What after That?

Ch 76.

Ishan was still cocooned inside the sheets. Shubman sat beside him, still shirtless, trying to make sense of the silence.

“What happened, Ish?” Shubman asked again, gentler this time, brushing a strand of hair from Ishan’s forehead. But Ishan didn’t answer. He just stared ahead, lips pressed in a flat line, jaw tight. His fingers clutched the comforter even tighter, almost vanishing into it.

Shubman sighed, about to press further when he felt a breeze — oddly cold against his skin. He glanced down.

Wait.

His sweatpants? Gone.

Shubman sat up straighter, his brows furrowing. He turned slightly, tugged at the sheets—

No shirt.

No boxers either.

“What the—”

“Shit,” he muttered, under his breath.

“Shit!” louder this time, running a hand through his hair. “Where the hell are my clothes?”

Ishan flinched at the outburst but didn’t answer.

Shubman stared at him, suspicion dawning in his eyes. “Did you—did you hide them?”

Ishan slowly turned his face into the pillow.
How can a person be so dumb to ask this... did you hide them?

Shubman narrowed his eyes. “Okay, what happened last night?”

And in that moment, Ishan knew—there was no hiding from this anymore.

Ishan then sobbed, his voice muffled through the comforter. “Mujhe nahi pata… main… main… humne kya kar diya, Shubman…”

Shubman froze for a second, heart pounding. His mind raced, trying to recall every hazy moment from last night.

But seeing Ishan trembling like that, eyes red and breath shaky, made everything else blur into the background.

Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Ishan’s cocooned self, holding him like he’d fall apart otherwise. “Shhh… arey baba, kuchh nahi hua hoga… pakka,” he whispered, pressing his cheek gently against the side of Ishan’s head. “Mujhe vishwaas hai tujhpe….”

Ishan sniffled, peeking out from the covers like a scared little kid. His lashes were damp, cheeks blotchy. He looked up into Shubman’s eyes, trembling. “Mere kapde bhi nahi hai… Shubman… hum… humne…”

Shubman looked at him, trying not to smile at the adorable disaster Ishan was turning into. He tucked a strand of hair behind Ishan’s ear and said, “Kapde nahi hai, so what…”

He leaned in a bit, his voice lower, warmer.

Ishan blinked, confused, still sniffling.

Shubman smirked slightly. “Aur agar kuchh kiya hai, toh at least usme tu tha… "

Ishan cried harder listening to Shubman’s nonsense.

" galat kiya... galat kiya humne.. "

" aree bachcha sun to.. tu dar kyun raha hai..?" Shubman asked caressing hus back of head.

" Main hoon na.. kuchh nahi hoga..."

" Par..  par...wo.. wo... "

" shhh... breath in... breath out..."
Shubman said as he wasn't feeling out and all excited himself.

That comforted Ishan to an extent.

Shubman, still holding Ishan close, whispered softly, “Accha sun…”