In no time, September arrived and the next IPL match was held on 19th in Dubai.
On 20th, KKR defeated RCB by 9 wickets, Shubman was satisfied as Ishan immediately made his way from the pavilion to the dressing room to congratulate him.
Ishan reached near Shubman's locker only to find him busy with his phone as he carelessly typed with just one glove off, sporting that full dimple smile of his.
Ishan's presence obviously divided his heed as he shortly looked up, Ishan managing to chuckle stretched his hand forward, "Congrats"
Shubman smilingly doffing his another glove off as well firmly shook Ishan's hand, "Thanks, man"
He replied going back on the phone, not being able to refrain his curiosity Ishan sidely leaning against the locker asked as casually as possible, "Who is it?"
Shubman provided Ishan an unmindful glance, his fingers not ceasing to type, "Sara obviously"
Well, okay, this was nothing new.
"Hogya? Patchup tum dono ka?" Ishan knowingly queried.
Shubman granted him another quick look before turning to his lockers to toss his gloves inside, "Breakup hua hi kab tha humara, it was just a fight jo hoti rehti hai"
He said, in the end properly gazing at Ishan who just gave him a nod with a small smile, barely muttering "Right"
Ishan watched Shubman taking off his sweaty jersey, his muscles flexing as he did so. Although they were used to being nûde around each other but in the hushed atmosphere of lockers the sight caught Ishan off-guard while he cautiously yet obliviously checked Shubman out.
Bulging veins on his biceps extending till his broad shoulders which traced the path to his chiselled collar bones, adam's apple bobbing up and down, his throat must be dry, gold chain dangling in his long neck reaching his strong chest with a stubble, hmm very manly, pecs leading the way downwards to his sculpted abs, certainly pumped after a rigorous game.
Chucking the shirt on a nearby bench, Shubman's pants followed, happy trail down his belly button disappearing into his white boxers which flaunted the swell of his manhood, ripped thighs supporting him as he stripped the pants down his legs before they joined his jersey on the bench.
Shubman had no business looking this smoking hot, has he grown more buffed? Clearly, seems to be the case.
Nothing homo about it, just an appreciation.
Ishan was swift to shot his gaze up when Shubman's eyes met his, "Chal mai fresh hokar aata hun" he informed before walking off. Ishan's eyes impromptly taking a glimpse at other's muscular àss, okay stop.
He looked away, rather spotting Shubman's phone on the bench as Sara's text lit it's screen.
Goddamn right, Ishan sighed blankly gazing infront before hastening his feets out of there.
Why would this shit infuriate him so much?
Shubman has been doing.....things to him lately, he doesn't know how to explain it. Something about his love for his bestfriend has been feeling unfamiliar since a long time. He tries to be ignorant regarding it. It's something he can't decipher but it definitely makes him feel bizarre, he doesn't want to decipher actually, the possibility scares him, its only good if he doesn't get to the conclusion, its nothing, absolutely nothing.
Albeit one thing he has deduced is that he needs to clear his head anyhow.
************************************
The rest of the month and half of October kept them busy with the matches. Chennai Super kings won final the match by 27runs beating Kolkata knight Riders and secured the IPL trophy.
They might have lost but Shubman was content knowing his team gave it all, therefore, here they were celebrating CSK's victory in a club.
Dubai's clubs were something else, Shubman thought to himself while emptying his 3rd tequila shot. He was sitting with Rohit Bhai, Virat Bhai, Mahi Bhai and yuzi Bhai, he wasn't going to lie that sharing the table with all seniors was making him anxious.
His eyes searched only for Ishan Kishan whom he couldn't seem to find for an hour now. They came inside together, Shubman got busy conversing with yuzi and within seconds Ishan disappeared by his side.
He eventually caught the glimpse of mullet sitting at a table across, he swear he checked there before, the crowd might have obscured Ishan.
He excused himself from there, making his way directly towards Ishan. Maybe he was overthinking but Ishan has been avoiding him lately, he might be getting too sensitive about it but he can feel it in his guts, he always knows what Ishan is upto.
Ishan's behaviour has been a little indifferent towards him recently. Shubman wasn't used to this silent treatment by his bestfriend, he doesn't like it one bit especially when he is unaware of the reason.
