Shubman looked around himself, the only thing he could see so far was darkness. Everywhere it was pitch black. He kept walking for God knows how long, not even knowing where he was going. His legs were on the verge of giving up but he kept walking in the dark.

Fear gripped his mind as he stared in the darkness. Who knows what was hidden in there? He felt his heart squeezing in discomfort as he started running, lungs burning as he tried getting enough oxygen in.

"Shubi,"

Shubman stopped as he heard a echoing voice, a voice that somehow eased his racing heart. He looked around frantically, trying to locate where the voice was coming from.

"Shubi,"

"Who's this?" Shubman shouted as he ran towards the direction the voice was coming from. The voice got louder and louder along with his footsteps as he ran, desperate to reach it but never succeeding in doing so.

"Where are you?" He screamed, heaving breaths, his legs not stopping even for a second.

"I'm here, my moon. Come to me,"

"Who are you? Please, come infront," Shubman mumbled, his eyes tearing up.

Suddenly he could see a little bit of light in this eerie dark place. Immediately running towards it, a face came in his view. Face of the person that has captured his heart, tearing him apart of all the senses of what's right and what's wrong, face of the person that always soothes his heart yet makes it run a marathon at the same time. Face of the person he's gradually falling in love with.

"Ishan," Shubman whispered, his voice breaking in the middle as he felt his throat flooding with emotions.

Ishan smiled softly, his eyes forming pretty crescents. God, Shubman can't tell how much time he had spent thinking about the gentle curve of his lips, the smile lines appearing on his face, the way his eyes smiled along with his lips and anything and everything related to this man.

"Yes, Meri Jaan. I'm here, come to me," Ishan muttered softly, extending his hand to him and Shubman's legs found themselves walking on their own accord.

Just as he was about to clasp his hand onto Ishan's, the man vanished into thin air, leaving Shubman grasping at the air.

He stood there frozen for a minute before collapsing on his knees, tears flowing freely out of his eyes, his heart crying in agony as well as his eyes.

Shubman woke up with a gasp, groggily looked around the room. He looked on when he heard the bathroom door opening. Ishan came out, looking like he was freshly showered, damp hair sticking to his forehead. He watched as Ishan looked at him, his eyebrows furrowing and eyes filling with worry as soon as he did so.

"Shubi, why are you crying?" Ishan asked softly, approaching him on the bed.

"Huh?" Shubman mumbled, touching his own cheeks, they were indeed wet. So he was crying. Probably because of the dream- no nightmare. The heart-wrenching nightmare that also seems to be my reality. He thought.

"Nothing, I guess something went in my eyes," He replied, getting up from the bed and wearing his shirt.

"I need to talk to you, shubi," Ishan mumbled.

"Sorry, Ishan, not now. I have something to do," Shubman replied, rushing out of the room without looking back at him, not wanting to break down infront of him again.

Ishan sighed, looking at the door he had left from, his heart breaking to see the man so sad.

-

It has been more than four days that Ishan is trying to talk to Shubman but the man keeps avoiding him. He'll immediately leave as soon as Ishan approaches him, won't come home immediately after college, instead would stay back at the library. Ishan thought to give him some time since he could see how distressed Shubman looked, the pain evident on his face no matter how much he tried hiding it. But his patience was getting very thin now.

"Ishan," Abhishek spoke while they were having their lunch together.

"Hmm?"

"Have you met your soulmate?" He asked.

Ishan smiled, glancing at Shubman who was just looking at his plate quietly, not even eating much, "I have,"

Shubman's head snapped up immediately before he looked back down without saying anything.

"Really? Who?" Abhishek asked.

"Hai koi pyaara sa," Ishan smiled, his gaze fixed on Shubman.

"I have to go," Shubman mumbled, getting up.

"What? You haven't even eaten anything," Abhishek said, concerned.

"I'm not really hungry," Shubman mumbled as he left towards the staircase leading to the rooftop.

Ishan looked up at him worriedly before also standing up.

"Now where are you going?" Abhishek asked.

"I have to talk to him," Ishan replied, also leaving.

Abhishek sighed, shaking his head, "What is going on with these two?"

-

Ye laal ishq, ye malaal ishq,
Ye aib ishq, ye bair ishq,
Ye laal ishq, ye malaal ishq,
Ye aib ishq, ye bair ishq,
Ishq-ishq, ishq-ishq,

Ishan stepped on the rooftop, noticing Shubman sitting against the railing, eyes closed, just like that day they had sat and talked here. His lips curved up in a soft smile as he stared at the man, he looked peaceful -an expression Ishan hadn't saw on his face in days- as it seemed like moon specifically poured all its chaandni on him, illuminating every single feature of his face, making him look even more ethereal.

He walked towards him, sitting down beside him with his back against the railing, "Hii, Shubi,"

Shubman looked at him for a second, mumbling a small 'hi' before looking away again.

"Can we talk?" Ishan asked softly.

Shubman sighed, "It's about that day, isn't it? I'm sorry, Ishan, I was drunk,"

"So, you didn't mean any of what you said?" Ishan asked with an unreadable expression.

