Canvas of Love

Ice cold precision

The sun hung low over the cricket academy, casting long shadows across the field as the players wrapped up their intense practice session.

 Sweat dripped from their brows, the tension of the upcoming match thick in the air. It was only days away, and every player was on edge, eager to prove themselves.

Ishan Kishan, always the bundle of energy, was the first to break the silence as he jogged toward the locker room. 

His mind was buzzing with strategies and plans for the game, but more than that, it was buzzing with thoughts of his biggest rival.

Shubman Gill.

Ishan found Shubman standing at the far end of the field, his expression as unreadable as ever. His rival's eyes were fixed on the cricket pitch, calculating, focused, and completely in his element.

 The sunlight glinted off Shubman's calm features, making him look almost like a statue—cold, still, and untouchable.

Taking a deep breath, Ishan decided to approach him. He forced a smile, more out of competitive spirit than friendliness, ready to throw Shubman off his game.

"Hey, Shubman." Ishan began, keeping his tone light but with a hint of challenge. "About the match this weekend, I was thinking maybe we could—"

Shubman didn't even bother to turn his head. His gaze stayed locked on the pitch, and he responded with a curt nod, his face a mask of indifference. 

"Focus on your own game, Ishan." he said flatly, cutting him off before he could finish.

Ishan's smile faltered for a split second, irritation bubbling under the surface. "I know, but I thought if we coordinate a bit more, we could really—"

"Coordinate?" Shubman finally turned to face him, his eyes narrowing slightly. 

His lips curled into a small, almost condescending smile. "This isn't a school project, Ishan. Just try not to slow me down out there."

The words stung, but Ishan quickly masked his annoyance with a smirk. "Slow you down? Please, Shubman, I'm the reason we've even got a chance of winning this match." he shot back, his competitive fire fully ignited.

Shubman's expression remained icy. 

"Sure, keep telling yourself that." he said coolly, turning his back on Ishan and walking away, his demeanor as unbothered as ever.

As Shubman walked off, Ishan felt his hands clench into fists, the urge to prove Shubman wrong stronger than ever. 

Who does he think he is? Ishan thought, watching his rival's retreating figure. In Ishan's mind, Shubman wasn't just a competitor; he was the obstacle standing between him and being the best.

"One day, Shubman." Ishan muttered under his breath, a determined look in his eyes. "I'm going to show you that I'm not someone you can just brush off."

Later that evening, the team gathered for a strategy meeting. Rohit and Virat, the legends of the squad, were already seated, their easy chemistry on full display. 

Hardik and Rahul were off to the side, playfully bickering, their banter lightening the mood.

As Ishan took his seat, his eyes immediately drifted to where Shubman was sitting, calm and composed, not a hint of emotion crossing his face. Ishan's jaw tightened.

 It was infuriating how Shubman always seemed so unaffected by everything, like nothing in the world could faze him.

"Alright, team!" Rohit announced, clapping his hands to grab everyone's attention. 

"This upcoming match is crucial. We need everyone to be at their best, especially our star batsmen," he said, glancing pointedly at both Ishan and Shubman.

Ishan straightened up, a competitive glint in his eyes. He wanted to make sure he outperformed Shubman in this match—nothing less would do.

"Shubman, any thoughts?" Virat asked, clearly aware of the tension between the two.

Shubman's voice was steady and cold as he replied, "Just make sure we don't have any weak links. We can't afford mistakes at this stage." He didn't even look at Ishan, but the implication was clear, and it made Ishan's blood boil.

"Don't worry." Ishan shot back, unable to keep quiet. "I'll make sure I'm not the one dragging us down."

Shubman's gaze flickered toward Ishan for the briefest moment, his eyes icy and unimpressed. "Good." He said, his tone dismissive. "Let's hope you mean it."

As the meeting ended, Abhishek Sharma and Mayank Markhande, never ones to miss an opportunity for a bit of fun, strolled over to Ishan.

"Bro, you looked like you were ready to throw hands with Shubman back there." Abhishek said, a grin stretching across his face. "Man, that tension was thick enough to cut with a knife."

"I'm telling you." Mayank added with a chuckle, " You two are like one dramatic moment away from either killing each other or something way more interesting."

"Yeah, right." Ishan replied with a roll of his eyes, though his competitive spirit was clearly still burning. "The only thing I'm interested in is making sure I'm the one who takes Shubman down a peg."

"You know." Abhishek said, raising an eyebrow, " They say the line between love and hate is pretty thin."

Ishan scoffed loudly. "Not in this case, it isn't. Trust me, with Shubman, it's all hate. Pure and simple."

Later that night, as Ishan sat in his room, going over the game strategies in his head, his thoughts kept drifting back to Shubman. 

He hated how much the guy got to him, how every sarcastic comment and dismissive glance pushed him to try harder, to be better. 

He was determined to wipe that smug look off Shubman's face, even if it was the last thing he did.

In Ishan's mind, Shubman was the ultimate challenge, the rival he had to defeat not just on the field but in every aspect of the game. 

There was no softness, no vulnerability—just a burning desire to prove that he was every bit as good, if not better, than the cold and calculating Shubman Gill.

This is just the beginning, Ishan thought, a fierce smile spreading across his face. The game's on, Shubman, and I'm coming for you.

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Heyaaaa, pretty humansss.....

Here is your chapter. I don't know what I am exactly writing maybe I am just floating with the flow..... ^3^

But sometimes unexpected routes give you some unexpected, beautiful memories.....

So, be with me on this boat ride and don't forget your life jacket. Who knows, Shubman's Ice will melt and we all will be drowned in that.

Thanieww and luv uhh pretty.... <333