Maybe Ishan was just tired with the matches but he jokes with Hardik Bhai just fine, like right now, on contrary, for Shubman no happiness meant anything in Ishan's absence, he might be physically there with him but Shubman can feel the distance. Why is he doing this?
Shubman's gaze locked with Ishan as he made space for himself beside the latter, Ishan shifted a bit to let him settle.
Shubman sighed leaning back and silently exchanging a grin with Hardik Bhai, Jaddu Bhai, Sky Bhai, Siraj bhai before he noticed Mayank sitting there too causing his smile to fade, a faint scowl replacing it. Obviously he had to be there near his Ish.
Tearing his eyes off of Mayank who was sitting on another side of Ishan he looked at the latter next to him who was laughing at some joke which Hardik had cracked. Due to the music being too loud Shubman couldn't quite catch on it.
Again Ishan was paying him no heed. He found himself staring at Ishan, watching him lean closer to Mayank, Ishan warmly smiled at Mayank's remark which the latter had whispered in his ear, god knows what.
Shubman clenched his jaw grabbing Ishan by the collar and pulling the latter towards himself on an instinct, amazed at his own action though he disguised it by keeping his expressions undeviating.
Ishan's lips moved to say something as he licked them, confusingly holding gaze with Shubman, "Kya kar raha hai?"
Shubman gritting his teeths lowly rasped in exasperation, "Tu kya kar raha hai?"
Ishan frowned, "What?"
Shubman was about to open his mouth to utter something witty before Hardik intervened, "Hey, is everything okay?"
Both snapped their heads at him, suddenly becoming aware of the surrounding once again as Shubman let go of Ishan's collar and they gave Hardik an assuring nod, "Yes bhaiya, everything is okay" Ishan answered.
"Are tension nai lene ka, wo chalta hai unn dono ka", Jadeja slurred.
They were consuming shots by shots and soon Mayank was dragging Ishan to the dance floor while Shubman just sat there observing them from afar, burning with envy, why didn't Ishan ask him to come along?
He eyed Ishan swinging his hips with a random brunette girl. He might score a hook up tonight which was given since Ishan is undoubtedly so sexy, Shubman admitted with his gaze stuck on him.
Maybe things were escalating too fast but now Ishan was nuzzling in girl's neck who with droopy lids threw her head back on his shoulder gasping pleasurably, surely engrossed in him. Ishan slowly trailed his lips down to her exposed shoulder and Shubman found all of this lowkey hot? What the hell? The liquor was slowly having an effect on him.
He cleared his throat subtly brushing the bulge in his pants being turned on, trying to hide it by manspreading slightly more. It has certainly been a while since he has gotten any action, this might be the result of it. Should he find a hook up for himself as well?......wait he is dating Sara, God how can the thought even strike his mind when he loves Sara so much, he is definitely drunk.
Gulping, he stole one more glance at his bestfriend who was now being dragged outside by the coquette girl and Shubman aimlessly followed as if he was in trance.
They ended up in an alleyway close by the club as Ishan slammed the girl against the wall, wildly making out with her while she struggled to breathe but couldn't get enough.
Ishan's sturdy tatted arms secured around her thin waist held her tight before sliding down to squeeze her hips as he pressed his groin into her provoking the heat to stir up in Shubman's crotch as well who quietly stood there like a creep, blood rushing to his ears and cheeks. Darkness and feeble streetlight cascading over his tall figure.
Ishan's face was now buried in her neck while she softly moaned and happen to turn her face on the side causing her to discover Shubman as widening her eyes she shrieked, Ishan pursuing her gaze had his mouth agaped in both bewilderment and shock.
Ishan grimaced before looking back at the girl, "It's okay, I know him", he tried to pacify, however, she embarrassingly stepped out of his grip and scurried away, walking past Shubman who's sight absent-mindedly followed her.
"What the hell were you doing dude staring at us like a creep?" Ishan snarled moving closer to Shubman who nervously looked at him before recalling his resentment.
"Tu mujhe ignore kyu kar raha hai?" grinding his teeths was all he could let out, watching Ishan's frown growing more profound.
"What-mai kab-" being baffled Ishan shrugged and stopped midway as he exhaled deeply, "That's not the point, Shubman. Why the fuck were you standing here? Club mein bhi pura time tu ajeeb hi act kar raha tha, what's up?"
