Canvas of Love

A Secret

The day continued as usual on the practice ground. The ICT team was in the middle of their routine drills when Shubman, ever the stoic, was displaying his impeccable form. 

His eyes were focused, his movements precise, and his expression as unreadable as ever. 

He was a picture of calm professionalism, or so he thought until the real distraction of the day arrived.

Ishan with Tilak came to the ground with laughter in his eyes and an easy smile on his face. 

Tilak was making some ridiculous joke, and Ishan was laughing as if it was the funniest thing in the world. They both grinning and chatting like best buddies who shared a million secrets.

"Hey, look who's here!" Abhishek said with a dramatic wave, nudging Shubman's arm playfully. "Our favorite duo—Tilak and Ishan! They should have their own sitcom, don't you think, Shubman?"

Shubman's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't say a word. He simply turned his gaze back to his training session, ignoring the comment and focusing on the bat in his hands. 

The others could see the faint twitch of irritation in his expression, and that was all Abhishek needed to continue his teasing.

"I think Tilak and Ishan would make a great comedy duo." Mayank said, joining in on the fun. "They could call their show 'Laughing Lads' or maybe 'Clingy Companions.' What do you think, Shubman?"

"Or how about 'Two's Company, Three's a Crowd?'" Rahul added, giving Shubman a not-so-subtle nudge with his elbow. "Especially if the third wheel is just standing there, sneezing every time Tilak gets too close to Ishan."

As if on cue, Shubman sneezed, causing everyone to burst into laughter. 

Even Shubman couldn't hide the surprise on his face, but he quickly covered it up with a dismissive shrug, his expression cold and stoic as ever.

"Bless you, Shubman." Rohit said with a smirk. "You sure you're not allergic to something? Or someone?"

"Maybe he's allergic to Tilak's over-the-top charm," Virat added with a wink. "Or perhaps he just can't handle seeing someone else take Ishan's attention."

Shubman's lips twitched, but he refused to let his annoyance show. "I'm allergic to stupidity, that's all," he said flatly, not even looking at Tilak or Ishan. "And there's plenty of it around here."

Later that evening, as the team gathered for dinner, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. 

Ishan and Tilak were seated side by side, joking and sharing stories, while Shubman sat a few seats away, his face unreadable as he quietly ate his food.

"Hey, Shubman!" Abhishek called out loudly, pointing his fork toward Tilak. "How does it feel to see your best bud, Ishan, having so much fun with his new best friend?"

"Oh, come on, Abhishek!" Ishan protested, laughing. "You're just trying to start trouble!"

"No trouble at all!" Mayank jumped in, grinning from ear to ear. "We're just trying to see if our cold-hearted ice prince has finally melted."

Rohit leaned over the table with a sly smile. "You know, Shubman, they say jealousy is a great motivator. Maybe you should thank Tilak for making you work so hard to keep your spot!"

Shubman's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he kept his focus on his plate. "I don't need to work hard to keep my spot," he said, his voice as icy as ever. "And I definitely don't need to worry about Tilak."

"Ohhhh, burn!" Virat laughed, clutching his sides. "That was colder than the Arctic, my friend! But you know, denial is the first sign of affection."