What after That?

Ch 69

Shubman sat cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through his phone with half-lidded eyes while Ishan sat behind him, hands busy in his hair.

"Ouch! Dheere, yaar," Shubman whined as Ishan twisted a section of his hair into a tiny bun.

"Chup," Ishan muttered, completely focused. He pulled another section and tied it with a rubber band he found somewhere. "Bas thoda aur. Perfect banana hai."

Shubman huffed but let him do whatever he wanted. It wasn’t like he could ever say no to Ishan.

Just then, his phone started vibrating in his lap. Mumma Calling.

"Shh, chup rehna," Shubman warned before answering the call.

"Haan, Mumma?"

"Shubman beta, teri mama ke bete ki shaadi hai hafte mahine. Pind aana padega. Sab aa rahe hain."

"Ohh," Shubman blinked, suddenly more awake. "Pura khandan aa raha hai?"

"Batau abhii.. dhang se bola kar!."

Before Shubman could say anything, Ishan tugged at his hair again, making him groan.

"Oye!"

"Kya hua?" his mother asked.

"Kuch nahi, bas baal kheench gaya," Shubman muttered, glaring at Ishan, who was struggling to hold in his laughter.

"Tu kya kar raha hai?"

"Kuch nahi, Mumma. Accha suno, mera aana zaruri hai kya..." Shubman asked casually, tilting his head back a little.

Ishan's fingers froze in his hair.

" Koyi bahana nahi.. tu aa raha hai Buss!! "

The statement was final. Shubman was going.

Ishan backed away and  sat cross-legged on the bed, absently fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie.

His usual chatter was gone, and silence stretched between them like an invisible weight.

Ishan’s fingers curled into the fabric of his hoodie as he mumbled, "Kab wapas aaoge?"

Shubman leaned back against the headboard, stretching his arms above his head. "Pata nahi… Shaadi hai, toh time lagega thoda."

"Hmm..." Ishan responded, voice unusually quiet. His eyes flickered toward Shubman for a second before dropping back down.

Shubman watched him, sensing the shift in his mood.

"Aur college?" Ishan asked after a pause, as if trying to find a reason to make him stay.

"Mail daal dunga… Lekin jaana toh padega.
Mummy maar dalengi nahi to...."

Ishan inhaled deeply and gave a small nod. "Theek hai..." His voice lacked its usual playfulness.

Shubman frowned, noticing how Ishan’s shoulders slumped slightly. With a sigh, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Mera mann nahi hai jaane ka… Main mana kar deta hoon?"

Ishan immediately shook his head, looking up at him. "Nahi... You should go. Warna tumhari shaadi mein kaun aayega?"

Shubman blinked, taken aback. Then, a slow smirk spread across his face. "Koi nahi. Teri taraf waale toh aayenge na?"

Ishan huffed, rolling his eyes. "Tum jaoge."

"Mujhe toh lag raha tha tu bolega ‘mat jao’ aur main seedha mana kar dunga," Shubman teased, leaning toward Ishan with a pout. "Main kaise jeeyunga tere bina?"