Shubman was sitting in his living room, enjoying a day off from practice and watching a movie on TV. The doorbell rang, interrupting his quiet afternoon. He got up and opened the door to find Ishan standing there, looking distraught.

"Ab aaya mera yaad?" Shubman teased with a smile.

Ishan didn't respond; he simply walked inside and plopped down on the couch, looking dejected. Sara emerged from her room, her face reflecting her concern. "Ish, kya hua?"

Ishan shook his head. "Kuch nahin," he mumbled.

Shubman glanced between Sara and Ishan, sensing something was definitely wrong. "Ishan Kishan, something is wrong. Will you tell us or not?"

Without warning, Ishan looked at Shubman and suddenly hugged him tightly. Shubman, caught off guard, hesitated before hugging him back, still confused. Sara and Shubman exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what was happening.

Finally, Ishan managed to speak, his voice trembling. "M-Manya...s-she c-cheated o-on m-me."

Shubman pulled back slightly, his eyes wide with shock. "What?"

Ishan nodded, his eyes filling with tears. Shubman and Sara both looked at him with a mix of sympathy and disbelief, their hearts breaking for their friend.

Shubman tightened his grip around Ishan, trying to offer some comfort. "Ishan, I'm so sorry," he said softly.

Sara sat down beside Ishan, her expression full of concern. "Ish, we're here for you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Ishan took a deep breath, his voice shaky as he began to explain. "I found out this morning. She's been seeing someone else for a while now. I... I never suspected anything. I thought everything was fine."

Shubman and Sara exchanged another look, both trying to process the news. Shubman finally spoke, his voice firm but gentle. "Ishan, you don't deserve this. She didn't deserve you if she could do something like that."

Ishan wiped his eyes, trying to regain some composure. "I just don't understand. I thought she loved me. I loved her so much."

Sara placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes people do things that don't make sense. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. You're a great person, Ishan. Don't forget that."

Shubman nodded in agreement. "Sara's right. You'll get through this, and we'll be here every step of the way."

Ishan managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to me."

Shubman patted Ishan's back. "Come on, let's get you something to drink. Maybe some coffee or tea will help clear your head."

As Shubman headed to the kitchen, Sara stayed with Ishan, continuing to offer words of comfort. "You know, Ish, sometimes the best thing we can do is focus on ourselves and the people who truly care about us. You have so many people who love and support you."

Ishan nodded, taking a deep breath. "I know. I'm lucky to have friends like you."

Shubman returned with three mugs of steaming coffee, setting them on the table. "Here, this should help," he said, handing a mug to Ishan and another to Sara.

They all sat together, sipping their coffee in silence for a few moments, each lost in their thoughts. The weight of Ishan's revelation hung heavy in the air, but the warmth of their friendship provided a sense of solace.

After a while, Sara spoke up, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, remember that time we went to that terrible karaoke bar and you sang your heart out, Ish? You were the star of the night."

Ishan chuckled, a bit of his usual spark returning. "Yeah, I remember. You couldn't stop laughing at my dance moves."

Sara grinned. "Hey, those moves were legendary. You had the whole place cheering."

The three friends continued to share stories and laugh, gradually lifting Ishan's spirits. Despite the pain he was feeling, he knew he wasn't alone. With Shubman and Sara by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope that he would get through this difficult time.

Later in the evening, as things started to wind down, Sara's phone rang. She saw Aditi's name flashing on the screen and picked up. "Hey Adu!"

"Hi Sara, what's up?" Aditi's cheerful voice came through.

"Nothing yaar. Just studies," Sara replied.

Aditi teased, "How's Shubman?"

Sara smiled. "He's fine. But I am worried about Ishan."

Aditi's tone shifted to concern. "What happened to Ishan?"

Sara sighed. "His girlfriend cheated on him. He found out this morning."

Aditi was shocked. "He had a girlfriend and that girl cheated on him?"

"Yeah," Sara confirmed.

"How can any girl cheat on Ishan?" Aditi exclaimed. "He's such a great guy."

Sara nodded, even though Aditi couldn't see her. "I know, right? It's really messed up."

Aditi hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "You know I've had a crush on Ishan forever, and I've never even met him. I just can't believe this."

Sara's expression softened. "I know, Adu. It's tough. But we're here for him, and he's going to be okay."

Aditi's voice was filled with determination. "You tell him that if he ever wants to talk to someone new, I'm here."

