"Tu sure hai tereko koi problem nahi hoga?" Ishan rubbed his temples as Shubman asked his the very same question for the thousandth time in 2 days. Why was he more difficult to handle than Aleya! "Nahi, bachcha! Main sab sambhal lunga! Tu agar abhi nahi nikla toh flight miss kar doge! Ab niklo!" "Mere ghar se mujhe hi nikala jaa raha hai!" Shubman whined but stopped when he saw the other's 'I'm so done with you' face. The taller focused on Aleya who was giggling quietly at the adults' antics. He picked his princess up, smothering her faces with kisses, "I'll be back very soon, princess." "Come safe, Dada!" He was about to leave, when she squealed, "Kiss Papa goodbye!" 

Ishan turned a peachy shade of red as he shrieked, "Aleya! Kya bol rahe ho tum!" "But DeDe bhaiya always kiss Tilak chachu!" "Hey Bhagwaan! Yeh Tilvis ne meri beti ko kya kya sikhaya hai!" Ishan mentally facepalmed when Shubman joined in, "So sorry princess." He leant down to place a sweet little kiss at the corner of his jaan's lips before wheeling away with his suitcase. The father and daughter watched from the balcony and waved him goodbye. Shubi felt sad for leaving them alone for a week, but he had been severely threatened by Shahneel di... He could kiss life goodbye if he did not go home this time. 

Mumbai to Amritsar by flight and then Amritsar to Fazilka by train... The journey took him about 5 hours and he was tired to say the least. It was his mumma who opened the door in the evening. Before he could touch her feet, he was embraced in a soul crushing hug. "Oe piare, tusi kinne samay baad aaye ho!" Ma! Mainu chado! Ita dukhadi hai!" She finally left him and wiped her tears, ushering him into the house. "Papa kithe haina?" "Uha tela kharidana giya." "Ghar aate hi papa papa laga rakkha hai giraffe ke bachche ne!" Shahneel's taunting voice resonated in the drawing room. "Tu kaunsa badi shareef hai, bandar kahiki!" "Oh bada karo tusi dono! Shub, apne kamra vicha ja puttar. Main tuhanu kujha snacks liya aavanga." "Ji, Ma." He skipped all the way to his bedroom. 

Soon after his mother had dropped the snacks off, he heard three quick knocks. God! It was confession time! Shahneel di entered without even asking for permission, "Tu itne dino se ghar kyu nahi aaya?" His snacks were being taken away from him! "Practice main busy tha." "Achha? Mere naal jhutha na bolo! Ki gala hai?" "Kuchh nahi hai di! Aap bekaar main shak kar rahe ho!" "Thik hai, maat bata. Par yaad rakhna, mai teri behna ha, mai pata kar lavangi ki tu ki chhupa rah hai!" And off she stomped to her own room. After waiting for a few minutes to check if the coast was clear, Shubman called Abhishek. The guy picked up on the third ring. "He-hello?" "Abhi?" The older sat up straighter, why was his best friend's voice so nasally? "Han, bol." There were sniffling noises, adding to his worries. "Abhi, tu thik hai na?" "Arre pagle, mereko kya hoga! Main thik hun, tu apna bata!" "Main thik hun, tu ghar kab aane waala hai?" "Gha-ghar?" "Han! Tu aur Mayank ghar nahi aa rahe inn chhuttiyo main?" 

"Na-nahi." "Abhi, sach sach bata tu itna stutter kyu kar raha hai?" "Arre yaar, kuchh nahi, bas thoda cold hai." "Doctor ko bulaya?" "Bhai, tu please mera dimaag maat kha! Viral fever hai, do din main thik ho..." Shubman heard the other yawning, "Thik hai, thik hai. Tu rest kar, main baadmain phone karunga." "Hmmm." When he disconnected the call, he was unaware of the tempest that was about to come in the other's life. With Abhishek out of the list, Shubman thought of calling DB, but that guy was himself stuck to find an opportunity to propose! There was no use in torturing him any more. He racked his brain, trying to think of people he could rely on in case of relationship trouble. Jaiswal? No! Rishabh and Shreyas? Abso-fucking-lutely no! Jurel? He wasn't that close to him. Sarfaraz? No. The guy had just gotten married, he should get to enjoy life. Jaddu bhai? He had an arranged marriage, meh! Virat bhai? He would give the craziest ideas, and make fun of him forever. 

