What after That?

Ch 101

The sun rose, casting its rays in every direction and brightening the morning. That light somehow felt like it had already begun healing the wounds of living beings, whether external or internal.

Shubman yawned, looking outside from the balcony of Abhi's room. He mostly saw a tangle of wires, utility poles, and people going here and there. But even in that moment, he knew there was something magical about this place-the smoke, the pollution, maybe just a reason to calm his worries a little.

He stretched turning side to side when his eyes landed on his phone once again. Should I call her now? he asked himself. Guilt sat in his heart, making him feel as though he had done something wrong by choosing himself.
But his heart knew the ultimate truth: he couldn't live without Ishan, and they wouldn't let Shubman be with Ishan. So fuck it.
He decided not to call for now. She needed to calm down and think things through. He wasn't punishing her; he was simply choosing something for himself.

She needed to understand that she should have a life too-that she, too, had to choose herself.

He glanced out once again,a slow smile came to his face when he saw two cats sitting side by side in the morning sunlight on a near by house terrace, the larger one grooming the slightly smaller one, licking all clean.

And he almost saw his future with Ishan. Still watching them, he stretched one hand above his head.

Then he looked at his cast and said softly, "Theek hoja bhaii... usey bahon mein bhi to lena hai... dhang se."
He almost hid behind the curtain, flustered by the thought.

The clinking of the cup made him turn around to see Komal's eyes widened in shock and her hands shaking as if she had seen a possessed man. Shubman stared at her, and she stared back.
Then Komal smiled, making the situation even more awkward. "Hehe... no big deal. Apne aap se to baatein hoti hi rehti hai..."

"Of course," Shubman tried to sound casual, giving her a thumbs-up.
She looked at him again. "Ye coffee..."

Shubman walked closer and cleared the side table where his office report files were laid out. Patting the space, he said, "Here."

Komal quickly put the cup down and hurriedly left the room.

Before passing through the hall, she glanced at him once more through the room window. When she saw Shubman looking back, she gave another sweet smile before sprinting downstairs.

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"Mummy, khud se baat kar raha si... bhoot hai usme..."

Mrs. Sharma looked at her daughter from head to toe, knowing how much she tended to exaggerate things.

" Woh to tujhme bhi hua fir... " she said, flipping the gobhi ka paratha on the tawa.

Komal came closer to her side and casually tore off a bite. " nahi mummy.. usme asli wala hai.. "

" I am tel-ah huff huff.. " She opened her mouth immediately, taking long, deep breaths. The paratha was so damn hot. " muh jal gaya mera.."

" toh aaram se khana tha na.. pagal ladki.. "

Her mother said, then while rolling another piece of dough on the chakla, she asked, " masale theek hai? "

Komal nodded, tearing off another piece of the paratha. Suddenly, a wave of affection hit her. She planted a quick kiss on her mother's cheek with a sheepish smile, grabbed another fresh paratha, and darted out of the kitchen.Mrs. Sharma shook her head, smiling softly. "Pagal ladki."

Yashaswi's House

Ishan was still fast asleep when Yashaswi walked into the room with breakfast. Staring down at his sleeping friend, Yashaswi's mind immediately began plotting a chaotic wake-up prank.