Match of Hearts: A Cricketing Love Story

Entwined Hearts

Both Ishan and Shubman sat in stunned silence, unsure of their next move. The weight of their impending engagement with other people pressed heavily upon them. Ishan glanced at Shubman, who stared silently at the floor. A knock on the door startled them.

 Ishan rose and opened it to find Rohit standing there. "Chalo bhai dono sab log aa gaya aur tumhari hone wali biwiyan bhi aa gayi," Rohit said before departing. "Shubi chal sab wait kar rahe hain," Ishan said, his heart heavy with sorrow. Shubman stood up and faced Ishan.

 Ishan noticed that Shubman was fighting back tears. "T-tu k-khush hai na Ishu?" Shubman asked. Ishan looked down and nodded slightly. "Meri aankhon me dekh Ishu" Shubman said. Ishan met Shubman's gaze. "M-main k-khush hun Shubi, I hope ye sunne ke baad tu mujhe bhulne ki koshish karega....akhri baar keh raha hun Shubi kisi aur ko ye dil churane ka haq nahi dunga, ye dil agar kisi ka hai toh wo sirf tera hai. I love you Shubi aur mujhe maaf kar de," Ishan said before turning away.

"Ishu...I love you. please ye sagai mat kar...Ishu..." Shubman cried, but his words fell on deaf ears. He collapsed to his knees and wept. After a while, he regained his composure and made his way to the stage, where Ishan stood with his fiancée, Aditi, while Sara waited for him. 

Ishan and Shubman's gazes met for a brief eternity, but Ishan quickly broke away. Shubman stood beside Sara. The priest recited the sacred verses and instructed them to begin the ceremony. The couples stood as the ring bearers approached. Shubman and Ishan each took a ring.

Ishan stood there, holding the engagement ring he would soon place on the finger of a woman he didn't love—a woman he never would. His thoughts drifted back to memories of his secret relationship with Shubman, filled with affection and whispered promises of a future together. He remembered the day they sat on the rooftop, their heads close, sharing their dreams under the starlit sky. "Ishu, ek baat puchu?" Shubman had said. "Han puch." "Jab hamari shaadi hogi toh engagement kahan karna chahta hai?" "Main chahta hun ki hamari engagement beach me ho aur shaadi Rajasthan me. Kaisa hai idea?" "Bahot acha. Mujhe farak nahi padta hamari shaadi kahan hgi bas tu mere saath hona chahiye" Shubman had responded. Ishan glanced at Shubman, now standing beside him, the love of his life. His parents beamed with joy, but Raj, his brother, wore a sad smile.

Shubman held the engagement ring, his gaze resting on Sara, the woman he was expected to marry. He knew he could never give her the love that Ishan deserved. For four years, he had love him, and Ishan had transformed him from an introvert to the man he was now. He recalled their stolen kisses and embraces, the nights they spent together hiding from their teammates during the IPL season, cheering each other on even when their teams were rivals. But now, everything felt wrong. His love was right beside him, yet he couldn't place the ring on his finger. He glanced at his parents, his mother's forced smile mirroring his own sister's.

 Virat's voice broke into their reverie. "Kya hua lovebirds? Kahan kho gaye?" "Arey kya bhaiya aap bhi dono best friends alag hone wale hai toh dukhi toh honge na," Rishabh added. "Koi baat nahi baccho, chalo ring pehna do tumhari dulhan wait kar rahi hai," Suchitra, Ishan's mother, said. Ishan reached for the ring and placed it on Aditi's finger. Shubman did the same. 

Both women beamed with happiness. Now it was time for Ishan and Shubman to receive their rings. As they extended their hands, everyone gasped. Rings adorned both their ring fingers. "Shubman, beta wo ring utar de," his mother demanded.

 "Nahi maa, main nahi utarunga," Shubman protested. Suchitra raised an eyebrow. "Ishan, ring utar." "Nahi maa, nahi utar sakta yeh bahot tight hai," Ishaan lied. " Dikha mujhe," Suchitra said, reaching for Ishan's ring. "Wait, aunty," Shahneel interrupted. "Rings abhi kisi aur ungli me pehna dijiye baad me utar lenge dono." 

Ishan and Shubman agreed, hoping to avoid further questions. Sara and Aditi had a bad feeling about the situation, but they placed the rings on their fiancés' other fingers, hoping they would remove the unknown rings soon.

After the engagement ceremony, everyone congratulated the couples and gathered around the dining table for dinner. Ishan and Shubman sat beside each other, while their fiancées sat across from them. "So, children, what are your plans for the wedding?" Anjali asked.

 "How about Italy, Mom?" Sara suggested. "No, Sara. How about Rajasthan?" Aditi countered. "No!" Ishan and Shubman exclaimed simultaneously. Sara looked puzzled. "Why not? We could have our wedding in Rajasthan too." "B-because it'll be too hot there. Rajasthan is not suitable for a wedding," Shubman lied. 

He didn't want Ishan to be reminded of their dreams of marrying in Rajasthan, which had been shattered by fate. "How about Kashmir then?" Sara proposed. "Yes, that would be lovely. What do you think, Ishu?" Aditi asked. Ishan's eyes widened in surprise. 

Aditi had never called him "Ishu" before. He stole a glance at Shubman and noticed his grip on the spoon tighten. Ishan quickly placed his hand on Shubman's thigh to calm him. Shubman's grip loosened as Ishan turned to Aditi. "That's fine," Ishan said. "What about you, Shubman?" Sara asked. "I'm fine with it," Shubman replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

After everyone resumed eating, Sachin couldn't help but think about how to fix the children's marriage after their tour of Australia. He turned to Pranav and Lakhwinder. "What do you guys think? Would you be okay if we fix the wedding after the tour?" 

"Of course," Pranav said. "We agree," Lakhwinder added. Shubman and Ishan exchanged glances. "But we're not ready," Shubman and Ishan said in unison. "What do you mean?" Lakhwinder asked.

 "Well," Shubman said, "we just want to spend some time together after the tour. We want to get to know each other better." "But you'll get to know each other after you're married," Pranav pointed out. "Yes, Uncle," Shubman said, "but we just want to be sure. Maybe we could wait four months?" 

Lakhwinder was about to object, but Keart cut him off. "It's their decision," she said. "They'll tell us when they're ready." Anjali nodded in agreement. "Alright, then. We'll talk about this again in four months." Everyone nodded in agreement, but Sara couldn't help but notice that something was going on between Shubman and Ishan. 

She'd never seen Shubman so protective of anyone before. Just then, Aditi offered Ishan a sweet made with almonds. Before she could put it on his plate, Shubman snatched it away and put it on his own plate. "What are you doing, Aditi?" he snapped. "I-I was just giving him the sweets," Aditi stammered.

 "Don't you know he's allergic to almonds?" Shubman said, his voice rising. "What would have happened if he had eaten it?" Ishan reached over and took Shubman's hand. "It's okay, Shubi," he said. "Calm down. Please sit." Shubman took a deep breath and sat down.

 He picked up a rasgulla and fed it to Ishan. "Here, take this instead," he said. "I know you like it." Everyone at the table was shocked. They had never seen Shubman act so possessive over anyone before. Sara's suspicions were confirmed. There was definitely something going on between these two.

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