Yes! He could ask Surya bhau for some tips, sure he would not make fun of him. He called him, waiting impatiently for the man to pick it up, but ended up having to hear the mechanized voice declare, "The person you are calling is not answering. Please try again later." Shubman whined in his mind, where were his brothers when he needed them! He seriously needed to get a new brother who would treat him like Hardik bhai treated Ishan! Just then, his mother called him, "Beta, tera bapu aai hai!" "Main aa rai ha!" He called back. "Tusi kive ho papa?" "Game kaisa chal raha hai?" His father asked in return of his greeting. Shubman stopped himself, before he could sit on the sofa, beside him. "Achha chal raha hai." "Hmmm. Maine dekha. Bohot dino baad jaake century lagayi tune." "Ji papa." "Dekh beta, apna dhyaan rakha kar. Zyaada cramps ya injuries honge, toh game main aage nahi badh payega. I want you to be successful, ok? There are many flops going around, but don't get distracted by them!" His father was strict in his warning. 

Shaneel whined, "Papa, abhi toh ghar aaya hai, aur aapne abhi shuru kar diya yeh sab!" Shubman felt a little snubbed, "Ji papa, dhyaan rakhunga." "Bohot badhiya. Apne aap ko cricket ki duniya main settle kar le, phir ek achhi ladki dhundhke teri shaadi karwa denge!" His father's mood was jovial again, unknowing of the bomb he had dropped on his son. "Sha-shaadi?" "Ki tusi apni baki di zindagi la baicalara bane rahna cahude ho?" His mother chuckled. "Mai kisi kuri nala viha nahi karna cahuda." "Abhi karne ko kaun bol raha hai! Three, four years down the line... Bohot der hai! Tu cricket pe dhyaan de, shaadi ki hum soch lenge!" His father tried assuring him. That very moment, his phone rang. It was SKY bhai. "Surya bhai ka call hai. Main thodi der main aata hun!" He went, not noticing the weird glance his elder sister threw his way. 

The next morning, she was asked by her mother, to sort through Shubman's clothes and bring the dirty laundry. Her brother was not there in the house, having gone for his morning run. Shahneel searched through every nook and corner of his suitcase, finally coming upon two identical jewelry pouches. They were from the same shop. Inside one was a pair of anklets and inside the other, there was a pair of jhumkas. Despair ran cold over her heart! Had she really read her brother the wrong way? He had always given her gay vibes! What would happen to all the Ishman shippers if Shubman ended up marrying a girl! Half the country would be devastated! But another part of her mind argued that he had very clearly refused to marry any girl the previous night, did that mean......

She decided to wait in his room, and opened her instagram. What the actual fuck! The Ishan Kishan was back and her brother hadn't called her even once to gush about his oh-so-perfect 'best friend'? Was it a girl in his arms? She scrolled through the numerous feeds, trying to dig up as much dirt as possible, but it seemed that the BCCI was being very tight lipped on this matter. Those BKL bitches! 

The last thing Shubman had expected after coming home drenched after his morning run was Shahneel di sitting on his bed, like the police waiting for the suspect to arrive. She threw something at him, which he caught, thanks to his fast reflexes. His eyes widened in horror! "Di! Did you snoop through my luggage?!" "Mumma asked me to get you laundry", she shrugged. "Jaa jaake haath muh dhoke aa. We need to talk." Her glare made him hurry! Oh God! This was going to be torturous for him... She was still there when he came back. "Idhar baith", she ordered, patting the bed beside her. Shubman obeyed not wanting to piss her off, more than she already was. "Kya baat hai, di?" "You see Shubi, you can tell me anything, ok?" "Ye-yes?" "Tune gehne kiske liye khareede?" "Jhumke aapke liye hai..." Shahneel smirked, "Mere liye? Par tujhe toh pata hai ki main jhumke nahi pehenti?" "Woh, woh main apne dost ke saath shopping gaya tha, tab jhumke dekhe aur laga aap par achhe lagenge, toh khareed liye." 

