Ishman Drabbles

This Entangled Gaze

...Or, 3 Times Shubman Tried To Woo a Grumpy Ishan, and the 1 Time He Was Successful

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1.

Chhavi quickly gulped down her coffee, which had an unhealthy amount of espresso shots, as quickly as she could. Today was yet another day of looking after the inmates at the Old Age Home she worked at, and she definitely needed her energy to deal with nearly a dozen 60-somethings and their problems.

She loved her patients and had gotten very attached to them, of course, but sometimes they could be a bit... Much.

Except for two people.

Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill. Ishan was 63 while Shubman was a year younger. Both of them had been so attached at the hip that Chhavi had wondered whether they had something going on. When she had asked them with a smile how long they had been together, Ishan had blushed and turned his face away, while Shubman had heaved a dejected little sigh as he said, "Kya karein beta... Koshish toh meri kab se jaari hai par ye hai ki maanta hi nahi. Kam se kam ek date-"
("What to do, child... I've been trying since so long but he just hasn't been worn down. At least one date-")

"Dhatt, besharam. Apni umar ka toh lihaaz kar liya kar"
("Shoo, shameless. At least mind your advanced age"), Ishan cut him off, the heat of his glare lessened by the visible heat on his cheeks.
"Par mera dil toh abhi bhi jawaan hai na jaan"
("But my heart is still young, my life"), Shubman teased, earning himself a, "Toh itni davaaiyaan kis baat ke liye khaate rehte ho roz, haan?"
("So what do you eat all those medicines for everyday?')

Chhavi bit back a smile as Shubman took Ishan's hand in his, intertwining their fingers and placing their joined hands on his chest and saying, "Vo toh uss dil ki bimaari ke liye jaan, jo tumne mujhe di hai"
("That's for the heart problems you've given me, my life")
Ishan looked offended and concerned at the same time as he asked, "Hamne kaunsi dil ki bimaari di hai?"
("What heart disease have I given you?")

Leaning in very closely, the taller man answered in a low, teasing voice, "Ye dil jab tumhein dekhta hai toh dhadakna band ho jaata hai",
("This heart stops beating whenever I see you"),
the older blushed and tried to turn his face away, but Shubman's hand gently tilting his chin stopped him, "Phir jab tum mujhe chhoote ho toh ekdum se itna tez dhadakne lagta hai, jaise bahar hi aa jaayega"
("And then when you touch me it starts beating so fast it feels as if it'll beat right out of my chest")

The shorter got up and the other man grabbed his wrist, making him turn back and hiss, "Kisi ke bhi saamne shuru ho jaate ho, besharam"
("You start flirting in front of anyone, shameless.")
With a laugh, Shubman asked, "Toh kya akele mai shuru hona hai, jaan? Accha sorry, sorry... Ruk toh"
("So am I supposed to start when we're alone, my life? Okay, I'm sorry, wait, please")

But Ishan was already hobbling off on his stroller as he grumbled under his breath, leaving Shubman behind to try to catch him at his own slow pace.

That had been Chhavi's first encounter with her favourite inmates. She liked them the most not just because they never made a fuss about anything as they were too busy being in love in their own little world, but also because they were a better couple than the romances she saw these days. Uncle Shubman certainly had the moves even at sixty-two.

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2.

Perhaps Chhavi had spoken too soon when she said they never created a fuss, because right now they were making a whole racket.

"Why are you- hey, that's my side table! What are you doing with my bed, stop touching-" Ishan was yelling, his voice surprisingly loud and booming. "What's happening here?", Chhavi asked, feeling the beginnings of a headache pricking at her temples.
"They're touching my things without permission!" Mr. Kishan complained, sounding exasperated.