Two days.
It had been two whole days of silence.
Shubman had tried everything—calls, texts, voice notes—desperate to hear even a single word from Ishan. But every time, the screen flashed the same message: “Switched Off.”
His hands trembled with each failed attempt. Panic was no longer creeping in—it had fully consumed him.
Unable to take it anymore, he walked straight to Gulati, who was cleaning the prayer shelf.
“I need to go to Delhi,” Shubman said, his voice shaking. “Main jaa raha hoon. Mere baad Kanha ji ke idol ka dhyaan rakhna…”
Gulati froze, turning around with furrowed brows. “Bhai… pagal hai kya? Tujhe dimaag thik hai? Wo aa jayega… ho sakta hai busy ho, family ke pressure mein ho—”
Shubman’s eyes were wild now. “Tumhe samajh nahi aa raha hai!” he snapped, voice rising. “Wo aisa kabhi nahi karta… kabhi nahi! At least ek text ka reply to de sakta tha na? Par kuchh nahi… kuchh bhi nahi!”
Gulati stepped forward, trying to reason. “Are buddhu… aayega wo. Tu tension mat le. Tu agar wahan gaya to aur ajeeb ho jayega. Uski family tujhe sirf uska friend samajhti hai. Aise bina bataye jaana awkward hoga…”
Shubman stared at him, frustration trembling on his lips. “Awkward hoga to kya main—”
RING. RING.
The ringtone cut through the air like a blade.
Shubman froze.
His eyes darted to his phone screen.
Shahneel.
His heart dropped.
She never called unless something was seriously wrong.
He picked up immediately.
“Hello?”
“Shubman…” her voice was low. Tight.
He went still. “Di? Kya hua?”
“Tu… ghar aa jaa.”
That was all she said. No explanation. No emotion. Just a command sealed in heaviness.
" hello..? hello...? di.. kya hua..?"
The call ended.
Shubman looked at Gulati.
" I need to go... "
---
Shubman rushed to apartment. But the moment he stepped inside, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight: his mother, sitting on the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. Panic surged through him as he sprinted toward her.
“mummy! Kya hua? Kya hua aapko?” he cried out, his voice filled with concern.
His mother pushed him away, her face twisted in anguish. “Shahneel keh de isko... Chala jaaye…” she choked out, her words dripping with bitterness.
Shubman’s heart pounded in his chest. "Ma, please, chal kya raha hai? Please batao mujhe.. ? Please? ” he begged, his voice shaky.
Through the tears, his mother glared at him. “Kya hua?!
Mujhe abhi thodi der pehle Suchitra bhabhi ka phone aaya tha…”
Shubman’s heart quickened even more. “Suchitra aunty? Is Ishan okay? What happened to him? Is he alright? Did something happen to him?” His voice cracked, desperate to know if he was safe.
His mother slapped him hard, her face contorted with rage. “Tune kya kiya?
Zabardasti uske saath?” she spat, her words cutting through the air like a knife.
Shubman’s face turned pale, his mind racing, utterly confused. “zabardasti?
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What after That?
FanfictionWe all stressed up for our future right? some decide their future themselves while other's what their parents tell them to do so. Well what will going to happen when a nerdy boy meet a backbencher? How things will change for him ? Will they ever...
