Upon entering, they were greeted by a chaotic sight. Documents and papers lay scattered across the glass coffee table in the center of the living room. Darshan sat on the couch, hunched over his MacBook, his eyes flicking between the screen and a particular sheet of paper that seemed to demand his attention.

It was Darshan who noticed Shubman first. “Enjoying the party, were you?” he said tauntingly, still typing something on his laptop. “Meanwhile, I’ve been here, drowning in these documents,” he added, his tone laced with mild irritation, he was still oblivious to Ishan's presence.

Shubman was unfazed by his manager’s jab. He let his eyes roam over the scattered documents and commented, “I see you’ve got everything under control. Knew I could count on you.”

Darshan glanced up, narrowing his eyes. “Oh? Is that so? But don’t you think it’s unfair? I’m stuck here brainstorming and sorting through all this legal nonsense, while you got to have fancy drinks with your…” He trailed off when he saw a visibly confused Ishan come into view.

The “your” in question was obviously Ishan, but Darshan caught himself just in time.

Ishan lingered awkwardly, completely lost on the banter between the other two. He couldn’t tell whether these two were genuinely annoyed or if this was their normal way of interacting, but either way, he didn’t want to stick around long enough to figure out their dynamic. He was here for the night and planned to be out of this place by morning, never to see Shubman again. Yeah.

Darshan darted his gaze from Ishan to Shubman, then back to Ishan. “Um, hi?” he greeted Ishan, sounding uncertain. He knew Shubman had gone to the party solely because of Ishan, but seeing him here was a bit surprising.

Before he could ask Shubman anything, Shubman cut in, “Don’t be upset that I had a good time.” Darshan gestured toward the scattered papers and replied, “At my expense, clearly.”

Shubman decided to leave Darshan to his devices, brushing off his grumbling with a shrug. He gestured for Ishan to follow him upstairs. “You’re welcome, by the way!” Darshan shouted after him.

As they left a busy Darshan and the chaotic living room behind, Shubman led Ishan through a series of hallways in the enormous mansion. Ishan felt out of place, like an outsider who didn’t belong in this world of power and business deals. Perhaps he was right - this world couldn’t be more different from his own. Was he risking something by being here? Not just by being around Shubman, but by stepping into his world. He would find out soon enough.

Shubman, a few steps ahead of Ishan, came to a stop in front of a room and opened the door. “Here, it’s all yours,” he said. Ishan recognized the room immediately, he had stayed here once before. But this time, he noticed details he had overlooked on his previous visit. The room was designed in a mid-century modern style, and he took in the expanse as he walked inside.

“Like it?” Shubman asked.

Ishan just shrugged in response.

“It’s not like you’re staying here for the first time,” Shubman said with that goddamn smug look on his face, which he never bothered to hide around Ishan.

Ishan’s face flushed at Shubman’s words. All he wanted to do in that moment was storm out of the place, but not before hurling some unkind words at Shubman.

But instead, he bit back his tongue, refusing to give Shubman any kind of satisfaction.

“Do you need something?” Shubman pressed.

“I’ll be fine as long as you leave me alone,” Ishan retorted sharply.

  *

Ishan heard a soft knock on the door, and his eyebrows bunched up, thinking it was Shubman. But the idea of Shubman actually knocking before coming in seemed absurd to him.

“Yes?”

The doorknob turned, and a woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties appeared, holding some folded clothes in her hands. She wore a neat dress and had a warm smile on her lips, she inmates a maternal aura. Looking into her kind eyes, Ishan was instantly reminded of his mother, and he felt a pang in his chest. How long had it been since he last saw her? Last hugged her? Or hugged anyone, for that matter?

Breaking Ishan’s trance, she stepped into the room. “Hello, boy,” she greeted him warmly. “I’m Miss Kynis, the housekeeper. I brought you some clothes.” She gestured to his outfit. “Those don’t look very comfortable for sleeping.”

“Yeah...uh, thanks, I appreciate it,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.

Miss Kynis placed the clothes on the bed and glanced around the room, as if checking to make sure everything was in order. “It’s not every day Shubman brings a guest home. I was told to make sure you’re comfortable.”

For a short time, Ishan was being taken care of, and Miss Kynis’s kindness made him feel a pang of homesickness. He hadn’t realized how much he missed the presence of someone who genuinely cared.

Ishan changed, and then the realization hit him - these must be Shubman’s clothes, he thought, cringing internally. But it wasn’t like he had much choice, he certainly wasn’t going to wear those uncomfortable party clothes to sleep.

After a while, Miss Kynis re-entered the room with a tray. “I brought you some lavender tea, it’ll help you sleep well.” Ishan thanked her again while taking the tray from her hands.

Lately, Ishan had been trying to return to the normal life he’d had before his heartbreak, but did that now include being in Shubman’s house?He hope not.

