The last drive

Epilogue: Love Beyond Time

It had been 25 years since Ishan Kishan left the world, but for those who loved him, his presence was never truly gone. Shubman Gill sat quietly in his study, looking at an old photo of him and Ishan, their laughter frozen in time. His son, Ishan Gill, now 23, had recently started playing cricket, just like his father, though he wasn't tall like Shubman nor did he have his father's dimples. But in behavior, he was exactly like Shubman. His determination, his passion, and the spark in his eyes all mirrored his father’s—yet somehow, there was a piece of Ishan Kishan in him too.Ishan Gill had also ventured into acting, and Bollywood was now making a biopic on Ishan Kishan. The role of the beloved cricketer had been offered to none other than Shubman's son. Nervous yet excited, Ishan approached his father, hesitating at the doorway.“Papa… mujhse ek baat puchni thi,” he started softly, his mother Sara sensing the hesitation and gently prodding him."Kya hua, beta?" Shubman asked, his eyes never leaving his son’s face.Ishan took a deep breath, still unsure but finally managed, “Papa, actually woh Ishan uncle ki biopic ke liye mujhe lead select kiya gaya hai... should I do it?”The mention of Ishan Kishan’s name sent an immediate wave of emotions through Shubman, tears welling in his eyes. His heart clenched painfully. Ishan Kishan's memory still felt fresh, still raw after all these years.“Tumhari dadi ne kya kaha?” Shubman asked, knowing how much Ishan Gill was adored by Ishan Kishan’s family, especially his mother. It was almost as though they saw their Ishan reborn in him.“Haan Papa, unhone kaha karne ko,” Ishan answered, his voice soft.Shubman smiled weakly. “Phir theek hai,” he said, though a storm was brewing inside him. His son’s next words made it harder to hold back his emotions.“Lekin Papa,” Ishan Gill hesitated, “I want your help... you were really close to Ishan uncle… can you help me understand him better?”Shubman’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. He took a moment to compose himself before he began, his voice barely a whisper at first, “Ishan... Ishan was the most adorable, lovable person. He loved to prank us all the time. He would slap me funnily if he thought I did something wrong. He was passionate about cricket, worked hard, and was determined to make it.”Shubman’s voice cracked as he continued, Ek cheez thi... woh kabhi apna scoreboard nahi dekhta tha khelte waqt. And he had this weird love for trying ajeeb recipes... once, he and Rishabh made me eat butterscotch ice cream with chocolate syrup and spicy sauce with spinach in a bun. Khata bhi kaise na... woh apni sweet, innocent puppy eyes dikha ke mujhe kuch bhi karwata tha. He always did what he wanted... apni marzi chalani hoti thi usse.”A bittersweet smile tugged at Shubman’s lips, “Kabhi meri baat nahi maanta tha. Agar main uske room mein sota tha toh bolta tha mera room hai, sab mere hisaab se chalega. Sab kuch apne according chaahiye hota tha usse… Woh hamesha apne heart apne sleeves par leke chalta tha. Aur main bas usse dekh kar samajh jaata tha kya chal raha hai.”His voice grew shaky, and the tears finally spilled as he whispered, “Har ek baat batata tha mujhe kya khaya  kahan gaya kya kharida sab kuch But the most important cheez… woh kabhi nahi bataya... Nahi bataya...Aur na main samjh paya ”Shubman couldn’t continue. He broke down, sobbing bitterly, unable to stop the flood of emotions that overwhelmed him. He stood abruptly and walked out, leaving Sara and his son behind. He climbed the stairs and went to the terrace, his favorite spot to talk to Ishan. He looked up at the stars, clutching the pearl necklace that had once belonged to Ishan.“Kaisa hai be tu... Aaj nahi batayega tune kya kiya?” Shubman whispered, tears streaming down his face. The stars blinked back at him, offering no answers, but he stood there, reminiscing about the countless memories he had shared with Ishan.Inside, Ishan Gill turned to his mother. “Ma, papa hamesha rote kyun hain jab Ishan uncle ka naam sunte hain? Aur woh apna prince-like bowing style jo pehle karte the, ab kyun nahi karte?” He mimicked the famous bow Shubman used to do after making a century. “Papa change kyun ho gaye?”Sara gave him a sad smile and said, “Chalo, I’ll show you something.” She led him to the living room and connected an old pendrive to the screen. What played next left Ishan Gill speechless.There were videos of Shubman and Ishan Kishan—best friends, or so the world thought. But watching those clips now, the truth was undeniable. The way Shubman couldn’t stop himself from touching Ishan, the longing in Ishan’s eyes whenever he looked at Shubman... it wasn’t just bromance. It was love, pure and unspoken.“Mom... did Papa love Ishan chachu?” Ishan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Agar haan, toh aapse shaadi kyun ki?”Sara’s eyes softened. “Shubman realised his love for Ishan too late… Ishan was already gone. He didn’t live long enough for Shubman to tell him. And now, your papa just lives with regret.”“But Papa... does he love you?” Ishan asked cautiously.Sara sighed. “Haan, beta. But Ishan Kishan... he is in Shubman’s heart. Ishan was everything to him. The day Ishan died, sab kuch badal gaya.”Two months later, the biopic was completed, and Sara insisted on attending the premiere with Ishan Gill. Shubman didn’t want to go. But for his son, he reluctantly agreed.When they reached the venue, Shubman saw everyone—Rohit, Hardik, Virat, Siraj, Surya, Kuldeep, Rishabh, and Shreyas—hugging each other, tears in their eyes as they remembered their Ishu.As they all sat together, they saw Ishan’s parents and elder brother Raj, as well as Shubman’s own family. His parents and elder sister Sahneel had also come. The movie began, and the screen came alive with memories of Ishan. Every shot, every moment, brought back a flood of emotions. Hardik was openly crying, while Shubman clutched his seat tightly, his knuckles white.
The movie’s premiere continued as the theater darkened, and the screen lit up with the opening scene. The audience, filled with Ishman fans, cricket legends, and close friends, sat with bated breath, waiting to relive their most cherished memories of Ishan Kishan.