Happy Durga Ashtami to all my dearest readers. Hope your lives get filled with lots of happiness. Jai Mata Di 🙏🏻 ❤️

Let's begin 👇👇👇

“Chl naa Shubi, kitna padega?” Abhishek huffed, walking towards Shubman's chair and shaking him.

[Leave Shubi. How much more are you gonna study?]

“Acha acha thik hai, last question kar raha hu bas complete hone de phir uth raha hu.” Shubman sighed quickly, solving the equation. When he was done, both the boys immediately walked out of the room.

[Okk okk just lemme complete this last question. Then I will get up.]

“Kitna zyada time lagata hai tu yarr. Teri wajah se bhookh se mara jaa raha tha main,” Abhishek huffed a bit as they both locked their room while walking towards the mess to have dinner.

[How much time do you take? I am dying with hunger because of you.]

“Itni hi bhookh thi toh chala jaata, main aa jata khud baad mein.” Shubman murmured, shaking his head when he saw the pout on Abhishek's face.

[If you were so hungry, you could have gone. I would have eaten later.]

“Main tujhe akele nahi chodne wala after what happened today okay.” Abhishek muttered, puffing his face. Shubman chuckled, holding his arm as they both walked inside the mess.

[I am not leaving you alone especially after whatever happened today.]

“You are so cute Abhi, such a great friend of mine. I don't know what I have done to get a friend like you,” Shubman said, petting his hair.

“Ab kismat toh teri sachi mein achi hai jo hero jesa dost mila hai tujhe.” Abhishek wiggled his eyebrows making Shubman laugh.

[You are really lucky that you have got hero like friend.]

“Ohoo aaj toh dinner mein sponge rasgulla bhi hai.” Abhishek squealed as they both grabbed the plates and looked at the food.

[Wow we have spongee rasgulla today for dinner.]

“Tujhe meetha pasand hai kya?” Shubman furrowed his eyebrows looking at the chashni dripping around the counter where rasgulla was set.

[You like sweets?]

“Ofcourse, I love sweets so much. Don't you love it?” Abhishek  grinned as they were stuffing food into their plates.

“Naah, I don't like it much. Here have my rasgulla too if you love it so much,” Shubman  grinned as they were walking around to find a seat in the cafeteria.

“Thank you so much Shubi! You just made my night. Two rasgullas yum,” Abhishek squealed latching onto Shubman who snorted at his behavior.

“There isn't any seat vacant yarr,” Shubman sighed as they both walked around trying to find at least one vacant table. But there was none.

“That's why I told you to be fast, see now there ain't any seat left. Let's just go back to our room and eat it there,” Abhishek said and Shubman nodded his head.

“Where are you guys going? Come join us,” A voice jolted both of them. They turned around to see a table of 6 occupied by Tilak, Mayank and Swami. Nobody else was sitting with them. Of course who will dare to sit with them.

“Didn't you hear what Mayank said? Sit,” Tilak snapped and Shubman nodded his head, biting his lip in fear. He didn't like any of them. They all were nothing but bullies.

A few murmurs broke around them as Abhishek and Shubman sat on their table.

“Why are you staring at us? Just be grateful we gave a seat to your stinky ass.” Swami snorted and Shubman looked down on his plate.

With an uneasy glance they both started eating their food. Oddly enough they also continued to just eat their food.

When a junior boy was walking, Swami stopped.

“Oii Yash, after your dinner go to Ishan's room and give him dinner.” Swami said to the lad who nodded his head and then quickly scurried towards the mess with his friends before Swami

Shubman looked at Abhishek who was sitting stiffly because of Mayank's hand on his thigh.

Abhishek just gave a small nod to Shubman trying to tell everything was okay. Shubman hummed and continued with his dinner.

Swami and Mayank were also busy talking about something with Tilak.

“It was so tasty,” Abhishek grinned when he finished both of the rasgulla and Shubman chuckled, petting his shoulder.

