"Surprisingly there is little to no hate, only supporters." Sebastian, Shubman's manager said shrugging.

"Why is there no hate for him? He just came out as gay!" Shubman scowled checking all the lovely comments under Naman's post.

Naman Rathore, 24 years old opening batsman of ICT, Captain of Kolkata Night Riders in IPL. The elite bachelor of India and also the biggest rival of Shubman; 

Shubman Gill, 24 yrs old opening batsman of ICT, Captain of Gujarat Titans in IPL. Also an Elite bachelor.

Both of their rivalry is very much famous in India.

Their fandoms always compare their stats with each other. Both having three IPL trophies each since the last six years of being a captain in their career.

While Shubman Gill has better stats in ODI, Naman Rathore holds better stats in T20 and Test.

Just like their fandom both of them try to compete with each other a lot.

They are always at each other's throats, trying to get an upper hand.

"But how can the public accept him being gay so easily?!" Shubman groaned in frustration while trying to find the hate comments which were a lot less in comparison with the supporting ones.

"I told you, Shubman, it's 2024 now, and society is changing, even there is a trend of bl shipping. That's why I was telling you it was the perfect time for you to come out of your closet."

"It's not that easy Seb, I was scared of the hate."

"You can be sure now that there is no hate," Sebastian said pointing the obvious.

"Yeah but if I came out now then the public will think I am just mimicking him. I can't come out now,"

"Actually the public would rather ship you both, you know classic enemies to lovers. A perfect match made in hea—"

"Eww please stop, I would rather die than loving that son of a bitch." Shubman retorted glaring at Naman's interview post.

"HE EVEN SAID HIS CRUSH IS ISHAN! THIS MORON" Shubman huffed listening to his interview in despair.

"Wait...didn't he know already that you had a thing for this model since you three did that ad." Sebastian furrowed his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I guess, when I was just talking to you and told you I find Ishan Kishan cute, he overheard our conversation at that time."

"Yeah and remember his grimace? He even belittled you for finding a male cute. Shubman, he isn't gay, he just did that to get a one-up from you."

"But how did he get to know I am gay?"

"He might have known coincidently then stalked us because look his coming out pattern, even the media and trends are ditto like the way I was planning for you to come out to."

"How did he get hold of your planning?"

"If I had an answer to that then I would have never let him steal my ideas." Sebastian deadpanned.

"I was just asking this question in general," Shubman muttered.

"And I was telling in general too,"

"Can you stop being rude and focus on how he just told the whole world that he is gay? How can he stoop so low?"

"You won IPL this year so he definitely wanted to get a one up from you in another way."

"But this is not right. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Date his crush,"

"Seb I am not in the mood of joking, so please."

"I am not joking as well, see he always tries to get a one up from you. This time he used my idea to come out but what if you put the fake news of dating his crush? You will be able to come out smoothly and imagine his reaction when he gets to know you are dating his crush."

"And why I am so suddenly dating his crush?"

"Not suddenly, see, Naman said his crush is Ishan so now everyone is shipping them and you are such a possessive boyfriend that you can't take it so you are making your secret relationship of a year to official because of this."

"An year?"

"Yeah, we will have to fake it that it's old." Sebastian looked at him like it was the obvious thing.

"Okay fine, but why will Ishan say yes to being my fake boyfriend out of nowhere?"

"Leave that to me, do you want Ishan to be your boyfriend or not?"

Shubman has never nodded his head so fast in his entire life.

----

"Are you feeling okay?"

"If today got any more humiliating, therapy isn't going to cut it."

"What happened Ish?"

"Life happened,"

"Can you be a bit specific?" Mayank sighed looking at his best friend who looked like he could break down any minute.

"This Naman had made my life a living hell. Three days ago he called me his crush in one of his interviews an—"

"What? Naman Rathore? The star cricketer called you his crush?! Is he gay?"

"Yeah, he came out on the same interview and called me his crush. On the same day, his pr called me asking If I would like to date him.
I said no then—"

"Why did you rejected THE Naman Rathore? Are you mad?"

"Can you stop cutting me off?! And I would reject him obviously, I am straight."

