When Ishan woke up again the first thing he felt was a hand running through his hair. Breathing was a bit easier and didn't feel like a task anymore. He sighed in content and leaned in the hand more, hearing a chuckle soon. Ishan opened his eyes slowly as he noticed it was the same man who had lulled him back to sleep some time ago.

"Are you feeling okay, chotu?"
The man asked with a warm smile.
Ishan smiled and nodded.
"Come, freshen up"
The man helped him towards the washroom and helped him back to the bed after he was done freshening up.
"Okay, so, chotu.. I'm Hardik"
The man smiled again.
"Ishan- I'M NOT CHOTU!"
Ishan whined.

"You WERE not chotu, now you are my aka Hardik's chotu."
Hardik smiled sweetly at him again.
"Also.. tereko akkal wakkal nahi hai kya? Itna door se bukhar ho tab kaun ata hai?! Aisa phir se kiya na mera jane de Rohit bhaiyya tereko itna phatkayenge na!"
Hardik had already gone in his mother hen mode.

"Feels like you've adopted me."
Ishan mumbled.
"Oh I have. You're a Pandya now." Hardik snickered.
"Aacha ab maine tere liye thoda soup banaya hai, ruk."
Hardik ran to the kitchen.
Now that Ishan noticed he was in an apartment. A decent one. He was surprised.

"Here!"
Hardik reappeared with a bowl of chicken soup.
"I got this recipe from a friend of mine." Hardik smiled.
"Th-thank you"
Ishan's hand shook, overwhelmed by this man who had kind of adopted him somehow, despite having just met him.

"Hey! Firse paglait baat kar di. Thank you nhi bolte! And I'm feeding you, I don't trust your hands with this special bowl!"
Hardik took a seat infront of Ishan and raised the spoon forward, towards Ishan's mouth.
Ishan blinked furiously and gulped back tears.
"Come on!"
Hardik smiled and Ishan started eating.

He didn't know what triggered him but Ishan burst in wails. Hardik was shocked for a moment before he immediately kept the bowl away and gathered Ishan in his arms.
"Bhaiyaaa"
Ishan wailed like a little child in his arms.
"What happened, chotu...? Don't worry, bhaiya's here"
He rubbed Ishan's back.

"He-He left me, bhaiya.. Just like a rag-rag doll.. He-He tossed me-me away just like that."
Ishan wailed.
"Who, chotu?"
Hardik asked calmly.
"Shub"
Ishan hiccuped.

~flashback ended~

This is how Ishan despite having lost the love of his life, gained two brothers, who took care of him and loved him, just like a real family, or maybe even more. Ishan was lucky to have found them, even if it was at the cost of a heartbreak.

Snapping out of the reverie that they were in, Ishan was the first one to look away from Shubman's eyes and he didn't look back at him again.
"Ish-"
Ishan turned away not sparing him another glance and looked towards Yash.
"Where are we supposed to be reporting?"
"Uhh-"

Yash looked between Ishan and Shubman, wanting to stay out of it but failing. Despite Shubman's pleading look towards Yash, Yash decided it was best to show his gratitude towards Ishan.
"Virat sir is the head of security. I'll show you to his office."
Saying that Yash led Ishan, Rohit and Hardik to the office leaving Shubman behind.

"You must be Ishan."
Virat said the minute they entered his office.
"Yes sir."
"Just call me bhaiya, it's fine and you guys can call me Virat."
He said gesturing towards Hardik and Rohit.

In a short period of time, Ishan had befriended both Yash and Virat. It had been a couple days since he had joined and he had managed to avoid Shubman.
"Ishan"
Ishan froze in his spot but before Shubman had a chance to say anything else, Rohit came and stood in front of Ishan, blocking Shubman's view of him.

"Do you need something sir?"
"I just wanted to speak to Ishan and you can just call me by my name, bhaiya."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir."
Saying that Rohit gave Shubman a smile, and they stared at each other for a while, before Shubman sighed, giving up and left. Rohit turned towards Ishan just in time to see him relax. The tension leaving Ishan's body along with Shubman.

"You okay?"
Ishan just nodded and Rohit sighed realizing this job was a bad idea. He should've stopped Ishan. Well it was too late now, but if anything else happened, Rohit would take Ishan and leave this place. Shubman didn't find Ishan alone even for a second after that. He was always accompanied by someone.
Shubman could feel the jealousy inside him, when he saw Ishan laughing with Yash.

Ishan acknowledging everyone except him, hurt Shubman deeply but he couldn't do anything about it. He was the one that had brought this upon them, he was the one that had pushed Ishan away and he deserved nothing less than this from Ishan, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Luck was on Shubman's side that day as when he was leaving to get home, he found Ishan sitting at his desk alone.

"Hi"
Ishan got startled and looked up at Shubman but instantly looked away as if he couldn't even tolerate looking at Shubman. Ishan didn't make eye contact with him either and just started packing his things.
"I just wanted to speak to you. Please hear me out?"
Ishan didn't reply and Shubman took that to his advantage and continued speaking realizing Ishan wasn't going to speak to him at all.

Which meant Ishan wouldn't ask Shubman to stop.
"I missed you. So much. I wanted to apolo-"
Shubman couldn't finish his sentence as his eyes fell on the bracelet on Ishan's wrist. He suddenly felt immense amount of guilt hitting him like a wave and knocking the air out of him.
"I- I- am-"
Shubman stuttered and struggled to breathe but Ishan still didn't look up at him.

Ishan had failed to realize Shubman's gaze on his bracelet since he had been trying to busy himself organizing his things.
Just then Hardik showed up.
"What are you doing!?"
Hardik yelled at Shubman pushing him away from the desk, stopping him from hovering over Ishan.
"I just wanted to speak to him-"
"Well, you should've thought of that five years ago. Let's go Ishan."

Saying that Hardik pulled Ishan up by his wrist and dragged him away. Shubman had failed to realize that his close proximity had suffocated Ishan, but Hardik had clearly noticed it.

________________________________________

I'm still happy about India's win against Pakistan hihi