Out of all the thoughts Shubman had when he was stumbling down to reach the room, he never thought of this being a possibility.

Well to be fair nobody thought of this to be happening, except Shahneel.

Shubman didn't know what to do while watching the horrified scene in front of him, his Dad beating his mom.

He never in a million years would have imagined that his dad would actually slap his mother so hard like this. How could his Dad do this?

Shubman was feeling a surge of anger and fear wash over him as he stepped between them.

"Do you even know wha-" Mr Gill stopped seeing his son coming in between him and his wife.

He looked around in confusion seeing one of the staff [Kamlesh], Ishan, Shahneel and two other people [Mayank and his dad] standing at the door with eyes bulged out.

"What are you doing here?" Mr Gill asked looking back at his son.

"I should be the one asking this dad, what are you doing?" Shubman asked pulling his mother beside himself.

"It wasn't what it actually looks like son, we were just talking." Mr Gill said.

"Yeah your hand is surely talented enough to talk Dad," Shahneel scoffed.

"Neel," her mother muttered.

"What? Dad promised me that he has stopped being violent on you but that was all a lie. Wasn't it?" Shahneel looked at her father.

"Stopped? Dad used to beat mom before?" Shubman turned to look at Shahneel.

"I am so sorry Shubi, mumma made me promise I won't tell you anything. Dad also apologized to her and said he will never do it again. But I should have known that he must have lied," She mumbled.

"Please can both of you stop? We shouldn't be talking about all this here, ye hmare ghar ka mamla hai." Mrs Gill said looking at others.

[This is our family's private matter]

"Aur jo papa aapko sabke saamne maar rhe the uska kya? Tab vo ghar ka mamla nahi tha?" Shubman scowled.

[Then why were Dad hitting you in front of everyone? Wasn't it our family's private matter then?]

"Beta tumhare papa bas thoda gusse mein aagye the," Mrs Gill reasoned.

[Son your dad just got a bit angry, it's okay]

"So if tomorrow Shubman gets angry he can go and murder someone? What your husband did was domestic violence. It's an offense and can't be justified," Mr Sharma said as he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Whatever happened was consensual. Please mind your own business," Mr Gill retorted.

"Consensual? Dad do you even know the meaning of consent?" Shubman sneered.

"Don't talk with your father in this tone Shubman, he is your dad." Mrs Gill said.

"Trust me this is the sweetest I can get with him at this moment," Shubman spat.

"See Keart, how is he talking with his own father. I told you that Ishan is not a good influence for our son," Mr Gill accused.

"Dad don't you dare bring Ishan into this!" Shubman's voice boomed.

"Please stop everyone. Can we go to home? Let's sort out everything there. I don't want to create a scene in front of others," Mrs Gill pleaded.

Shubman bit his cheek while glaring at his father. Mr Gill just strolled out of the room like nothing happened.

Soon enough Mrs Gill, Shahneel and Shubman were walking out as well.

Ishan looked at Kamlesh before muttering a small thanks. Kamlesh hummed feeling a bit awkward. So he bid goodbyes going out as well.

"Oi where are you going without me?" He screamed seeing the junior pulling the car out of the parking.

"Nowhere, I was just getting the car on road. After that I was going to call you only sir," He hummed.

Kamlesh eyed him suspiciously.

"Come on it's not like I would have forgotten you in here," He shrugged.

"What if you did? How was I supposed to go home?"

"Sir you are an adult, I am sure you are capable of booking a cab for yourself."

"Look at you talking with your senior in this tone, If I ever talked like that with my senior I would have been fired right away." Kamlesh scoffed.

"But I know you will never fire me,"

"And what makes you think like that huh?"

"Because I am your favorite junior. I help you in everything and I am the most smartest one as well,"

"Pfft you and smart? You are the epitome of dumbness. And whenever you help me I end up cleaning out the mess you created,"

"Haw I am not like that,"

"You are, If I want I can ask the HR to fire you right away. They will also not question me because they know about your mischiefs," Kamlesh told as a matter of fact.

"Then why don't you just fire me if you all hate me so much?" His junior scoffed turning on the ignition of car as Kamlesh settled himself on the passenger seat.

"Well because we don't hate you and no matter how much I want to deny you are everyone's favorite,"

"Wait so people don't secretly hate me?"

"Why would we hate you?"

"I don't know, I just have this thought that everyone secretly hates me and just want me gone but are bearing my annoying ass and are waiting for me to leave."

"Woah mate who hurt you?"

"Nobody, it's just my mind overthinking every small thing."

"Uff, don't worry babygorilla everyone love you too much to want you gone,"

"Ugh please not the baby gorilla. That was a dare and it's not even in my bio anymore,"

"Lmao who puts 'Call me babygorilla and I am yours' as their bio even as a dare?" Kamlesh cackled remembering his previous bio.

"Urgh can't you just forget about that?"

