"Do you want something? Water? Or anything to eat?" Mayank asked Ishan who just shook his head.

They were inside the airplane. Since morning Ishan has not spoken any word, just replying with either a nod or by shaking his head.

He didn't even ate anything. Mayank was worried, Ishan neither ate anything yesterday nor today.

Oh how badly Mayank wanted Ishan to open up to him. Atleast if Ishan will share about his feelings then Mayank would be able to understand what's bothering him and how he could make him feel better.

But it seemed like Ishan had built a wall around himself, shutting everyone out.

"Ishu it will take so much time to get home so should we play something? Ludo?"

Again Ishan just shook his head and glanced out of the window, the endless expanse of blue sky and fluffy clouds did nothing to calm his racing thoughts.

Ishan couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness, of abandonment. He was overwhelmed and didn't even knew what to think anymore.

[A/N - It took me 10 minutes to write these above two paras...I kept on deleting and re writing coz I was confused how to show Ishan's emotions...then after 10 minutes I was like fudge everything and moved on from this para]

How can his parents just abandon him like that?

Was he seriously a complete failure?

A disgrace?

Maybe his parents did right by disowning him. He is just a shameful topic for his family. He has let them down. He has let everyone down.

Ishan couldn't even recognize himself anymore.

He felt so lost and alone.

---

The past 5 hours felt like an eternity to Mayank.

How did he managed to even take Ishan  to his home? He doesn't even know that himself.

When he rang the doorbell, his father was way too fast to open the door.

"Look who came," His dad shouted inside while taking Ishan's suitcase from Mayank's hand.

"Aree aa gye tum log? Chlo haath muh dholo fatafat maine mutton biryani banayi hai. Ishu ki favorite hai naa," His mother chirped.
[You guys came? Go and get freshen up I made mutton biryani. It's Ishan's favorite ]

"What about my preference?" Mayank asked.

"Tu toh chup hi hoja. Dekh kya halat kardi mere Ishan ki. Apni tarah usse bhi kangdi bnakr le aaya, pakka usse kuch nii khilaya pilaya hoga." Mrs Sharma scoffed.

[Don't you dare speak. See what you did to our Ishan. You made him thin just like you. You didn't let him eat as well right.]

"Maa" Mayank whined.

"What maa? Go and get freshen up. I will serve you both dinner." She said patting Ishan's head.

"Fine fine, I don't even want to stay here." Mayank scowled taking Ishan's hand and leading him to his room.

Ishan stopped after a few steps and turned away from Mayank only to hug his mother.

She got a bit surprised but then hugged him back instantly.

"M-M-Maa" He choked out.

"Hann mera bacha bol kya hua?"
[Yeah, what happened my son?]

Ishan sniffled hugging her again. Mrs Sharma pulled him inside and made him sit on the couch. It was a bit difficult as Ishan was hugging her but she has done it numerous of times with Mayank so it was a daily thing for her.

"Let him be" Mr Sharma said putting his hand on Mayank's shoulder.

"But he is crying dad," Mayank replied.

"And that's okay. Didn't you told me yesterday how he was shutting you out, not sharing his feelings with you. Now he is, let him cry for a bit. He will feel fine." He said.

"He needs someone though,"

"He needs family right now, not a friend. He needs acceptance and you can't give him that. You will just go there, hug him and calm him down. Will you be able to stop the whirlwind of emotions he is having right now?"

"Can mom do that?"

"Ofcourse she can. She is your mother, she can do everything. Give them some alone time and see how your best friend would be his cheerful self in no time," His dad hummed taking him out of the living room.

"You talk like a philosopher sometimes,"

"Someone has to be smart in this household naa,"

"Oh now don't get too cocky," Mayank snorted taking Ishan's suitcase and putting it aside in his room.

---

Ishan was asleep with his head on Mrs Sharma's lap when his phone was charged.

They had put it on charging as it was switched off since yesterday.

The moment Mayank switched it on his phone bursted with tons of missed calls.