*

The door was slightly ajar, and a tall, six-foot figure stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on the scene before him, one hand resting on the doorknob. On the bed, Ishan lay fast asleep, completely unaware of the gaze upon him. The soft glow of the night lamp cast a gentle light over Ishan's face. His usually furrowed brow was relaxed, the frown he carried around Shubman was nowhere in sight. His soft curls were tousled across his forehead, his lips slightly parted, and his chest rose and fell rhythmically. He looked peaceful : a version of him Shubman had never seen before. And right now, the scene in front of him made Shubman feel a sense of calm - maybe for the first time in a very, very long time.

It was strange, seeing him like this, unguarded. A genuine smile tugged at the corners of Shubman’s lips, surprising him. He hadn’t felt this kind of peace in a while, maybe in years.

He considered snapping a picture but dismissed the thought immediately. Was the idea of capturing this serene moment tempting? Yes, but this wasn’t a moment to be trivialized by a camera. He just wanted to soak it in, to feel it.

He allowed himself to feel.

With one last glance, Shubman stepped back, closing the door. The moment had passed, but he could still feel its warmth lingering.

*

Shubman was in his study when Darshan came in, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “Did you kidnap him again, or is he here of his own free will? Which I highly doubt.” Shubman paid no attention to Darshan’s question.

“Did you forget?” At this, Shubman raised an eyebrow, and Darshan continued, “The last girl you were obsessed with had to file for a restraining order.”

Shubman showed no reaction, knowing that with all his money and influence, a restraining order meant nothing to him.

“And she had to move to an entirely different place because of you. Because of your obsession.”

Turning his head, Shubman finally gave him his full attention. “What are you trying to say?”

Darshan exhaled sharply. “Whatever you have.....call it obsession or whatever name you want to give it - it’s dangerous. Someone gets your attention, you toy with them for a while, and then? It’s not healthy.”

Shubman’s gaze didn’t waver. “This time, it’s different.”

Darshan had never heard that from him before, and he could only hope it was the truth.

_____

Miss Kynis somehow convinced Ishan to stay for breakfast - she had her own ways.

Pushing food around on his plate, Ishan said, “The tea you gave me last night really helped me sleep well.” Miss Kynis smiled. “Oh, actually, Shubman brought it back from Bulgaria.” Hearing his name, Ishan looked around but saw no one. Catching the cue, Miss Kynis added, “He’s gone to the office.” It wasn’t like Ishan was looking for Shubman… was he?

Miss Kynis continued, “Darshan will be here in a few moments to drop you off.” Ishan just nodded, trying to finish the elaborate breakfast Miss Kynis had made especially for him.

Just as he was about to get up, Spider, the orange cat, climbed into his lap, and Miss Kynis stood there in slight shock.

“He doesn’t usually get close to strangers. He’s very picky. It’s a surprise he came to you on his own.” Ishan didn’t know what to feel or say, so he awkwardly patted Spider’s head, feeling the soft purrs as the cat settled comfortably in his lap.

*

“Uhmmm…” Darshan was working up the courage to say something to Ishan as he drove him home. “I don’t know whether I should tell you this or stay loyal to Shubman, but…”

“But?” Ishan raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t get too involved with him. It’s... it could be problematic.” He said it almost as a question, unsure himself of what exactly he was trying to warn Ishan about. Sure, he was Shubman’s manager, his right-hand man, but something in him didn’t want Ishan to get hurt or drawn into trouble because of Shubman. He knew what Shubman was capable of.

“I don’t understand.”

“Try to stay away from him,” Darshan finally said.

“But I’m not the one chasing him or stalking him,I fear” Ishan replied. “If anything, I’d say it’s the other way around.”

Duh, as if Darshan didn’t already know that. But could he actually knock some sense into Shubman and ask him to stop whatever he was doing? He feared not.

“How did you end up at the mansion last night?” Darshan asked suddenly, a question that came across as if he disapproved of Ishan staying there. Though it wasn’t Darshan’s intention to make Ishan feel this way, but the question came out in the exact same way.

“We were at the same party, the tire of my car got deflated, and there weren’t any cabs available, so I had to get a ride with him. I didn’t know he’d bring me here,” Ishan replied defensively. Summing up the last night's happening shortly.

Darshan didn't say anything for a few moments and let the uncomfortable silence strech fo a while and then, “Do you think the flat tire was…” Darshan let the question hang there, and they both looked at each other before bursting out laughing at the absurdity of his implication.

And just like that, they bonded over their mutual dislike of Shubman.

_____

In the next chapter :

Ishan was jogging on the treadmill when he caught a glimpse of someone through the gym’s glass door. He didn’t think much of it. After finishing his routine and stepping out, he suddenly collided with someone. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, taking two steps back to look up and see who it was. To his surprise (or perhaps unsurprisingly), he found a smug-looking Shubman standing there, as always.

“What a coincidence,” Shubman cooed.

___________________________________________