “You knew how much Shubman loved Ishan. Still, you went through with it.”
Hardik’s voice was laced with contempt. “This was your care? Blackmailing him with Aman’s promise?”
Sachin hesitated, his voice soft yet filled with regret. “Shubman wasn’t the only one suffering. After Aman died, Sara was devastated. Aman was Shubman’s best friend, and his last wish was for Shubman to take care of Sara, to never let her be alone. He made Shubman promise on his deathbed.”
Sara continued, tears streaming down her face. “I was broken after Aman’s death. I didn’t know how to live without him, and Shubman… he was the only one there for me. I thought if we got engaged, it would fulfill Aman’s last wish, and I could at least try to move on. But I never meant for it to end like this.”Hardik said ,"stop this you only love shubman you were obsessed with him i know ...
Sara said ,"yes i love him really
......that's why I did this..
Teammates who had once thought Sara’s actions were noble now looked at her with betrayal etched on their faces. Hardik’s voice shook with fury, “Agar mere Ishu ko kuch bhi hua, toh yaad rakhna, mujhe se bura koi nahi hoga.”
Rishabh added, his voice strained, “Don’t you dare come near him or Shubman.”
Siraj’s eyes were red, his voice hard. “You’re not welcome here.”
Rohit turned to Sachin, his respect for the legend momentarily overshadowed by his anger. “Sachin sir, we respect you, but your daughter’s actions...they’ve destroyed everything.”
Sachin couldn’t meet their eyes, the weight of his daughter’s choices pressing down on him as he walked away, pulling Sara with him.
Virat turned back, his voice breaking. “Humne Shubman ko yeh karne hi kyun diya…humne uski baat kyun mani.”
Rohit sighed, his eyes hollow. “Ab dekho, ek coma mein hai aur dusra hosh mein hi nahi hai.”
Siraj added softly, “Doctor ne kaha hai, Ishan is protecting himself from the world. He doesn’t want to wake up.”
Surya nodded, wiping away his tears. “He doesn’t want to be alive.”
Virat’s voice cracked as he stared at the doors of the two rooms that held their shattered hearts. “I don’t want to lose our both kidoes.”
They all sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the closed doors, each second feeling like an eternity as they prayed for a miracle that would bring Ishan back and save Shubman from the crushing weight of his own guilt.
