Ishan sat in the car, his fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel.Aditi's sudden interest in Shubman was annoying, and he couldn't pinpoint why. Was it jealousy? But for whom? Aditi, his fiancée, or Shubman, the young captain who was always in his thoughts? Ishan didn't know, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.

The locket, the one that had inadvertently brought Shubman into his mind, suddenly felt like an anchor.
Now, Ishan found himself wanting to be around Shubman more, to understand him, to feel that connection.

The next morning, Ishan was at the GT camp gym. He spotted Shubman lifting weights in the corner, his muscles rippling with each controlled movement. Ishan couldn't help but watch, his eyes tracing the lines of Shubman's body, admiring his strength and grace.

Shubman glanced up, catching Ishan's gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Ishan felt a jolt of electricity pass between them. He quickly looked away, focusing on his own workout, but the tension lingered.

Shubman's heart raced every time he caught Ishan looking at him. He tried to remind himself that this wasn't his Ishan, that Ishan was straight and engaged, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the magnetic pull between them.

"Morning, Shubman," Ishan said, trying to keep his tone casual as he approached the bench press.

"Morning, Shubman," Ishan said, trying to keep his tone casual as he approached the bench press.

"Morning, Ishan," Shubman replied, his voice steady but his eyes wary.

Ishan lay down on the bench and started his set, feeling Shubman's eyes on him. Each lift seemed heavier under the weight of that gaze, the air between them thick with unspoken words.

"Need a spotter?" Shubman offered, moving closer.

"Sure," Ishan said, trying to keep his voice steady. As Shubman stood over him, Ishan could feel the heat radiating from his body, the proximity sending his pulse racing.

As Ishan lifted the barbell, Shubman's hands hovered just above, ready to assist. Their fingers brushed briefly, and Ishan's breath hitched. He forced himself to focus on the weights, but his mind kept drifting back to the feeling of Shubman's skin against his.

Shubman watched Ishan's muscles flex and strain, the sheen of sweat on his skin making every movement mesmerizing. He felt a pang of longing, a desire he knew he had to keep hidden. This wasn't his Ishan; he was just their franchise owner, and very much straight. But every glance, every touch seemed to say otherwise, and it was driving him insane.

When the set was over, Ishan sat up, panting slightly. "Thanks," he said, his voice rough.

"No problem," Shubman replied, stepping back. He looked away quickly, his expression unreadable, and Ishan couldn't shake the feeling that Shubman was avoiding something.

Ishan couldn't deny the growing attraction he felt. He watched the way Shubman's muscles moved, the way his breath quickened with each exertion. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, something that made Ishan's heart beat faster.

Shubman caught Ishan staring again and felt his resolve weakening. He had to remind himself of the boundaries, the reasons why this could never work. But every time Ishan looked at him with those intense eyes, every time their bodies brushed in passing, it felt like those boundaries were crumbling.

Ishan and Aditi had a lunch invitation with all the players and management team.Aditi reached in the hotel at lunch time.

The team gathered for lunch. Ishan deliberately chose a seat near Shubman, wanting to be close but not sure why. The tension between them was palpable, and Ishan found his thoughts drifting as he watched Shubman eat.

Shubman's movements were graceful, almost mesmerizing. Ishan's eyes traced the curve of his jaw, the way his lips parted as he took a bite. He imagined what it would be like to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin, and he quickly shook the thought away, embarrassed by his own intensity.

Shubman felt Ishan's eyes on him and fought to keep his composure. Every time Ishan looked at him, it felt like he was being stripped bare, his every emotion laid out for Ishan to see. He tried to focus on his food, on anything other than the way Ishan's gaze made his skin tingle.

"Everything okay, Ishan?" Aditi asked from across the table, her voice snapping him back to reality.

"Yeah, just thinking about something business related," Ishan lied, forcing a smile.

Shubman glanced up, his eyes meeting Ishan's briefly before he looked away, his expression tense. Ishan could feel the heat between them, the unspoken attraction that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

The lunch progressed smoothly, with everyone enjoying the meal and the casual conversations. Ishan and Shubman, however, remained at the table even after most had finished eating.

Shubman toyed with his fork, stealing glances at Ishan, who was lost in thought. Finally, unable to take it any longer, Shubman broke the silence.

"Don't do this," Shubman said softly, his voice barely audible over the chatter of the room.

Ishan looked up, startled. "What?"

"This," Shubman said, his eyes locking onto Ishan's. "This stare. I feel naked under it."

Ishan's heart skipped a beat, his cheeks flushing. He hadn't realized how intense his gaze had been. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

Shubman blushed too, the color rising to his cheeks. He looked away quickly, trying to compose himself. "It's just... it's hard enough as it is."

Ishan felt a rush of emotions he couldn't quite name. The vulnerability in Shubman's voice, the raw honesty of his words, made his heart ache. He wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap between them, but he didn't know how.

