Not In The Script...

Chapter- 29: Almost

Some conversations never happened the way you planned them.

Sometimes life interrupted you.
Sometimes life robbed you of the perfect moment.
And sometimes, you were left standing there with the words still caught in your throat.

That’s exactly what happened to Shubman.

He had rehearsed it.
Exactly what he would say to Rhea.
How he would gently, honestly, but firmly tell her that what they had—what she thought they had—was over before it even began.

He was going to tell her about Yash.

About the choice he’d already made.

But Rhea had received a call that morning. A family emergency. She left the hotel within hours, barely saying goodbye.

And just like that, the timing slipped through his fingers.

It would have been easy to let it go. To use her absence as an excuse to delay it again.
But Shubman didn’t want to delay anymore.

Because every day he didn’t fix it, every day he let Yash believe he was still hiding—it carved deeper cracks between them.

But life had other plans.

In the days following, something unexpected began to bloom between Shubman and Yash.

Not grand gestures.
Not stolen kisses or secret declarations.

Just small things.

Tiny moments that, to anyone else, would have meant nothing.

But to them?
It was everything.

The way Yash would slide him a bottle of water during practice without being asked.
The way Shubman would brush the sweat-soaked strands from Yash’s forehead when no one was looking.
The way their hands would graze briefly while passing gloves, lingering just a second too long.

It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t public.
But it was real.

And for the first time in a long time, it felt easy.
It felt like breathing again.

Even the team noticed a subtle shift—the way the cold distance had softened, the way Shubman’s eyes followed Yash like he couldn’t help it.

But not Ishan.

Ishan, who still didn’t know the full story.
Ishan, who thought Shubman was still the one who broke Yash apart.
Ishan, who still hovered protectively around Yash like a loyal guard dog.

It grated on Shubman’s nerves.

At first, he tried to ignore it.

He told himself Ishan’s friendship with Yash wasn’t his enemy.
That Ishan was only looking out for someone he cared about.

But jealousy has a way of poisoning even the most reasonable minds.

It was during one particularly rough training session that everything boiled over.

The banter started light.
Just Ishan teasing Yash about a missed catch, his hand playfully ruffling Yash’s hair.

Shubman felt the first flare of heat in his chest.

He told himself to let it go.

But then Ishan leaned in, grinning. “Man, you’ve gone soft. Must be all the extra attention you’re getting lately. You like being spoiled, huh?”

It wasn’t even about Shubman.
It wasn’t even serious.

But something about the possessiveness in Ishan’s tone—the casual ownership—it snapped the last thread of Shubman’s patience.

Before he could think, before he could stop himself, Shubman was across the pitch, shoving Ishan back by the shoulder, his eyes dark and blazing.

“Don’t touch him like that,” Shubman hissed, his voice low and sharp.

Ishan’s eyes widened in pure confusion. “What the hell is your problem?”

“You don’t get to talk to him like that.”

“Why not?” Ishan’s voice rose in disbelief. “He’s my friend. Since when did you start policing that?”

“Since you started acting like he’s yours.”

Ishan laughed bitterly, pushing Shubman’s hand off his chest. “Seriously? You’re jealous of me?”

“Stay away from him,” Shubman warned, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.

Yash rushed between them, panic written all over his face. “Shubh, stop. Please.”

Ishan’s jaw tensed. “You know what? You haven’t changed. Still the same possessive asshole who hurt him.”

“That’s enough!” Yash’s voice cracked as he stepped in front of Shubman, palms out, shielding Ishan. “Just stop.”

Shubman’s eyes flickered to Yash’s desperate expression, his chest twisting painfully.

He realized then—Yash wasn’t siding with him.

He wasn’t defending him.

He was protecting Ishan.

And that hurt in a way Shubman wasn’t ready for.

“Of course you’ll take his side,” Shubman muttered bitterly, stepping back.

“It’s not about sides,” Yash said, his voice trembling. “It’s about you losing control. Again.”

“I wasn’t going to hurt him.”

“Do you hear yourself?” Yash’s eyes burned. “You almost did.”

Ishan stormed off, his trust in Shubman crumbling all over again.

Shubman stood there, fists still trembling, heart still hammering.

The only thing he could see—the only thing he could feel—was the widening distance between him and Yash.

The fragile peace they had built was cracking under the weight of things left unsaid. Again.

And as Yash walked away from him without another word, Shubman realized something terrifying.

They were almost okay.

Almost.

But almost wasn’t enough.

Not anymore.
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[End of Chapter 29]