"It looks like a hickey"

"No it looks like a bruise"

"A bruise on a neck is either an insect bite or a hickey"

"No it's not the case always"

"Yes it is Mr mosquito"

"Ishu don't call me a mosquito"

"That's what you are now for a few days. Obviously when someone will ask me what happened on my neck I will not go and say 'Oh shubman just gave me a friendly hickey while fighting with me'. It is going to be a mosquito bite" Ishan glared at him.

"Everyone will know instantly that it's not a mosquito bite. " Shubman shrugged.

"Ugh you are a monster. I did not bit your arm that hard even" Ishan huffed. Shubman chuckled and looked at the mark on his neck.

It was not much visible when he bit his  neck but after a few hours it formed a deep purple shade on his neck.

"Sorry man, but you look like a clown now with your bruise on neck and eye" Shubman snorted. Ishan threw a pillow at his face.

"It hurts bish" Shubman huffed rubbing his nose.

"Good, that was the purpose only" Ishan looked at him for a second and showed his tongue to Shubman.

"What are you even doing there? Come back to the bed." Shubman asked.

"I have to hide this because of you otherwise if media got to see this tomorrow at match there will be so many rumors" Ishan huffed.

"Well a good news for you then my little  dynamite" Shubman chuckled and Ishan turned around from the dressing table to look at him.

"What?" Ishan raised his eyebrows.

"First come here" Shubman said patting the cushion beside him.

"Tomorrow we might not be playing finals against csk because there are chances of rain" Shubman replied when Ishan waddled towards the space beside him on bed.

"Congo you got more time to prepare against Dhoni sir" Ishan grinned.

Oh yeah Dhoni sir. His idol.

"Bro promise me you will cheer for me and not for Dhoni sir" Shubman said knowing very well how much Ishan adore his idol.

"When it will be your time to bat I will cheer for you" Ishan shrugged.

"Who will you cheer for Ishu? Gujarat Titans or Chennai Super king?" Shubman stared at him intensly. 

"Dhoni sir is my idol, you can't do this to me Shubi" Ishan whined.

"I am your best friend, your closest friend since under 19! You can't do this to me either" Shubman replied.

"Fine" Ishan grumbled and pulled the sheets on top of his head.

"Hey don't be angry on me now Ishu" Shubman said getting under the sheets as well to be face to face with him.

"I am not angry on you" Ishan retorted.

"Yes you are definitely not sulking right now" Shubman snickered.

"I just want to cheer for both the teams" Ishan pouted.

"Fine be the ultimate neutral supporter" Shubman replied. 

"Look who is sulking now" Ishan chuckled.

"I am not"

"Fine fine" Ishan laughed pulling the sheets off them. He climbed on top of Shubman, settling his thigh beside his hip.

"Get away you are heavy" Shubman retorted. 

"Oh sorry" Ishan said suddenly his mood being a little hesitant. He got off from him.

"Hey I was kidding" Shubman said sitting upright quickly.

"I know hahaha"

"That laughed seemed pretty gloomy" Shubman said now pulling Ishan back onto his lap. Ishan pulled away.

"Maybe my voice cracked, I am not feeling really well lets just sleep" Ishan said and gave a very fake yawn.

Shubman tackled him and firmly pulled him onto his lap.

"What's the matter Ishu?" He asked staring at him.

"Nothing, what do you mean?" Ishan shrugged.

"First you were crying in the morning in the lobby and now also. There is something going on in your mind Ishu, please tell me what is it." Shubman said holding him tightly because Ishan was very discreetly trying to wiggle out of his embrace.

"I told you that was because I couldn't perform really well on yesterday's match." Ishan hummed. 

"Bullshit"

"Language man"

"You think I will focus on my language when my bestfriend is out here keeping secrets from me? You said it was just because of a match then why is it looking like you will break down any moment?"

"I-I am not going to cry. It's seriously nothing."

"You stuttered. Whom are you trying to lie even? Me or to yourself?" Shubman scoffed at the end.

"I am not lying"

"Then why are you biting your lower lip? You do know that I know every single habit of yours Ishan Kishan?" Shubman raised his eyebrows. 

"Please not now Shubi, let's just sleep you have to prepare for your match also" Ishan said again trying to get off from his lap but Shubman just pulled him closer, their stomach were touching now and their nose was also bumping together.

"Wasn't I heavy?" Ishan retorted.

"You know damn well it was a joke" Shubman replied.

"Yeah I know, now let me get off"

"No"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to"

"But I want to"

"I also want to know what is wrong Ishu but you are not telling me then why should I?" Shubman retorted.

"Shubman let's just sleep please"

" No Ishan there is something clearly bothering you and I can't sleep without knowing what is it. I want to know how can I help you with it"

"You can't Shubi, no one can hel-lp me" Ishan stuttered and then finally he couldn't hold it any longer, the dam within him broke and tears began to trickle down his cheeks.

Shubman's heart sank as he watched the tears fall from Ishan's eyes. He tightened his embrace, pulling Ishan closer and gently brushing his fingers through his hair.

"Ishu,you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, always." he whispered softly.

"I don't know how to explain it. It's just overwhelming the pressure and everything" Ishan's voice trembled as he tried to speak through his tears.

Ishan's sobs became uncontrollable, his body shaking with the weight of his emotions. Shubman held him even closer, providing the warmth and comfort he needed.

"I'm scared, Shubi," Ishan finally whispered. "Scared of letting everyone down, scared of not living up to the expectations, scared that I won't be able to handle it. I am scared this thing will ruin my whole life." By the end of his sentence Ishan was choking his own tears.

Shubman wanted to ask him, but how can he ask Ishan anything in this condition? So he just waited for him to calm down.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the tears began to slowly subside.

Shubman looked at the face burried into his neck. Ishan's eyes were closed and he was snoring softly.

Atleast he was not lying about one thing, of being tired because he was, not physically though.

He was drained out, emotionally drained out.

---

Ishan giving water to Shubman and after that Shubman went to eat food as well ( seems like Shubman did his karwachauth ka vrat lmao)

Man Siraj always plays well against Sri Lanka —