"But he is Naman Rathore. Anyone would turn gay for him, just look at him."

"No thank you, I am happily straight."

"You are not looking happy right now,"

"And that's because of him only. This Naman has made my life a living hell since I rejected him."

"What did he do?" Mayank furrowed his eyebrows.

"The day next morning after rejecting him suddenly all my ads were given to some other model. I had already signed those agreements but all of them had the same reason for backing out that they realised they needed some other body type for this ad. Even my contract of going on big boss ott was taken away. To put a cherry on top, while I am struggling with my work life here, today I got to know my house is suddenly built on a government owned land so I am given barely a month to shift."

"Woah that's a lot—"

"Yeah, so not only do I have to find a way to build my career back I don't even have a place to live anymore. So how can I be happy?"

"Calm down Ish, it's okay."

"No, it's not at all okay. My life is a mess and I don't even know what to do." Ishan sighed in frustration.

"You can say yes to him and all your problems will be gone."

"I would never say yes to him. I am straight,"

"Ishan you will have to be gay," A sudden voice interrupted both of them and they looked at Ishan’s manager who barged into his house.

Vivan, Ishan and Mayank's manager, had keys to both of their houses so he could get inside whenever he wanted to just like now.

"What the fuck Vivan?" Ishan glared at him while Mayank snorted at the line through which Vivaan just entered.

"Listen to me first, I just got a call from Shubman Gill's manager. He wants you and Shubman to fake date."

"Omg, Shubman Gill...Ish tu toh bada famous ho raha hai yarr, pehle Naman Rathore and ab Shubman Gill." Mayank whistled wiggling his eyebrows at Ishan.

"Mayank shut up," Ishan smacked him.

"Ouch, it hurts you bitch." Mayank smacked him back.

"Can you both stop it and listen to me?" Vivan glared at them.

"I am not going to date any guy. Not even a fake relationship." Ishan said.

"But this is the only way to revive your career."

"Vivan have you forgotten about the great rivalry of Shubman and Naman? I don't want to get in between their chaos please."

"You are already in the chaos. Both of them want to date you in front of the media, so it's better if you choose that if you want to date Naman for real or fake it with Shubman for six months."

"But Vivan why are they dragging me? I don't even know any of them personally."

"I also don't know why would they both be fighting over you. You are not even a big celebrity or something."

"But isn't it a great opportunity for you Ishan. Imagine the fame you will get through this, you wouldn't have gained that even in big boss so just grab this chance."

"I can gain popularity on my ow—"

"Ishan shut up, and Vivan say yes to Shubman."

"You cannot decide on my behalf,"

"We actually can, and weren't you the one whining a minute ago to me how Naman is making your life a living hell. Now you have a solution to it."

"By dating his rival?"

"Shubman will protect you from Naman. See Ishan if you don't want to date Naman then Shubman is the only option. Naman is a big influencer and you cannot do anything about it. Besides it's just fake dating for half year."

"And Ishan Gill sounds better than Ishan Rathore,"

"Mayank he is not marrying Shubman he is just fake dating him."

"I didn't even said yes to fale dating him."

"I don't care I said yes on your behalf. Tomorrow you and Shubman are going to meet at Shubman’s house and talk about all the details."

"You can't do that Vivan,"

"I already did that Ishan," Vivan mocked making Mayank laugh out loud.

"You guys are seriously the worst,"

"And you are so stubborn. Just take the easy way and fake date Shubman for a few months."

"Vivan if Ishan doesn't want to do it then can I date Shubman instead?"

"Why don't you go date Naman instead? And ask him to stop playing around with my life?" Ishan scoffed.

"Where is the fun in that? But demn imagine the big news it will get that Naman's crush is actually Shubman's boyfriend. Ishan you will be such a big sensation,"

"Wait you are right, it will hit a big news. Vivan say yes to Shubman."

"Woohoo Ishan soon to be Gill,"

"I am not marrying Shubman," Ishan smacked Mayank hardly who just shrugged in response.

"Yet," Mayank winked at him making the other scoff loudly.

"Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai, aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai"

"Vivan please ab tum mat start hojao,"

---

A/N - As peomised August se updates started