Canvas of Love

Fire in the nets

The sun was blazing down on the cricket nets as the Indian Cricket Team went through their practice drills. 

The sound of leather on willow echoed through the ground, mingled with the shouts of coaches and players. 

Sweat and determination filled the air as each player worked to sharpen their skills for the upcoming match.

Ishan Kishan stepped up to the nets, his face a mask of focus and competitive fire. He tightened his gloves, feeling the weight of the bat in his hands, and locked his gaze on the bowler.

 He could see Shubman Gill a few yards away, standing with that same icy composure that drove him absolutely crazy.

Shubman was already batting in the adjacent net, his eyes never leaving the ball as it hurtled toward him. 

His movements were precise, calculated, almost mechanical in their perfection. Every shot he played was textbook, clean, and effortless.

 It was like watching a machine at work—efficient, unfeeling, and flawless.

Ishan couldn't help but let out a frustrated breath as he watched Shubman dispatch another delivery with ease, his expression as unreadable as ever.  

There was no hint of emotion, no joy in the perfect timing of his shots, just cold efficiency.

"Why is he always like that?" Mayank muttered under his breath as he stood beside Ishan, watching Shubman with a mix of awe and confusion. "It's like he's got ice running through his veins."

"Who knows." Abhishek said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never seen him crack a smile. It's like he's permanently stuck on 'serious mode.'"

"Maybe he's just that dedicated to his game." Hardik suggested, though even he sounded skeptical. "Or maybe he just thinks he's too good to crack a joke."

"Well, whatever it is." Ishan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "it's definitely working for him. The guy's a walking cricket encyclopedia."

Ishan turned his attention back to his own practice. 

He was determined to outshine Shubman today, to prove to everyone that he could be just as good, if not better. 

As the bowler charged in, Ishan's grip tightened on the bat, and with a sharp crack, he sent the ball racing to the boundary.

A few of the players cheered, and Ishan couldn't help but throw a quick glance in Shubman's direction, hoping to catch a flicker of recognition. 

But Shubman didn't even look his way. He was already preparing for the next delivery, completely unfazed by Ishan's performance.

As Shubman faced another bowler, his movements remained as smooth and calculated as ever. He never seemed to falter, never lost his calm composure. 

Even when the bowler tried to rattle him with a short ball, Shubman simply leaned back and played a flawless pull shot that sent the ball sailing to the ropes.

"Does that guy ever lose his cool?" Virat muttered, watching Shubman with a mix of admiration and frustration. "I've been trying to read him for years, and he's still a mystery."

"Tell me about it." Rohit added, shaking his head. "I've never seen anyone as consistently focused as him. It's almost like he's hiding something behind that poker face."

"Maybe he's got a secret life as a robot." Rahul joked, earning a few chuckles from the team. "I mean, look at him—always so composed and emotionless."

As the team shared a laugh, Ishan stayed silent, his eyes narrowing at Shubman's unshakeable calm. 

It wasn't just his skill that bothered Ishan; it was the way Shubman seemed to dismiss everyone around him, like nothing and no one was worth his time.

During a break, Ishan grabbed his water bottle and took a long swig, trying to cool off both physically and mentally. 

His irritation with Shubman was boiling over, but he didn't want to give the guy the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to him.

He walked over to where Shubman was standing, alone as usual, wiping sweat from his forehead. 

Taking a deep breath, Ishan decided to try once more to bridge the gap between them—if only for the sake of the match.

"Hey, Shubman." Ishan said, forcing a neutral tone. "I was thinking we could go over some tactics together, maybe coordinate our shots for the game."

Shubman's eyes flicked up, meeting Ishan's for the briefest moment. 

There was no warmth in his gaze, no sign of the camaraderie that Ishan had hoped for. Just a cold, calculating look that seemed to see right through him.

"I don't think that's necessary." Shubman replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "You focus on your role, and I'll focus on mine. We'll see how it plays out on the field."

Ishan felt his jaw clench, his competitive side flaring up once again. "Fine," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "Just don't act surprised when I steal the spotlight out there."

A hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of Shubman's mouth, but it wasn't friendly.

 It was the kind of smile that said he relished the challenge, that he was more than ready to crush any attempt Ishan made to outshine him.

"Good luck with that." Shubman said simply, turning his back to Ishan without another word, leaving him standing there with his irritation simmering.

As Ishan stormed off, Abhishek and Mayank caught up with him, grinning like they'd just watched the most entertaining drama of the day.

"Dude, that was intense," Abhishek said, trying to stifle his laughter. "I could practically see the steam coming out of your ears."

"Yeah, I thought you were going to tackle him right then and there." Mayank added, wiggling his eyebrows. "What's the deal with you two, anyway? You look like you're ready to start a fight every time you're near each other."

"There's no deal." Ishan replied, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the competitive fire in them. "I'm just not going to let that ice prince act like he's better than me."

"Fair enough." Abhishek said with a shrug. "But I've got to say, watching you two go head-to-head is the most fun I've had all day."

"Let them have their little rivalry." Hardik said, throwing an arm around Rahul's shoulders as they joined the group. "It's like our own personal cricket soap opera."

"Exactly." Rahul added with a chuckle. "Can't wait to see how this all plays out in the match."

As the team continued to joke around, Ishan couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. 

Shubman might think he could brush him off, but Ishan was more determined than ever to prove that he was a force to be reckoned with—a rival that Shubman couldn't ignore.

As practice wrapped up for the day, Ishan's thoughts were sharper than ever. He didn't need Shubman's approval or his icy demeanor to push him; the desire to prove himself was all the motivation he needed. 

He knew one thing for sure—come game day, he was going to bring everything he had to the field.

And if Shubman Gill thought he could maintain that cold facade forever, well, Ishan Kishan was more than ready to turn up the heat.

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Heyaaaa, pretty.....

Hope you all are doing 'dhoom machale' in your life cus why not.... ;0

Hey, I have a quote for you all......

"If life sucks, then moan on, darling" 

Khikhikhi... I know it is dirty but I kinda liked it ^3^   

This is one of my talents 'Faltu ki baatein karna' ('3')

thankiewwww and luv uhh, pretty <333