"Never,"

---

"Ishan you will get cold at this point," Mayank whispered.

It had been almost an hour since Shubman and his family went inside their home.

Ishan and Mayank also reached there shortly after. Ishan didn't wanted to disturb the family but he wanted to be there for Shubman as well.

So that's why they were standing a few steps away from Shubman's house.

He know the conversation is going to be long and difficult as Shubman always used to believe his family is a supportive and loving unit. Ishan also used to think the same.

That's why Ishan wanted to be the one for Shubman.

"I think they slept after talking things out?" Mayank said.

"Shubman would have messaged me if it had ended well. I am sure they are stil-" Ishan stopped mid way hearing commotion from Shubman's house.

The door of Shubman's house opened as Shubman, Shahneel and Mrs Gill came out. Mr Gill stood at the door sneering something at Shubman whose face was stoic and wasn't giving away any expression as he dragged Mrs Gill with him. Shahneel was following both of them while her face was simply void.

"Why should we ma? Are you seriously still defending him after all the things he said to you? He is still not understanding his mistake. Look how he said we can come back home when we are done with our tantrums." Shahneel spat.

"But we can go tomorrow. Where will we go at this time?"

"Anywhere but not here. I am telling you Maa, we will not go back untill he apologizes." Shubman said. His voice boomed in the area.

Ishan looked at them walking on the opposite side.

"Shubi," Ishan screamed and everyone turned back to look at him.

"Ishan? What are you doing here? And at this time?" Shubman asked when Mayank and Ishan came towards them.

"I wanted to make sure you are okay," Ishan muttered taking a look at the disheveled state of Shubman.

Shubman hiccuped before pulling Ishan into a tight hug.

Mrs Gill averted her gaze and looked at Shahneel who smiled softly at her brother.

"Uhm don't mind me asking but where are you guys going at this time?" Mayank asked.

"We were going to a hotel or something.Didn't felt like spending the night with an arrogant asshole," Shahneel scoffed.

"Neel language," Mrs Gill slapped her shoulder.

"Saara gyan hume hi deti ho kabhi papa ko bhi ese daant dete toh aapki esi bezzati krne ki himmat nahi karte vo," Shubman said pulling away from Ishan but his hand still laying on his waist.

[Always teaching us about the manners. If you have ever talked back with dad then he would have also learnt to respect you.]

"Shubi it's okay, your mother also would have her reasons for not speaking up for herself. We should be helping her at this moment instead of scolding like this," Ishan said taking Shubman's hand in his own.

"Thank you beta," Mrs Gill said looking at Ishan with twinkling eyes.

"Okay I think I should book a hotel for us if we don't want to camp the whole night here. Ishu you also should go back with Mayank, I will come to meet you tomorrow?" Shubman said caressing his hand with his thumb.

"You don't have to, you guys can come with us to my home." Mayank said.

"Yeah that would be great," Ishan hummed.

"No Mayank it's okay. You don't have to trouble yourself because of us." Shubman said.

"Yeah thank you for the offer beta but we can manage it well," Mrs Gill hummed.

"I am not doing a formality and Shubman aren't you my friend? My home would be a better spot than any hotel and you know spending the night with Ishan would actually help you,"

"May—"

"Aree come come, let's get in the car. Dad must be waiting for us. He would love it if I will bring you guys as well, pleaseee," Mayank said and Shubman sighed agreeing to him.

Ishan grinned before pecking Shubman's cheek.

Shahneel cleared her throat at that.

"Oh yeah I am so sorry," Ishan quickly pulled away from Shubman.

"No no it's okay. You guys can continue. It might take me a while to understand the dynamics of you both being homophobic but I will try," Mrs Gill smiled.

"Huh?" They all looked at Mrs Gill in confusion.

"Maa it's not homophobic it's homosexual," Shahneel chuckled.

"Neel, don't talk like that so openly." Her mother grunted.

"Nii nii mumma not that sexual wala sexual. Sexual as in, sometimes it's written sex in the place of gender you know?"

"Wait so their gender is not male anymore?"

"Pfft," Mayank snorted.

"Aunty you are so cute. It's okay we will make you understand everything. I am just glad you accepted us," Ishan said.

"I did not accepted you guys yet. I cannot just accept this thing overnight. I need my time to wrap it all up, so just know I don't hate you." She said.

"Atleast you are not opposing us and have taken your first step already so it's okay Aunty," Ishan smiled.

"We should take our first step toward the car as well if we don't want to camp in here?" Mayank urged.

"Yeah it's gettimg chilly as well so let's go?" Shahneel hummed and they all walked towards Mayank's car.

Shubman pulled Ishan back for a second and gave a quick peck to him before joining them in the car as well.

"I will continue it when we will reach back," Ishan winked sitting on the passenger seat beside Mayank.

Shubman also smirked while sitting at the back with his family. He can't wait to have Ishan alone to him.

---

A/N - My exams finished so guess who are going to get continous updates again