What after That?

Ch 49.

The chilly December air hung heavy, yet the warmth of laughter and camaraderie filled the streets as Shubman's gang headed home after an intense cricket match. Their excuse for staying out late—keeping warm through "exercise"—had placated their mothers for now, but their chatter revealed otherwise.

Mayank rubbed his hands vigorously, his breath visible in the frosty air. Abhi walked practically glued to him, shivering with every step.

"Cold, dude. Just admit it," Mayank muttered.
"Never," Abhi shot back, though his chattering teeth betrayed him.

Ahead of them, Rahul animatedly narrated his "daring" escape from Sheru, the neighborhood terror dog.
"I jumped the fence like a pro!" Rahul boasted, earning a skeptical look from Tanmay, who trudged along deep in thought.

Yashaswi and Dhruv lagged a little behind, engrossed in a quiet conversation about something too personal for anyone else to overhear.

But the most intriguing pair walked at the back—Shubman and Ishan.

Ishan tried to tug his hand free, but Shubman's pinky was stubbornly looped around his own.

"Shubman... koi dekh lega toh?" Ishan whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their crunching footsteps. His cheeks were already tinted pink, though whether from the cold or embarrassment, Shubman couldn't tell.

"Toh?" Shubman asked, feigning nonchalance. "Do log haath nahi pakad sakte?"

"Pakad sakte hain... par... par aise nahi!" Ishan stammered.

Shubman's lips curled into a mischievous grin. He leaned closer, still looking ahead. "Tussi bahut cute ho ji..."

Ishan turned even redder, his protests dying in his throat as Shubman leaned in further and planted a quick peck on his cheek.

"Aur meethe vi," Shubman added with a teasing wink.

Ishan froze, his mind racing. He liked the attention—maybe too much—but the sheer audacity of Shubman's actions terrified him. 

His thoughts spiraled: What if Rahul saw? 

I mean what they gonna answer when Rahuliya will ask " did you just kissed him Shubman? "

Shubman's playful demeanor shattered Ishan's train of thought.

"Please, Shubman... koi dekh lega," Ishan pleaded with a serious look.

Understanding the gravity in Ishan's voice, Shubman nodded, easing up but still slinging a casual arm around Ishan's shoulder as they reached the point where their paths diverged.

While everyone started to leave waving, Now that everyone was gone and Shubman acted like he too walked away,  Ishan was suddenly pulled in a corner. 

"Sirf hum dono ke ghoomne ka kya hua?" Shubman asked, his voice carrying a strange edge of restlessness.

"Abhi thand bahut hai..." Ishan tried reasoning.

"Thand? Ye cheating hai. Mujhe tere saath jaana hai," Shubman whined in a hushed voice, his expression shifting to a playful pout.

"Shubman, tumhe thand lag jaati hai jaldi," Ishan retorted, fixing the warm cap snugly over Shubman's head.

"Nahi lagegi, pakka promise!" Shubman said with wide, innocent eyes.

"Tum bachcho jaise kyun zid kar rahe ho?" Ishan chuckled, shaking his head.

"Zid kar raha hoon because you promised! Ab tumne bola aur ab mukar rahe ho!" Shubman pouted again before his face broke into his signature dimpled smirk.