What after That?

Ch 97

""...Ishan Kishan Gill ban ja."

The words disappeared into the silence of the mountains.

Shubman slowly raised the steel kada a little higher... then squeezed his eyes shut.

He couldn't look at Ishan.

This was terrifying.

Ninety percent of him was sure Ishan would say yes. But that remaining ten percent...

It refused to stay quiet.

Will he really marry me?

The silence stretched. Far longer than Shubman had expected. His heartbeat grew louder.

Finally, without opening his eyes, he began speaking again in a hurry.

"Abhi nahi karni to..."

"...koi baat nahi."

"Kuchh mahine baad?"

Still no reply.

"Do saal baad?"

He laughed nervously.

"Paanch saal?"
U157t
"Das saal?"

"Bees saal?"

His voice became quieter with every sentence.

"...marne se pehle-"

Suddenly...

The weight disappeared from his hand. Shubman's eyes flew open. The kada was gone.

Instead...

It rested around Ishan's wrist it was loose.

Shubman simply stared.

Ishan took a slow breath before looking into his eyes.

"Tum serious ho?"

Shubman frowned immediately.

"Main tereko leke hamesha serious hi hota hoon."

Then he pointed at his fractured shoulder dramatically.

"Aur ek second... Excuse me? Itni maar kisliye khai maine? Aeinvein?"

Ishan couldn't help smiling.

His eyes softened.

"Mujhe karni hai shaadi..."

He paused for a second.

"...tumhi se."

Everything inside Shubman stopped. His mouth remained slightly open.

He just kept staring at Ishan.

Then, slowly...

A shy grin spread across his face.

His dimples appeared.

"Achha..."

"...phir theek hai."

He looked away for a second, smiling to himself before suddenly becoming serious again.

"Like..."

He gently took both of Ishan's hands into his own.

"Abhi Karne ke liye nahi keh raha main. It's just ki..."

He searched for the right words.

"Tu abhi bachcha sa hai. Means... Bais saal ka hi hai."

Ishan immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Tum bhi bais ke hi ho."

"Haan..."

Shubman nodded confidently.