They both were getting up taking their empty plates but stopped when Mayank called Abhishek.

“Yuck man, this rasgulla looks so bad. Abhishek come here,” He said and Abhishek stood beside him.

“Yeah?” Abhishek looked at him with uneasy eyes.

“Eat it,” Mayank pushed his plate towards Abhishek.

“Sorry sir but I am full,” Abhishek replied.

“Did I asked you? I told you to eat it,”

“B-but I am full. I am sorry I really can't,”

Mayank glared at him before tugging at his wrist harshly. Abhishek winced, toppling forward towards Mayank who stuffed the sponge rasgulla in his mouth.

Abhishek choked, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to swallow it.

“What the fuck are you crying at? You should be happy that Mayank let you eat from his plate.” Tilak snorted.

Shubman clenched his jaw ready to say something but Abhishek just held his hand and stared at Shubman. Shubman sighed knowing why Abhishek didn't want them to fight.

“At least thank me Abhi,” Mayank snorted. Abhishek sobbed choking onto the rasgulla in his mouth. He started coughing hardly immediately running towards a dustbin near them and threw the rasgulla from his mouth.

Shubman ran behind him patting his back. Abhishek got up looking at people around them snickering at him.

“I am sorry, I should have said something to them like how you always do for me.” Shubman murmured.

“It's okay, I am okay. I will just go back to our room.”

“Yeah let's go,”

“Shub…umm…I am sorry to ask you this at this time but can you please let me be alone for a while. Please just for 5-10 minutes, then you can come back to the room. I am really sorry I just want to be alone for a while.”

“But abhi, I don't want to leave you alone after what Mayank did.”

“It's okay Shubi, I just need some time to clear my head. I promise I'll be fine. Please understand,” Abhishek pleaded, giving Shubman a weak smile.

“Okay, I'll give you some space. But please don't take too long, I'll be back soon to check on you.”

“Thank you so much bhai,” Abhishek muttered while walking out but not before giving his best friend a hug who immediately responded back.

Shubman sighed while he looked around. He didn't know where else to go, and also he had to check on Abhishek after a few minutes. He will not let him stay cooped up in the room for long though. Abhishek might act tough in front of Shubman but Shubman also knows how much this bullying affect them.

What do they even get by doing all this?

“I am sorry,” A boy muttered when he accidentally hit Shubman's back.

Shubman averted his attention at him just nodding his head.

‘Wasn't he Yash? Isn't he supposed to take food to Ishan's room?’ Shubman thought as he saw Yash going out.

Shubman looked at his back as Yash moved out of the mess with his friends while chit chatting.

Did he forget to give Ishan his food? Ishan was injured, he can't even come by himself.

“Kese dost hai, khud hi nahi padi inhe apne dost ki. Mujhe kya,” Shubman shrugged as he looked back at Mayank's table. Mayank was furious for some reason. Shubman ignored them. They all are bullies. Shubman doesn't even care for them.

[What kind of friends are they? Not even concerned about him. Well not my buisness.]

Ishan can starve himself  the whole night for all he cared. He probably deserved it.

—

Within five minutes Shubman was knocking on Ishan's door with a plate in his hand.

He could hear Ishan's steps as he waited at his door.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ishan growled when he saw Shubman.

“I knew you don't deserve any kind of kindness,” Shubman scoffed under his breathe.

“What did you say?”

“N-nothing,” Shubman squeaked watching Ishan folding his arms at his chest.

“Tell me why are you here Gill?”

“I just brought you dinner,” Shubman muttered showing the plate in his hand.

“Did I asked you to do anything for me huh? Do you think just because you helped me today so you are now my friend? Zyada chep hone ki koshish mat kar,”

[You don't need to get so clingly.]

“I wasn't trying to get close to you. It's just you are already injured so you need proper rest and food so I thought to bring it for you,”

“Aur tu hota kon hai mere liye ye sab sochne wala? Meri maa?”

