Part 14

Ishan took a deep breath and looked at his reflection in the mirror one last time. The Sherwani fit him perfectly, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness. He was about to marry and all his senses were haywire.

Agar mai bhaag jao to?

His irrational part of the brain kept tempting him to run away but he shook his head to let go of such thoughts and ran his hands through his hair , trying to compose himself.

This was it , the day he had been dreading , the day he would become someone's life partner .The thought of sitting beside Shubman, taking vows made him feel queasy .

He was still in anxiety when the door room opened revealing Mayank clad in kurta.  He whistled seeing him and walked towards him.

“Uff, are you planning to kill Shubman because of your hotness!” Mayank teasingly wrapped his arms around his shoulder but Ishan swat his hands away and took a huge sigh.

“Bhyy don't irritate me . I am already irritated!”

Mayank rolled his eyes at his friend's drama, “now ab kya dikkat hai ?”

“Mujhe shaadi nahi karni hai”Ishan grumbled, looking at the engagement ring in his finger .

“Well itna jaldi kyu kah rahe ho , jab mandap mai baith jaate tab ye kahte … Thora enjoyment hi ho jata nahi?” Mayank sarcastically retorted and clapped in feign excitement as Ishan looked up at him with glassy eyes.

Noticing the tears in Ishan’s eyes , Mayank placed his hands on Ishan's shoulder in a comforting manner .  “What happened?”

Ishan instead of replying hugged him and mumbled incoherently. Mayank patted his back in an attempt to console him.

He knows Ishan is having a whirlwind of emotions inside him. Getting married is itself a big step and considering Ishan , who has been saying he never wants to get married since forever.it certainly was an enormous mountain.

“Ishan… it's okay . Everything's gonna be fine.”

Ishan sniffled against Mayank's chest. “mayu…” he said earnestly as his emotions were all over the place as he basked in the comfort of Mayank's embrace.

For Ishan, Mayank is his safe place . No matter how much he annoys him , he knows he can always rely on him.

They both stood there for a moment before Ishan broke the hug and wiped his tears.

“You know you're sounding like a sick hyena,” Mayank commented, trying to suppress the melancholic aura in the room.

Ishan chuckles and sniffles before retorting back”and you're a monkey”.

Mayank laughed as he felt better seeing his friend smile instead of crying.

“Well the wedding arrangements are lavished. Like bruh, I have never seen such an amount of dishes in a wedding. Are you sure that your Shubman isn't related to Ambani” Mayank emphasized on Your just to rile him up and yes it did.

Ishan flushed at your and slapped Mayank's arms as Mayank winced dramatically but the grin on his face never left.

“Hey, watch it! No need to get violent. I was stating facts .”

Ishan rolled his eyes at his antics and sat on the chair.''haa kafi acha fact tha . Let me note it down somewhere”he said , his voice dripping with sheer sarcasm .

Mayank gasped theatrically. “You —” his speech was interrupted by the creak sound of the door opening. Mrs Kishan entered through the door and her eyes immediately lightened up seeing Ishan in his wedding attire. She lets out a small gasp, her hands going to her mouth.

“Oh my ! My child. ” she removed a tiny bit of kohl from her eyes and applied it behind Ishan's ear.

“Evils eyes off”

Her eyes filled with happy tears as she scanned Ishan  from top to bottom. A bittersweet feeling surrounded her . She couldn't believe how fast the time passed by. Her little Ishan is not little anymore and was about to get married in a few hours.

“Mumma… don't cry”Ishan said in a low voice , his own eyes turned glassy. He stood up and engulfed her in a loving embrace .

Mayank was smiling seeing the mother son duo when Mrs Kishan motioned him to join the hug too. In her eyes , both of them are her sons.

Mayank hesitated a bit , not wanting to intrude in their family time but nonetheless joined the hug as Mrs Kishan squinted her eyes at him.

They stood there , soaking in the endless love they all have to share.

Mrs Kishan broke off the hug and wiped her tears.

“Okay . No more crying. It's a happy occasion.. Come let's go downstairs. The rituals are going to start . Hmm”

Ishan nodded and fixed his attire before looking at himself in the mirror for the last time.

His hands were turning clammy as he holded Mayank’s hand. Mayank gave a gentle squeeze to his hands , implying everything is going to be okay.