It was literally written on his face that he was lying, she sighed, "Agli baar se mere liye kuchh khareedne se pehle kripya karke mujhe puchh lijiyega janab!" "Achha thik hai!" Shubman was relieved. Thank God.. no, it was too early for that when his sister smiled in a sinister manner, "Toh payel zaroor mummy ke liye honge?" "Nahi!" He squealed like a baby! "Kiske hai payel?" "Hey Bhagwaan! Kaha fas gaya main!", he thought but did not answer her. "Shub, tu mujhe khudse batayaga, ki papa mummy ko bulau?" "Ishu ke hai..." "I-Ishu? Do you mean these are for THE ISHAN KISHAN?!" "Chillao maat! Mummy aa jayengi!" He said furiously! "Answer me, you duffer!" "Han! Dam it!" "Toh main officially aunty kab banne waali hun?" Shubman smothered her with a pillow, unable to tolerate her smug, self-satisfied smile any longer. 

Later that night after dinner, Shubman called his jaan. The call was picked up on the fifth ring, "Hello?" The voice was unfamiliar, but not that much. "Ishan nahi hai?" "Oh! Shubman! Tum do minute hold karo, Ishan washroom se aata hi hoga." It suddenly struck him that it was Raj bhaiya!!! "Bhaiya aap kaise hai?" "Main thik hun, bohot der laga di pehchaanne main?" His voice had a teasing tone. "Bohot din ho gaye aapse baat kiye hue, isliye. Aur bataiye, bhabi aur chintu kaise hai?" "Sab thik hai. Waise Shubman mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni thi." "Ji, bhaiya, boliye." He was a bit confused, what did Raj bhaiya want to talk to him about? He heard footsteps, which meant the elder was going to a secluded spot in all probability. "Shubman, main ek bade bhai ki haisiyat se request kar raha hun, please meri baat maat taalna." "Arre bhaiya aap aise kyu bol rahe ho?" "Shubi, maine Ishan ko inn 5 saalon main itna khush kabhi nahi dekha, aur aaj mujhe yeh realise hua, ki uski khushi ka kaaran tum ho. Please, Shubman, mere bhai ko aise hi khush rakhna!" 

"I promise you bhaiya, tab tak main zinda hun, Ishan par koi bhi aanch nahi aane dunga." "Thank you..." "Bhaiya, aap kisko thanks bol rahe ho?" Ishan's voice was heard in the background. Raj bhaiya swiftly diverted his attention, like a player who had mastered his shots and handed him the phone, because it was his dear Shubi who had called. After that, Shubman had a long chat with Aleya who described how her cousin had taught her some art hacks and how she had kept everyone on their toes for the day. The Punjabi heard her fall asleep as her blabber slowly quietened. Raj bhaiya and family had left by then. It was just him and Ishan and their love. "Ish?" "Umm." "Tired baby?" A soft, melodious chuckle soothed his ears, "Ek din do chhote monsters ko ek saath sambhalke dekhna, saans lene ka bhi time nahi milega." "I know my Ishu baby is strong..." "Aish! Itne romantic mood main kaise Aa gaye?" "Tumhare liye toh main har pal Pagal hun." "Chup! Jaldi soo jao." "Achha baby. Jaisa aap kahe. I loved you." "I love you too." 

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Guys, how to fix the internet? Like mera Jio ka optical fibre connection hai aur HP intel i3 core waala laptop. Kal Raat Se main jab bhi laptop ko connect kar raha hun, no internet dikha raha hai, par optical fibre ka connection bilkul thik hai! Maine dusre phone se check kiya hai! Believe me! AB isko thikane kaise laaye? Kisiko pata ho toh please batao....

P.S. - Woh thik ho gaya.... Yippee!

Yeh chapter thoda chhota hai, because right now I'm going through a lot of shit. Sab thik hote hi naya update likh dalunga. Par Yeh nahi pata ki thik kab hoga....

Mera parson biology hai, pray for me....

Enjoy, Adiraj!