The rain had slowed down, leaving the air cool and fresh. Surya and Ishan had made their way back to the rooftop, where the others were still lounging around, chatting and laughing.
Ishan nudged Surya lightly, causing him to glance down. Ishan was looking up at him with a grin, the rain having made his hair stick to his forehead.
Surya could feel the light pressure of his shoulder against his own, but he tried to keep his expression neutral, pretending not to notice.
"What's going on?" Surya asked, trying to sound casual as he joined the others near the edge of the rooftop.
"Just talking about how bad Tilak's predictions are," Abhishek replied, shooting a playful glance at Tilak, who scowled in response.
"I'll have you know, my predictions are always spot on," Tilak shot back, tossing a sideways glance at Shubman, who was too engrossed in his phone to care.
Ishan, however, was still focused on Surya. He nudged him again, this time harder, causing Surya to stumble slightly.
"Surya bhaiya, come on," Ishan said, his voice a little louder than it should've been. "We should stand closer to the railing. The view's better there."
Surya hesitated for a moment but then shrugged, figuring it was easier to just give in. "Fine, but don't make a scene, alright?"
Ishan gave him a nod that was far too dramatic for the request, and the two moved to the edge of the rooftop.
The others were still deep in their own world, and for a second, there was a kind of awkward silence between Ishan and Surya.
Ishan leaned against the railing, staring out at the wet, glowing city below. Surya did the same, though his mind was racing a little more than usual.
Ishan's voice broke the silence. "This is nice, huh?"
"Yeah," Surya replied, not quite looking at him, his voice coming out a little quieter than he intended. "It's peaceful."
"Mmhm," Ishan murmured, his eyes glancing toward Surya before quickly looking away. "You know... I've always liked rain. Makes everything feel... different. Sort of like, you know, everything's washed away."
Surya nodded absently, his heart pounding a little. The sudden shift in tone was something he wasn't quite prepared for, and Ishan's usual playfulness was tinged with something he couldn't place.
"And, uh, you know," Ishan continued, fiddling with the sleeve of his jacket nervously, "it's good to have a day like this. To just... forget about everything else."
Surya turned slightly, catching a glimpse of Ishan's face. The younger cricketer was smiling, but there was a certain softness in his expression, something Surya wasn't used to. He wasn't sure how to respond.
"Yeah," Surya said again, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's good."
There was another beat of silence, and Surya could feel his heart rate pick up. Ishan was standing just a little too close, his presence unusually warm for such a chilly night.
Surya wanted to step back, to regain the space between them, but something about the moment made him hesitate.
Ishan, as if reading his thoughts, shifted his weight, his arm brushing against Surya's.
"You know, bhaiya," Ishan said, his voice a bit more subdued, "I think you're the only one who really gets me. I don't know... everyone else just doesn't get it, you know?"
Surya froze.
"Gets what?"
Ishan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked out over the city again, almost as if he were gathering his thoughts.
"Just... everything. Life, cricket, how things work. I feel like I can always count on you, even when I'm being chaotic. And... I don't know, sometimes I need someone who won't just brush me off."
Surya didn't know how to respond to that. His mind was a jumble of thoughts, but his chest felt tight, a feeling he couldn't quite shake off.
He had always thought of Ishan as his little brother, the one he protected and took care of. But now, with Ishan's words hanging in the air between them, the lines felt a little blurrier than before.
"I'm always here for you, Ishan," Surya finally said, the words slipping out more easily than he had expected. "You know that, right?"
Ishan looked up at him, his eyes soft.
"Yeah, I know." His voice dropped, a faint trace of shyness creeping in. "But I also need you to know that... it's more than just being there. Sometimes, I... I want to be close to you, you know?"
The air between them thickened with unspoken words, and Surya felt the weight of Ishan's gaze on him. He didn't know how to respond, his mind racing with the realization of what Ishan might be saying.
Before he could answer, Tilak's voice broke the tension, loud and playful as he shouted, "Oi, stop being all deep and romantic, you two! You're making me uncomfortable!"
Ishan jumped, laughing nervously, his face flushing slightly.
"Shut up, Tilak!" he yelled back, trying to cover the awkwardness.
Surya chuckled softly, the sound echoing across the rooftop.
"Alright, alright," Surya said, turning to the group, "let's not make this worse."
The others laughed, and the moment of discomfort seemed to fade away. But as they all gathered back toward the center of the rooftop, Surya couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled in his chest. Ishan had always been a whirlwind, a constant in his life.
