(Ishan's dialogues will be in italics.
Shubman's dialogues will be in bold.)

Shubman's pov

~two months after the accident~

Ishan was going through his final check up today before the bandages would be removed and he would start his physiotherapy sessions from tomorrow.
I had booked the best physiotherapist in Mumbai for Ishan and she would visit Ishan daily at our house. I had informed Ishan about the same arrangement as well.

After Ishan had his bandages removed and we left the hospital and reached home, I picked him up bridal style and carried him to our house, and this time he didn't protest about how he didn't need my help or that he could do it himself. Or some Crap about him being independent and wheeling his wheelchair on his own...... hmm why didn't he do it? I looked at him suspiciously wanting to know what was going inside that little head of his.

"Why are you looking at me like I'm about to commit a crime?"
"I don't know, are you though?"
"No."
I didn't believe him but trying to argue with him was not going to get me anywhere. He was intensely stubborn and if he didn't want to share his thoughts with me he wouldn't, no matter how much I pestered him.

Later that night as I got into bed with Ishan already asleep next to me....or so I thought until I heard him sniffling. I made Ishan turn around and face me and saw that he had tears running down his face. When I pulled him into my chest, I had also started panicking thinking that he was hurt or in pain.

"What's wrong baby? Are you hurt somewhere? Is it because you are off the painkillers? Did something happen? I will talk to the doctor-"
I started rambling, while panicking about the possibilities of the situation. Trying to get my phone to call the doctor. He was supposed to be starting physiotherapy tomorrow this could not happen, not right now, not again. Just when I thought he could finally take the first step towards getting better. Just when-

"I'm scared Shub."
huh? I stopped trying to wiggle out of his grasp to grab my phone and wrapped my arms around him again.
"Why are you scared meri jaan?"
"What if- what if I don't get better-"
"Shhh don't say stuff like that, you will get better jaan, and I will be with you every step of the way."
"But what if I don't?"
He just sobbed harder in my arms and all I could do was pull him closer to my body.

I wanted to snatch away all his worries.
I wanted to take away all his pain.
I wanted to protect him from the entire world.
I wanted to just run away with him somewhere and be with him without a worry about the world or our careers.
I wanted to magically heal him.
I wanted the roles to be reversed.
I wanted it to be me instead of him.
But I couldn't do all of those things, they weren't in my hand. So I did the one thing I knew was in my hands. I promised to stay.

"You will still have me, wheeling your wheelchair if you doesn't get better at all, helping you with your crutches if you get a little better, holding your hand if you have a limp because you only got almost healed but not completely.
I promise to carry you everywhere if you let me.
But most importantly I promise to be with you and love you no matter what, always."
This seemed to comfort him a bit and he relaxed a little.

"I don't wanna lose my career Shub. I still want to play."
"And you will Ish."
He fell asleep after that, still in my arms as I wondered what tomorrow would bring.

The next day, it was 11 in the morning when the physiotherapist had arrived.
I could tell Ishan looked nervous and honestly I was too, but I had hid it very well as I held his hand just like I promised to, throughout the session.
By the end of the session Ishan was exhausted but the physiotherapist had made a positive remark saying that Ishan had done really well.

After about a few days of the physiotherapy sessions, she had concluded that, at this rate Ishan would probably be completely healed, even if the healing process would be a bit slow.
Ishan and I were instantly in a better mood hearing that. A that us when Ishan decided to trap me.

"Can I ask for something Shub?"
It was the first time he had asked for something after the accident, so I knew I wouldn't be able to say no, and I didn't even want to. When was I ever able to say no to him anyways?
"Anything baby." I replied right away.
"You promise you won't refuse?"
"I promise meri jaan."
"I want you to-"

*ting tong*
The bell rang interrupting Ishan as I got up to open the door and saw Raj bhaiya standing there with a suitcase.
"What are you doing here bhaiya?"
I asked moving away from the door giving him space to enter.
"He's here to stay with me since you'll be playing in the IPL."
"Oh ok...wait WHAT NO. I'm not going anywhere!"
"But you already promised Shub."
"Well I'm taking it back."

"You cannot take back your promise."
"I can and I will. Anything but this Ishan."
"But I don't want anything else. I called my brother here to stay with me for these 2 months because I knew you would never agree to leave me here alone, even though I am very well capable of handling myself."
"I don't care, the answer is still no Ishan."
"But practice starts tomorrow and I already booked the flight tickets and you're the captain. You have to be-"
"No means no Ishan. End of discussion. "
"Fine, do whatever you want."

