Unknown To Known

Something more

"I care for you," she whispered. "Only you."

Ishan's tension eased, his shoulders relaxed as Aditi's words soaked in. But his tone remained guarded, wary of exposing his vulnerability.

Aditi's genuine concern etched on her face, her eyes sparkling with empathy. Ishan noticed and his heart skipped a beat.

Yet, jealousy's stubborn grip refused to release him. "Phir bhi, you seemed so happy with him."  he said, his voice low, accusing.

Aditi sighed. "Ishan, I told you –"

He cut her off, his words tumbling out. "I know, I know. But seeing you so comfortable with someone else, feels like you are not interested in me."

Ishan's words hung in the air, his eyes locked onto Aditi's.

For the first time, he acknowledged the depth of his emotions. He was scared, terrified of losing her.

His mind raced. "Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha ki I'm not enough, i can't help this feeling."

He clenched his jaw, struggling to keep the turmoil within.

"I just need some space." he muttered, turning away.

Aditi's voice followed him. "Ruko, Ishan!"

He halted, his back still turned. Aditi's gentle touch on his shoulder coaxed him to face her.

"Main bas uski company appreciate kar rahi thi," she clarified, her voice soft. "Uski bowling improve huyi hai uske baare mein bas baate kar rahe the. Trust me, nothing more."

Ishan's guarded expression faltered, his eyes searching hers.

"I mean it!" she reassured, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "You are the one I care about."

Ishan's tension dissipated, replaced by a flutter in his chest. He believed her.

"Sorry," he muttered, his voice laced with relief and confusion. "Situation samajh nhi paaya bas yahi tha."

Aditi's smile soothed his nerves. "Koi baat nahi. I understand this feeling."

Ishan remained perplexed, wondering if she genuinely grasped his emotions.

"Would she feel the same if she was in my place? Would she react with similar jealousy?"

A flurry of questions swirled in his mind, yet he never asked her.

—

Aditi walked away from the hotel and waited for her cab to head back home. She felt a mix of relief and concern. She had reassured him, but she knew his jealousy stemmed from insecurities.

I'll always support him," she thought. "But can he learn to trust me?"

The IPL conclusion brought a welcome distraction but her mind lingered on Ishan. His possessiveness both warmed and worried her.

—

Back in his hotel room, Ishan couldn't shake off the lingering emotions. Aditi's reassurance helped, but doubts crept in.

"She will always understand me I am sure of that."

His thoughts swirled, replaying the moment. Her reassurance echoed in his mind.

"But what if I am not enough?" he fretted, his jealousy simmering beneath the surface.

—

As the days passed, Aditi's presence at Ishan's matches became a staple, their connection growing stronger with each passing game. They spent moments together, exploring the city, laughing and reminiscing about their journey. Their fans, teammates and friends took notice.

Ishan's friends followed Aditi on Instagram and Aditi's friends did the same for him. "Ishditi." Their fans would call and his teammates teasingly said. "A girl and boy can never be best friends without feelings."

They would exchange knowing glances, denying their statements with playful smiles. But deep down, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they were meant to be together.

When Aditi launched her clothing brand, Ishan offered unwavering support. "You are going to be successful!"

Ishan's performance on the field mirrored Aditi's success. His focus sharpened and his game improved. Their social media interactions fueled the rumours, as they commented, shared stories and exchanged flirtatious banter.

Aditi would post pictures of Ishan's successful moments while he'd share glimpses of her fashion successes. The comment section would erupt into excitement, as if their fans waited for them to confess their love.

In quite moments, they would catch each other stealing glances, the air thick with anticipation. An eye contact would spark a flutter in their chests, leaving them breathless.

Aditi's heart would skip a beat as Ishan's gaze lingered on hers, his eyes sparkling in interest. She would look away, showing interest in something else but her mind would replay the moment.

Ishan, too, couldn't help but steal glances at Aditi. Her smile, laughter and unwavering support mesmerized him. He would find himself lost in the depth of her eyes, searching for answers to questions he never asked.

One evening, as they stood together in the hotel balcony, Aditi's hand brushed against Ishan's. The touch sent shivers down their spine. The exchanged a glance, laughing it off.

—

When Ishan ran on the field, his bat and helmet in hand, roaring, Aditi's heart swelled with pride as she had a look at the scoreboard. 200 runs.

Unknowingly, tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as she watched his name under the record for the fastest double century and fourth Indian player to achieve this milestone.

After the match, she congratulated him in a video call, her eyes shining with pride and gratitude. In that moment, they shared a deeper understanding. Their support had become an integral part of each other's success.

Aditi's growing feelings intensified as she struggled to hold back her emotions. She had always valued their friendship but now her heart wanted something more. The thought sent shiver down her spine.

She tried to distract herself by focusing on her career. Yet, her mind drifted back to possibility of romance.

"Yash bhaiya ki baat sach ho rahi hai kya?" She thought.

Her mind wandered to forbidden fantasies when she imagined Ishan's lips on hers.

Suddenly, she slapped herself to reality. She felt bad for feeling like this about her friend. "Kya soch rahi hoon main?"

—

Ishan's success on the field was mirrored in his heart. With each run, he felt Aditi's support and pride radiate from the stands.

He couldn't deny the flutter in his chest whenever Aditi was near. Her smile, her laughter and her encouragement had become a part of his life.

He questioned his feelings. "Was it mere friendship or something more?" He recalled their countless conversations, the ease when they connected and the unspoken understanding between them.

He confined in his brother about his growing feelings. He would offer meaningful words but most of the time tease him, which made his heart race at times. He wondered if he dared to hope for something more.