A pang of hurt pierced Shubman's heart upon hearing his full name from the other, nevertheless, brushing it off for now and slowly walking forward he towered Ishan's smaller frame who simultaneously took reverse steps until Shubman was caging him against the wall.
His heartbeats quickening and adrenaline surging turning his ears into a dark shade of red, Ishan timidly gulped while endeavouring to maintain contact with Shubman's intimidating gaze, other's cologne mixed with tinge of alcohol invading his nose made him more dizzy. It was ridiculous how he was so aware yet so lost in their proximity.
"Really? Mai ajeeb act kar raha hun? Aur Jo tu itne dino se mujhe ignore kar raha hai uska kya?" Shubman gritted out as Ishan felt his throat parched before managing to voice out, "Mai kahan tujhe ignore kar raha hun? Pura din mai tere saath rehta hun, tere saath sota hun, tere saath khata hun, sab tere saath hi karta hun then why do you feel ki mai tujhe ignore kar raha hun?"
"That's the thing, ish!" Shubman hissed inching his face even closer to Ishan, his warm breath did nothing good to the latter rather only made him weak in the knees, his heart thumping even more rapidly.
"I just know ki kab tu kya karta hai and I can feel the distance, aajkal tu mere saath hokar bhi nhi hota" Shubman continued his rant as his expressions instantly softened, "Ish, mujhe bhot incomplete feel hota hai jab tu mujhse baat nahi karta toh, mujhe attention na de toh, I die a little bit inside. I know it's insane and I can't understand it either, maybe because tu sabse genuine insaan hai meri life mein that's why, nothing makes any sense at all. No matter kitna bhi acha ho raha ho mere saath but agar tu nahi hota toh sab ekdum unnecessary sa lagta hai mujhe, how many times do I have to specify this? Kitni baar, ish? Tujhe maza aata hai kya mujhe aisa feel karane mein? Pura time tu aaj yah toh Hardik Bhai k saath yah toh uss Mayank k saath hi tha, fir uske saath dance karne bhi chalagya aur fir yahan aakar iss ladki se chipak gaya-
"Then what about me, Shubman?" Ishan snapped poking at his own chest glaring right into Shubman's eyes, his gaze unwavering as Shubman frozen, sudden raise in other's voice made him stunned, "Yes, mai reh raha tha thorda reserved, still tujhse baat toh kar raha tha na atleast, teri sunn toh raha tha unlike you jo sirf apni sochta hai" He furiously stated, this time prodding at Shubman's chest instead.
"Everything is justified jab tujhe bura lage, tujhe attention na mile, teri mai na sunu but what about me?! Meri kitni sunta hai tu?! Jabse Sara teri life mein aayi hai, all you talk about is her, Sara k saath ladai hogyi, Sara se baat hone lagi, Sara yeh Sara woh. I don't mind it lekin fir tujhe itni dikkat kyu hai jab mai kisi aur se baat karu toh. Meri bhi toh khudki life hai, mai bhi toh wo karunga na jo mera mann hai yah sirf tere peeche hi ghumta rahu?" Ishan growled, noting Shubman was on the verge of breaking down but this time he didn't care.
"Tu mujhpr aise haqq jatata hai jaise mai sirf tera hun, sirf tera mujhpr haqq hai lekin sach toh yeh hai, shubi, ki jabse Sara teri life mein aayi hai you've changed" Ishan accused roughly prodding at Shubman's chest one last time who just numbly stood there. Ishan had never talked to him like that. Ishan was such a sweetheart, his sweetheart, why would he get angry on him like that?
"But friendship goes hand in hand, Shubi, tu aajkal mere pass sirf tab hi aata hai jab tujhe meri zaroorat hoti hai. Mai jab tujhe yaad kar raha hota hun tab tu wahan nahi hota" Ishan stated looking daggers at Shubman before swatting his hand off of the wall and storming away.
Shubman couldn't process what he had just heard, he swear his love for Ishan was selfless but is this what the other had been feeling all this time? Realising that it was somewhat true Shubman crouched against the wall in an alleyway only as a sob left his mouth and tears dropped down his cheeks, fuck this liquor, what had he done?
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Lol, I started this book just for fun, now I can't help but re-read the chapter again and again, edit it again and again to make it as perfect as possible before publishing it. I swear this habit of mine will kill me someday.
Anyways,I hope you guys enjoyed it and there were no mistakes. I will now update after the holi, also Happy Holi in advance.