[And who are you to think about me? My mother?]

“Listen I was just trying to–”

“No listen here you piece of crap. If you think ye sab karke tu mere close hojayega aur main tujhe ese jaane dunga toh tu galat soch raha hai.”

[If you think that by doing all this you willget close to me and I will allow it then uou are wrong.]

“I don't need you to be my friend either. I just thought of doing something without having any kind of expectations in return okay? Khana table par rakh raha hu khaana hai toh khao nahi toh mat khao.” Shubman scowled stomping inside Ishan's room putting the food on the table.

[Food is on the table. Eat or not your wish.]

“Oh hello, I didn't allowed you to get insi—” Ishan gasped as he accidentally strained his leg and toppled on the floor.

Shubman snorted looking at Ishan who winced at the sudden pain. He immediately pursed his lips when he saw Ishan scowling at him.

“Zyada hass raha hai ruk tu saale,” Ishan glared at him immediately getting up and pushing Shubman against the wall.

[You are laughing too much. Stop you jerk.]

Shubman shuddered at the sudden contact of his back against the wall.

“I don't need any of your sympathy. I know very well what kind of guy you are. Ye seedhi saadhi shakal dikha kar khud ko innocent dikhane ka dhong kisi aur ke saamne kariyo. Tere jese bohot jeso ko seedha kar rakha hai maine.” Ishan spat.

[Stop playing innocent with this face. I have brought many like you on line.]

“I-I  swear I am really not trying anything. I just wanted to bring you food.” Shubman murmured and Ishan stared at him by holding his collar.

He continued to stare at Shubman before pushing him out of the room suddenly. Shubman winced at the sudden push and flinched when the door was shut at his face.

“Apne aap ko samajhta kya hai. Do baar mere muh par darwaza band kargya. Ek toh help karne ki haalat jo maa ne lagayi hai. Sab issi ki wajah se apni self respect kho deta hu.” Shubman pouted staring at the closed door before walking back to his room.

[What he thinks of himself? Twice he shut the door on my face. My mother has made my habit to help others. I just end up losing self respect because of that.]

He will just go to Abhi and tell him how big of douchebags they all are. Oh wait. Abhi. He must be feeling really sad.

Shubman ran as he realised how bad Abhishek must be feeling. He had also experienced the same feeling of humiliation so he knows how much sad Abhishek would be. And Shubman let him alone. Ugh what a bad friend he was.

—

“Ye Gill apne aap ko samajhta kya hai. Ese khaana laakr samjhega ki main usse ese hi jaane dunga. Ruk bete. Tujhe toh kal samjhaunga ache se.” Ishan muttered glaring at the plate of food in front of him.

[What does Gill thinks of himself? He thinks I will let him go if he brings food for me. I will see you tomorrow.]

“Par yaar bhukh toh bohot lag rahi hai. And ese food ko waste thodi karte hai,” Ishan thought.

[But I am hungry and it ain't good to waste food.]

“Ab chahe khana koi bhi laaye. Food is food. Food ko waste thodi karte hai. And it doesn't even mean anything. Kal dekh hi lunga usse main. Ye khaana khaa hi leta hu,” Ishan bit his lip looking at the food.

[Now whoever brings it, it remains food only and it ain't good to waste. I will see him tomorrow will eat it for now.]

He was already hungry and to take the painkiller which Swami brought him he had to eat something before taking them.

Ugh, why I am thinking about it so much? It's just food. Ishan snapped before finally taking the plate in his lap. He didn't care who brought it. It was food. It had nothing to do with Shubman.

—

Ishan groaned when someone just barged inside his room. Only one person could just barge like this. Mayank, as only him had the keys to Ishan's room.

“What happened bro? Why are you looking like you want to kill someone?” Ishan snorted looking at him.

“Kutte aaj tu college kyu nahi aaya tha,” Mayank snapped walking towards the bed and snuggled beside Ishan.

[Why didn't you come to college today?]

