This was requested by @Nonyscribe. I hope you enjoy it!!
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Shubman à Yashasvi
The team hotel buzzed with life as members of the Indian Cricket Team gathered after a practice session.
Laughter and chatter filled the hall as Shubmanstretched his arms, content with the day's work. He spotted Yashasvi near the corner of the lobby, his usually radiant smile dim, eyes downcast as he checked his phone.
Shubman frowned. Something about the way Yashasvi gripped his phone seemed..... off.
"Hey, Yash!" Shubman called, walking over with his easy grin. "Everything alright, buddy?"
Yashasvi jolted as if woken from a nightmare, quickly tucking his phone into his pocket. "Yeah, Shub... all good," he muttered, forcing a weak smile.
But the faint bruising along his wrist caught Shubman's sharp eyes.
"Are you sure?" Shubman asked, his voice lower now. He reached out, gently brushing his fingers over the discolored skin.
Yashasvi flinched and pulled away, shaking his head. "It's nothing. Iâ I slipped."
The explanation didn't sit well with Shubman. Before he could press further, a voice called out. "Jaiswal!"Jurel walked into the lobby, his expression cold and eyes hard. His gaze locked on Yashasvi like a predator, and Shubman felt the tension crackle in the air.
"Come on," Dhruv snapped. "You're wasting my time."
Shubman watched as Yashasvi obediently followed, shoulders hunched and movements stiff. A chill ran down his spine.
"Shubman," Virat Kohli's voice broke through his thoughts, "you coming for dinner?"
"Yeah," Shubman replied absently, his eyes never leaving Yashasvi as Dhruv grabbed his arm a little too tightly.
Something was very, very wrong.
In their shared hotel room later that night, Shubman sat on his bed, his thoughts swirling with unease. He'd seen control beforeâdisguised as care, masked as love.
He couldn't shake the haunted look in Yashasvi's eyes or how his body had recoiled from Dhruv's touch.
The next morning, Shubman's concern deepened. At breakfast, Yashasvi avoided eye contact with everyone. He sat quietly, picking at his food, while Dhruv made sure his chair was always too close, his arm draped possessively over Yashasvi's shoulder. It was suffocating to watch.
As Shubman poured himself some coffee, KL Rahul leaned over. "Something's up with Jaiswal, isn't it?"
"You noticed too?" Shubman asked, eyes narrowing.
Rahul nodded. "Bruises. Quiet. Not like him."
A hard knot formed in Shubman's chest. He wasn't the only one who had seen it. Something had to be done. But how?
That evening, the team gathered for a movie in the lounge. Shubman positioned himself close to Yashasvi, keeping an eye on his every movement.
Halfway through, he saw Dhruv's hand tighten painfully on Yashasvi's knee under the pretense of affection. Yashasvi winced. It was subtle, but Shubman saw it.
Anger roared within him, but he kept his expression calm. He leaned closer, pretending to whisper about the movie. "Are you okay?"
Yashasvi's eyes darted to Dhruv before he gave a small, trembling nod. "I'm fine."
Liar.
The next day, Shubman's resolve solidified. He wouldn't stand by and let Yashasvi suffer in silence. The fear in his friend's eyes haunted him, and the bruisesâthe bruises were proof enough.
His mind raced through possibilities, but he needed confirmation.
Shubman found Yashasvi alone that afternoon in a quiet corner of the practice ground.
He sat on the grass, nervously scrolling through his phone. His hands shook slightly, and when a notification popped up, he visibly tensed. Shubman knelt beside him, voice steady but firm.
"Yashasvi, we need to talk."
Yashasvi jumped but forced a smile. "Shubman, what's up?"
Shubman ignored the attempt at casualness. "Look, I don't want to push you, but I've seen the way Dhruv treats you. The bruises. The way you flinch. This isn't normal."
Yashasvi's smile faltered, and he looked away, gripping his phone like a lifeline. "It's..... nothing. Jurel.... he justâhe gets upset sometimes."
"Upset?" Shubman's jaw clenched. "Upset doesn't leave marks on your body."
Yashasvi swallowed hard, eyes glassy with unshed tears. "He loves me, Shub. He's just..... stressed. It's my fault sometimes. I make mistakes."
"No!" Shubman's sharp tone startled Yashasvi, who looked at him wide-eyed. "Don't do that. Don't blame yourself for his actions. Love isn't supposed to hurt."
Yashasvi broke. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he whispered, "I don't know how to leave."
Shubman's heart ached at the raw vulnerability. He put a steadying hand on Yashasvi's shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone. We'll get you out of this. You have me. You have the whole team."
Yashasvi's lips trembled, but he nodded weakly. "I'm scared."
"I know," Shubman said softly. "But I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me."
That evening, Shubman gathered the senior members of the teamâVirat, Rohit,Rahul, and Bumrah. Their expressions grew dark as he explained everything, detailing the bruises, the control, and Yashasvi's fear.
"This ends now," Virat said, his voice like steel. "We won't let him suffer a second longer."
"Exactly," Rohit agreed. "Dhruv has no place around us if this is how he behaves."
KL Rahul crossed his arms, his eyes blazing with fury. "What's the plan?"
Shubman spoke with quiet determination. "We keep Yashasvi close. Dhruv can't isolate him if we're always there. We make him feel safe, show him he has a family. And when the time is right, we confront Dhruv."
"Together," Bumrah added, his voice a low growl.
The next few days saw a shift. Shubman was always at Yashasvi's side, cracking jokes and pulling him into conversations, while the rest of the team rallied around him.
The camaraderie was natural, but the undercurrent of protection was unmistakable.
Dhruv's controlling behavior didn't go unnoticedâeach time his hand gripped too tightly or his voice grew sharp, someone stepped in.
"Hey, Yash," Rohit called loudly during lunch one day, pulling Yashasvi from Dhruv's side. "Come sit with us."
Dhruv's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue. The walls around Yashasvi were growing stronger.
Late one night, Shubman found Yashasvi pacing outside their hotel. He was breathing heavily, eyes wide with panic.
"What happened?" Shubman asked, grabbing his shoulders gently.
"He.... he found out I talked to you," Yashasvi stammered. "Heâhe was so angry. He said I'll regret it."
Rage surged through Shubman like fire, but he kept his voice calm. "You're staying with me tonight."
"IâI can't. He'llâ"
"I don't care what he does," Shubman interrupted. "You're done going through this alone." He guided Yashasvi inside, heart hammering with a mix of fury and protectiveness.
Tomorrow, they would confront Dhruv.
And Dhruv would finally see what it meant to face the entire Indian Cricket Team.
.
.
.
I want to clarify that the story was purely fictional. I don't hate or despise him; I just used his name for the sake of the story. I apologize if it upset you.