The laughter from the group continued, but the air between Surya and Ishan had changed.
The teasing, the banter-it was still there, but it felt.... different now. Surya couldn't ignore the warmth that lingered between them, the way Ishan's presence seemed to fill the space around him, making everything else fade into the background.
As they walked back toward the railing, Surya noticed that Ishan was quieter than usual.
His usual mischievous grin was replaced with a softer expression, and his gaze kept shifting from Surya to the ground.
Surya's heart thudded a little faster, unsure if he should say something. The whole situation felt....a bit off, but in a way that was both unsettling and comforting at the same time.
"Ishan," Surya started, his voice softer than he intended, "Can you stop calling me bhaiya?"
Ishan looked up at him, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What?"
Surya sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know... It's just... we've been through a lot together, right? We're not just... you know, mentor and mentee. You're not my little brother anymore."
Ishan blinked, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Ohh, so you want me to call you something else, huh? What should it be? Meri jaan? Babe?"
Surya could feel his face heat up. He didn't expect that. His heart skipped a beat, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the words, but nothing seemed to come out right. "I didn't mean it like that," he muttered, clearly flustered. "I just... I don't know, I guess I'm not comfortable with the whole bhaiya thing anymore."
Ishan stepped closer, his teasing grin fading into something more serious. "You're really bad at this, you know that?"
Surya gave him a sidelong glance, his cheeks burning, unsure of how to proceed. "What do you mean?"
Ishan laughed softly, the sound light and carefree. "You don't have to say everything out loud, Surya bhaiya-sorry, Surya. You know, your actions say more than you think."
Surya's eyes met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. Ishan's expression was no longer playful; it was open, vulnerable, and... real.
Surya felt a lump form in his throat, a strange tightness in his chest. "Ishan..." he started, but his voice faltered.
"Yeah?" Ishan's voice was softer now, his usual energy replaced with something more tender.
Surya hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I don't know how to say this, but I think I feel the same way."
Ishan's eyes widened slightly, his heart visibly racing. "What do you mean?" he asked, barely above a whisper.
Surya took a step forward, his mind still spinning but his feelings clearer than ever. "I think... I think I like you. More than just a teammate, more than just a friend."
For a moment, there was silence. The others were too caught up in their own conversation to notice, but it was as if the whole world around them had quieted down.
Ishan's lips parted, but no words came out at first. He was looking at Surya like he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "You... like me?"
Surya nodded, his voice shaky but sincere. "Yeah. I know it's crazy, and I'm not sure how it happened, but I can't ignore it anymore. I like you, Ishan. A lot."
Ishan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Surya..... I-" He stopped, swallowing hard. "I feel the same way. I've been feeling it for a while now, but I didn't want to mess things up. But hearing you say it....i-it feels so right."
A smile tugged at Surya's lips, relief flooding through him as the tension finally broke. "You really are impossible, Kishan," he muttered, but there was no malice in his words-just affection.
Ishan's grin returned, this time softer. "I know."
Before Surya could say anything more, Ishan's hand found his, fingers brushing against his lightly.
The simple touch sent a shiver down Surya's spine, and before he could think, Ishan leaned in, his breath warm against Surya's skin.
"I... I want to kiss you," Ishan said, his voice barely a whisper, as if testing the waters.
Surya froze for a moment, his heart pounding. This was happening. It was real. He didn't want to overthink it. Without saying another word, he leaned in as well, closing the gap between them.
The kiss was gentle at first, almost hesitant, but it quickly deepened as Surya's hands moved to Ishan's waist, pulling him closer.
Surya's heart raced, but there was a sense of calm within the chaos, as if everything had fallen into place.
When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, eyes locked in a gaze that said more than words ever could.
Surya smiled, his fingers still intertwined with Ishan's. "I think we're a couple now, huh?"
Ishan grinned, his eyes sparkling. "Yeah. I think we are."
Surya shook his head, laughing softly. "This is insane. But... yeah, I'm glad it's with you."
Ishan chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling him into a tight hug. "Me too, bhaiya-oops, Surya."
Surya just laughed, holding him tighter. This moment, with all its awkwardness and honesty, felt like the start of something beautiful.
The End.
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Hey guys!!.
Since many wanted part 2 of " THROUGH THE RAINS " here it is!!.
I hope you enjoyed reading this.