Saying that he went back to the room and shut the door with a loud bang. He didn't talk to me throughout the day.
"Ishan, come and eat dinner."
"Bhaiya tell him I'm not hungry."
He yelled from our room.
I went towards the room to open the door and drag him out only to realise it was locked.
"Don't be childish Ishan, come out and eat."

"I AM THE ONE BEING CHILDISH?"
The door was opened harshly and Ishan looked MAD mad. It almost scared me, but I wasn't going to given in, not in this situation.
"Yes."
"Bhaiya tell him to get out of my sight before I slap him."
Me and Raj bhaiya looked at each other with our eyes widened and then looked back at Ishan. Damn he looked like he would actually do it.
"For that you would have to get up Ishan."
Oops wrong move, this seemed to have maddened him more as he said,
"I can still punch your dick. Do not test my patience."

And that is how, here I was the next day, about to leave my Ishan with Raj bhaiya as I got ready leave.
"His medicines are in his room, make sure to remind him to take them on time and his physiotherapist arrives everyday at-"
"This is the third time I've heard this speech in the past hour Shubman. I am a doctor myself, don't worry I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my brother."
"Right sorry, I'm just worried. This is the first time I'm leaving him alone since the accident."
"I understand. You care about him, it's okay, you don't have to apologize."

I then knelt down in front of Ishan, and we made eye contact, he looked sad but he tried to hide it, so that I wouldn't change my decision of leaving.
"I'll miss you meri jaan."
"I'll miss you too :("
He was pouting and how much I wished I could just kiss his pout away.
"Uhh I'll give you guys a moment"
and saying that bhaiya disappeared into the house and I instantly claimed the lips of my lover.

The kiss lasted a few seconds until I pulled away, knowing I wouldn't be able to leave if I kissed him any longer.
"I'll call you everyday, I promise."
"You'll be busy and tired Mr Captain."
"I would never be too busy for you love."

~Time skip to two months later~
(5 months after the accident)
Gujarat Titans had just won their 2nd IPL title against KKR, first under my captaincy and I had decided to fly home the same night, not wanting to wait any longer to see my baby. I had seen him once since the start of the IPL, for a few days as we had a match against MI in Mumbai.
But I still missed him too much.

When I reached home early in the morning, assuming that he would be asleep, I was surprised to find him awake waiting for me. As I entered the living room wanting to question him about why he had been up, my legs suddenly froze as I saw him slowly get up from his wheelchair. He took slow faltered steps towards me but stopped half away. I could tell that he was really tired and I walked the rest of the way towards him.

With tears in my eyes, I hugged him so tight and he just chuckled.
"Surprise!!"
I then picked him up bridal style and carried him to our bedroom and put him down on our bed softly.
"I'm so happy today meri jaan, this made me so much more happier than winning the title, but why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I wanted to show it to you in person, plus it was a gift for winning the title. I'm so proud of you my captain."

I just kissed him passionately, trying to convey the feelings I couldn't express with words, through the kiss.
"Where is Raj bhaiya?"
"He left last night."
"WHAT? How could he leave you alone-"
"Don't start again Shub."
I just cuddled up to him shutting up instantly not wanting to ruin such a precious moment.

"I am so proud of you meri jaan, thank you for being positive and getting better."
"I still have a long way to go baby."
"I know but we will get through that together as well."
"The physio said that at this rate I would be able to play cricket in a few months."
"Really!?" I said excitedly, pulling him closer to me and capturing his lips in a long passionate kiss filled with love and hope and then we cuddled and fell asleep.

The End.

________________________________________

I haven't given them a tag of husbands or boyfriends in this story because I think such tags are sometimes unnecessary.
As India hasn't legalized same sex marriage, I did not want to make them husbands but at the same time I didn't use the term boyfriends either as they're living together and are more than just boyfriends.
Like in a live in relationship basically. So the term 'lovers' seemed perfect for them.

Also they haven't really said it out loud to their parents or the ICT about them being in love, but it's pretty obvious as they didn't try to hide it either and their parents and the ict know and can see it but they are just letting them live their lives, without questioning.

They don't want to make anything official to others and just wish to live their lives in peace with each other.