While they were walking to the Mandap, Ishan's thoughts went back to the day when he got drunk as he couldn't help but cringe. He couldn't remember most of the things but the few things that he could remember were embarrassing as ever. He wonders what idiocy he must have done and that too in front of Shubman.

Wo bijli ka khamba kya soch raha hoga mere baare mai? Ki ekdam chomu se insaan se shaadi karne ja raha hai…

He internally cries but to console himself he scoffs. Serves him right! Who asked him to marry me?

Mayank gave a quizzical look at Ishan hearing the sudden scoff from him. “Did he really lose his mind or what?” Mayank said underneath his breath. He shooked Ishan to get him out of his thoughts.

Feeling the sudden shake , Ishan grumbled at mayank. “What? Idiot”

“Are you okay?” Mayank asked genuinely concerned after seeing Ishan talking to himself.

Ishan again rolled his eyes before flashing his huge smile. “Yeah as okay as I was on the pre boards result day after seeing that I have failed in biology”

Mayank mirrored his action and looked away . His eyes fell on Abhishek who was standing at the balcony, all alone.

He frowned but he does have an idea why Abhishek is upset. And that made his heart churned a tiny bit and he doesn't even know why..

Sighing he turned his attention somewhere,but the image of Abhishek never leaving the back of his mind.

On the other hand , Ishan's heart beats were getting directly proportional to every step he took towards the Mandap.

Ishan's eyes shined seeing the majestic venue.

The theme was regal and opulent, with gold and red accents adorning the mandap and the surrounding decorations. The whole setup exudes a sense of grandeur and refinement, adding to the air of majesty and romance that surrounds the ceremony. The combination of the traditional setting and the Rajasthani royal theme creates an atmosphere that is both exotic and lavish, the perfect backdrop for the sacred union about to take place.

Shubman, who was telling something to Mrs Gill ceased as his eyes fell on Ishan's figure making his way. The soft glow of lighting cast over a magical look on Ishan's face.

He couldn't take off Ishan as he took steps closer to him. His gaze appreciating Ishan’s beauty.

Finally as Ishan reached the mandap, he extended his hands to help him. Ishan took his help although he doesn't need any help but he doesn't want to make him feel awkward .

I ain't wearing a heavy lehenga. What's that hand for jeez.

Now the wedding ritual started as the place filled the Priest 's voice as he chanted holy verses.

During the whole ceremony, Shubman kept glancing at Ishan involuntarily. The voice of the priest fades away in the background.

Ishan felt a gaze on him as he craned his head to look at Shubman and their eyes met.

They both looked into each other's eyes for a moment before they both turned around.

Ishan's heart thudded as his cheeks flushed.

Why was he looking at me?

Ishan gulped and focused on the priest 's words.

That was awkward and when is this wedding going to be over? My legs hurt from sitting in this position for so long . Ishan winces internally as he zoned out looking at the fire.

Shubman noticed Ishan's and chuckled a bit seeing a tiny pout on Ishan’s face as his eyes were fixed on the holy fire.

He shook his head at Ishan's demeanor and the continuous fidgeting.

A few minutes rolled down as Ishan found himself getting bored hearing the verses from the priest not understanding anything as he looked at Shubman and nudged him.

Shubman looked at him  and mouthed a “what?

Ishan leaned a bit towards Shubman and asked in a hushed voice.”Do you understand what the priest is saying?” . Shubman blinked his eyes at Ishan’s question.

“I mean . I can't take vows without actually knowing what I am vowing about… what if he accidentally said we shall share our shits instead of strength. I don't want to share that.” Ishan asserted with a gleam in his eyes while Shubman gave an incredulous look at Ishan.

He couldn't decipher whether Ishan is being serious or sarcastic. With him , he never knows.

“what? That's a very genuine question” Ishan shrugged seeing the big question mark of Shubman’s expression.

“Yeah very genuine”Shubman gave a tight lipped smile before looking at the priest again when he felt an unexpected smack on his arms. He cranes his head towards an Exasperated Ishan.

“What was that for?” Shubman chuckled slightly as Ishan scoffed at him and looked at the priest without replying to him.

Shubman shakes his head at Ishan's antics.

Soon at the end of recitation, the priest asked them to throw parched rice as haves in the holy fire.

But Ishan was too lost in his lattice of thoughts to notice the calls as Shubman sighed before shooking Ishan to get him out of his trance.

“What!?” Ishan said in a high pitched voice , surprised at the sudden contact.

