What after That?

Ch 44.

" Kya ho gaya bhaii itni hiccups kyun aa rahi hai tereko? " Abhi asked climbing on the tree.

" Pata nahi yarr... hic " 

Shubman got this problem of hiccups from a while now specially at morning and night and afternoon and evening, Over and all, all the time.

They were too in Punjab, Mohali for staying there a while. Shubman's and Abhi's Naani house were side by side that's why they become friends and eventually bestfriend knowing each other too well.

Right now they are in fields of Gurvindar uncle to steal some mangoes. Shubman sat quietly on the mango tree branch, gazing off into the distance, his mind clearly somewhere else. 

Abhi, who had been picking at a mango beside him, looked at him curiously, noticing his unusual silence.

"Yaar Abhi..." Shubman started, breaking his own silence, his voice hesitant.

"Hmm..." Abhi responded, turning to give Shubman his full attention.

Shubman shifted uncomfortably, facing Abhi more directly but hesitating again. "Tujhe ek baat puchhu?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Abhi, now intrigued, nodded. "Haan bol, kya baat hai?"

Shubman opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but then closed it, shaking his head. "Kuchh nahi, kuchh nahi... hic" he mumbled, averting his gaze.

Abhi raised an eyebrow, studying Shubman carefully. "Arey, bol na! Kya hua?" he insisted, sensing that something was clearly on Shubman's mind.

Shubman, however, looked away, visibly conflicted. "hic Bola na, kuchh nahi..." he murmured, more to himself than to Abhi.

Abhi nudged him, persistent as ever. "Abhi toh kuchh puchhne wala tha..? "

" Ab nahi puchhna.. " Shubman said looking away. Abhi narrowed his eyes as trying to study him  " Hatt bakchod! " Abhi said resuming to his mango.

But Shubman remained silent, lost in his thoughts, a faint shadow of longing flickering in his eyes as his mind wandered back to someone miles away.

Shubman walked back to his naani's house, his mind buzzing with confusion. After dinner, he joined his cousins and Abhi's cousins on the terrace, where they all laughed and shared stories, but Shubman felt distant. 

Eventually, he excused himself and slipped away, determined to find clarity for the questions swirling in his mind. he was missing him too much more than he ever missed someone.

He headed to the women's room, where he found Shahneel laughing with the others. He waited patiently until she stepped away, then quickly followed her to her room.

Shahneel raised an eyebrow, amused. "Tu yahan? Kya hua, phir se Naman ko peet diya kya?" she teased. Context : Naman the most annoying cousin, from childhood Shubman is beating him.

Shubman shook his head, avoiding her gaze. "Nahi, aise hi... mann nahi lag raha tha," he mumbled.

Shahneel's expression softened as she tugged him to sit on the cot beside her. "Tera mann nahi lag raha haan? 

Ab bol, kya hua?" she asked, sensing something deeper was troubling him.

Shubman hesitated, his heart pounding as he tried to find the right words. He glanced down, fidgeting with his hands, unsure how to phrase his confusion without revealing too much. Shahneel's gentle voice broke through his thoughts, "Is it about papa?"

He shook his head again.

"Toh bol na, mere be-akal bhai, kya hua?" Shahneel urged, half-expecting him to retort. But instead, Shubman took a deep breath and sighed, gathering the courage to ask what was on his mind.