“Tu pagal hai kya? Mera dard nahi gaya tha toh ek din chutti karli. Ek din chutti karne se konsa koi pahad tut gaya.” Ishan furrowed his eyebrows looking at Mayank who groaned in frustration as he laid his head on Ishan's lap.

[Are you mad? I am still in pain. What difference does it make if I take leave for one day?]

“Han tut gaya pahad and sab teri galti hai. Naa tu chutti karta na tere notes ke liye hume uss Gill ko tang karke usse likhwana padta and naa hi…”

[Yes it did make a difference and you are responsible. If you didn't have taken leave we wouldn't be required to take notes for you from Gill and not even...]

“Naa hi?”

[Not even what...?]

“Kuch nahi chodd, ye pakad apne aaj ke notes topper.” Mayank scoffed, tossing the register on the bed.

[Leave it. Here take these notes.]

“Are bata na kuch hua kya? Kiski shamat aayi hai? Ab toh main better bhi feel kar raha hu, ache se dekh lunga usko,” Ishan said sitting up straight and Mayank sighed looking at Ishan while still keeping his head on his lap.

[Tell me what's wrong? Who has called for this devil? Now I am even feeling better, I will save him.]

“Yarr, kya batau tujhe ab main,”

[Bro what do I even tell you?]

“Sab bta Mayu, abhi chalkar hajamat banata hu kisne tujhe ese tang kara.” He said caressing his hair while looking down at him.

[Tell me everything Mayu. We will see the person who has troubled you.]

“Aree bass Abhishek yarr. Gill ko jab force kar rahe the tere liye notes banane ko tab phir wohi act karne lag gaya,” Mayank muttered.

[It's Abhishek. When we were forcing Gill for notes, he started acting.]

“Kesa act?”

[What act?]

“Ur…urm matlab maine usse bola mere pass aa kar baithe but mujhe attitude dikha kar Tilak ke pass beth gaya.”

[I mean I asked him to sit with me but he started showing attitude and sat beside Tilak.]

“Toh kya hua? Tu tang kar usse ya Tilak tang kare, farak kya padta hai?”

[So what? Tilak must have troubled him. How is that different?]

“Aree nahi yarr Ishu, it's just mera khauf chala gaya kya? How dare he not listen to me?” Mayank muttered glaring into space.

[No Ishu. My fear has gone.]

“Ese kese tera khauf jaayega, abhi ek kaan ke neeche lagaunga sab akad nikal jaayegi uski. Chal tu abhi, jaakar batata hu usse toh.” Ishan said getting up and pulling Mayank with him.

[How your fear is gone? I will give a slap to him and all his attitude will be gone. Let's go I will tell him.]

“Aree nahi nahi, chod naa. Koi baat nahi, kal dekh lunga usse college mein.”

[Let it be. I will se him tomorrow.]

“Aree ese kese nahi, usse toh uski aukat abhi dikhaunga. Tereko gussa dilaya usne. Ab toh vo gaya” Ishan said urging Mayank to get and Mayank sighed, getting up finally.

[How will we leave it. We have to show him his place. He has made you angry. He is gone now.]

He didn't wanted to beat him or something it's just, with the way Abhishek was ready to be bullied by Tilak the whole time rather than sitting beside him irked Mayank a lot.

He scowled as they reached Abhishek's room. The door was already unlocked. Don't they even keep their door locked?

“Kya be Abhi—” Ishan uttered, stopping in his tracks as they saw the scene in front of them.

[You Abhi-]

Shubman squealed quickly holding the towel tightly around his waist.

Shubman was naked, with only a towel on. Mayank ignored him looking around the room for Abhishek but he was nowhere.

He looked back at Shubman who was standing like a statue in fear. Mayank snorted looking at Ishan who had a mischievous grin.

“Ohoo gill” Ishan smirked as he saw the horrified expression on Shubman's face.

To be continued

Stay tuned for next chapter