The morning after the fight, the air in the cottage was charged with unspoken thoughts and lingering tension. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow on Ishan’s face as he sat by the window, lost in thought. Shubman approached him quietly, his tall frame leaning against the wall.
“You’ve been staring out there for hours,” Shubman said gently. “What’s on your mind?”
Ishan looked up, his eyes still clouded with doubt. “Everything feels like it’s slipping out of control.”
Shubman crouched in front of him, resting his hands on Ishan’s knees. “Not everything. You still have me.”
Ishan’s lips quivered, and he looked down, a soft blush coloring his cheeks. “Do I? You’ve been risking your life for me, Shubman. What if something happens to you because of me?”
Shubman reached out and tilted Ishan’s chin up, his dimples deepening as he gave a reassuring smile. “Nothing will happen to me. And even if it does, you’re worth it.”
In the living room, the group huddled around the evidence table again. Abhi held up one of the photographs—this one of a young couple standing in front of a research institute.
“Is this them?” Abhi asked, looking at Ishan. “Your parents?”
Ishan nodded slowly, his fingers trembling as he took the photograph. “That’s the only picture I have of them.”
Hardik leaned over the table, pointing to a logo in the corner of the image. “This institute… isn’t it one of those government research facilities? The high-security kind?”
“It is,” Mayank confirmed, typing furiously on his laptop. “And get this: both of Ishan’s parents were lead researchers on a classified project about a decade ago.”
“What kind of project?” Rohit asked, frowning.
“The kind that gets you killed,” Mayank replied grimly, turning the laptop around. A file labeled *Project Dawn* appeared on the screen. “According to what I could find, it was a biotech program aimed at creating enhanced human immunity. The results were promising, but there were rumors that the research had… dangerous applications.”
“Dangerous how?” Shubman asked, his voice sharp.
“Bioweapons,” Mayank said, his tone somber. “If someone got their hands on this data, they could weaponize it.”
Ishan’s breath hitched. “You’re saying… my parents were killed because of their research?”
“It’s likely,” Mayank said. “And whoever’s after you thinks you know where the data is.”
“But I don’t!” Ishan exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice. “I don’t know anything!”
“That doesn’t matter to them,” Shubman said, his voice steady. “They think you’re the key, and they won’t stop until they get what they want.”
Later that evening, Shubman found Ishan sitting on the porch swing, wrapped in a blanket. The cool night air carried the scent of pine and the distant hum of crickets. Shubman sat beside him, pulling the blanket over both of them.
“Cold?” Shubman asked.
“Not anymore,” Ishan replied softly, leaning into him.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the day’s revelations hanging between them. Finally, Ishan broke the silence. “Do you ever regret getting involved in this? In… me?”
Shubman turned to him, his expression serious. “Never. I’d choose you every time, Ishan.”
Ishan’s eyes filled with tears, and he looked away. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Don’t say that,” Shubman said, cupping Ishan’s cheek and turning him back to face him. “You deserve everything good in this world, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”
Ishan stared at him, his heart pounding. “Shubman…”
“I mean it,” Shubman said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I love you, Ishan.”
Tears spilled down Ishan’s cheeks as he smiled, his heart full for the first time in months. “I love you too.”
Shubman leaned in, their foreheads touching. “Then marry me.”
Ishan froze, his eyes wide. “What?”
Shubman pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a simple but elegant ring. “I know it’s sudden, and things are complicated right now, but I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Say yes, Ishan. Let me be the one who stands by you, always.”
Ishan’s laughter was soft and tearful as he nodded. “Yes. A thousand times yes.”
Shubman slipped the ring onto his finger, his dimples deepening as he grinned. “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me.”
Back inside, their friends erupted in cheers when they shared the news. Hardik immediately started a mock toast with a half-empty soda bottle. “To Shubman and Ishan: may you always be this disgustingly cute!”
Abhi rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “About time, honestly.”
Rohit pulled out a playlist, blasting an upbeat song. “This calls for a celebration!”
The room filled with laughter and teasing, the group’s bond stronger than ever. Even amidst the looming danger, they found joy in the small moments.
As the night wore on, the group sat around the fire, their spirits high. But in the back of Shubman’s mind, the threat still loomed. He knew the fight wasn’t over.
Tomorrow, they would face whatever came their way. But tonight, he held Ishan close, vowing silently to protect the love they had just begun to build.
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.
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~To be continued
