A Love So True

Chapter 44

Flashback......

Shubman stared at the Paragon College Fest invitation, his gaze was trailing down and fixed on a specific line of the card on his hand.

Day 2's schedule gleamed on the paper:

"Drama: Chitrangada
Manipur prince : Ishan Kishan......"

Memories of Ishan's soothing voice, his bright eyes, and captivating smile flooded Shubman's mind. Whenever Ishan's soft face flashed in his thoughts , Shubman wished

if I could get into my thoughts and touch Ishan's soft cheeks , tuck his unkempt hair strands behind his ears while Ishan is looking at me with his beautiful doe eyes . His innocent gaze , the pink hue on his cheeks if I tease him , his pink full lips -wish I could touch those with my lips......

" Ugh....how could I fantasise about Ishan. I have a girlfriend....fuck ... what's wrong with me."

Shubman got up from bed and paced around the room, torn between desire and duty.

Last night , he was with Eshana. Shubman couldn't sleep well. His mind was full of Ishan's image. Shubman got up from the bed in the middle of the night. He went down from the hotel and bought one packet ciggerate from a shop near the hotel. The location was little far from the main city. The hotel was situated beside the national highway. Shubman was walking on the road aimlessly. He usually doesn't smoke regularly. He got the habit when he was having his Btech. A gym-freak , health conscious guy like him always tried to keep himself away from any unhealthy addiction. But suddenly he got an urge to smoke , he needs to clear his mind.

In the silence of the night the only sound was the crunch of gravel beneath Shubman's feet as he walked along the deserted highway. The darkness enveloped him like a shroud, mingling with the faint moonlight.

After walking aimlessly a distance ,  glint of water caught his attention. A small lake nestled beside the road, its calm surface was shimmering with the roadlamp lights.

Shubman veered off the highway, his footsteps quiet on the grassy bank. He found a boulder rock beside the water body and settled onto it , the cool stone made him shiver , March still had the lingering chill on its air.

He lit a cigarette, the flame casting a brief golden glow on his face. The smoke curled upward, disappearing into the darkness. Mild breeze was blowing onto his face , Shubman felt little relaxed. The hotel room became stuffy for him .

Shubman's gaze drifted across the lake, his thoughts adrift:

Ishan's smile, gentle and genuine, igniting unfamiliar desires. Shubman closed his eyes. Some unfamiliar new feelings stirred up in his heart when he remembered the boy.
Shubman exhaled slowly, the smoke vanishing into the night.
Sat amidst the eerie silence, his mind a battleground of conflicting emotions. He tried to remember Eshana's face , to recall the good memories between them  but again Ishan's captivating smile overshadowed it.

"Why can't I forget him?"

Shubman whispered to himself, frustration etched on his face.The lake's tranquility failed to sooth his frayed nerves, his mind remained turbulent

The weight of his loyalty, the turmoil within.

"Eshana is my girlfriend and I know that I love her and care for her...but Ishan..."

Shubman's voice trailed off.

He needed clarity on his feelings. Ishan is his girlfriend's own brother . If one day he and Eshana gets married , he would have to face Ishan .

Shubman's thoughts crystallized , he needed to confront Ishan, and himself. The most important thing , he needed to work on his and Eshana's relationship.