Shubman smiled sadly, turning his face to look at Ishan, "That's the problem, Ishan. I was drunk but I did mean everything. I thought about it a lot, trying to search every corner of my heart that might say it was wrong but I couldn't find it, it didn't felt wrong, it felt right, so right. I don't regret it, I'm sure I'll not mind choosing you over my soulmate,"

Ishan smiled, this felt oddly comforting, knowing that Shubman would choose him even if he was not his soulmate, for which he's so grateful that he is. If he was being honest with himself, he will also choose Shubman over anything and anyone, always.

"You know, Shubi," He mumbled softly, turning his gaze towards the bright moon shining above them, "I thought the moon in my soulmark symbolizes that my soulmate might be like the moon, as gentle and as beautiful as the moon,"

He smiled, turning his gaze towards Shubman, "But now I know that he's more gentle, more endearing and more beautiful than any moon. 'Cause he's my moon, only mine."

"Why are you telling all this to me?" Shubman asked, his heart breaking a little as Ishan talked about his soulmate, his moon. Lucky bitch. Shubman thought.

Ishan smiled, extending his hand to touch Shubman's cheek who looked surprised at the action, "Am I not supposed to tell you ki tu kitna pyaara hai?"

"Huh?" Shubman blinked, his brows furrowing together.

Ishan chuckled softly, "You, you are my moon, Meri Jaan,"

Shubman's eyes widened, his heart picking up pace, "Wha- what are you saying, Ishan? Please, don't joke like this,"

"I'm not joking," Ishan mumbled, smiling wide as he rolled his sleeve up, showing his soulmark to Shubman.

Mera naam ishq,
Tera naam ishq,

Shubman was frozen in his place, his eyes glued to the beautiful mark on Ishan's skin, the mark of destiny, same as his. His heart was beating so fast he was sure Ishan could hear it.

Mera naam ishq,
Tera naam ishq,
Mera naam, tera naam,
Mera naam ishq,

He looked up at Ishan who was smiling brightly at him, "So- so you are my soulmate, Oh my, God," He mumbled breathlessly, quite not believing it himself.

"I am," Ishan giggled, "Isn't that so great?"

"It is," Shubman chuckled weakly, closing his eyes as tears leaked along his cheeks. Tears of happiness, tears of relief, tears of love.

He opened them again when he felt a touch on his cheek, wiping away his tears. Ishan smiled, cupping his face and leaning forward to plant a kiss on his forehead.

A sob left Shubman's lips as he pulled Ishan into a tight hug, burying his face in the man's neck. Ishan held him back as they both quietly promised themselves to not let each other go, ever.

"It's okay, Meri Jaan. Everything is fine now," Ishan mumbled softly, rubbing his back.

"I'm so happy," Shubman said through a shaky whisper, "So happy,"

"Me too, Meri Jaan, me too," Ishan smiled as they pulled back from the hug.

"Now, let's go back and eat something," Ishan said, caressing Shubman's face who leaned in the touch, "Then you have to sleep as well. Look at your face, you haven't been sleeping properly, right?"

"I have been having some nightmares so," Shubman shrugged.

"Oh, about what?"

"Doesn't matter now, I'm sure I won't have them again," Shubman smiled, his dimples making their appearance.

"Okay, If you say so," Ishan mumbled, biting back a smile as he leaned forward and pecked both of Shubman's dimples.

Shubman blinked, turning red, "Let's go," He mumbled, getting up and avoiding Ishan's eyes.

Ishan chuckled, also getting up before intertwining their fingers together. Shubman couldn't help smiling widely as he looked at their hands, fitting perfectly like made for each other. Well, they are, actually.

They went down to Shubman's room before Ishan fetched some food for them. His heart has never felt as fulfilled before as it did when he fed his moon with his own hands.

"Should I go now, baby?" Ishan asked, noticing that it has been so late already, "You can sleep,"

"Can't you just sleep here? Please," Shubman asked, his hope filled eyes making Ishan's heart skip a beat, "I want to cuddle,"

Ishan smiled, getting on the bed without saying anything, "Come here," He smiled, opening his arms for Shubman who immediately snuggled closer.

"Ish," Shubman spoke after a moment.

"Yes, Meri Jaan?"

"What if we weren't each other's soulmates?" He asked. The thought that he felt was his reality some time ago, it was terrifying to even think about. What if they wouldn't have been able to be together?

Ishan smiled, pulling him closer and pecking his forehead, "The soulmate system could fuck itself. I would've still chosen you."

Shubman giggled, hugging him tighter.

Ishan smiled fondly, again pecking his forehead, he just couldn't enough of the feeling, "You're so cute, baby," He cooed, pulling Shubman's cheek.

Shubman blushed, his smile widening, "You are too."

"I'm really glad that I'm your soulmate, though," He added.

"Me too, Meri Jaan,"

Both of them finally fell asleep in each other's arms, feeling warm, loved, relieved, happy and so many more things. This might be the best sleep they've had in days, no, probably the best one in their whole life as they had finally found their other half.

Ye laal ishq, ye malaal ishq,
Ye aib ishq, ye bair ishq,
Ye laal ishq, ye malaal ishq,
Ye aib ishq, ye bair ishq,
Ishq-ishq, ishq-ishq