THEM 'Ishman'

Ice cream..date

It was a warm evening, the kind that seemed to hold the world in a golden haze.

The streetlights were flickering on, casting soft pools of amber over the bustling road.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as families strolled by, couples shared quiet smiles, and kids darted between tables holding dripping cones of ice cream.

The gang had just finished their chaotic outing a mix of loud arguments, laughter, and a minor mishap involving spilled drinks and decided to cool off with a stop at a street vendor.

Ishan had gravitated toward the counter immediately, his eyes lighting up as he scanned the colorful menu.

"Triple scoops." He declared with a grin, pointing to the towering illustration of a cone stacked with three precarious scoops.

His favorite flavors chocolate, vanilla, and mango were soon piled onto a cone, the vendor handing it to him with a wary look, as if anticipating disaster.

Shubman hung back, leaning casually against the bench, a single scoop of classic vanilla in his hand.

His eyes weren't on his ice cream, though.

They followed Ishan as he eagerly licked at the edges of his cone, his fingers already sticky with melted streams.

"You're such a messy eater." Shubman called out, his voice dripping with lazy amusement.

Ishan glanced up, a dollop of chocolate threatening to drip onto his hand.

"Chal chal. Jaa yaha se!" He shot back, his voice muffled around the ice cream.

His fiery tone only made Shubman smirk wider.

He didn't even realize there was a smear of mango near the corner of his lips.

Shubman straightened, taking a slow lick of his cone as he walked over.

"Chala jau?" Shubman asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Jaldi." Ishan said, ignoring Shubman.

"But you are eating like a baby." Shubman said smirking a little, focusing on the smear of mango near the corner of Ishan's lips.

"Am not." Ishan said still completely ignoring Shubman.

"Oh really? Then what's that?" He said, gesturing vaguely to his own lips.

"What's what?" Ishan frowned, swiping at his face with the back of his hand.

He missed the mark completely.

(HAHAHAHAHA...I MADE HIM DO IT 😼)

"Here." Shubman caught Ishan's wrist, his grip gentle but firm.

"You're hopeless." He murmured, leaning in closer.

His thumb brushed against the corner of Ishan's lips, warm and deliberate as it wiped away the smudge.

The touch lingered just a second too long, sending a ripple of heat through the small space between them.

Ishan's breath hitched as Shubman pulled back, his eyes glinting with something teasing and something else.

To Ishan's utter shock, Shubman brought his thumb to his own lips, licking the mango away with a slow, deliberate swipe of his tongue.

"Clean now, darling." He said, his voice dropping low.

Ishan froze, his heart hammering against his ribs.

"Tu- Tu ajeeb hai." He stammered, turning back to his cone as if the heat rushing to his cheeks was entirely due to the weather.