Before anything more could be said, Aditi's voice broke the spell. "Ishan," she said, returning from washing her hands and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Let's go. We have to receive your grandfather and uncle."

Shubman snapped back to reality, the intimacy of the moment shattered. He stood up abruptly, nearly knocking his chair over. "Excuse me, I need to wash my hands," he mumbled, almost running towards the restroom.

Ishan couldn't shake the image of Shubman's eyes, the way they had looked at him with such intensity, such need. He knew things couldn't go on like this, but he also knew he couldn't ignore the feelings that were slowly unraveling inside him.

In the restroom, Shubman leaned against the sink, gripping the edges tightly. His heart was pounding, his mind racing. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to calm down. This wasn't his Ishan, he reminded himself, but the boundaries were blurring, and it was becoming harder to keep his emotions in check.

He looked at himself in the mirror, seeing the turmoil in his own eyes. "Shit," he whispered to himself. "What am I doing with Ishan? I'm being the other one in their relationship."

Ishan and Aditi left the hotel and drove to the airport to pick up Ishan's grandfather and uncle. The car ride was filled with the usual conversation about family and wedding plans, but Ishan's mind kept drifting back to the moment with Shubman.

As they arrived at the airport, Ishan spotted his grandfather and uncle waiting at the arrivals area. His grandfather, a distinguished elderly man with a kind smile, waved enthusiastically. His uncle, a jovial man with a hearty laugh, was chatting animatedly with a fellow traveler.

"Grandpa! Uncle!" Ishan called out, waving as he and Aditi approached.

"My boy!" his grandfather exclaimed, pulling Ishan into a warm embrace. "It's so good to see you!"

"Look at you, Ishan!Handling a franchise and soon to be a married man," his uncle teased, clapping him on the back.

Aditi greeted them both with a smile, and after exchanging pleasantries, they all made their way to the car. The drive back was filled with stories and laughter, and for a while, Ishan managed to push his troubling thoughts to the back of his mind.

Once they reached the house, they settled into the living room, catching up on the latest family news. Ishan's grandfather sipped his tea thoughtfully before turning to Ishan with a curious look.

"Ishan, why are you staying at the GT team hotel?" his grandfather asked. "We have plenty of room here. It would be nice to have you at home."

Ishan felt a pang of guilt and a flicker of panic. He hadn't expected this question, and he struggled to find a reasonable answer. "Uh, well, Grandpa, you see, it's just... it's easier for me to manage things with the team if I'm closer," he stuttered, trying to sound convincing.

His grandfather raised an eyebrow. "Manage things? From a hotel? That doesn't make much sense, my boy.We are the owner,we order things,manage things according to us!"

Ishan glanced at Aditi, who looked at him pointedly but didn't say anything. He could feel the weight of his grandfather's gaze, and he knew he needed to come up with a better explanation.

"It's... it's not just about the team," Ishan said finally, taking a deep breath. "There are some logistics and meetings that are easier to handle from the hotel. Plus, with the wedding coming up, I figured it would be better to stay organized and not have to travel back and forth too much."

His grandfather nodded slowly, but Ishan could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. "Well, just remember, Aditi comes first.Give her proper timeher

Ishan nodded, feeling the pressure of his grandfather's expectations. "Of course, Grandpa. I'll make sure to spend more time her."

When Ishan's grandfather and uncle went to take a nap, Aditi pulled Ishan into a vacant room and locked the door.

"Why are you so adamant about staying at the hotel?They might suspect! And don't give me the management bullshit," she demanded, her voice sharp.

"It's not your matter to worry about," Ishan replied, his tone defensive.

"It is very much my matter because I am your fucking fiancée! Don't forget that," she shot back, her eyes blazing with anger.

"I remember it very clearly," Ishan said, his jaw clenched.

"Then act like it!" Aditi yelled, her frustration boiling over.

"You want to act like a fiancée? Fine. Let's act like one. Come on, strip your clothes for me!" Ishan's voice was harsh, the words spilling out before he could stop them.

"Ishan, behave!" Aditi's face reddened with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"You and I both know why we are getting married," Ishan said, his voice lowering to a dangerous calm. "You know you're into girls and marrying me just to escape your father's scrutiny. And you know that I'm into boys. I'm marrying you because Grandpa said if I don't get married by this year, he won't give me my share of the property. So we both made a deal and agreed to it. So stop acting like you care!"

Just then, Ishan's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, seeing it was his friend from abroad. He answered quickly, trying to shake off the tension from his conversation with Aditi.

"Hello, Ishan. I charged the island tour guide. He remembers, Shubman was there during the love occasion. You doubted right!" his friend said, his voice filled with urgency.

Ishan's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. "Are you sure?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Absolutely. He described Shubman perfectly."

"Thanks for letting me know," Ishan said, ending the call. He turned to Aditi, who was watching him with a puzzled expression.

"What was that about?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Nothing important," Ishan lied, trying to mask the turmoil brewing inside him.