Ishan stood in front of the tall mirror, his fingers nervously adjusting the collar of his crisp navy kurta. The room was quiet, save for the soft whir of a ceiling fan above. His eyes met his own reflection, but beneath the steady surface, he felt a quiet weight. Today was his engagement day, his future with Aditi was supposed to start. And yet, all he could think about was Shubman. It had been months since they last spoke, no fight, no harsh words, just a must needed decision. And now, standing on the edge of this new chapter, all he wanted was to hear his best friend's voice, just once, to know he was still there, even from afar.
Just as Ishan exhaled, trying to steady himself, another knock echoed at the door. His jaw clenched. He had told everyone, no disturbances, just ten minutes. Frustration flared inside him. "Why are you still disturbing me?" he snapped, voice sharp, as he swung the door open. And there, standing in the hallway, impeccably dressed in a tux, was Shubman, his best friend, looking more stunning than he ever expected.
As Shubman heard Ishan's sharp words, a flicker of nervousness crossed his face. He took a small step back, his voice soft. "If you don't want to talk right now, I can come back later. It's completely fine." But as he turned, Ishan's hand suddenly gripped his wrist, pulling him back inside. Without a word, Ishan wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight, as if all the months apart could somehow be erased in this single moment.
As Shubman stood frozen, not saying a word, Ishan clung to him, his voice small and almost pleading. "Where were you?" Ishan whispered, his words spilling out like a child's complaint. "I waited for you forever. I know I said I'd wait as long as you wanted, but that doesn't mean you won't even send me a single 'hi' in three months. Come on, you're my best friend. You made me think you wouldn't come today. Do you know how much I wanted to talk to you, all these little gossips I saved for you? I missed you so much, why didn't you come earlier?"
As Shubman listened, a small, soft smile spread across his face, like the kind you give a child who's fussing over nothing. He slowly wrapped his arms around Ishan, pulling him close, and rested his cheek against the top of Ishan's head. In a barely audible whisper, he said, "I'm sorry. I just... I needed some time. And thank you, thank you for understanding, for giving me that space. But I'm here now."
Hearing this, Ishan smiled wide, the weight in his chest easing just a little. But then, Shubman gently pulled back, just enough to look him in the face. "Let me see my boy," Shubman said, a warm smile returning, "let me see how you're looking on your engagement day." He stepped back, taking in Ishan fully. But the moment those words hit—"engagement day"—something twisted inside Ishan. His smile faltered, his stomach knotted.
Shubman caught it immediately, his brow furrowing. "Is everything okay?" he asked, concerned. Ishan forced a smile, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice tight. "I'm just a bit nervous, you know how it is, everything gets a bit overwhelming on days like this."
Shubman gave him a soft, encouraging smile, nodding slightly. "Don't worry," he said gently, "everything will be fine. You look amazing, really." Ishan opened his mouth, as if to say something more, but just then, there was a light knock at the door. Ishan's mother called from outside, her voice warm but firm: "It's time to come down, the engagement is starting."
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Ishan stood on the stage with Aditi, his smile a little lost, his gaze drifting as he spoke. Below, Shubman leaned against the bar, surrounded by his teammates, holding a glass but barely registering their chatter. He tried to listen, laughing along with them, but his eyes kept drifting back to Ishan. And somehow, every time Shubman looked up, Ishan was already meeting his gaze, as if pulled by some invisible thread between them.