Many of them were done by Raj, Rohit bhaiya, Shubi and Hardik bhaiya.

Mayank thought of messaging Raj bhaiya about his well being as he must have known what happened to Ishan and would be worried for him.

He messaged him with his own phone.

Just then Ishan's phone buzzed again. Rohit bhaiya were calling him. He had already called Ishan 20 times. Does he also know what happened to him? Maybe Raj bhaiya must have informed them.

Mayank picked up the call.

"Oi tu pagal hai kya? Itne der se call laga rha hu main, meeting mein kyu nii aaya?" Rohit's voice boomed.

[Are you an idiot? I have been calling you since so long. Why did you not attended the meeting? ]

"Bhaiya, it's Mayank. Ishan is asleep right now,"

"Mayank? Is everything fine?"

"Yeah bhaiya, everything is fine now. Sorry Ishan was not in the condition to take the meeting."

"It's okay, I can understand. Did something happened? Why is he with you? I mean he was supposed to be in his home you know."

"Uhm bhaiya it would be good if Ishan will tell you guys about it by himself. I can't tell anything."

"Okay but can you tell him to call me whenever he wakes up?"

"Ofcourse bhaiya,"

"Also can you atleast tell me where are you guys?"

"In my home,"

"Punjab?"

"Yeah"

"Okay...so would you mind if I tell that to others? They are also quite worried for him."

"Sure bhaiya,"

"Shubman is also in punjab so he might come to meet Ishan."

"That's even more great, it would be better if Ishan would be around all of us."

"Shubman is kind of a dramatic ass. So i am warning beforehand. Also just tell Ishan to call me whenever he is feeling better."

"Yes bhaiya don't worry. Bye bye,"

"Bye,"

Mayank put Ishan's phone back before walking towards the living room.

"Stop admiring a sleeping man. It looks creepy," Mr Sharma snorted from behind.

"Urgh stop it dad,"

"What? You should be grateful it was me instead of your mother. She just went to kitchen only a few minutes ago. But boy if she was here and saw you like that she would be giving your wedding cards to the relatives already."

"Pfft seriously dad?"

"I am serious. Yesterday only she was watching your and Ishan's friendship videos and talking about how cute you both look together. And the heart eyes she always had for Ishan, she wouldn't mind making him her son in law,"

"What the fuck? Me and Ishu are just friends. And I don't even swing that way, I am straight."

"Teach the concept of platonic love to your mother, because since the past years whenever Ishan came to our house she has been blurring the lines of you and Ishan being friends."

"You are kidding right?"

"Last year when Ishan came she taught him the secret recipe of achar to Ishan which my mother aka her mother in law taught her. Also she now knows Ishan is gay so her hopes are sky rocketing."

"Oh boi"

"Yes boi. So time to maintain one arm distance with Ish kish?"

"You can't call him that. I gave him this nickname,"

"Ofcourse stop calling Ishan that. Our Mayank gave him that nickname especially," Her mother said coming to the living room.

"No no, it's a very common nickname. Call him whatever you want to dad,"

"Naa Mayank, you thought of that nickname especially for Ishan. This nickname is only your and Ishan thing," His dad snorted.

Mayank glared at him.

Oh god, his dad loved teasing the hell out of Mayank. It was always so much fun.

---

Giving early update coz sarcastic1212 ka hukoom hai

Isliye match ke complete hone se pehle hi update de rhi hun.

Let's hope India wins.

Starting to achi kari nii but ending mast thi. Sanju ne bhi century maar li.

And god did you all saw how Arshdeep (bowler) came and hit a six on his first ball. And then after him rinku also smashed a consecutive six and a four.

That was good. And target bhi theek thak diya hai.

Abhi jesi SA ki batting chal rhi hai...shyd hi hum jeete. But humne agr ek do aur wicket leli then toh hum pakka jeete hai.

So lets hope jeet jaaye. Rahul is a good captain man. He deserves to win this odi series.