Hearing the loud voice of Ishan everyone started looking at him and sensing the eyes on himself, his cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he looked down.

Shubman chuckled seeing the blood circulating in Ishan's cheeks . Taking his hands in his for the ritual and l to save Ishan's from the gaze of other people.

Ishan's heartbeat palpitated , his body flushing with an unknown emotion as he turned to look at Shubman’s face who was focusing on what the priest was asking them to do .

His body felt like he got a static shock . His mind going frenzy and he almost want to get closer to him—

Shut up! Ishan! Focus and don't act like a teenager who got touched by his crush.

But he is so handsome– ishan bas kar!!

Ishan pinched himself to stop the unwanted thoughts clouding his mind. He took a huge breath to calm his dizzy mind and body.

But he couldn't help and find himself gazing at Shubman with crinkling eyes.

Okay! It's not a crime to look at beautiful people and he is beautiful. Yeah he just got good genes. There is no other reason why I would look at him. He justified himself .

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“You know drinking too much is injurious to health ” Mayank said as he looked At Abhishek drinking his upteenth number of liquor.

Abhishek chuckled as he took a sip.”sounds rich coming from a person who was drunk as hell just a day before”

Mayank's cheeks reddened at the obvious irony but he couldn't just let Abhishek have the upper hand. “That… was different!”

Abhishek chortled and resumed his drinking . “And explain how it is different?”

Mayank stood there unable to explain his point and fisted his hands running his mind to conclude a good reason for his assertion.

“I was… drinking… for fun but on the contrary you're drinking it to forget your pain. Your ..m heartbreak—”Mayank words were interrupted by Abhishek as he pressed his index finger on Mayank's lips and his eyes widened.

Abhishek's nostrils flared up , his dark eyes looking eerily at Mayank but behind the facade of anger Mayank could see a remnant of sadness but it went away as soon he looked at it.

“Shut up! “Abhishek whispered perily in Mayank's ear as Mayank gulped down a bike formed in his throat.

Seeing the compliance in Mayank's face , Abhishek withdrew his hands away from Mayank's lips and went back to drink the alcohol, still gazing at the people enjoying the union.

It felt like they were Taunting him , reminding him of the loss. He gazed at Ishan who was sitting beside Shubman bantering merrily.

The grip on his glass tightened as face the reality. That it's not him who was there beside him.

Mayank followed Abhishek’s gaze as he felt a tad bit of distress. “You love him..” Mayank stated although it sounded more of a question.

Abhishek stood in silence, his eyes fixated on Ishan's face. His throat felt raw , trying to stop the tears willing to fall any time soon.

The pain he has been trying to suppress, the harsh truth that he has been trying to forget and be happy for Him but he couldn't. He isn't that strong to see that his love was getting married but not to him…

A traitor tear trailed down from his eyes as blinked to stop them but they started Falling one by one.

“I do.. I really do” he cried as his body shook . His heart was twisting and he couldn't hold back the agony eating him up . His legs trembled and he was about to fall but before he could fall on the ground, Mayank holded him, supporting his body weight.

Abhishek leaned in Mayank's embrace, basking in the comfort it was providing him. At this moment, he forgot where he was and who he was with.

Not caring about the fact , it was Mayank. The alcohol started to affect his brain.

Mayank gently rubbed Abhishek’s back trying to console him. His sane part of mind screams at him to stop doing this and get away from him.

Abhishek had always been a red alert to his feelings. He never understood his feelings towards Abhishek but one thing he was sure of that he should always stay away from him.

But in this moment, the irrational part of his mind empowered his logical thinking. He couldn't bear seeing Abhishek so broken . So hurt and he wants nothing more to see the cocky grin he always had on his face.

On the other hand, Abhishek has completely lost himself to liquor and gazed up  to see Mayank.

The concerned face of Mayank blurred into Ishan's face, making his heart go frenzy . His face filled up with joy thinking Ishan had come to him instead of Shubman.

A primal urge to claim Ishan as his own clouded his mind and he pressed his lips on Mayank's lips thinking it's Ishan.

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Author's note:

Hey!? Everyone's okay? .. I know it's been a long time since I uploaded . I am sorry for the delay🥺

But I was just so caught up with my studies and completing backlogs that I couldn't find time to write and even if I got time . I couldn't get the motivation to write.

And lastly a very big thank you to all of you who still waited for this story and sorry too.🥺🥹