Sara chuckled. "I'll let him know. Thanks, Adu."

As Sara hung up, she felt a little better knowing that so many people cared about Ishan. She returned to the living room, where Shubman and Ishan were still talking, and joined them, feeling grateful for the bond they all shared.

Shubman forced a plate of food into Ishan's hands, the aroma of freshly cooked curry and rice wafting through the room. "You need to eat something, Ish. Skipping meals won't help."

Ishan pushed the plate away, his expression stubborn. "I'm not hungry, Shubman. I can't eat right now."

Shubman's patience was wearing thin. "Ishan, you have to take care of yourself. Starving won't change anything about what happened."

Ishan's eyes flashed with frustration. "You don't get it, Shubman. I'm not in the mood to eat. Just leave me alone!"

Sara watched from the side, concern etched on her face. She knew how hard it was for Ishan, but she also knew Shubman was right.

Shubman took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I do get it, Ish. Trust me, I know how much this hurts. But punishing yourself like this isn't the answer."

Ishan stood up, his fists clenched. "You think eating a meal is going to make everything okay? It's not that simple!"

Shubman stood up too, meeting Ishan's gaze head-on. "I'm not saying it will fix everything, but it's a start. You need your strength, especially now."

The tension in the room was palpable. Sara stepped forward, trying to mediate. "Guys, let's just take a step back. Ishan, we're not asking you to forget what happened. We're just worried about you."

Ishan shook his head, his voice breaking. "I don't need this right now. I need to be alone."

Shubman's expression softened, but he didn't back down. "I'm not leaving you alone to wallow in this. We care about you, and we're not going to let you destroy yourself over someone who didn't value you."

Ishan's anger flared again. "You think I don't know that? I just need time, Shubman!"

Shubman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, fine. But at least promise me you'll eat something before you go to bed. Please."

Ishan looked away, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. I'll eat later. Just... not now."

Shubman nodded, stepping back to give him some space. "Alright. We're here for you, Ishan. Don't forget that."

Ishan nodded silently, the weight of his emotions still heavy on his shoulders. He walked towards the balcony, needing some air to clear his head.

Sara watched him go, then turned to Shubman. "You did the right thing, Shubman. He just needs time."

Shubman sighed again, his concern for his friend evident. "I know. I just hate seeing him like this."

Sara placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "He'll get through it. We'll make sure of that."

As the evening turned into night, the friends sat together, their bond stronger than ever. They knew the road ahead would be difficult for Ishan, but with their support, he wouldn't have to face it alone.

As the evening settled into a calm quiet, Shubman's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw Keart, calling. He stepped into the kitchen for some privacy and answered the call.

"Hi, Mumma," he greeted, trying to keep his tone light.

"Hi, baccha. How are you? You sound tired," Keart's voice was filled with concern.

Shubman sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's been a long day."

Keart immediately sensed something was off. "What's wrong, baccha? I can hear it in your voice. Is everything okay?"

Shubman hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell her everything. "Mumma, it's Ishan. He found out today that Manya, his girlfriend, cheated on him. He's devastated."

"Oh no," Keart gasped. "That's terrible. How is he holding up?"

"Not well," Shubman admitted. "He hasn't eaten anything, and he's been really upset. I tried to get him to eat, but he just got angry. He's hurting so much, Mumma."

Keart's voice softened with maternal wisdom. "Heartbreak is always hard, especially when you trust someone deeply. But Ishan is strong, and he has you and Sara to help him through this."

Shubman nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I know. I'm just worried about him. He's never been like this before."

"It's good that you're there for him," Keart said reassuringly. "Sometimes, just knowing that people care can make a big difference. Keep an eye on him, and make sure he knows he's not alone."

"I will, Mumma. Thanks," Shubman said, feeling a bit more at ease after talking to her.

"Take care of yourself too, beta," Keart added. "You need your strength to help him."

"I will, Mumma. I love you," Shubman said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"I love you too, Kaka. Give Ishan my love as well," Keart replied before they ended the call.

Shubman put his phone down and took a deep breath. He returned to the living room, where Sara was waiting.

"How's Auntie?" Sara asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.

"She's good. She sends her love and told me to keep an eye on Ishan," Shubman replied.

Sara nodded. "Your mom is amazing."

"She really is," Shubman agreed. "And she's right. We need to be there for Ishan, no matter what."

As the night continued, the three friends stayed close, the weight of Ishan's heartbreak slowly easing with the warmth of their support and care.